So it happened! It feels like we have been planning and thinking about it for so long (we announced it on the 30th November 2024 FYI!), but last weekend the Inner Child Retreat 2025 took place, and all we can say is “Wow!”
The run up to it really can be quite “squeaky bum” - ha!
Yes, there were moments where we contemplated ‘pulling it’ - but, blimmey, SO glad we BELIEVED (note to self, the majority of our bookings came in late; the last being 2 DAYS BEFORE - a retreater from London).
We were privileged to share the weekend with an amazing group of women (how the booking worked out this time) who, all for different reasons, had reached a point in their lives where they wanted to explore getting in touch and getting to know their inner child. The commitment they showed to this was beautiful to witness. We laughed, cried and learned together over the 2.5 days.
We were really chuffed to attract retreaters from a broad cross section of ages, 20s; 30s; 40s; 50s and 70s; what a fabulous message that sends eh! We are *all* works in progress - never the complete article - always growing; developing; trying to gain a greater understanding of ourselves.
Over the weekend we helped the group take time out to be with their inner child, through a range of exercises and learning experiences we all connected directly and found space to hear what they wanted to say. For some this was the first time that they had “found” their child and it was a truly transformative experience.
We learnt a lot from our first retreat last year (The Trauma Recovery Retreat) and we have already got some points of learning from this time around (fewer though - I’m pleased to say!)
The biggest decision this time was to partner with someone we know and respect hugely (Harie Graham of Rezenance Sound Therapy, also based here in Sidmouth).
We decided that we wanted to hopefully work with her on the Saturday night of the 2024 retreat (coincidentally having bumped into her at lunchtime that day!); when we were (pretty much literally) crawling out of the door at 9pm, craving a takeaway and exclaiming
“a sound bath would be good right now!” (Please note, we were finished by 4pm on both days this time around - leaving Sidmouth to work some of its magic on folks…in the sunshine…and boy, did it SHINE!)
What does it feel like to be the facilitators of such a course? It is such an emotional experience, as it is exposing in so many ways, but to be on the path with the group it is really important to create the sense of safety that is needed for such personal work. It is not like delivering any courses I have ever done in the past, as in this we are all sharing and connecting, for sure, my inner child was activated throughout the weekend, and that was something that needed to be taken into account.
It was a very different experience for me this year; it had been acknowledged as “my baby” and I ‘felt’ that, I had a real sense of the need to get the ‘right’ group so it all ‘worked’ for everyone - and, hey, it did - which is a testament to everyone involved.
We love it! The beauty of seeing the changes in people from Friday to Sunday is never going to get old. To have some group members have only a vague sense of ‘her’ at the start; whereas others hated ‘her’ and some became emotional the moment ‘she’ was acknowledged…to have it that, across the board, healing had taken place for everyone by Sunday afternoon; with a sense of understanding for those little girls and a need to hold them tight (in doll or teddy form, dependant upon the retreater in question.)
The ongoing connection we then have with those who choose to update us and let us know that the growth continues in the days and weeks beyond, is mind blowing to us both. This time the group really connected with each other as well, which has continued and that is supportive for them all.
“I’m at The Marine with the girls!”…we had arranged to meet with one of our retreaters later on the Sunday - and hey, there she was, sat in a row with three other members of the group (or, “the girls!” as they will now be known - two residents of Sidmouth & two from London town!)
That was a truly beautiful sight to behold, and warranted an expression that we have used a lot recently, “We did that!”
The feedback from this retreat and the previous one can be found on our “Testimonials” page, if you want to take a look, and big news – due to demand we are creating a 1 day version of this course for those who cannot make a whole weekend. We are hoping to offer this later this year so if you are interested please drop us a line and we will keep you informed.
Katie & GB have only just begun it seems.
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