Winter Solstice Retreat ~ Release ~ Receive ~ Renew

Welcome to this nourishing event:

Winter Solstice Retreat ~ Release ~ Receive ~ Renew

Date: Saturday December 20th, 2025
Time: 9am-12:30
Location: Bisley Yurt, Winter Solstice Retreat ~ Release ~ Receive ~ Renew

Step into a transformative day of connection, creativity, and self-discovery as we journey into the timeless realm of myth. Together, we’ll explore the captivating world of archetypes — the hidden forces shaping the roles you play, your relationships, family and work life. Unlock the power they hold to help you rewrite your story.

Through ritual, creativity, and embodied practices, you’ll break the chains of attachment to who you were told to be, who you thought you were, and the roles you have played. This is your invitation to step into a new narrative, guided by the wisdom of the archetypes already alive within you.

✨What To Expect:

🌿 Opening the Sacred Circle
Welcome, gentle introductions, and a grounding overview of Solstice traditions that honour stillness, intuition, and the return of the sun.

❤️ Cacao Ceremony
A heart-opening ritual to support emotional clarity, inner listening, and connection.

✨ Shamanic Drum Journey
A guided inner exploration to uncover what you’re ready to release and the light within you that’s waiting to emerge.

📓 Reflection & Release Ritual
Journaling prompts, symbolic burning of what no longer serves you, and space to let go with intention.

🕯️ Candle Gazing & Intuition Practice
A shared candle-lighting ceremony—each flame passed from one person to another to symbolise community, renewal, and the returning light.

✨ Shamanic Drum Journey
A guided inner exploration to uncover what you’re ready to release and the light within you that’s waiting to emerge.

📓 Reflection & Release Ritual
Journaling prompts, symbolic burning of what no longer serves you, and space to let go with intention.

🔔 Hibernating Sound Healing Bath
A restorative sound journey focused on grounding the root chakra, inviting deep rest and inner exploration.

🌱 Calling In the New
Journaling to clarify what you are ready to receive and attract as light returns.

🌙 Closing the Circle
A final sharing, integration, and gentle completion of our morning together.

This Retreat Is For You If You’re Ready To…

• Slow down and reconnect with yourself
• Let go of emotional, mental, or energetic heaviness
• Honour ancient Solstice traditions
• Awaken intuition and inner guidance
• Feel supported within a nurturing, sacred circle
• Step into the new season with clarity and intention

YOUR GUIDES

Juliette Noske
Juliette Noske is a skilled facilitator who has been guiding beautiful souls on their paths of self-discovery, transformation, and healing for over two decades. With a nurturing presence and a deeply intuitive approach, she holds space for individuals and groups to explore, grow, and blossom into their fullest expression. Her journey began with a passion for the creative and expressive arts, studying drama, physical theatre, and performance art at Manchester University. She went on to become a drama workshop leader in London, using the power of storytelling and embodiment to connect and inspire. Over time, her path expanded into a rich tapestry of practices, including yoga, breathwork, shamanism, tantra, contact improvisation, and psychology — each one deepening her understanding of the human experience.
Juliette has walked the path of self-exploration with a beginner’s mindset, meeting each moment with presence, curiosity, and an open heart. Now, with 50 circles around the sun, she continues to embrace life’s invitations with grace and wonder. Drawing on a rich tapestry of experience and deep compassion, she holds sacred space for transformation—supporting others in awakening to their inner wisdom and fullest potential.

Jennifer

Workshop structure (This may change slightly)

9:00-9:30 ~ Opening The Sacred Circle, Welcome, Intros & Check-in

9:30-10:00 ~ Cacao Ceremony ~ Heart Opening ~ Intention, intuition and inner connection

10:00-10:30 ~ Shamanic Drum Journey with guided meditation

10:30-10:45 ~ Deep Reflection and Journaling 

10:45-11:00 ~ Release and surrender exercise

11:00-11:15 ~ BREAK 10 minutes

11:15-11:30 ~ Stillness and Inner Intuition Exercise

11:30-12:00 ~ Hibernating Sound Healing Bath ~ Root chakra focus

12:00-12:15 ~ Journaling time

12:15-12:30 ~ Closing The Sacred Circle

CACAO BENEFITS

Lots of Goodness:

Contains iron, magnesium and calcium and tonnes of antioxidants.

Improves Your Focus

Cacao contains dopamine, the neurotransmitter that aids mental concentration, focus and the cultivation of positivity towards life.

Reduces Your Stress

Cacao stimulates the release of endorphins, which calm the body's stress response and act as a powerful and natural anti-depressant.

Boosts Your Energy

Cacao stimulates the cardiovascular system, giving a full body high without the anxious buzz of caffeine.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Read carefully, this information is important:

CACAO USE

Is cacao safe for me? Who shouldn’t drink cacao?
For most people, cacao is very safe! However, there are some specific contraindications so please check below.

Health factors to be particularly aware of are:

*if you are on antidepressants, SSRIs or other medication, have a heart condition or are pregnant: Be aware that the theobromine in cacao is a vasodilator: it increases the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. Cacao in the concentrated doses we consume in ceremony therefore increases blood flow to the brain & heart by at least 40% so you may be better off with a smaller dose. I usually offer a half-dose to people on SSRIs. Please see below for more info.


*if you are taking 5-htp (5-Hydroxytryptophan) it's advisable to have a smaller dose of cacao.

*if you are taking St John's Wort, please refrain from taking it for a few days before & after the cacao circle.

*if you are on MAOI antidepressants, cacao (& all forms of chocolate) is contraindicated because it contains tyramine.

*if you take antipsychotic medication, (for any reason), consuming ceremonial cacao in this way is also contraindicated. (And if being treated for psychosis, I also don't feel it's wise to engage in practices which involve exploring how to tune into and hear an inner voice, the voice of a plant spirit or other guide.)

*if you have low blood pressure, be aware that although cacao is a stimulant, it lowers blood pressure. Depending on your condition, a smaller dose might be appropriate - in some cases it may be contraindicated eg if you have had epileptic fits triggered by low blood pressure (bear in mind that the whole ritualised experience of lying down & being guided on a nidra & deeply introspective journey is also likely to lower your blood pressure even without the cacao!). Please contact me if you want to ask more.

*some people are allergic or sensitive to theobromine - it can trigger headaches or migraines in some people. (You will probably already know if this is you.) In some cases, a smaller dose will be fine depending on how sensitive you are.

*if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, be aware that theobromine is a stimulant & increases heart rate & lowers blood pressure. Some western people advise avoiding it completely during pregnancy, others suggest a smaller dose. However, I think it's also worth noting that for thousands of years, indigenous Mayan women have consumed cacao safely throughout pregnancy and even during childbirth (in the final stages of labour, to assist with the final big push!), as well as afterwards - in their culture, midwives know that cacao is such a nourishing, energising food that it gives women great strength. So if you are pregnant or breastfeeding this does not rule cacao out for you - I simply present this information so that you can make your own informed decision, and if you are new to cacao especially, I would certainly serve you a smaller dose so you can see how you respond. Cacao contains roughly a tenth of the caffeine found in coffee so depending on your stance on coffee during pregnancy you may be ok with the smaller dose of cacao. Similarly, some people prefer to avoid all sources of theobromine & caffeine while they are breastfeeding.

*if you are epileptic: high consumption of cacao stimulates the brain and there is also scientific research to suggest a possible connection between caffeine & cacao consumption and increased seizures. Scientific research / evidence is still inconclusive, but I would err on the side of caution if you have a history of epilepsy. It is also important for the sake of other participants that we create a safe environment where there is little risk of disruption.

*if you are sensitive to caffeine, it can affect your sleep - though cacao contains far less than coffee - about a tenth of the amount. People often find they actually sleep really well and dream vividly after consuming ceremonial cacao.

The ceremonial-grade cacao shared in the medicine ceremony is very different from, and more pure & potent than, the raw cacao powder you might use to make raw chocolate, a superfood tonic or smoothies (although ceremonial grade cacao can also be used for all these things). It is far less processed: ceremonial cacao is not heat-treated & retains the cacao butter as well as the cacao powder (cacao solids).


About our "ceremonial grade" cacao from Cacao Love

This ancient strain criollo cacao is sourced from organic farmer's co-operatives in the Peruvian Andes. From "seed to ceremony" we only work with co-operatives and family-run businesses, supporting indigenous entrepreneurship with our exchanges.

The co-op we've worked with over the last decade was founded in 1998 with the intentions of working with small farmers to preserve traditional methods of cultivating, processing and harvesting cacao.

Their four founding principles are:

1) Prioritising quality over quantity

2) Supporting Andean mega-biodiversity, not homogenisation

3) Promoting organic methods of production

4) Fair income distribution amongst the people participating as suppliers, transformers and traders

5) Social responsibility, following the principles of Fair Trade

The co-op works alongside the small farmers, generating employment for the local community and offering training and financial support to encourage indigenous entrepreneurship, raising the living standards of small farmers and sustainably increasing crop yields.

Pre-workshop Instructions

What to bring:

Yoga mat

Blanket/ pillow (whatever you need to be comfortable)

Eye Mask

Journal & Pen

Winter Solstice Retreat: Release • Receive • Renew

Step into the stillness of the Winter Solstice—nature’s invitation to slow down, turn inward, and rekindle your inner light. Rooted in ancient Celtic and Pagan traditions, this transformative retreat guides you through heart-opening cacao, a shamanic drum journey, reflective rituals, candlelight intention-setting, and a deeply grounding sound bath.

Together, we honor the darkness as fertile ground for renewal—releasing what no longer serves us and welcoming the light’s return.
A nourishing morning of connection, intuition, ritual, and restoration.