During the early years of The Way of the Buzzard, I asked one of my spirit guides what we should focus on as Jason and I developed our offering out into the world. Their answer surprised me: community. At the time, we didn’t fully understand the importance of this focus, but we trusted their wisdom and followed the guidance.

This idea of community has become the backbone of what we do. From shamanic journey circles to celebrating the wheel of the year and holding retreats, we have woven connection into every aspect of our work. Our community has grown, both in-person and online, as we’ve built a space where people can connect deeply with each other, with nature, and with themselves.

But why is community so important?

The Quiet Ache of Disconnection

The late poet Mary Oliver expressed a longing to truly live in her poem about death:

"When it’s over, I want to say all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms. When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”

Despite the busyness and opportunities of modern life, many people feel so often feel like visitors in their lives. They sense a void that material comforts and constant activity can’t fill. They yearn for something deeper: a sense of belonging, a community that sees the world as they do, and the freedom to live authentically.

Where does this stem from? This feeling of separation from the life our gut is telling us we need to live? What is it that is missing? What is it that is leaving a nagging void inside us which we can’t seem to fill?

Back in the nineteenth century, Karl Marx called this feeling we are experiencing the alienation. He was speaking in direct response to the unprecedented change in people’s lives as they moved from the countryside into the cities. The rural life ended for so many of our ancestors, as they joined the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. Land reform meant that the soil where they had grown their own food for generations was closed off to them. Walls were built, hedges laid and with these barriers there came a separation from the land, from nature and from each other.

In the shift to city life, he observed workers inevitably losing control over their lives and sense of self due to the lack of autonomy in their work. They had no say in how their time was spent or in what they contributed to the world. The meaning behind the products of their labour was obscured, leaving their efforts and energy co-opted to fulfill someone else’s goals.

Through this they became both alienated from themselves, and from their communities. They lost the ability to form deep relationships with each other and with nature.

Reclaiming Our Place

The Way of the Buzzard is about rediscovering what we’ve lost: our connection to the land, the spirit realms, and each other. Since receiving the advice from my spirit guide years ago, I’ve continued to journey back to her for guidance on building community. Her wisdom has shaped many of our retreats.

Now, as winter wraps its quiet arms around us, we find ourselves in a time of reflection. With the year’s last in-person event behind us, we are looking back on our retreats and events, contemplating their meaning for both ourselves and those who join us, while beginning to plan for 2025.

For me, the magic of these gatherings lives in certain moments. My ultimate happy place is sitting around a fire, sharing stories and songs together watching sparks rise into the midnight blue, star-filed sky. I have special memories at all our retreats doing this, from our Beneath the Emerald Boughs and Beyond Eden retreats in Snowdonia to the Calling the Ancestors retreat I co-facilitated with my teacher and friend Jayne Johnson in Cumbria at Samhain.. And earlier in the year, at Space to Emerge, where the spring woods were alive with laughter, the perfume of bluebells weaving through the glades.

While so much can be achieved individually, using the practices and tools we share in the Mystery School, something profound happens when we come together as a community. These retreats allow us to deepen our work and experience transformation in ways that reach far beyond the moment.

Perhaps you have already attended one or more of our retreats? Or maybe you are thinking about coming along to one in the future?. These gatherings offer a powerful opportunity to reconnect with what truly matters, both within and around you.

Reflecting on the feedback from our community that we have received this year, it's deeply moving to see how meaningful these gatherings have been.

The Gift of Belonging

One of our most primal needs is to feel part of a community. For our ancestors, being cast out from the tribe was a matter of survival. Today, while the stakes are different, the longing remains.

Yet, many of us feel estranged from the modern world. We’re surrounded by people we love, but we don’t always feel understood. We voice our truths tentatively, unsure if others will relate.

But when we come together - when we find “our people” - something extraordinary happens. We’re no longer alone. We find strength in numbers, cheering each other on and accomplishing what once felt impossible.

Our retreats offer a rare opportunity to experience a deep sense of belonging. Many people share how transformative these gatherings have been for them. Stepping away from the noise and busyness of modern life, they find a chance to reconnect with nature, others, and themselves. Here are some key themes that emerged from their reflections:

Deep Connection

Many described forming profound, authentic connections with others. These bonds felt natural and rooted in trust, openness, and shared purpose. These retreats create a safe space where participants can be their true selves, free from judgment, allowing for healing and nourishment.

Freedom to Be

By stepping away from daily routines, individuals found the freedom to relax, exhale, and simply be. There was the opportunity to reconnect with their authentic selves, share stories, and express themselves without fear of misunderstanding.

Shared Purpose

The communal experience of working, eating, laughing, and learning together fostered a unique sense of flow and being grounded. People often noted how these shared activities evoked feelings of timelessness and reminded them of a way of life that felt more natural and fulfilling.

Nature’s Embrace

Immersion in the natural world was a highlight for many. Whether walking through bluebells, swimming in the lake, gazing at starry skies, or sitting around a glowing fire, the connection to nature brought a sense of peace, timelessness, and belonging to something primal.

Healing and Growth

The retreats offered a space to shed societal expectations and rediscover authentic selves. Many reflected on how transformative the experience was, helping them heal from past wounds, build confidence, and move closer to their true path in life.

The Stark Contrast to Everyday Life

A recurring theme in reflections from the retreat experience is the sharp contrast between these gatherings and the demands of daily life. For many, modern life feels fragmented, isolating, and rushed, offering little space for the depth and connection they long for. In contrast, these retreats provide a sanctuary, a space of unity, focus, and shared purpose.

This stark difference often sparks a desire to bring the essence of the retreat back into everyday life. Many leave feeling inspired, hopeful, and motivated to create more moments of connection, simplicity, and grounding in their own routines.

These reflections confirm what we’ve long known: our retreats are not just about escaping the everyday, but about rediscovering a way of living that feels whole, connected, and authentic. They are spaces where transformation begins, and the ripples of that change extend far beyond the time spent together.

Sometimes, we just need to run away into the woods!

Looking Ahead

As we plan our 2025 retreat program, we’re reminded of how vital this work is. So, what is our retreat line up? Well, next year, we’ll gather again for:

Community is Everything

In these turbulent times, community offers hope and strength. It reminds us that we don’t have to navigate life alone.

When we come together, whether in the physical or spirit world, we find belonging. We connect with nature, listen to the wisdom of the trees, and tune into the messages of animals. We build relationships that nurture and sustain us.