Traditionally the midwinter festvitals were a time of joyous celebration and connection with family, friends and community as the year's work was mostly complete, the days were short and the nights long. Following the winter solstice the days would begin to lengthen again, bringing back the light and newness to the world. Still today, it is a period when people generally have holidays and spend time with their loved ones.  A period of relaxation, connection and celebration.

Christmas and the midwinter is a serene time of magic and wonder, it is a time of hibernation and inner contempletion, yet for many it has been overtaken by the matrix and it's expectations.  For some Christmas appears to highjack their lives for the month of December and beyond?   A form of stress rather than a time to relax, unwind, rest and even heal.  

Last week my hairdresser bouyantly informed me that her spare room was full chock-a-block with gifts, while someone else spoke of not wanting to go to family for Christmas, but feeling oblidged.  My friend has a three year old boy and wants to avoid consumerism and encourage him to find the joy, gratitude and creativity of the midwinter festival, yet everywhere he goes folk ask him what he is getting from Santa.  I appreciate that all of these things - gifts, seeing family and Santa are well intentioned, though I find myself asking where has the authenticity and the true meaning of Christmas gone?  

How can we balance our own rightness with the expectations of society at this or any other time of year? What about living true to ourselves and not compromising our souls? Perhaps offering gifts as a genuine heartfelt token of our appreciation for another, rather than because it is expected.  I love to make homemade cards, as I create them I feel gratitude and fondly think of those to whom I will send them, it builds positive energy.  I love to sing and Christmas carols are so joyous and familiar, they lift my heart.  

How can you engage in the festive season with joy and authenticity? What inspires your soul?  What gift can you give yourself?  I want to see the truth and beauty, love and inspiration that is all around and inside of me.  I yearn to live from my soul moment to moment, greeting each joy and challenge with the fullness of my being.  In the depths of winter, I want to find the light through and beyond the darkness.  And it's not exclusive to midwinter either, it's my gift for the whole year through!  ​

Seven year old Bobby captured the deeper meaning of Christmas wonderfully when he said"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas, if you stop opening presents and listen."  ​This touching video beautifully shows children expressing what they truly want for Christmas... love, connection and time with their parents, above any other gift!  BTW you may need to have tissues close at hand...

May you find and express your hearts desire and your souls longing this midwinter solstice period, in whatever way is right for you.  May you be full with love, joy and inspiration this festive season and into the new year.

Fiona

As many of you know I am now based in Avalon Rising, Openhand's Retreat Centre in Glastonbury.  Glastonbury is a very special place, one of the world's most renowned energy centres and reckoned by many to be the earth's heart chakra.  I am delighted and excited that we are now offering personal retreats from Openhand's awesome, high vibrational centre - Avalon Rising.  

Visitors to our centre find it deeply calming, but also profoundly revelatory. In working with the Openhand Team, mirrors are cast, the vibration of your soul felt, and blockages processed. People feel uplifted, invigorated and gain a better understanding of the path that lies before them. Such clarity is utterly priceless in finding the right alignment in your life: in your career, your relationships and general living. We run personal retreats all year round, where you can come on your own, or in a small group.

It is invaluable to take time out of your 'normal' everyday life, in order to connect more deeply with your true self. Engaging in an Avalon Rising Personal Retreat is an excellent way to unwind, let go, to replenish body and soul in a high vibrational, nourishing and supportive environment.

​The retreat includes the following:

• Space to unwind and connect deeper with your soul
• Supportive conversation/facilitation and group sharings
• Use of our meditation space and beautiful gardens
• 2 nights accommodation in a private room
• Morning meditations and a soulmotion session
• Nutritious, organic, vegan breakfasts and evening meals
• Guidance on the local area, walks and energy sites
• Extras include lunch, sauna, outings, massage, facilitation, spiritual catalysis and reflexology

All meals are nourishing, organic and vegan. Each morning there will be an optional meditation, followed by a brief sharing. The space will be lovingly held by Fiona (that's me!), and I will be available at times during the day should you want to connect. There will also be the opportunity to participate in a guided soulmotion session. soulmotion is a dynamic way of connecting and expressing from your soul. To encourage mindfulness and spaciousness, we invite participants to be in silence from 10 pm until 9am the following morning or longer if you wish.

​What do you want from your personal retreat?
​
You have the possibility to tailor make your personal retreat depending on how you would like to spend your time. You may feel just to be in your own space and quiet, or to engage in facilitation or bodywork with a highly skilled facilitator, or to spend some time exploring Glastonbury and Avalon, Gaia’s heart centre. Additional sessions are best booked in advance, they include:

• Reflexology and soulmotion with Fiona
• Deep Conscious Bodywork with Trinity
• Facilitation with Pennie or Fiona
• Spiritual Catalysis with Open

We're going through fundamental change in the world, which is challenging people to their very core. How can you navigate your way through the challenges of life? How can you empower your soul to create the best way of living that serves your highest potential?

Or maybe you need to rest, recouperate and recharge your batteries for a while. All is possible on the Openhand Personal Retreats atAvalon Rising.
It could be all you need for a rejuvenating, yet highly revelatory booster on your path.

​I look forward to seeing you!