Nature’s Song
Beltane Retreat
3rd - 8th May, 2024
Nature’s Song returns for 2024… Herald, the return of Summer with a 'Bell's Fire' Retreat to remember, embracing the light of lengthening days and all that flows from the Earth. Beltane is the festival of fertility, where the God and Goddess are entwined - the sun gathering strength to bless the Earth with warmth, awakening her potential. Holding the divine masculine and divine feminine, your hosts Garwyn Linnell and Verity Megan, will guide you to explore what is being re-born in you at this time.
The Earth would die
if the sun stopped kissing her ~ Hafez
The word Beltane is said to derive from old Irish, meaning 'bright fire' or 'fire of Bels'. It is a magical pivot within the Wheel of the Year, representing our emergence from the darkness into the most expansive, radiant part of the year. At this peak of Spring when all around us sings with life, it is impossible to ignore the calls for growth within us too!
Retreat Venue
Our venue is the stunning Mas Vilalte Retreat, a secluded hamlet on the South-facing slopes of Mount Canigou. At an altitude of 920m it offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and hills.
Vilalte is at the end of a mile-long private drive, 10km from the small village of Corsavy. Due to its isolated location, you will leave behind the hum and distractions of the modern world. Only the sounds of nature can be heard, and the most beautiful, starlit skies can be seen, a gift of the absence of light pollution. Wild boars, Pyrenees vultures, eagles and much other wildlife can be spotted in addition to a great diversity of botanical species.
Mas Vilalte, Corsavy France
Retreat Gallery
-
![]()
Mountain Air.
-
![]()
Ceremony.
-
![]()
Alchemy.
-
![]()
Community.
-
![]()
Practice Space.
-
![]()
Garwyn & Verity.
-
![]()
Sound Journeys.
-
![]()
Ancient Land.
-
![]()
Fire Rituals.
-
![]()
Natural Pool.
-
![]()
Creative Sessions.
-
![]()
Healing Waters.
-
![]()
Bedroom View.
-
![]()
Wild Hikes.
-
![]()
Nearby River.
What to Expect
An elemental immersion to embody Nature’s wisdom
We will journey through an alchemy of the elements, exploring the landscape within while connecting with the Spirit of the land that holds us.
Each day will begin with an inner orientation through embodied movement before venturing into the wilds for mountain hikes, Forest Bathing and water immersions. To draw us into the nights, we will end the days with restorative movement, sound meditations and storytelling through the spheres of Cello, Crystal Alchemy singing bowls, voice and Shamanic drum.
More About Vilalte
The ancient stone buildings dating back to the 17th century have been sensitively renovated and restored to provide a comfortable stay to guests throughout the year. The hamlet consists of a large mansion house and a newly constructed, large wooden barn (The Yoga/Meditation Hall), and five other smaller buildings, one of which is inhabited by the owners.
The Meditation Hall is a striking and spacious eco-building (150m²), where we will gather morning and night to explore movement practices, host group work and sharing circles. The high ceilings and grass topped roof make the acoustics fantastic for sound journeys and give it an immersive, yet contained feeling.
The property also boasts a Finnish sauna, a steam bath and a large bio-pool with a natural, biological filtering system (no chemicals) surrounded by large decking areas, lawns and gardens. There are several drywall terraces where fruits and vegetables are grown organically—drawn from the earth to the table for seasonal, self-sourced meals year-round.
Vilalte is nestled in acres of pristine forest, offering adventurous trails between enormous granite boulders and ageless oaks. Inside the property grounds, you’ll find an ancient stone circle, called Cromlech. which we will use in ceremony and is available for your own meditations and practices. Vilalte's pure drinking water comes from a private well and is mechanically then UV-filtered, while a natural spring provides the water for the garden.
Your Guides
Garwyn and Verity have a collective wealth of knowledge from different spiritual traditions to draw on. We work with the Shamanic directions and Spirit realms, weaving Eastern and Western traditions to understand the powers of nature, the rhythms of the cosmos and our place within it. Practices that effectively heal, inspire and transform – cultivating a deeper connection to self, each other and the natural world.
Yoga & Ayurvedic Wisdom, Somatic Therapy, Qi Gong, Energy & Sound Healing, Authentic Movement, Mysticism, Folklore & Shamanic Practices.
Garwyn
Born in Vancouver, Canada, Garwyn spent six years living in Germany, studying at the Folkwang University of the Arts, where he completed his bachelor's degree. He later moved to London, receiving a master's degree from the Royal Academy of Music. An avid chamber musician, Garwyn has also had the opportunity to perform as a soloist and an orchestral musician in various venues and countries, from small churches in Italy to concert halls in China. While classical music is his primary area of focus, he also has had the pleasure of collaborating and performing with various artists within the fields of dance, contemporary music, folk, improvisation, jazz, and even poetry.
In 2019, after being confronted with a life-threatening illness, the direction of Garwyn's life took a significant shift on a journey of healing and spiritual development. His own process of physical, psychological, and emotional recovery led him to explore and train in different forms of healing modalities, including Humanistic Counselling, Somatic Bodywork and Movement Therapy; various forms of energetic healing, including Shamanic healing and Reiki, and most significantly using sound as a healing modality through sound journeys, baths, and medicine music.
Verity
Verity first came to the mat twenty years ago on her own journey to wholeness. Yoga opened pathways of presence and space to integrate her emotions and assimilate life. Through movement, she began to understand her body as an instrument exploring how that could shift her mood, with the capacity to embrace the full expression of life.
An experienced teacher in the ISHTA Yoga tradition, Verity has been teaching and sharing Yoga since 2017 in various locations in the South of England. Coming through Ayurvedic schools, the principles of nature and influence of the elements inform and inspire all that she does.
More recently, Verity has begun fusing her Eastern training with traditions from our land - moving cyclically with the turning of the year and the seasons. Her training has taken her deeper into Yoga, Ayurveda, Reiki, Sound Healing, Somatic Therapy and Mystical wisdom… devoted to the path and helping others on their journey to wholeness.
When all around us sings with life it is impossible to ignore the calls for growth within.
The Details
Dates & Times
Arrive 4:00 pm Friday, 3rd May 2024
Depart 11:00 am Wednesday, 8th May 2024
Exchange
For all inclusive five-night accommodation at Vilalte with full access to amenities, pools and gardens. Delicious, nourishing meals lovingly prepared by our hosts with snacks, tea and coffee available throughout your stay. Prices vary depending on sharing or single occupancy rooms.
Triple room with shared bathroom £1000
Twin room with shared bathroom £1100
Private room with double bed and ensuite £1400
Early Bird Blessing Save £200 if you book before 1st December 2023
A £300 non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your place, with the balance due on or before 1st March, 2024. There is the option to pay in instalments. If you have paid in full, 50% of the total cost is refundable until six weeks before the retreat. We highly recommend that you invest in travel insurance for your trip to ensure peace of mind.
If you feel a whole body 'yes' to journey with us, can you express your interest by registering below. If this sparks your curiosity you can send any questions or queries directly, via email.
What’s Included
Five nights accommodation at Mas Vilalte
Teachings and guidance from Garwyn & Verity
Use of facilities, Finnish sauna, steam bath and natural bio-pool
Enjoyment of the gardens, grounds, stone circle and nearby forest
Foraging and connecting with native plant medicines
Embodied movement practices, Yoga, Qigong, Somatic Experiencing and Authentic Movement
Sound Baths and Shamanic Journeys
Creative and crafting activities, all materials provided
Organised hikes, meditative walks and forest bathing
Delicious vegetarian food (other dietary requirements catered for upon request)
Unlimited herbal tea infusions, tea/coffee, fresh fruit & healthy snacks
Time and space to rest, journal and explore the surrounding landscape
Not Included
Flights and Transfer Flights cost £70-£170 during the Spring season, with return travel from London airports to Barcelona (BCN).
From Barcelona, you will then need to connect by train to the local station Figueres Vilafant. From here, we will arrange a group transfer with costs shared between the group.
Please email for more details.
