6th - 10th november 2026
over new moon in magical marvao, portugal
The Sacred Dark Retreat:
A Woman’s Descent into Loving Transformation
Your female body holds a sacred power that is uniquely yours.
Yet in our modern world, many women are still on a quest to break free from the spell that numbed our bodies and desires, that taught us to question the intelligence of our emotions, intuitions, worthiness and inner authority.
But the truth is this:
No one benefits from a woman disconnected from her power.
No one.
Not her partner. Not her children, family or friends. Not her community. Not the collective we all belong to.
No one.
Many women understand this intellectually.
Yet what is forgotten is that a woman's power does not only live in her mind.
It cannot be reasoned into existence or earned through more thinking.
Her power lives in her body.
It is through her body that she learns to recognize a true no—and to action it.
It is through her body that she transforms her grief and pain into deeper love and wisdom.
It is through her body that she awakens the desire that moves her and the world around her.
It is through her body that she remembers herself as sacred, her body woven into the cycle of the moon, seasons and natural world.
the sacred dark is not just a lack of light, but a force that hums with aliveness.
“Fern created a truly magical space for life-altering alchemy for a circle of women willing to stay open and in love through it all.”
— Past Retreat ParticipantYou are invited to magical Marvao, to sit at the alter of womanhood.
These four days are an invitation to meet yourself with honesty, intimacy, and courage—to tend to yourself as we descend into the long dark night of winter.
Through an integrated retreat experience, you will be guided into connection to yourself - in body, heart, mind, and voice - and into meaningful connection with a circle of like - minded women.
Through somatic practices and gentle exposure work, we will begin to gently interrupt unconscious patterns of minimising truth so your female system can experience something very important:
You can be exactly who you are and still belong.
In the messiness of grief, the juice of desire. In the madness of rage, the brightness of your gifts and the beauty of soul.
A woman who discovers this level of safety in herself moves through the world differently.
She finds more harmony, self trust and expresses clearly, with courage.
She doesn’t look outside of herself for answers and her life reflects the truth of who she is.
“This in depth work is so important and it is beautiful to witness” - participant
You will be supported with a rich retreat programme of:
Embodied Yoga, Movement and Dance
Somatics, breath work & Exposure Work
modern psychology, self enquiry, integration circles
sacred rituals, herbal sauna ceremony, healing with nature.
After the retreat:
integration homework
group sharing call
continued emotional support via telegram
this retreat is for you if
You are woman who is a lover of truth, willing to see herself and her life with love and honesty.
You feel things build up inside and want a space to work with the emotions that are present.
You are drawn to practices that guide not dictate, that encourage your own wisdom to emerge.
You want your female system to be touched with authenticity, heart and care.
You want to meet the parts of you that learnt to please and agree to feel safe, discovering the power underneath them and your authentic voice.
You want to reclaim your power back from experiences that dishonoured you.
You feel called to explore the mystery of the dark and the wisdom it reveals.
The Location
Our retreat home is a luxurious and wild nature sanctuary in Portugal’s magical Marvao.
01/ ceremonial herbal sauna with wild nature views
On the evening of the new moon we will take a ceremonial sauna with aromathermic herbs, with cold plunges and moments to be together under the stars.
03 / pools of water to cleanse
Whether it be the pool, river or the vital water that we drink, being with the healing qualities of water will be a big part of your retreat experience.
Almighty corks, wild river and ancient rocks are all there for your discovery.
02 / ancient forest path to the river
There are plenty of paths to explore and get lost in at our retreat home. Space to be together and alone, with ancient rocks and wild river swimming spot. We have the unique opportunity to live above the trees and also be down in soil of the valley.
Our Previous Guests
The Food
Home cooked protein rich menu served to you three times per day + treats served by our in house chef Chloe Cossy
MORNING nourishment
HEArty BRUNCH
big feast dinners
Daily Schedule
We will move through a structured and spacious retreat experience with space to be alone and together, in silence and sound.
Make it stand out.
MEET YOUR GUIDE
Hello, I’m Fern. I hold professional & powerful containers for women that transform lives.
My own healing journey began twenty years ago where I would wake up most days with an idea that I was going crazy. This opened the door to my root practice of yoga. For me back then, finding a way home to my body felt like survival.
This became the start of a twenty year path of sharing embodied yoga, movement and the expressive arts including the importance of working uniquely with the female body and system.
Six years ago I began supporting women through in depth trauma healing journeys through a rich body of work called Awareness Facilitation. My client base is built only through word of mouth with many describing the power of the work as being a true place where everything is welcomed, accepted and feels possible. What I feel to be true is neither a person’s light or shadow intimidates me because I know my own and believe every human soul has the power and right to live a liberated life.
I am a devoted mother to my toddler girl and entrepreneur. I take pride for having built a life from my own gifts whilst never compromising on my own principles. This is the example I wish to pass on to my daughter and the women who work with me.
Meet the team
We have an experienced retreat team here to serve you.
Our Team
Chloe Cossy
Holistic ChefWe have been holding retreats with Chloe for fifteen years. She passionate about healing the gut through food. Her retreat menu is designed to support the content of our retreat so every part of you is nourished. We will all eat in her open plan kitchen.
Serra Vida Gaurdian and Retreat Assist.Shona Pratt
Shona will be joining the retreat team supporting sessions and being the bridge between us and the land. A sensational woman, retreat facilitator and sauna ceremonialist.
What’s included?
Luxury accommodation and meals from Friday afternoon to Tuesday brunch.
A full and expert retreat programme - Embodiment, Meditation & Breathwork, Exposure work & Somatics, Science and Sacred Rituals.
Ceremonial Herbal Sauna by Shona
A highly skilled retreat team who are there to support you in your booking process all the way through to post retreat integration.
Integration support - online integration circle, journalling enquiries, continued emotional support via Telegram.
Pricing & Rooms
The super early bird rates range from £995 - £2075.
Super Early Bird ends August 31st 2026.
Bonuses: You will receive 2 x Online Awareness Facilitation sessions with me to be used by January 31st 2026 to support your retreat journey.
Value: £450
The early bird rates range from £1145 - £2225
Early Bird ends September 30th
Full rates range from £1245 - £2325
A non refundable deposit of 25% confirms your place
Payment plans available
Do not be put off by the shared rooms! They are spacious accommodations, not “rooms” more like studios.
Travel information
Our retreat is held in Marvao which is inland Portugal near the border of Spain. When we recieve the travel details of our guest we will arrange a shuttle from Lisbon to the venue. We will provide the address upon booking for any independent travelers.
A luxurious and spacious set up for one person.
You will have your own kitchenette and internal fire place and are all stylishly decorated.
You will have a very comfy super king bed.
You will have one shower room and a large terrace that goes straight out onto the garden.