I am here because of Roz. I am wearing the T-shirt I got from the first weekend retreat. It says Savage Weekend. She is Roz Savage. The sisters are all friends of Roz's. How did I become a friend of Roz's? Roz was a friend of Swifty's (you might have seen him in the Paris blog). We were at his place catching up 10 years ago. Roz was staying. Bill, Roz and Swifty all went to Oxford, though Roz later. Then Roz came to NZ and stayed with us. I was lucky to have a few days with her. Five years ago Roz had a 50th weekend retreat at Gunthorpe in England. I was privileged to be invited. It was beautifully timed for me - again - as Bill and I were travelling then too. (There was no blog then so I can't refer to it.)
Roz is an amazing person. If I told you she is the first woman to row solo across three oceans - the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian - you get the drift! [From Wikipedia]:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roz_Savage
That retreat was to celebrate Roz turning 50. It has been an incredible journey with this group. Zooms and Zoom breakouts over COVID-19. All of these girls I have met on Zoom, and six in person who came to Gunthorpe.
I feel privileged to be able to go on this weekend retreat as well. There have been a few other retreats since Gunthorpe, which I haven't been able to make. Liz, Romy and Kath were not in this shot below so they are in the next one. From left to right Terri, Jane, Mémé, Catherine E, Julie, Susie, Jo, Aileen, Ann, Sue, me and Roz.
Romy and Kath are at the end in this one and Liz is second from the front on the left, I now have all 15 of us accounted for.
Kath and Aileen picked me up from Freddie and Simon's Orchard Hill and off we went. We were asked to get picnic food for one day, so Simon took me to a mini-Tesco I think it was. I bought some cheese and fruit. Freddie gave me a picnic pack to put everything in. This is important for later ....
Kath was at Gunthorpe, and driving. It was chit-chat all the way. Kath is a director at Bond, works as a Samaritan in prisons and has run 4 marathons, amongst many other things. Aileen is presently working in a cafe and is an expert on behavioural science, digital transformation, marketing and advertising, has been a professor in this field and has come from Boston for this weekend.
What I love about this group of girls is their attitude and they are from all over the world. They are up to stuff, are fun, love workshops given by each other and they don't mind if they are slightly left field and/or access truth, beauty and goodness. I had volunteered to give a workshop on 'play'. I practised it with Aileen and Kath. They were so fun about it. They were now my assistants for the 'play' workshop. We 'played' on this car trip and it was fun.
We arrive just in time for a lovely dinner at the Swinton Estate Cafe. After dinner, Roz suggests first up we get to know each other again. Everyone has a turn to speak about anything. Roz is up first and hers is about why she is entering politics. She is the candidate for the Liberal Democrat Party in the South Cotswolds seat. Just like she knew it was the right thing for her to row solo across three oceans, and leave a good corporate job, she knows it is right for her to make a difference as a Member of Parliament. (Of course, as our wonderful sister we all think she will be PM sooner than later.)
The girl in the very back below was Frankie, our cafe attendee. She deserves a shout-out. We had so many dietary requirements and nothing was a bother. I love the way a cafe worker can make such a difference.
Roz talking.
After dinner, we go and look for the Druid Temple to give our clearings for the weekend and our lives. There is no moon and a new moon will rise the next day. Mémé and Sue lead this. Out with the old and in with the new. A candle is lit, Sue and Mémé invite us all to let go of something if we want to and to speak it out loud.
Letting go of stuff and making way for something new. Some girls declare in turn what they are letting go of. I find myself wanting to go silent. This is familiar. Do I like holding on, or is this too early in the weekend to say stuff like this? I need a warm-up. Not wanting, not thinking I can speak, pops up. On the flip side. I realise being able to express myself succinctly is important to me and for everyone to do so. I say that into the space. I am letting go that I am not able to say clearly my desires and express them. The next step is to declare what kind of world we are creating ... I want to let go of suppressing myself in some situations and make way for more succinct communication. I want everyone to be able to be self-expressed and speak clearly about what they want and get what they want. I say this. How am I doing? I think that was brave and what if we did have this in our world? It would be joyous. Others want peace, to deal with anger and I can't remember what else. I was too busy thinking how brave I had been.
The next day we find the Druid Temple. It was 5o meters more from last night's new moon activity. Where we did last night's activity was a sculpture of rocks just before it. More about the Druid Temple later.
I am rooming with Liz, Jane, and Kath. It is incredible Kath has made it to this weekend as she has a knee injury from skiing/dancing. She is a sporty spice, she looks super fit and I can imagine being injured would be annoying for her. In true Kath style, she has found the country club and while we walk she will rehab her knee. She is so adult about this injury, and the way she tackles everything I am super impressed. This is our tree hut abode.
A bit about the Swinton Estate and the Druid Temple from the internet.
Swinton Estate: https://www.swintonestate.com/bivouac/tree-lodges/
Druid Temple: The woodland at Bivouac is home to the Druid’s Temple which is steeped in history and intrigue. Not a great deal is known about the construction of the folly, but it is believed to have been built in the late 1700s by William Danby.
It is rumoured that a hermit lived there for many years, but its mystical connections are probably fairly tenuous, as it was built at a time when there was a great deal of interest in Druidism as part of the emerging Romantic period.
The site contains a main temple along with numerous stone formations dotted around the woodland for eager walkers to find as they explore.
https://www.swintonestate.com/activities/druids-temple/
[From Wikipedia]: "A Druid was a member of the learned class among the ancient Celts. They acted as priests, teachers, and judges. The earliest known records of the Druids come from the 3rd century BC. (More about this tomorrow.) According to Caesar, the druids were a highly respected and influential class in Celtic society. They were in charge of public and private sacrifices, which were considered essential for appeasing the gods and ensuring the well-being of the people."
This is our Druid of the sisters.
I have a great night's sleep. I am on the second bunk along with Jane. No-one snores. I trust I didn't. The next morning, after breakfast I am up with my "play" workshop. It is cold and we rug up. Here it is in action. The idea was to investigate what is meant by "play' in conversations, how it could make a difference, then where you do 'play ' and where do you not.
I was pleased I had practised in the car. Aileen and Kath are super assistants. When I lead workshops I always get something for me. I got the superpower play is even more. I partnered with Kath and what if I really focussed on my commitments and I 'played ' with everything? I can be so darned significant when I am driven for things I want to make happen. What if I was a driven superpower of "play' for my commitments? Would I be more present?
Then we walked. This is Roz, Sue and Aileen.
Jo, Terri and Aileen.
At the Black Swan pub, we had a drink and lunch. From left to right- Romy, Jane, Kath, Susie, Julie, Mémé and Aileen.
Jo, Terri, Ann, Roz, Liz, Susie and Catherine.
On the way back from the pub, I walked with Ann and Aileen. Ann tells me in 6 weeks she bought and renovated an apartment for her daughter and a flatmate in St Andrews. I see the apartment in her photos later. It is incredible. She is an interior designer, and super savvy.
Ann says she has dropped some 20 pound notes. She dropped them on the way back and managed to pick some up. She is non-fussed about it as she is sure the others are behind her and will pick them up.
We wait for the others to catch us up and look forward to the hand-over!
Then a car pulls up. Susie and Terri had found Saint Peter.
We all head to the Druid Temple at about 5.oo pm for the next sister-led activity. Catherine is leading the session. She starts by acknowledging nature. She invites us to pick up something natural on the way to acknowledge the earth together and the space we are in. We see a few visitors on the way. I am sure they think we are a bit weird. The Druid temple is weird. It is a folly and must have had some use.
Catherine leads us to use it to acknowledge nature. I love this.
We head into the temple with our nature offering.
Then find a space so all our offerings are together. We hold hands and love our earth.
Then we explore. I find it all fascinating and a bit scary if I was on my own. I am pleased the sisters are exploring these stones with me. The stones are huge. It must have taken an army to get them here. An amazing piece of art and weirdly witchy and wonderful I think.
Kath and me.
Kath and Sue.
Back to the cafe for dinner. Kath and Sue, Catherine and Liz.
We thank these two for organising everything - Roz and Jo.
Then it is hot tub and sauna time. Jo, Julie, Catherine and Mémé.
After the photo I want to join in and they have all gone so I am by myself.
Jo kept the fire under the spa and sauna going, and had a lot of spas too.
The sauna view.
Some of the 20,000 hectares of the Swinton Estate.
The next morning Kath was up with her inclusion workshop. It was held in the teepee.
A few shots before the workshop starts. Mémé always carries a bag of tricks with her.
Terri and Sue.
Then the seating collapsed.
Then the workshop. Kath wanted to know people's thoughts on inclusion, and wanted to learn more. First, who was not included and why do you think they were not? Then ideas on how to include. All I could think of was the many courses I had done and the learning to include I had done many times over (learning self-expression, freedom to be, power to not react, and to deal with difficult situations and having peace of mind about everything).
I share about the courses I have done - how to make people right, how to not make people wrong and much more, I wish everyone could do the Landmark Forum and what difference that would make for inclusion. What if everyone could have that? Others talked about anger management courses and other learnings. It was an awesome discussion. Thank you, Kath. This reminds me of Kath.
Then we headed off for a picnic lunch by the tree huts. Some went for another spa. Some relaxed. So much yummy food. Méme, Jo and Aileen.
Susie and Jo.
Méme
Aileen, Terri, Jane and Romy.
Liz and I got a photo to send Casey. During COVID-19 the three of us completed the Artists Way, led by Casey.
We head back to the teepee for a sound bath. Back row - Aileen, Liz, Sue, Jo and Ann . Front row Méme, Roz, me and Jane.
Jo had found a local who did this. It was my first sound bath.
"A sound bath meditation helps you focus on the present moment and clear your mind of distractions. It can help you get rid of negative emotions, like anger and frustration. It can help you achieve deeper states of relaxation, which can lead to better sleep, reduced stress levels, and improved moods."
At the end, we all picked out a healing card each. I got Mugwort - the light shining on somewhere that used to be dark.
I had a transformation after this session. One sister's experience when I was talking about the courses I had done was that I was trying to fix her up. I realised if that if this was her experience it could be I have been trying to fix myself up with the courses I do. I shone the light to look at this more.
Wow, I thought what if I got I am whole, complete and perfect more often? Meaning sometimes I can go into a hole about stuff. What if I could get I was whole, complete and perfect and growing and developing is something to really celebrate. It is part of being perfect. (Halleluja Bill husband said when I shared the above.) I got a deeper cut of being whole, complete and perfect 24/7. That was a true gift.
Thank you Kath, and thanks to the sister who was super authentic, bold and generous with me, and I am sorry for the experience you had. I know I could also say she is not responding to me. And it is something to shine the light on for sure. I want to build muscle in this for sure.
Roz asks a few of us if we want to visit the temple again. It is dark and a new moon is appearing. The others decline. I am hesitant and then say I will come. I shine the head torch Aileen has loaned me on the path so I don’t trip. The walk is 5 min from the tree huts. The air is moist as if there could be rain coming. There is a stillness in the air and we can only hear the sound of our footsteps. We say little as we enter the temple. Roz seems empowered by this place. I am pleased to be with her. I am not so sure and I am looking over my shoulder. I remind myself Roz has rowed the three oceans solo - I am with someone who has survival skills and it makes me feel safer. We head towards the cave inside the temple. I stay close to Roz.
As we get closer to the cave part of the temple, three guys reveal themselves. We are all surprised. Roz starts chit-chatting with them - 'This is a pretty special place, where are you from?' (I wanted to ask what are you doing? - so much for my expressing myself in all situations! I didn’t and neither did Roz.)
Roz like a polished politician acts surprised and continues ‘How far did you drive?' They were from 3 hours away. I continue to clam up and just want to leave. The guys announce they have forgotten something and head out of the temple.
I am relieved. It seems like I am a female in the meadow of a long time ago and in the wrong place. Roz is a Hunter Type 1. She seems unphased. We head back. As we turn towards the tree huts we hear the car door shut and the guys' footsteps back to the temple. Had they forgotten something? Were they hiding something? I think those guys were up to something - drugs? seance? we will never know.
We head to the tree hut for more stories. We have a good story now. Susie reads something. I can't remember what and I do remember we all loved it.
We are all packing up now. Rather than take leftover food out of the picnic bag that Freddie gave me, I leave it on the deck. Something less to think about I think. Wrong!
Catherine in the morning tells me what happened. An animal for sure. Maybe a fox?
I leave the bag there, and gather what is left, and wash everything.
Time for breakfast. We head to do Liz's silent walk. I am looking forward to this. She tells us to connect our hearts with all of nature. The intention she says is to walk in silence 2 metres apart, and be empowered by all of it.
We walked for 40 minutes. I got I have had nature is not whole, complete and perfect either. What if it is all whole complete and perfect just as it is?
Time to say our goodbyes to a magical retreat. Thank you sisters for being in my life and for who you are in the world. Not sure whether I can make another retreat - and you never know? I sure would love to. Who knows what the future holds for us all? I will organise a retreat in Waiheke for 2026. Details coming soon.
