Grounded Roots, Golden Threads | A nurturing and nourishing skill share retreat for facilitators, practitioners & creatives with Moss & Mind with Lily X FlowState with Luke

Dear gentle soul, 

This is your invitation to a nurturing, nourishing, three day skill share retreat for facilitators, practitioners & creatives.

Friday 22nd January – Sunday 24th January |  Asthall Manor, Burford

We've chosen a smaller group for this retreat with a maximum of 15 people, mixed gendered event.

For the people who spend their time holding space for others.

A weekend to step out of the facilitator role and become a participant.

To learn.
To share.
To create.
To slow down.
To be inspired.
To simply be.

Grounded Roots, Golden Threads.

A weekend for the people who hold space for everyone else.

There is something about Winter that invites us to slow down, to turn inward, to listen, to rest, to gather around a fire, share food, tell stories and remember that we don't always have to be doing.

Grounded Roots, Golden Threads is a three day gathering for facilitators, practitioners, creatives and curious humans working in the wellness, nature, therapeutic and creative spaces.

But this isn't a retreat where you simply arrive and consume a programme. You are part of the programme. We believe that everyone has something to share and everyone has something to learn, in community. Everyone gets permission to simply receive.

This is a weekend of skill swapping, creativity, nature connection, conversation, nourishment and rest.

A small gathering of up to 15 people, coming together in the depths of Winter to learn from one another and create space for inspiration.

If you spend much of your time holding space for others, facilitating groups, supporting people, creating experiences, teaching, coaching, making, caring or helping others reconnect with themselves...when do you get to be the participant, to learn something new and nourish yourself?

Grounded Roots, Golden Threads is an invitation to step out of the facilitator role and come and experience something for yourself.

There will be opportunities to learn practices you may never have experienced before, share something from your own practice, make things with your hands, move your body, spend time outdoors, sit around a fire, eat nourishing food and meet other people who understand what it means to create spaces for others.

There will also be something equally important…space to do nothing. No packed timetable or pressure to attend everything or perform.

Just time, space, curiosity and connection.

WHAT IS A SKILL SHARE RETREAT?

At the heart of this retreat is the belief that we all have something worth sharing and that community is the most important thing we can achieve.

You might be a yoga teacher who wants to introduce people to a simple morning movement practice.

A forest therapist who wants to share a favourite sensory invitation.

An artist who wants to teach watercolour.

A practitioner who has a beautiful grounding technique.

A musician who wants to teach a rhythm.

Someone who knows how to forage.

Someone who can tell a brilliant story.

Someone who has a tea ritual they love.

Or perhaps you simply have a practice or business approach that has helped you and you'd love to pass it on.

You don't have to be an expert.

You don't have to have a polished workshop.

You don't have to stand at the front of a room and teach.

Skill sharing can be small.

• A 20-minute practice.
• A conversation.
• A creative activity in the evening with a cup of tea.
• A song.
• A story.
• A technique.
• A game.
• A ritual.

Something you've spent years learning  or something you've only recently discovered.

WHAT MIGHT WE EXPLORE?

The exact programme will emerge from the people who join us, but the weekend may include:

Forest therapy 
Watercolour & nature based creativity
Journaling & reflective practices
Foraging
Breathwork
Qigong
Yoga & mindful movement
Fire building & fire circles
Storytelling
Sound baths
Floristry
Body percussion
Drumming
Tea ceremonies
Reiki
Music
Nature connection
Somatic practices
Creative writing
...and whatever wonderful skills the people in the room bring with them.

FRIDAY - ARRIVE & SETTLE

Friday is about arriving.

There is no need to rush straight into a programme. Come in, find your room, explore the space, make yourself a cup of tea and begin to settle.

We'll gather together for a relaxed welcome circle where we'll introduce ourselves, the weekend and the idea behind Grounded Roots, Golden Threads.

We'll share food together before gathering around the fire. And then we'll let the evening unfold. There may be stories, music, spontaneous skill swaps or simply just conversations with new people. Nothing needs to be forced. 

Friday is about arriving in the space and arriving in yourself.

SATURDAY - LEARN, CREATE & SHARE

Saturday is our main day of exploration. We'll begin before the world is fully awake with gentle sunrise movement, followed by a meditation walk through the surrounding landscape.

Then we'll come back together for a nourishing breakfast.

The morning will be dedicated to our first round of skill sharing, with participants offering short practices and experiences to one another.

There will be breaks to make tea, breathe, chat and integrate.

After lunch there will be time to rest, wander, journal, nap, paint or simply do nothing.

Then we'll come together for a creative session.

In the afternoon, we'll split into two smaller groups. Each group will experience different participant led skill swaps before coming back together to share what they discovered.You'll have the opportunity not only to learn from the other group, but to hear what they experienced and bring those stories and ideas back into the wider circle.

We'll then have time to rest before sharing a long, nourishing dinner.

As darkness falls, we'll gather for an evening of music, stories, rhythm and creative sharing.

Feel bring to bring a song, poem, story, piece of music, practice, something you've made, or absolutely nothing. There is no pressure to perform.

SUNDAY - INTEGRATE & RETURN

Sunday will be softer.

We'll begin with gentle movement before sharing our final breakfast together.

Then we'll head outside for a longer nature connection experience. A chance to slow right down, to notice, to breathe, to listen. To let the weekend settle.

We'll return for a closing circle and make space to reflect on what we've learned, what we're taking with us and what we might carry into our own work.

And then, gently, we'll head home. Hopefully a little more nourished, a little more inspired and perhaps carrying a few new practices, ideas and friendships with us.

THE RHYTHM OF THE WEEKEND

FRIDAY

Arrive · Settle · Connect · Fire

SATURDAY

Move · Learn · Create · Share · Feast · Celebrate

SUNDAY

Move · Reconnect · Forest · Reflect · Return

THE SETTING

Asthall Manor is an intriguing place – a Jacobean manor house surrounded by a garden, woodland and meadows that blend into the glorious Windrush valley landscape beyond. It is a private home that regularly welcomes visitors to wander its meandering paths, discover its secret spaces and connect with nature, art and each other. 

It's a place that we can…

walk straight outside into nature
gather around a fire
create indoors
move our bodies
share meals around a table
make endless cups of tea
curl up with a journal
watch the light disappear
and simply slow down.

The rooms are well equipped with private bathrooms. There are a mixture of twin and double bedrooms so people will need to share a room but we will contact you directly to discuss this and pair you up with people you may know! There will be separate male and female wings. The house also has a couple of other guests staying in a separate wing of the Manor so you may cross paths with people outside but they won't be using our shared spaces. We will have full access to a shared kitchen and grounds throughout the weekend. This is a home from home.

Please do contact me on mossandmindconnect@gmail.com if you have any concerns or would like to discuss rooms/facilities. 

FOOD & NOURISHMENT

Food is part of the experience.

All meals will be vegetarian, seasonal and designed to be warm, nourishing and comforting through the winter months.

Think:

Hearty soups
Fresh sourdough
Roasted seasonal vegetables
Pulses, grains & nourishing salads
Warming and nourishing
Herbal teas
Plenty of tea and coffee
Homemade treats

Meals will be served communally, giving us another opportunity to slow down and connect.

Planned meals include:

Friday evening:
Warming seasonal soup, fresh bread and a comforting dessert.

Saturday breakfast:
A generous help yourself breakfast with oats, fruit, yoghurt, eggs, sourdough and spreads.

Saturday lunch:
A bring your own lunch, we would love for each participant to bring something to share with the group. This could be your favourite soup, a homemade brownie or your favourite sandwich from your favourite coffee shop!!

Saturday dinner:
A hearty vegetarian winter feast.

Sunday breakfast:
A relaxed breakfast / brunch before our final morning together.

Dietary requirements and allergies will be collected during booking. Please tell us about these when you book so we can plan appropriately.

You are also welcome to bring anything you would find comforting and nourishing.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Your retreat ticket includes:

• Three days / two nights at Asthall Manor
• Accommodation
• All meals listed above
• Tea, coffee & refreshments
• Guided nature experiences
• Creative session and materials
• Morning movement practices
• Fire circles
• Participant led skill sharing
• Saturday evening music, storytelling & sharing

And, perhaps most importantly…time and space to slow down.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Grounded Roots, Golden Threads is for people who work in or around:

• Wellness
• Nature connection
• Forest therapy
• Yoga
• Movement
• Breathwork
• Music
• Coaching
• Facilitation
• Creative practice
• Art
• Somatic work
• Holistic wellbeing
• Community work
• Therapeutic or support settings
• Education
• Outdoor practice

You don't need to fit neatly into one of these categories. You simply need to be curious, generous and interested in learning from other people. You don't need to arrive with a workshop prepared or be an established practitioner.

You just need something you're curious about and a willingness to share the space.

WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO CREATE

We're keeping this gathering intentionally small with a maximum of 15 people, there is room for genuine conversation and connection.

We want this to feel less like attending a conference and more like being invited into someone's warm, slightly muddy, creative Winter kitchen. A place where you can meet someone new and end up talking for three hours, where an idea from one person's practice sparks something completely different in another. Where you can learn something at 10am and spend the afternoon wondering how you might bring it into your own work. Where creativity doesn't need to be productive, where rest isn't something you have to earn, where everyone can contribute and where nobody has to be “the expert”.

COMMUNITY & RECIPROCITY

Grounded Roots, Golden Threads works on the principle of give and receive.

Everyone attending will be invited to think about what they might like to share but this doesn't have to be a formal workshop.

You might offer:

• A short practice
• A creative activity
• A story
• A song
• A technique
• A movement sequence
• A meditation
• A recipe
• A game
• A piece of knowledge
• Something you've learned through your own experience

There will also be practical things that help the weekend run smoothly. We may ask everyone to contribute in small ways, helping clear the table, making tea, collecting wood, tidying shared spaces or helping prepare for the next activity.

This isn't about being a customer at a retreat. It's about being part of a small temporary community.

A NOTE ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

The timetable is a guide rather than a rigid schedule, everything offered during the weekend is an invitation.

You are welcome to participate, observe or take some quiet time for yourself and we actively encourage you to listen to your body and your own needs.

If you need to rest instead of joining a session, rest.

If you want to go for a walk, go for a walk.

If you need a quiet cup of tea and half an hour alone, take it.

There is no prize for doing everything.

WELLBEING & PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Grounded Roots, Golden Threads is a wellbeing and experiential retreat. It is not therapy, medical treatment or a substitute for professional healthcare or mental health support.

Some practices may involve emotional reflection, breathwork, movement or other experiences that affect how you feel.

All activities are invitations and you remain responsible for deciding what feels appropriate for you.

Please let us know in advance if there is anything we need to be aware of to support your participation safely.

If you have any concerns about whether the retreat or a particular activity is appropriate for you, please contact us before booking.

BEING OUTDOORS

A significant part of this weekend takes place outdoors.

This means we will be experiencing the woodland and countryside in Winter which may involve:

Rain
Mud
Cold weather
Wind
Uneven ground
Roots and natural obstacles
Low light

By booking, you acknowledge that outdoor and woodland activities involve inherent natural hazards and agree to take reasonable responsibility for your own safety, clothing, footwear and wellbeing while participating.

You will be given guidance for specific activities and we will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible.

Come prepared for the weather rather than hoping for the weather!

WHAT TO BRING

We recommend bringing:

• Warm, comfortable outdoor clothing
• Waterproof coat 
• Waterproof walking boots / sturdy footwear
• Several pairs of warm socks
• Hat and gloves
• Layers
• Comfortable clothes for indoor activities
• Torch / headtorch
• Reusable water bottle if you so desire
• Personal toiletries
• Notebook / journal
• Any personal medication
• A blanket or cosy layer if you have one
• Clothing that can get muddy
• Anything you would personally like to contribute to the skill share

We'll send a more detailed packing list and arrival information before the retreat.

ACCESSIBILITY

We want this to be as welcoming and accessible as possible.

If you have access requirements, mobility considerations, dietary requirements, sensory needs or anything else that would help you participate comfortably, please contact us before booking so we can advice. Please note that unfortunately all bedrooms are situated upstairs with no access to lifts. 

Because the retreat includes outdoor activities and woodland terrain, some elements may involve uneven ground and natural surfaces.

We'll provide as much information as possible about the venue and activities in advance so you can make an informed choice about what works for you.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

Friday

Arrival from approximately 4pm.

You'll be able to settle into your accommodation, explore the space and make yourself at home.

Sunday

The retreat will close at approximately 12pm.

You'll be free to depart after the closing circle.

We'll provide exact arrival information, parking details and directions before the retreat.

BOOKING TERMS

By booking a place at Grounded Roots, Golden Threads, you confirm that you have read the information on this page and understand the nature of the retreat.

Places are limited to 15 participants.

We will not be able to offer any refunds or exchanges/transfers at this time.

If you are unable to attend, please contact us as soon as possible.

We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the programme, facilitators, timings or activities where necessary.

The programme may change due to weather, venue requirements, facilitator availability or other circumstances. Where changes are made, we will communicate these wherever reasonably possible.

AND FINALLY...

You don't need to arrive with a perfectly formed intention.

You don't need to have your business figured out.

You don't need to know exactly what you're hoping to get from the weekend.

You can simply arrive.

Bring your curiosity, bring something you're willing to share, bring something you're willing to learn, bring warm socks. Let the weekend unfold and we can't wait to gather around the fire with you.

Grounded Roots, Golden Threads

A weekend to learn, create, slow down and be inspired.

For the people who hold space for others.

A bit about us: 

I'm Lily, founder of Moss & Mind, a nature connection practice based in the Cotswolds. I guide people back into meaningful relationships with the natural world through Forest Therapy, watercolour, seasonal workshops and restorative retreats. I believe there are many pathways into nature connection. Some people arrive through creativity, others through stillness, community or time beneath the trees…but each path leads to the same place. A deeper relationship with the natural world, ourselves and one another.

Luke is the practitioner behind FlowState, creating a sonic space for you to regulate, unwind and find grounding. An aural accompaniment to hold you in a moment of reflection of the experiences in the forest. Finding breath for the winter ahead, gentle seated movement to find your ground and connection to the body that will carry you forward. Melody inspired by the birds in the trees, resonance from Tibetan bowls harnessing the undulating force of the wind and harp like arpeggios for you to find an inner flow.Connecting you to your roots and embracing the power of who you are.

Luke and I's paths began to cross through a shared love of the natural world and a desire to help people reconnect with the land around them, with themselves and with one another.

Luke from FlowState and Lily from Moss & Mind have been brought together by a belief that nature and sound have a powerful way of creating space for connection, reflection and restoration. Through our different practices, we’ve found a shared passion for building community and creating experiences that invite people to slow down, listen deeply and feel more rooted in themselves and the world around them.

Now, we’re bringing our practices together to create beautiful retreats, weaving together creativity, forest therapy and deeply immersive sound journey's into gatherings of slowing down, reconnecting and simply being.

A space to step away from the noise, breathe a little deeper and reconnect with yourself, nature and the people around you.

We have tried to keep this retreat as accessible as possible while still creating a truly nourishing experience. If you'd like to discuss payment options or have any questions before booking, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us - we're always happy to chat.