Heartwood Rising - A day retreat of ceremonies, music, connection

As we rise towards the fullness of summer, we're invited to connect with our heartwood core, showing up in the world centred and balanced.

This retreat day allows you to arrive in your body and the season.

We gather for ceremony, music, voice, dance, shared food and genuine connection. Two ancient heart medicines guide us, hawthorn, native to these lands, and cacao from across the oceans. Grounding, opening, celebrating. Come ready to feel something real.

Arrive as you are. Leave transformed.

The event is more than a feast of music and fun. The day is woven together as a prayer, individual and collective, for the greatest healing of all.

The Retreat Includes

Opening Hawthorn Ceremony by Dan Knowlson & Sound Journey by Kyle Rose

We begin with our opening ceremony connecting with the spirit of hawthorn, our indigenous heart medicine of these isles, woven together through sacred sound, grounding us in the season and setting our intention for the day ahead.

Kyle Rose

Kyle is a shamanic practitioner and multi instrumentalist who is part of the Chantress Seba band. He draws influence from his diverse lineage of cultural sounds to create ceremonies and sound journeys. kylerose.co.uk 

Live Music By…

Maya Love

Maya delivers compelling folk-inspired music through her natural warmth and rich, sumptuous voice. Her songs have been described as uplifting, powerful, and even life-changing. Expect sacred, healing music that connects you to your true wild self. www.mayalove.co.uk 

Lucy Wylde

Devon alt-folk singer-songwriter Lucy Wylde was born a songstress for these times. She brings warmth and presence through her music that moves the soul with her enchanting voice. www.lucywylde.co.uk 

Cacao Ceremony with Dan Knowlson

We share ceremonial cacao together, opening the heart and preparing for the evening ahead. This is heart medicine, gently offered, deeply connecting.

Singing Workshop with Maya Love

Maya leads us in freeing our authentic voices in shared song, vocal improvisation games and chants of empowerment and connection, lifting the energy and deepening our sense of community.

Ecstatic Dance with Sophie Bolton

Sophie leads grounded, powerful spaces that bring people back to their bodies and inner clarity. For over 15 years, she’s been holding transformative spaces where movement meets the sacred; blending music, mindfulness and a deep trust in the body’s innate wisdom. As a conscious dance DJ and MC, her sessions invite embodied presence, emotional honesty, and joyful connection with self and community. www.sophiebolton.co.uk 

Live Music By… Tallulah Rendall

World-renowned singer-songwriter Tallulah Rendall weaves magic into all her performances, inviting full body listening. She closes our musical journey with her beautiful artistry, weaving the threads of the day together. www.tallulahrendall.com 

Closing Ceremony

We end our day together as we began, in ceremony. A gentle closing to honour what we've shared and carry it forward sending our prayers out into the world.

Throughout the day

A selection of massage and treatment offerings will be available (booked and paid separately on the day). Details to follow.

Food & Nourishment

Your ticket includes a delicious meal from Lungi Babas (www.lungibabas.com), a Frome favourite bringing fun, food and folklore. Mahesh and his team cook South Indian-inspired vegetarian food from scratch using whole spices, fresh herbs, and seasonal ingredients. Nourishing, satisfying, and made with care. Their mission is simple: tasty, healthy food at affordable prices that includes all six tastes of nature so you feel truly satisfied.

Snacks and light refreshments available to buy throughout the day.

Our Venue

Horningsham Village Hall

A beautiful village hall full of genuine countryside character and views. Plenty of space to move, dance, and gather comfortably.

Accessible and welcoming. Easy to find, with parking available.

Who This Is For

You don't need experience with cacao, hawthorn or ceremony.

You don't need to know anyone coming.

You don't need to perform or show up as anything other than yourself.

This day is for anyone ready to step into sacred space with intention. It's for those drawn to live music that moves the soul, ceremony that opens the heart, and gathering with others who value genuine connection.

If you're seeking transformation through music, movement, and medicine, this is your invitation.

Investment

Super Early Bird: £65 (LIMITED SPACES - before 15 Feb)

Early Bird: £80 (LIMITED SPACES - before 21 March)

Full Price: £95

Under 16s attend free (must be booked with and accompanied by an adult at all times)

Gifting Ticket: £115 (Pay-it-forward to help someone else attend)

Your ticket includes:

• Full day access (12 - 10pm)
• Ceremonies with hawthorn and cacao
• Live music from three incredible artists
• Sound journey
• Singing workshop
• Ecstatic dance
• Meal from Lungi Babas
• Free teas

Financial accessibility is important!
If cost is a barrier, contact me at dan@cacaomastery.com. I offer a limited number of reduced-rate/ sponsored places and am happy to discuss options.

Meet Your Host

Dan Knowlson is an animist, ceremonialist, mentor, and teacher. He facilitates ceremonies, runs the Cacao Mastery training programme, is co-founder of Elements for Life suppliers of ceremonial cacao, and holds sweat lodges rooted in the British Isles. His approach is grounded, welcoming, and honours the sacred.

Dan's mission is bringing change through connection to heart, nature, spirit, and cacao. His websites are www.cacaomastery.com and www.elementsforlife.co.uk 

Practical Details

Date: Saturday 30 May 2026

Time: 12pm - 10pm (doors open 11.00am, opening ceremony at midday)

Location: Horningsham Village Hall, Wiltshire

Parking: Available at venue and on the street nearby

What to bring: Yourself, comfortable clothing for movement, water bottle, anything that helps you settle in (yoga mat, cushion, sheepskin, blanket, journal)

Ticket Transfers: Can’t make it? You’re welcome to transfer your ticket - just email us with the recipient’s name and email.
Refunds: We do not offer refunds or exchanges, except in the case of event cancellation by the organiser, in which case a full refund will be issued.

Heartwood Rising is an alcohol-free, consent-based gathering. We create space where everyone can feel safe, seen, and free to be themselves. Please note: ceremonial cacao contains natural stimulants. If you're on MAOIs, or have heart conditions, please get in touch before booking.