The Nostos Retreat: A spiritual homecoming with Sharon Blackie

A return to living wisdom

Join us for the first annual Nostos retreat, held from November 15–20, 2026, at Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire.

Across five transformative days, a community of curious learners and seekers will come together to explore the meeting point between ancient Western philosophical and wisdom traditions and contemporary depth psychology. This gathering invites participants to consider what it could mean to help bring a living spiritual tradition into being—one that speaks to the realities of our time.

Rather than focusing only on personal change, this retreat aims to restore our sense of place within a dancing, animate cosmos: a world alive with meaning, imagination, and the presence of the divine.

Reviving ancient cosmologies for a living world

The mythologies and cosmologies of the Western world, especially those found in the writings of Classical philosophers such as Plato, Pythagoras, and Plotinus, offer rich and beautiful ways of seeing reality. They describe a cosmos in which everything is alive, purposeful, and intentional.

These traditions present a world in which each soul chooses to incarnate, expressing a distinct way of being human through relationship and participation. They also hold enduring insights into meaning, imagination, creativity, and contemplation, while offering the basis for an ethical life free from dogma.

During this inaugural retreat, these ideas will be reawakened and reimagined through their connection with Jungian and post-Jungian depth psychology. The intention is to support a practical wisdom for living—mythopoetic, contemplative, and mystical, grounded in nature and the wild beauty of the cosmos.

Within an open and reflective framework, participants will explore practices and concepts that awaken the mythic imagination. These include active imagination, dreamwork, and personal myth-making, all in service of soul-making: discovering a more authentic life path and clarifying a deeper calling.

Ultimately, the retreat is designed to guide guests through awakening and transformation through a blend of philosophy and psychology, creativity and contemplation.

Questions to consider

• What can philosophy and Western wisdom traditions teach us about living well in today’s challenging world?
• What is myth, why does it matter, and how can we cultivate the mythic imagination in practice?
• How can active imagination and dreamwork help us engage with soul and the imaginal realms of ancient tradition?

What to expect

Mornings and early afternoons will be spent with Sharon and other contributors at Avalon Wellbeing Centre, with occasional outdoor sessions. Topics will include sacred geometry, archetypal cosmology, active imagination, dreamwork, virtue ethics, the importance of myth, and the divine feminine within European mystical traditions.

Later in the day, guests may walk the meditation labyrinth, spend quiet time on the land exploring Broughton’s remarkable nature-recovery programme, or unwind in Avalon’s biophilic-designed Pool Suite.

Some evenings will be free, while others will include optional experiences such as sound healing or musical and storytelling gatherings around a roaring fire at the Fire Temple.

About Sharon Blackie

Dr. Sharon Blackie is an award-winning author and psychologist with a background in mythology and folklore. Her work focuses on reimagining women’s stories and on the relevance of myths and fairy tales to the personal, cultural, and environmental challenges we face today.

She has written six books of fiction and nonfiction, and her work has appeared in international media outlets. She has also featured in programmes by the BBC, US public radio, and independent filmmakers. Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Honorary Member of the Association of Jungian Analysts. Her publication, The Art of Enchantment, is a Global Top Ten Literature Substack.

Broughton Sanctuary

The retreat takes place at the 3,000-acre Broughton Sanctuary, just outside Skipton at the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales. Broughton Hall, established in 1097, has been home to the Tempest family for more than 900 years and carries a rich history spanning over a millennium.

The Sanctuary is also home to one of Britain’s most exciting nature recovery projects, shaped by extensive tree planting and rewilding. In 2025, beavers were welcomed to the Sanctuary alongside native cattle and Iron Age pigs.

Avalon, the state-of-the-art wellbeing retreat centre, is at the heart of the Sanctuary. With extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, it is designed to support the inner journey of mind, body, and spirit. During their stay, guests may enjoy the biophilic Pool Suite with its 20-metre pool, steam room, sauna, and hydromassage pool. Beyond the building, the grounds offer meditation labyrinths, wild swimming reservoirs, a cosmic garden, and more.

A wide range of rooms is available, both in Broughton Hall and across 20 Retreat Houses, including converted barns, former coachhouses, and gatehouses.

Rooming

Tickets range from £1,700 to £3,400 across the Retreat Houses and Broughton Hall. Please note that the images shown are examples only, and all rooms are subject to availability.

• Broughton Hall Historic Home
• Broughton Hall Premium, Ensuite
• Broughton Hall Standard, Shared Bathroom
• Broughton Hall Deluxe, Ensuite
• Broughton Hall Premium, Ensuite
• Broughton Hall Standard, Double Shared Bathroom
• Broughton Hall Standard, Single Room
• The Manse, Retreat House Deluxe
• The Manse, Retreat House Deluxe, Ensuite
• The Manse, Retreat House Deluxe, Shared Bathroom
• Top Lodge, Retreat House Superior
• Top Lodge, Retreat House Superior, Private Shower/Bathroom
• Eden, Retreat House Superior
• Eden, Retreat House Superior, Shared Bathroom
• Eden, Retreat House Superior, Single Bedroom
• Stage Cottage, Retreat House Standard
• Stable Cottage, Retreat House Standard, Shared Bathroom