23rd - 26th May 2025
A Call To Dream
Join us for a 4-day journey into the heart of the Elan Valley, where we — melanated women of African and Caribbean descent — gather to remember the sacred art of dreaming, to rediscover the joy of play, and to sink into deep, nourishing rest.
Retreat Overview
As summer looms and as the natural world prepares to open and flower, deep in the heart of the Elan Valley within the Welsh Cambrian Mountains, a resonant call washes like a mist over the land...
“A Call to Dream” is a retreat created for melanated women of African and Caribbean descent to rest, release, and re-imagine what it means to simply BE.
In a world that renders us both invisible and hyper-visible, this retreat invites melanated women to lay down the burdens of expectation, shed labels, unlearn the hustle and make space to dream beyond the weight of survival and the
confines of daily life. Here, we honour rest as a radical act of liberation, embracing fluidity, play, and the limitless possibilities that arise when we allow ourselves to dream freely.
Together, over four days we will slow down, tune into nature's rhythm, connect with the earth, anchor our roots, savour the art of flow and create a sacred space to honour the divine within. We will open ourselves up to the abundant
resources that live within us—our intuition, our creativity, and our ancestral wisdom—tapping into the visionary power that is our birth right.
This is a call to return home to our true essence, where dreaming becomes an act of creation, and where we are free to explore the expansive potential of our inner world,
guided by the whispers of our deepest desires.
Will you answer the call?
Your Teachers
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Lesley Asare is a Multidisciplinary Artist and devoted practitioner of the healing arts. As a multidisciplinary artist, her creative practice is led by her quest for truth and the desire to listen intuitively to awaken to the subtle faculties that complete the human experience.
She wholeheartedly believes in the healing power of the creative process and in living in right relationship with the earth. Her work explores identity, personal
histories, ecology, the African experience and the experiences of the Global Majority.Through her work she aims to create the space for play, stillness, self-reflection, self- discovery, empowerment, transformation and healing. As a Somatic Movement Therapist trained in the Tamalpa Life Art Process and a trauma informed Conscious Breathwork Practitioner, she creates safe and sacred containers for people to courageously come home to themselves, give room to what is alive within, and consciously call more love and understanding into their lives.
With a focus on authentic integration and embodiment, her work is slow, soft, spacious, intentional and playful. With a passion for earth tending and community care, Lesley holds ceremonial space for the Global Majority to personally and collectively heal, flourish and
shine.
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Leila, a trained Medical Herbalist, has devoted her career to unlocking the therapeutic benefits of connection to nature. Upon the end of her studies in 2018, she founded the Adae Well-being clinic, fuelled by a dedication to integrate holistic healing practices into community health.
Her curiosity about our connection to the natural world led her to explore Forest and Nature Therapy. Leila obtained certification as a Forest Therapy Guide from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy in 2021, reinforcing her commitment to fostering connection to ourselves, nature and each other.
Leila's primary mission is to assist individuals in cultivating presence through meaningful relationships with the more-than-human-world. Blending plant spirit medicine and sensory experiences, she empowers people to tap into the inherent wisdom of nature. Through her work, Leila strives to equip individuals with practical skills and tools for self-sustainability to nurture a profound bond to the web of life and partnership with the land.
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Jazreena Harlow is a dynamic, multi-passionate creative and wellness space holder, offering a unique blend of modalities—Life Coaching, Human Design Analysis, Sound Healing, and Personal Branding. Her holistic approach fuses the mystical and the practical, helping clients deepen their self-connection, amplify their inner radiance, and gain a profound understanding of their unique energetics and harmonic resonance.
Jazreena’s career began in Fashion Buying with renowned brands before she transitioned into the world of esoteric wisdom and holistic healing. Now, she dedicates her work to helping individuals unlock their fullest potential, guiding them toward deeper self-awareness, inner harmony, and authentic self-expression. Her mission is to create spaces for healing and growth, emboldening others to live authentically and use intuition as a strategic asset for integrity and self-advocacy.
Jazreena’s impact extends beyond individual coaching. She is certified in 64keys Pro training, a specialised application of Human Design tailored for professional contexts. Her expertise spans management and leadership consultations, team dynamics analysis, and organisational development, empowering businesses to optimise collective potential and cultivate harmonious cultures that champion inclusivity and equity.
As the founder of Haus of Rare, a lifestyle brand celebrating individuality and authenticity, Jazreena believes in the power of style as a reflection of one’s rare essence. At Haus of Rare, style is more than just what you wear—it’s an embodiment of your unique energy, deserving to be seen, celebrated, and uplifted.
The Retreat
Within our sacred dreamscape, Jazreena Harlow guides us through a deeply restorative sonic activation, gently easing us into a state of profound relaxation and deep rest. This nourishing sound bath invites us to reconnect with our inner sanctuary, dissolve barriers that block our connection to divine wisdom, dream boldly and expansively, whilst returning us to our most harmonic resonance.
Leila Halid will guide us on a journey through the land, inviting us to listen deeply and lean into the wisdom of the forest. There we enter a space of co-creation, where we can explore, play, and remember how to dream new futures with the land, not apart from it. This is a radical act of presence, a rewilding of our spirits, where each step plants a seed of possibility as we surrender to our innate connection with the earth.
Lesley Asare will hold space for the exploration of the wisdom that is held within the sacred archive of the body through somatic movement, breathwork and the expressive arts. With a focus on releasing all that no longer serves us to be able to dream and call more love in, this offering acknowledges the body as an ancestral altar, a site of alchemy and expansion and nurtures the divine creative spark within us all.
All of this takes place in the mystical healing lands of The Dreaming, where the natural beauty of plunge pools, deep forests, cleansing waterfalls, and expansive grasslands call you to remember your true self and the interconnectedness of all life. Lean into deep rest within our luxurious home, where you’ll be nourished by delicious, home-cooked meals prepared by our Head Chef, Zac, using ingredients freshly harvested from our own kitchen garden.
The Details
Dates : Friday 23rd - Monday 26th May 2025
Check In : 3pm
Check Out : 10am
Location : Rhydoldog House, Rhayader, Wales, LD6 5HB
For more info on how to get here, click here.
Pricing
Pricing is on a sliding scale based on your room choice, starting from £652 for the entire retreat. Head to our bookings page for more details.
What’s Included:
3 night’s luxury accommodation
All of your nourishing home cooked food & drinks
Beautifully curated retreat programme
Access to 47 acres of ancient, breathtaking lands
Access to our natural plunge pools
Enjoy our tranquil home and gardens
“Words can’t describe the energy that this place holds, from the minute you arrive you can feel the magic. We had the most beautiful weekend with the most amazing people, I will cherish the memories for a lifetime.”
- Claire Wright
The Nurturer Guest, 2024
“I knew my time at The Dreaming would be a wonderful break in stunning surroundings but I was not prepared for it to be life changing. You leave The Dreaming wondering, "Was I dreaming?" but thankfully, it's all real.”
- Kiri Pritchard McLean
Comedian, Writer & Former Artist in Residence
The Location
Nestled in the heart of the Elan Valley, Wales. Our retreat offers a serene and rejuvenating environment, away from busy work life, whatever the weather.
Set within forty seven glorious acres of ancient land, The Dreaming is a rural wonder which offers true serenity and blissful tranquility. Once a 15th century Cistercian monastery, this fabulous property passed through Georgian and Victorian aristrocratic families to the designer Laura Ashley and her family in the 20th century.
Laura Ashley directed her multinational interior design company from Rhydoldog House and then, in 2020, our founder Charlotte Church, with the help of talented collaborators, reimagined, refurbished and reconfigured it.
Our Rooms
Luxurious rooms with modern amenities awaits you, each designed by award winning designers to provide comfort and tranquility.
Each rooms interior reflect our passion for other cultures. Natural materials and tactile draping create den-like spaces, whilst original floorboards and textured walls give coherence and a cosseting feel to the seven rooms, each with its own distinct name and character.
The essence of connection thrives through our shared rooms. Our distinctive approach assigns beds individually rather than by room, encouraging meaningful interactions with fellow guests.
Embracing shared living is ingrained in The Dreaming’s values, creating an environment where bonds flourish.
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For 2 Individuals Sharing
Inspired by Luna herself, The Moon is designed to honour the lunar goddesses. Using handmade natural materials, it is a purifying and calming space, with soft flowing white fabrics. Luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens, a spacious seating area, and an ensuite with moon-shaped bath overlooking the Moon Garden.
It is south facing, overlooking the Elemental garden, with a breathtaking view of the Nant Caethon Valley.
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Mixed Gender Dorm / For Four Individuals Sharing / 4 x Single Beds
An exceptional space designed for four guests to experience the perfect blend of tranquility and connection.
South-facing with a private balcony, this room offers breathtaking views of the Elemental garden and the Nant Caethon Valley, making it the perfect setting for shared moments of peace and reflection. The room's hand-sewn furnishings, crafted from a collection of rich Indian saris, shift in colour as the day progresses, adding to the room's vibrant yet serene ambiance. Its spacious seating area and single beds with fabric privacy screens provide both comfort and intimacy, while encouraging guests to relax, unwind, and enjoy quality time together.
The ensuite bathroom features a stunning golden tadelakt shower, enveloped by lush botanical plants, creating a truly rejuvenating experience. Whether you're here to bond with loved ones or create new memories with friends, The Mystic Room is a haven that invites relaxation, connection, and renewal. Sharing this beautiful space enhances the experience, offering not just a room, but a sanctuary for togetherness. South-facing with a balcony, to take in the breathtaking views of the Elemental garden and the Nant Caethon Valley.
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For 2 individuals sharing
The best place to experience the breaking of day, The Dawn is south facing with a balcony to enjoy the view of the Elemental garden and the Nant Caethon Valley.
The handmade soft furnishings were created using natural dyes to reflect the colours of sunrise, bringing a brightness to the room. With luxurious beds and fabric privacy screens, a seating area, rustic pine furniture, and an altar to honour the solar deities, a stay in The Dawn is an energy restoring experience. Its bathroom is across the hall, and has a Moroccan-inspired tangerine tadelakt shower.
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For 2 Individuals Sharing
Inspired by the wonders of mycelium (the network of fungal threads that connects all the plants of the forest together) The Mushroom is designed and crafted using rustic natural materials to achieve an earthy, grounded feel, dark antique wooden furniture and warm neutral tones in its spacious seating area, and luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens.
It is south facing, overlooking the Elemental garden, with a breathtaking view of the Nant Caethon Valley, and includes an ensuite bathroom, with a walk-in shower, and a bath with a view, surrounded by a selection of botanical plants.
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For 3 Individuals Sharing
A stay at The Wanderer is an immersive experience, with natural materials and artefacts from Africa, Peru and Mexico. This is the room for explorers, and has a spacious seating area, and luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens.
The room is south facing, overlooking the Elemental garden, with a breathtaking view of the Nant Caethon Valley, and includes an ensuite bathroom, with a shower and bath, and a window seat to take in the view.
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For 1 Individual or Couples
Honouring the design and forest reverence in Japanese culture, Forest Spirits is north facing and overlooks the ancient woodland.
With traditional Japanese tatami flooring, a spacious seating area, and a luxurious king-size bed, the room also has an ensuite bathroom with a black tadelakt shower and a porcelain lotus sink. Immersive Japanese experience for all of the senses, including the scent of traditional Japanese Tatami Mats.
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For 2 Individuals Sharing
North-facing to the deep forests, The Womb is a celebration of womanhood. With soft flowing fabrics, all handmade and dyed using natural ingredients, it has the nourishing, secure feeling of being swaddled. Luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens, a seating area, and a playful ensuite with a pink tadelakt shower.