The last time I did a retreat, which was an intensive full weekend in September 2022, that I titled 'Hold the man'. Other spiritual-related blog posts are (newest to old) 'Seekest thou the path 🌕', 'Dreaming, rituals and values', 'Roots and beyond', 'The calling, awakening and initiation', 'Energy through numbers', 'Orca-strating' and 'Get my rocks on'.
Catching the dream
On 16 May 2026, I was at The Peaceful Soul's 'Catching the dream' mini retreat - Detzi - a deep thank you. It was an absolutely magical, relaxing and soul-nourishing mini retreat on the land of Langor Hall Hotel. The land and woodlands are incredibly beautiful, especially at a time of Spring growth. I decided to attend a mini retreat to experience the day for what it was designed for, and to preview the location for my own bespoke mini retreat for my 40th birthday with my friends. I've not a lot to say or anything deeply profound, but I just wanted to share the journey I made today, along with like-minded others. The central theme was to spend time in nature and create our own bushcraft dream catchers with our intentions and reminders woven in.
As I was walking down to the shed we were going to be working in, me and another lady took a wrong turn and ended up exploring more of the land - turned out to be quite a good mistake to make! Now, I am not a creative person in the crafting sense, I never have been. So I was out of my comfort zone but willing to experience something different. In doing this, it's actually created interest and confidence in making my own shamanic drum in a future Detzi drum making workshop. I feel ready to have my own drum now to practice with. Anyway, it was such a memorable day and I'm really honoured to be in a circle of ladies I shared the day with. Fire in the background, connection and conversation - bliss. It was such a magical vibe that made me feel warm and tingly inside. Great company and stories shared. I'm glad how we could all be ourselves. I loved being the honorary male, to quote Detzi on that title.
Circle member - "Dan it was so lovely to have you in the group as all circles I've been to have been all woman. It is so good to have the yin and yang."
Thank you to Louise at Langar Hall for your magical and most nurturing space 🙏🙏🙏🙏"
Everyone's dream catchers were absolutely stunning and uniquely created by them and their choice of materials. I, like some others, I did not complete mine on the day - I needed to add further adornments etc. A week afterwards I got it to a completed state, but still want to add further pieces and maybe a crystal at the centre, as well as finding some other natural things to stick on it.
My intention was evolving throughout the day, but I was in inspired to draw on heron symbolism energy for patience, focus, precision and grounding in my spiritual endeavours. I rarely see herons, but I have been seeing a few herons lately in unique synchronous circumstances. However, I think this intention turned out to be more of a reminder and representation of my current situation than a 'goal'. As I was creating my dream catcher, I was intermittently focusing on, breathing and weaving in my new goals and creating new habits. Also representing that I can be creative and see the journey through through such activity. At the start I was worried that I would not be able to produce such thing, especially as I don't have any experience to draw on e.g. knitting, needle or knot work, but through Detzi's guidance I was able to. I really had to go back to basics, like primary school ha basics ha. I recall saying how the knotty areas are like releasing muscle nots, to relieve tension for energy to flow. Which is very apt at this current time, a bit of tension build up that I need to gently release in order for the right positive energies to flow in the right places. Shaking off old unwanted energies and behaviours. As the saying goes "Energy flows where intention goes".
Apart from the goal of creating a dream catcher, it wanted to feel grounded in nature, a peaceful day for me - not to think about anything else, which I did. Improving my meditation practices and learning new ways e.g. mediate horizontally on the grass - loved that at the end and subtle rain drops falling on us, a light cleanse. I'll be sure to visit in general, not just for retreats.
To close, we all laid on the grass in a mandala design, connecting to the earth while holding our dream catchers at our hearts, breathing our and sealing our intentions into them. A few gentle raindrops fall on us, which wasn't forecast, so we can take that as a nice cleanse to the day. Detzi got emotional of what we all had achieved, so I decided to lean in to create a group hug. Just shows how like-minded individuals connecting and building a sense of community really can be healing for the soul.
