The pagan summer solstice ceremony is a ritualistic event that celebrates the longest day of the year, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. This ancient practice dates back thousands of years and is rooted in nature worship and the cyclical patterns of the seasons. During this ceremony, pagans gather in outdoor locations such as meadows, forests, or stone circles to honor the sun and the abundance of life it supports. The main idea behind this ceremony is to give thanks for the warmth, light, and fertility that the sun provides. Central to the pagan summer solstice ceremony is the bonfire, which represents the sun itself. The fire acts as a focal point for the rituals and is often used for purification, healing, and transformation.
MARCH 24TH
All room and board options are intentionally priced PER ROOM so you can share the room bed with a significant other friends and split the cost with them. There is healing and power in rest and relaxation - you will find yourself with some downtime to relax in the common areas of the hotel, or enjoy the wonderful city of Salem as you see fit.
The fire acts as a focal point for the rituals and is often used for purification, healing, and transformation. Participants dance and chant around the fire, connecting with its energy and harnessing its power. Another key aspect of the ceremony is the creation of a sacred space.
The Wilding Escape
The Wilding Escape is my brand new luxury retreat experience where we head to the wilds of the north coast of Cornwall.
The Wilding Escape features all the hallmarks of my award winning retreats… from sacred ceremonies to woodland walks, from cosy fire side chats to shamanic drum journeys. A truly unique experience for any woman looking for something a little different.
Sisterhood, ritual and magick lie at the heart of The Owl & The Apothecary retreats. My intention is to create a sacred space to allow you to deeply connect to yourself, to your sisters and to the land. To create a haven. A healing space. A space for you to come home.
Creating sacred spaces for women and holding them in my earthy magick is such a joy for me and is absolutely my purpose in this life-time.
I am so excited to be called to this work. To hold a space for you to replenish, rest and restore. A space for you to fill your cup. A space for you to dream, dare and do. A space for you to sit in sacred circle with a sisterhood of like-minded women. A space for you to properly belly laugh your way through the weekend.
Please don’t worry if you don’t feel ‘witchy’. I am simply calling in a group of funny, kind, heart-centred women. Women who want to create a little time for themselves. Women who want to create a little magick for themselves.
"There is something undeniably magical about the way Katy holds space for women. It’s a unique blend of wisdom, earthiness, warmth, compassion and deep belly laughs! The long weekend spent in Dorset on The Wilding Retreat with Katy was everything I needed, hoped for and more! From the incredible women who gathered together sharing stories, laughter, creativity and personal journeys to the wonderful women who joined Katy in guiding us through the days with soul enriching movement, divine massages and delicious food. I felt nourished, replenished and grateful I had given myself the time I needed to come back to me. Thank you Katy"! Stacy
"I have come home to myself. I never really understood what sitting in circle with sisters meant. Katy's ability to hold space for women to be themselves, to be heard, to be seen, to be accepted, to be loved, to be honoured for who they are without question and without judgement is testament to the gifted and magical being that Katy is".
Honestly, you will walk into this experience one woman, and walk out the other side as another. And you will have a group of wild and wonderful women at your side.
What will we do?
The Wilding Escape is the perfect balance of movement, massage, sisterhood, ceremony and space.
My retreat team is the best that I have come across in the industry and I am thrilled to share their experience, knowledge and healing-ness with you.
As part of The Wilding Escape, you will receive…
A deeply healing massage… my masseuse is an experienced Myofascial Release Therapist, a practice to help heal the body on a physical and emotional level. She combines this with a deep facial massage to help relax and rejuvenate the face – it’s no wonder everyone even looks quite different when they leave! Bel is like the earth – and she has the most healing of hands.
Movement medicine… my movement practitioner has over twenty years of yoga, breath-work and Qoya experience. Together we have created a journey where we use our bodies to explore the wild woman within us and then slowly begin to connect back to our hearts. Sonja is like the water – she has the gentlest and kindest of hearts.
Delicious & nutritious foods… my chef is passionate about heartfelt whole food. Her philosophy is highly nutritional local food made with the focus on taste and texture. This is food that treads lightly both on the earth and on your digestion. Gilly is like the fire – as generous and life giving with her heart as she is with her food.
Full, intimate access to me… I am The Wilding Witch and I weave my magick, wisdom and experience through every touch-point of the retreat. With my unique blend of wild know-how and practical how-to, I will help release blocked energy, help let go of fear, move your heart into softness, openess and receiving-ness so that you will feel aligned and ready to move forwards.
And the ancient land… oh the land. The energy in North Cornwall is wild and dramatic. The hidden dips and valleys, the moss covered stone, the cascading waterfalls, the legendary castle of Tintagel and Merlin’s Cave all add to the magickal atmosphere and energy of this old, sacred land.
There is plenty of time to explore - we will take the beautiful walk through Minster Wood to the quiet calm of Minster Church. Many churches were built on pagan sites (and often wells and ley lines) and this enchanting place has them all. The energy here is soft, beautiful and really quite moving.
St Nectan’s Glen… as part of the retreat, we have an exclusive visit to the breath-taking waterfall. We will take the wild woodland walk along the banks of the River Trevillet – a silent pilgrimage amongst the ivy clad trees, moss covered stones and ancient slate steps hidden by ferns. Although in truth, we will be accompanied by the fairies, piskies and spirit, and I cannot vouch for their silence!
Once we reach the top of the valley, we will have exclusive access to the waterfall and our own sacred ceremony. Here the water flows through a circular hole carved into the stone and drops into the clear pool below. The waters have deep healing qualities and we will be able to bathe in them. Clothing will be optional.
St Nectan’s Glen is a favourite spot of mine. Not only is it an area of outstanding natural beauty, but it is also considered to be one of the most sacred and spiritual sites here in the UK.
The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic… is just a few miles away. Need I say anymore!
The Wilding Escape was just beautiful and unique, the women (who would quickly become my cherished sisters and friends) were welcoming and fun and there were touches of magic and beauty created in every corner.
Katy stood powerfully as the wise and wonderful creatrix of our environment and our unfolding experience. The food, movement and massage sessions were all luxurious and healing and equally filled with the love and talent of the beautiful practitioners who shared them. This haven became my home, my healing space and my sacred circle for 5 incredible days I will never forget.
The memories of this deeply magical reconnection with myself and nature (meets witchy slumber party!) would be enough… but I had such a shift and transformation that my life has changed inside and out, and I am filled with gratitude.
And it was so effortless, because the retreat doesn’t impose a formula or goal… it is allowed to become what you make it and what’s needed. To go at your own pace and to let things take shape based on the special qualities and personalities of who is there and how we are each growing, exploring and healing in every moment. Thank you Katy. I love you and I can’t wait to return and experience more magic with you and the sisterhood you called in and created with joy, compassion and humor.” Shannon
Here is a sample schedule, and please note that this may change a little as we finalise plans for the retreat closer to the time.
Friday
~ Arrive 4pm
~ Unpack & settle in & the welcome
~ 5pm - 6pm The Wilding Circle
~ 7pm Supper
Saturday
~ 8am Light breakfast
~ 9am - 10.30am Morning Movement Medicine
~ 1pm Lunch
~ Massages
~ 5pm - 6pm The Wilding Circle
~ 7pm Supper
Sunday
~8am Light breakfast
~ 9am - 10.30am Morning Movement Medicine
~1pm Lunch
~ Massages
~ 5pm - 6pm The Wilding Circle
~7pm Supper
Monday
~ 7am St Nectan's Glen
~ 10am Harbour Swim
~ 12pm Lunch
~ 5pm - 6pm The Wilding Circle
~ 7pm Celebratory Supper
Enter the Wellness and Witchcraft Retreat Salem. A special, once in a lifetime experience at a historical boutique hotel in the heart of Salem under the Blood Moon. If you love witchcraft, history, all things spooky - with an added dash of wellness and community - this is the event for you. Imagine waking up in a private 18th century building, rumored to be haunted and the epitome of witchy luxury. You have a nourishing breakfast, a morning yoga flow with magic weaved into it, get to intimately explore the town of Salem - and experience the Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse in Libra with your coven and community. That’s only a taste of what this Witchcraft and Wellness retreat will offer!
Pagans often construct temporary altars decorated with symbols of the sun, flowers, and herbs. These altars serve as places of offering and reverence, where participants can connect with the divine and express gratitude for the gifts of the season. The pagan summer solstice ceremony also includes various customs and traditions that vary by region and individual practice. Some may incorporate the gathering of medicinal plants, the crafting of flower crowns or wreaths, or the performance of musical and theatrical performances. Overall, the pagan summer solstice ceremony is a time of celebration, connection, and reflection. It is a way for pagans to honor and align themselves with the natural world, expressing gratitude for the sun's life-giving energy and reaffirming their connection to the cycles of nature. In **bold**, main idea: The pagan summer solstice ceremony is a ritualistic event that celebrates the longest day of the year, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky..
Reviews for "Understanding the astrological significance of the summer solstice for pagans"
1. Emily - 1 star - I attended the Pagan summer solstice ceremony with high hopes, but I was severely disappointed. The event lacked any real structure or organization. It felt more like a chaotic gathering than a sacred ritual. The ceremony didn't have a clear direction, and the participants seemed confused about what they were supposed to do. Overall, it was a disorganized and underwhelming experience.
2. John - 2 stars - I've always been open-minded and interested in exploring different belief systems, so I decided to attend the Pagan summer solstice ceremony. However, I found the whole event to be rather odd and confusing. There was a lack of explanation or context provided for the rituals and practices involved, leaving many attendees feeling lost and disconnected. Additionally, the ceremony lacked a sense of reverence and spirituality that I had expected. It felt more like a group of people going through the motions, rather than a meaningful and profound experience.
3. Samantha - 2 stars - As someone new to pagan practices, I was excited to attend the summer solstice ceremony and learn more. However, I left feeling unimpressed and uninformed. The leaders of the ceremony did a poor job explaining the significance of the rituals and symbols used, which left me feeling disconnected from the experience. Additionally, the atmosphere lacked the spiritual energy and depth that I had hoped for. Overall, I left the ceremony feeling unsatisfied and with more questions than answers about pagan practices.
4. David - 1 star - I attended the Pagan summer solstice ceremony out of genuine curiosity, but I regretted my decision. The event lacked organization and structure, making it difficult to participate fully and understand the purpose behind each ritual. Furthermore, the ceremony seemed more focused on aesthetics and spectacle rather than genuine spiritual connection. I was hoping for a meaningful and introspective experience, but instead, I felt as if I was a mere spectator in a poorly executed performance.
5. Jennifer - 2 stars - The Pagan summer solstice ceremony, unfortunately, didn't live up to my expectations. The lack of clear instructions and guidance made it hard to fully engage with the ceremony. It seemed like the organizers assumed everyone was well-versed in pagan rituals and practices, leaving newcomers like myself feeling lost and excluded. Additionally, the ceremony seemed more interested in conforming to stereotypes and cliches, rather than providing a genuine and inclusive experience.