At the Winter Solstice, the balance has tipped as far towards the dark as it can go. We are ready for the light to come back and we must do all we can to help it. We will be journeying to a place where we hold our dreams and wishes for the future, to plant them securely in the rich beautiful earth, so that they can sprout into powerful and unique blossoms during the Spring months next year.

As the sun rises and we align ourselves with that first spark of fire within and without, anything is possible.

2025 will be a magnificent and powerful opportunity to create something special for yourself, your family, and your community. What do you want to embody this coming year?

What are you nurturing throughout the Winter Months?

• Guided meditation
• Sound healing
• Shamanic ceremony
• Poetry
• Organic herbal teas and cacao
• And delicious self-connection

Mother Earth is urging us to rest so that we can listen to our inner heart space and the soft, small whisper that guides us in our next endeavors.

Enjoy this time of dreaming, resting, and space.

” The seed of light is born in the dark womb of midwinter, the time we know as the Winter Solstice. Solstice means ‘standstill’, for every year, on or around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 21st in the Southern Hemisphere, the sun appears to rise and set in the same place for a few days. It is the time of the longest night when the Earth’s very breath seems to falter in the face of the overpowering dark. Then, barely noticeable at first, the sun begins its long journey toward the opposite pole, and all of creation begins to exhale. A new cycle of life can begin once again“

-Druidry.org

We understand the importance of ceremony as a powerful act of self and planetary care. Ceremony brings people and communities together, provides spiritual nourishment, deepens our connection to the earth and the wheel of the year as it turns, and empowers us to move with more joy and grace through the changing seasons of our lives.

In the peaceful and harmonious surroundings of the Hampe Nawasi Healing Lodge, set within the South Downs National Park, we will take time out to embrace the season’s stillness. This is a time to deeply honour ourselves and the land as we send our love and gratitude to Mother Earth. By the end of this experience, you will have had plenty of time in a safely held space to assimilate the busy months gone, welcome the lighter days ahead, and explore and deeply reflect upon the themes of nourishment and light in your own life. We are so excited to share this beautiful, not-to-be-missed event with you 🙂

Spaces are limited to keep this unique experience intimate, and booking is essential. All adults are welcome at this affordably priced community event. Concessions available.

Email enquiries@alirabjohns.com with all enquiries and to secure your space. We look forward to seeing you there!

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.”

Maya Angelou

The Wellbeing Team:

Ali is an experienced practitioner of Andean energy medicine, a teacher, and a Textile Artist. Ali teaches and leads retreats, working with medicine men and women in Peru, and participating in Amazonian medicine plant ceremonies and Inca ceremonies in the High Andes. Find out more about Ali’s work at: https://alirabjohns.com/

Joanna McEwen is a qualified and experienced Sound Practitioner who has worked with music medicine for over 10 years. Through the use of therapeutic sound, Andean Energy Medicine, Kundalini Yoga, breathwork, dance, ritual, and silence, Joanna weaves together a moment in time for you to come home to yourself, A qualified youth worker and Special Educational Needs practitioner of over 20 years, she supports individuals and communities to connect to their deepest selves and each other, the world around us, and the abundant and loving universe. Find out more about Joanna McEwen’s work at: https://joannamcewen.co.uk/

With over twenty years of experience in well-being, Dandy has created a sacred space for you to discover your journey of self-healing. She offers self-empowering guidance and practical tools to navigate a way to reach your life goals through personal transformation and a re-connection to your inner self. Silverdragon Wellbeing is home to the holistic services she offers: Naturopathic Nutrition, Feng Shui, Shamanic Healing and Transformative Meditation. One-to-one sessions and small group workshops. Find more info about Dandy’s work at: https://www.silverdragonwellbeing.com/

Plan:

2pm

– Arrive to settle, and start the ceremony at 2.30 pm

2.30pm – Ali

• Open the Four Directions- All
• Introduction to the Solstice and its significance
• 20-minute shamanic journey to connect deeply with an inner stillness in a safe place, and honour the return of the light.

3pm – Dandy

• Cacao Meditation with the essence of Cacao
• Cacao has many nutritional benefits that help the body and mind to relax. Energetically, the essence of cacao has a perfect balance of yin and yang energy which helps to open the heart centre and enjoy a reconnection to self and to nature.

4pm – Jo

• Healing Sounds to help the energy to integrate with the journey into our energy field. Open new pathways into the future. Allowing the dreaming to come from a deep stillness. 5 pm

– Re-emerging from the soundbath.

– Close space

5.30pm

– Social time with herbal teas and mince pies for sale

6-8 pm Potluck supper for the whole community

8-late – Dancing with DJ Danubus

There will be plenty of chairs available to sit on. Please bring a blanket to keep warm and a yoga mat to lie on if preferred. Bring a paper and pen if you want to write notes.

Tickets – £25.

To book tickets: email enquiries@alirabjohns.com to bypass fees

Directions to venue:

Please click here for Google Maps

Car Directions from Brighton A27:

Take A27 to Lewes
Pass Falmer; keep going for at least 10 minutes.
Arrive at another large roundabout with traffic lights – there is a turning for Lewes on the left and the third exit is for Kingston – take that one
Travel all the way straight through Kingston (many speed bumps, pubs, primary school, etc.) until you get to a T – junction at the end with a garden centre straight in front of you.

Take a right turn along C7 to Rodmell & Newhaven
Drive about 3 miles and you will see Rodmell sign posted – pub called Abergavenny Arms on the Left.
Take the left turn down the street and follow the road down to the end of the village past Monks House and the school/church.
Where it starts to turn into a dirt track at the end – the tarmac road bears left – we are the second bungalow (Barn Croft) on the right on that bit of road after Briar Cottage. We are directly after a white wooden garage. If you go past a large property with iron gates – that’s our neighbour and you’ve gone too far.

We have 9 solar panels on our roof and space for two cars parking.

Coming from Monk’s House Carpark – cross over the road past Navigation Cottages on your left. Navigation Cottages have a white wooden gate up some steps. Continue along this road, Briar cottage will be on your right, then a white double wooden garage, and then we are directly after this – set back from the road with solar panels and a fruit cage.