The Misteries of Avalon: a Shamanic Retreat in Celtic lands
England is my second home. A Celtic land where I lived for fifteen years and where I still spend several months each year. It is therefore with great joy that I invite you to join me for a six-day autumn retreat between Dorset and the ancient lands of Avalon.
This retreat will take place on the threshold of Samhain, the Celtic New Year, and will be deeply inspired by the energies of this sacred season. Samhain marks the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. It is a celebration of memory, the ancestors, and transformation-a time to honour what has come to an end, acknowledge the lessons received, and prepare to welcome what is longing to be born.
Samhain can be seen as a return to the Dark Womb, a time of rest and regeneration. Within the darkness of the womb, we die and give birth to ourselves once again, decomposing and nourishing our roots and our seeds. It is not a time to be feared: darkness and death hold power. Darkness is as important as light. This is a journey to honour and illuminate our shadow side and the cycles of death and rebirth that lie at the heart of Mother Earth and of our own lives.
In the ancient Celtic traditions, Avalon is a sacred land shrouded in mist and suspended between the visible world and the Otherworld. It belongs neither entirely to Earth nor entirely to Spirit. It is a threshold, a liminal place where time flows differently and where healing, vision, and transformation become possible. Like Arthur, we will be invited to lay down our weapons, rest in the womb of the Great Mother, and surrender to the mystery of transformation. Perhaps Avalon is not a place to reach. Perhaps it is a doorway that opens within us when we are ready to cross the veil.
Immersed in these timeless landscapes and guided by the wisdom of these Celtic lands, this autumn retreat offers an intensive and immersive program in which we will be guided by shamanic medicine and the autumnal energy of Mother Nature.
Programme:
Day 1: Saturday 17th October 2026 - Arrival & opening
Arrival in Heartland by 6pm
Dinner
Evening: Welcome & Sharing Circle – meeting the group, setting intentions, and grounding
Day 2: Sunday October 18 – Purification Lodge Ritual
Breakfast
Morning: Group shamanic dynamic
Afternoon: Purification lodge Ritual, sacred fire, herbal bath
Dinner
Day 3: Monday October 19 – Sacred Pilgrimage to Avalon
Breakfast
Morning: Ritual of the Lord of the Desert in the ancient sacred site of Avalon
Visit to the Tor and the Water Temple
Dinner
Day 4: Tuesday October 20 – Ritual “A journey to the Soul”
Breakfast
Morning: Group sharing circle
Light lunch
Evening: Ritual “A journey to the Soul” & sacred fire
**Day 5: Wednesday October 21 – Integration & Cacao Ceremony **
Breakfast
Morning: Group sharing circle & integrating of the experiences
Lunch
Afternoon: Cacao ceremony – heart-opening ritual with music & celebration
Dinner
Day 6: Thursday October 22 – Closing circle
Breakfast
Morning: Closing sharing circle
Exchange gifts & goodbyes
Departure by 11.30
Please bear in mind that the programme can be subject to slight changes according to the inspiration.
For whom
This retreat is dedicated to:
🖤 Those who wish to reconnect with the wisdom of the Earth, the ancestors, and their own soul.
🧡 Those who feel the call of Avalon, of myth, mystery, and sacred places.
🖤 Those who are moving through a transition and feel the need to let go of old identities, patterns, and stories that no longer resonate with their path.
🧡 Those who feel they are standing on the threshold of change.
🖤 Those who are willing to slow down, listen deeply, and allow something to die so that something new may be born.
*No previous experience in shamanic practices is required. All that is needed is an open heart, a willingness to listen, and a sincere desire to journey through your own process of transformation. A conversation with Isha is required to see if this retreat is suitable with you. *
Location
The retreat will take place at Heartland, a beautiful retreat house nestled among the rolling green hills of Dorset, surrounded by a stunning lake and an abundance of native plants and herbs.
In addition, one of our ceremonies will be held in Somerset, in the heart of ancient Avalon-a land of myth, mist, and ancient traditions. For centuries, this region has been associated with the legends of King Arthur, Morgan le Fay, and the Otherworld. It is home to sacred sites such as Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Well, places that continue to evoke a profound sense of mystery and transformation.
What’s Included
The retreat fee includes everything outlined in the programme above. More specifically, it includes:
Ceremonies, rituals and shamanic dynamics
Visit to Avalon, Glastonbury Tor, and the Chalice Well
Two to three delicious vegetarian meals per day
English and Italian translation
5 nights accommodation in lovely double/triple rooms
Guidance, support, and facilitation by Isha
What’s Not Included
Flights to and from the United Kingdom
Transportation to and from Heartland
Travel insurance and personal expenses
Information
Contribution: £ 870
(£ 200 deposit to secure your place)
Flexible payment plan available.
A few of concession rates are available.
Contact Isha for any information to isha@artejanis.org, at +39 3283481534.