Woodland Vigil - An Invitation to Sit with the Night

An invitation to spend a ceremonial night in wilderness, giving the land an opportunity to become both your guide and ally. 

In this quiet communion with nature, we may find clarity or insights on various aspects of our life, leading us back to our true essence and reigniting the ancient bond that connects us with all that surrounds.

Do you feel a song in your heart, an invitation from the earth, or whispers from the ancestors urging you to come back into relationship with yourself and the more than human world?

Indigenous initiations across the world involve sacred solitude within the wilderness, but these journeys now only sparsely exist in modern culture. But at any stage of life, embarking on a ceremonial journey into the untamed wild can offer us profound insights and revelations.

When we seek out solitude in nature without the distractions from the everyday, we discover companionship with our true essence, Mother Earth and the spirit of all life. Spending a night in the wilderness allows us to rediscover our interconnectedness with everything around us, acknowledging our primal ties with the wild and remember what we’ve always belonged to.

Amidst the veiled darkness of this woodland vigil, we are enveloped by the nurturing feminine energy of the beech trees that surround, providing a sacred space to witness, listen, and surrender. The land serves as a perfect ally, offering guidance, leading us back to our nature, and inviting us to listen to our soul’s song.

Each sit out is aligned with a celebration from the Wheel of the Year and so we will also have an opportunity to dive into what this means for us, and connect with the herbs and plants of the season.

While the nighttime vigil is undertaken in solitude, it will be open and closed in group ceremony. Together, we cultivate a network of support, intertwining our individual intentions and insights to create collective magic. The medicine we receive in this experience can be nurtured and amplified when shared, so that we can integrate the lessons into our paths beyond the vigil.

This vigil in the woods isn't just a night under the stars; the night’s sky can be a canvas for us to discover our true selves, a doorway to return to what is primal, to reconnect with the land and reignite our inner knowing.

“The world rests in the night. Trees, mountains, fields, and faces are released from the prison of shape and the burden of exposure. Each thing creeps back into its own nature within the shelter of the dark. Darkness is the ancient womb. Nighttime is womb-time. Our souls come out to play. The darkness absolves everything; the struggle for identity and impression falls away. We rest in the night.”

John O’Donohue

A journey with intention

The journey begins with an online group call two weeks ahead of the vigil, where we will have an opportunity to stir what is most alive and start thinking about our intentions. We will be introduced to the power of the four directions to give us some time to explore what this means as a compass for cultivating wholeness.

On the eve of the vigil, you will be welcomed with a warming meal which you are invited to bring accompaniments for, just like a village feast. We will have an opportunity to explore the land, find any items that we would like to create a personal altar with and choose a spot, before returning back to the opening ceremony around the fire. Here we have an opportunity to speak our intentions aloud, share poems and songs and then when you feel called to, you may wander to your spot.

As dawn arises you are welcome to join for a song and ritual around the fire to celebrate the sun rising together.

There will then be an opportunity to rest in the snug, or outside if you so wish before we gather to break fast together and to share the insights and wisdom we have gathered from the night.

The Wise Woods

By booking this retreat, you are supporting the magical woodland of the Wise Woods Project, where our woodland vigil is being held. Managed by The Wisdom Space, The Wise Woods Project is an accessible, intergenerational woodland space for the community to gather, find stillness and to connect deeply with nature. It is located between Box and Corsham in Wiltshire and also very accessible from Bath.

YOUR FACILITATORS 

Aisha von Nahmacher

Alongside her facilitation of bodyfulness, Aisha produces stories (through documentary) and is in the making of projects that explore Britain’s ancient practices. Having been gifted the middle name of Amanita, Aisha has grown up with an ineffable curiosity in the healing powers of plants and fungi. This has led to her inquiry into ancient and indigenous practices near and far.  Born and raised in London, she always felt a yearning for the wild and loves to gather people together for magical moments of reconnection.  

Sue Judge

Sue is a seasoned holistic health practitioner with over 15 years of experience as a naturopathic nutritional therapist, workshop leader, and corporate well-being provider. Currently studying Eco-psychology, she blends naturopathic nutrition, ecotherapy, and eco-depths exploration into her holistic approach. Sue's work focuses on harmonising relationships with oneself, others, and the natural world. Her accessible and empowering sessions reflect her commitment to transformative experiences. Sue's passion is for supporting individuals on their journey back to soul and community, igniting curiosity, awe, and wonder along the way.

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