Soul-Nourishing Winter Retreat For Women
with Tanya Forgan and Support Teacher Geeta Jajani
For many winters now, I have gathered women at Florence House in Sussex, a sanctuary by the sea where time seems to slow, the air feels softer, and the demands of daily life begin to loosen their grip. Here, in the glow of candlelight and the warmth of a crackling fire, something shifts. We remember how to listen; to ourselves, to one another, and to the quiet wisdom of the season.
This retreat is an antidote to the pace of the outside world, especially as the Winter Solstice approaches and the days before Christmas grow louder, brighter, and busier. Here, we move in the opposite direction. Within this gentle sanctuary from the season’s whirlwind, we attune to winter’s slower rhythm, choosing candlelight over glare, stillness over hurry, and depth over distraction, holding joy softly at the heart of it all.
Year after year, women return for the quiet magic of these days together. We sit in circle, sharing words, laughter, and the kind of silence that feels full and nourishing. We honour winter as a teacher, a season that invites us to tend our inner landscapes, to soften, to rest, and to rekindle our love for life, community, and self.
Come as you are. Tired, tender, curious, certain or uncertain ~ it’s all welcome. This is a space where you can listen without rushing to respond, rest without guilt, and remember what it feels like to be met in your fullness.
Over our days together, you will be held in a rhythm of:
Heart-awakening circles where truth and tenderness meet.
Deeply restorative Yoga Nidra to renew your whole being.
Guided movement and embodied breathwork to bring you home to your body.
Time for the sea and sky to walk the winter shore, breathe the salt air, or simply curl up with tea by the fire.
Whether you long for rest, soulful connection, or the space to hear your own heart again, this retreat offers care and spaciousness in equal measure.
By gifting yourself this pause, you return to something essential, a slower, softer rhythm that feels profoundly alive. Together, we will listen for the whispers of winter, welcome its stillness, and allow healing to unfold in its own time.
Some things cannot be put into words, and the magic of this retreat is one of them. Women who have come before describe leaving feeling lighter, grounded, and quietly transformed, with a renewed devotion to themselves, to life, and to the beauty of community.
Florence House is a cosy retreat set within six acres of serene grounds. Inside, you’ll find a snug lounge with hideaway corners and a wood-burning stove for warming up after practice. There is easy access to unspoiled beaches for coastal walks, fresh sea air, and the soothing sound of waves.
Known for its fresh, homely and creative food, much is sourced from the garden. Our winter retreat menu reflects what we value most, nourishing, restorative, and delicious.
Nestled with breathtaking views of the South Downs, our gathering space offers a sanctuary for rest, reflection, and connection.
Here, we gather in Circle, breathing deeply, sharing from the heart, and allowing the wisdom of winter to guide us inward.
In this space we will create cosy 'Rest Nests' to enjoy the nourishment of Yoga Nidra, restorative breathwork and gentle movement.
Every bedroom at Florence House is unique, designed to offer a restful and nurturing space.
Some rooms offer sweeping views of the sea, others overlook the rolling South Downs or the private gardens, where nature’s quiet beauty invites deep rest and reflection.
Both single and shared accommodation are available, with rooms allocated on a first-booked basis. If you’re attending with a friend and would like to share a room, please let us know in advance.
Florence House is a few minutes walk from the shoreline where you can enjoy expansive views and the rhythmic sound of the waves, the wide coastal views, and the fresh salt air invite you to breathe a little deeper, slow your pace, and let the ocean soften what’s been held.
A place where clarity returns and the simple presence of the sea becomes medicine.
Our friends at Florence House lovingly prepare wholesome, heart-warming meals that honour the land and the season. Where possible they will pick ingredients from their own kitchen garden or source from nearby local producers, every dish is fresh, flavoursome, and rooted in care.
Nourishment on every level.
Florence House rests on six acres of wild and peaceful land, held between the rolling South Downs and the open stretch of sea.
The land itself has a gentle, healing presence; a sanctuary where you can exhale, soften, and remember what it feels like to be deeply held by the natural world.
Space to breathe.
About Us
Tanya Forgan
Tanya is a Group Facilitator, Ritualist, and Embodiment, Guide devoted to creating spaces where grief, love, and the fullness of life can be honoured.
With a passion for helping people feel truly alive, she crafts breathtaking experiences of ritual, embodiment, and Circle, spaces of belonging where the heart opens and the soul remembers its place in the whole.
She believes grief is the most exquisite emotion, revealing the depth of our love, and that by deepening our capacity to love we build the resilience needed to meet life fully, with courage, tenderness, and connection.
Geeta Jajani ~ Support
Geeta Jajani is a Facilitator, Healer, and compassionate guide for women navigating life’s sacred thresholds. With a presence that is both steady and luminous, she creates spaces where the unseen can be honoured and the body’s quiet wisdom can rise.
Geeta’s work is rooted in intuitive care, inviting women to pause, listen, and cross into new chapters of their becoming with grace and trust. She believes that every threshold, whether of change, loss, or awakening, holds the possibility for profound transformation.
At the Winter Retreat, Geeta brings her love of Circle holding, energy work, and heart-centred listening, helping each participant soften into her own rhythm and welcome what is ready to emerge.
