Wild Woman Camp Out: Nature Immersion and Beltane Sit Out

Answer the ancient call of the wild and shed the constraints of modern life to awaken your primal, untamed self. Through fireside rituals, moonlit ceremonies, and deep communion with nature, rediscover your true essence, heal from within, and leave nourished and connected with the fierce, vibrant power of the earth. 

The call
 

To those who are listening to the song that the earth wants to sing through you, you are being called to come lay your body on the ground, to kiss the earth and feel the heartbeat of wildness in your blood as you remember the power of the archetypal Wild Woman. 

The Wild Woman Camp Out is a new but ancient invitation to shake free from the shackles of society, to step into the unknown and the restorative power of the natural world and gather as women have done - under the full moon, by babbling brooks and around crackling fires - as you awaken your four legged furry or feathered self.

If you’re exhausted, burnout, anxious or stressed then this is a sanctuary for your soul to rest in, to come back to the self and tend to the parts of us that are frazzled by modern life as we soften into our bodies, hearts and souls, remembering who we are beyond the noise of modern life. 

This weekend is about becoming alive to the animate world and realising we are a part of the earth, to gently sink into the land and open ourselves to the wisdom of nature, the possibility that it can hold all of us without judgement. 

"This retreat was incredible, life-affirming and challenging....in a good way. It was a beautifully created safe space, both in camp and out on the moor. One of the best things I've ever done....I have re-integrated feeling healthy, refreshed and whole, and am continuing to listen to mystery!" - Jenna
 

Through a powerful weekend immersion in the heart of Dartmoor, surrounded by ancient woodland, meadows, rivers and moor, this is an opportunity to gather in community, create the space to slow down and invite our wild side out to play as we explore the healing potential and beauty of the natural world. 

If you have been yearning for the beating hearts of kindred souls, the smell of rivers and fires, dancing under an open sky, and the freedom to express all parts of your being, then this retreat is for you.

Expect sleeping on the earth, fireside living, beautiful nature, self created ceremony, wild river dips, deep rest, singing, dancing and drumming under the full moon.

“An extremely magical, sacred experience that has forever shifted something in me. I am a born and raised Londoner who has never camped before, literally never pitched a tent before! This was a really scary and uncomfortable thing for me to do. Alana & co helped me fall in love with wild camping & the land of Dartmoor. I am so fucking happy that I booked this trip. It felt like a real rite of passage. I burst into tears as I tried to explain to my partner the experience I had. A safe, expansive, playful, poetic, rebellious container. I loved it. Just go.” - Siena K 
 

Why we gather
 

So many women are exhausted, burnout, depressed, anxious and ‘insert difficult challenging circumstances here’ - but these experiences are systemic, they are symptoms of much larger problems with the way the western world functions as separate from the natural world. 

Much of this separation manifests in how we reject parts of ourselves that we deem unacceptable for public consumption but are actually essential for living in a healthy way - Just like so many parts of nature are essential for a healthy ecosystem yet we’ve destroyed them. 

This is an opportunity to rediscover your huntress, your muse, the one who is filled with rage or grief, the one of you who knows they belong to the earth, the feral and flea bitten parts of you, the wide eyed bushy tailed one of you, the warrior, the beloved, the crone, the one who doesn’t fit into boxes, all the parts of you that are reflected in the beauty of the natural world. This gathering serves as a place to welcome these exiled parts home and explore what wholeness feels like. 

What to Expect
 

Over the weekend we will create a supportive sisterhood where we each feel able to be seen and accepted in all that we are, exploring fireside living under the stars. 

Inspired by the Wild Mind Map and nature based modalities like the 8 shields nature connection and cultural healing map, this weekend we will work with a range of practices to connect to the power of nature and the archetypes of wholeness including:

Sharing circles
Sit spots
Self designed ceremony
Time with the land 
Embodiment practices 
Meditation  
Play and games

A note: This weekend is a deep nature immersion with very basic amenities which is intentional to support leaving behind the conditioning of modern society. This will mean participants will be sleeping in tents,  there are compost loos but no hot showers (river bathing is encouraged) and we will have some sheltered space but will still be working in all weathers so waterproofs will be essential. 
 

“Alana is an incredibly kind, empathetic, and wholesome soul. Her energy and passion for the environment and for bringing people together are truly inspiring. She made everyone feel welcome and created a space where we could all connect, reflect, and grow.” - Eleni 

Weekend Highlights 
 

Deep Nature Connection

Through various invitations over the weekend you will have the opportunity to really meet the wild nature around us and see how we are part of it. 
 

Archetypes of Wholeness

Movement, embodiment and many invitations to connect with the different parts of ourselves that can help us access the riches of our wholeness and connect with the natural world. 
 

Midnight  sit out

A chance to step outside your comfort zone, befriend the darkness and create a ceremony for yourself to honour the thresholds you are crossing and to be with the power of the night. 

A few Important Things to Note

1. While this work may have therapeutic benefits, this is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. If you are seeking therapy then we encourage you to seek 1-1 support from a qualified psychotherapist. If you are experiencing significant mental health challenges please contact us in advance so that we can have a conversation about whether this retreat is right for you at this time. 
2. The food will be simple and mainly vegan and gluten free with some cheese and egg options. Tea and coffee will be available. 
3. There is no phone reception at the venue. We encourage you to take the opportunity to disconnect from the outside world, and to fully immerse yourself in nature. Please make sure you tell loved one's that you will be out of communication for the weekend. 
4. You will need your own camping kit for this event - this includes tent, sleeping bag, ground mat etc.  A full list is provided on booking of what you'll need for the weekend. 
   
    

Venue

Our venue lies literally at the heart of Dartmoor and is surrounded by open moorland, forest, river and meadows. It is a stunning area that is in the process of being rewilded and restored by those who care for it with the hopes to increase biodiversity and ecosystem complexity. 

With this in mind it is important as participants and guests that we take very good care of the land as there are many ecological sensitive and vulnerable habitats. Further information will be sent upon ticket confirmation but please be aware in advance that our agreement with being on the land is one of Leave No Trace - this includes making sure toothpaste and soap we use is biodegradable. 

Travel

We create a whatsapp group in advance so that you can arrange a lift share or taxi share with other women on the retreat. The nearest train station is Newton Abbot, nearest town is Buckfastleigh. 

Timings

Participants are requested to arrive late afternoon on Thursday between 3.00 and 5.00pm latest. 

The last Activity will finish at 9pm on Sunday evening and participants are welcome to leave then but can also stay the night.

Investment

Your Booking Includes

4 nights camping

3 Full days of workshops, council and ritual

Breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacks

Access to wild nature in the heart of Dartmoor, Devon

(Does not include travel to and from site)

Payment Options

All tickets are camping - you must bring your own kit. 

Standard - £450

Early Bird - £350 (Till end of January 2023) 

Ticket Policy

• £200 of your ticket is a non-refundable deposit. This is to cover any admin costs if you choose to cancel and to support participants to be sure they can attend before purchasing a ticket. 
• We do not offer the 10% membership discount on our retreats. This is because our overheads are so high, and a 10% discount on an event with a high ticket value has a huge affect on our overall budget. 
• We cannot offer any refunds if you decide not to attend within 14 days of the retreat start date. With such short notice we are usually unable to fill your spot. If we (or you) do manage to find someone to fill your spot we can transfer your ticket to another retreat.
• Please be sure that you are able to attend the whole retreat before booking. We request that participants join with the intention of staying until the end of the retreat unless this has been discussed and arranged with us before booking your ticket and prior to the start of the retreat.

About the Facilitators

Alana Bloom

Alana Bloom is an artist, facilitator and nature connection guide stewarding eco-centric and animist ways of being that bring us back into connection with the natural world, each other and our deepest nature. Her work is focused on regeneration and cultural change through personal and collective healing, centred in our relationship with the earth. 

She has been guiding transformational experiences for people to explore unleashing their true wild self for several years, working with hundreds of people and a variety of organisations on the frontiers of personal and planetary healing. Invested in her own personal development, she has devoted many years to her own enquiry and exploration of soulcraft, archetypes, ritual, creativity, rites of passage, cyclical living and nature based cultural healing which is embedded in her work, alongside her background in physical theatre, dance and embodiment. 

She is co-founder of True Nature, a women’s events platform focused on ecological awakening, self-healing and empowered relationships and also works in the realms of ecosystem restoration and community building. 

www.alanahydebloom.co.uk