ROOT & REST
30th December - 2nd January // Portugal
Join us at our home in Portugal this Winter,
as we cross the threshold into 2027 together.
There is something about the space between chapters. The old story has ended, but the new one hasn't quite begun. A place to pause. To breathe. To listen. Before we turn the page. Before we rush forward into whatever comes next.
This is your invitation to sleep deeply, bathe to the sound of birdsong, move your body to the warmth of the fire and wander as the breeze sings through the eucalyptus tree leaves. This is a portal of sacred endings, closing 2026 in ceremony as we prepare to journey across the threshold of a new beginning together. Cradled by nature, nourished by home-cooked meals, guided by Betty and held by each other. The land is ready for you to experience it’s magic. Are you ready to receive it?
Casa da Mãe
Between the mountains and river beaches of central Portugal, you will discover Casa Da Mãe; A home & community space rooted in rewilding, connection and community as daily medicine. The land at Casa Da Mãe - House of the Mother - has already taught us so much. Time after time it has brought us as guardians - and all those who visit - home to ourselves, reminding us of the beauty of life. During this journey together, our home is your home. A space of rooting, resting, reconnection and remembrance.
Let nature lead
The leaves fall without resistance, a natural letting go. The trees become bare and the landscape softly drifts into a deep sleep. This is your invitation to embrace nature just as you are, mirroring the magic of this season. This is your time to root, rest and remember.
Picture this…
Waking up in nature after a deep rest
Meditating to bird song
Quiet mornings
Surrendering into a slower flow
Wandering into the forest to talk to trees
Journalling under the beautiful grandmother cork oak tree
Sauna sessions & sensory journeys to warm your soul
Deeply nourshing family style feasting using locally sourced seasonal produce
Daily invitations to move, breathe, dance, write and sound
Space for creativity and self expression, inspired by our beautiful surroundings
Making magic with your hands, from paper to willow to clay
Tending to our grief in the same way we celebrate our joy
Walking down to our local river beach for a wild swim
Fireside storytelling and song
Creating a vision board to spark your dreams.
Curling up on the sofa as your add a log to the fire.
Slowing down and sharing you heart in circle. Being seen. Being heard. Being felt.
Four days of ritual, ceremony, prayer, play and rest to soothe your soul.
And so much more…
Your hosts
Betty
CEREMONIALIST, BREATH COACH, GRIEF & LIFE TENDER, REWILDING GUIDE.
Alongside being a guardian at Casa da Mãe, Betty’s passion is reuniting wild-hearted humans with their aliveness.
She weaves ceremony, ritual, prayer and practices that guide souls back to their innate wisdom and truth, so they can live a rich life of presence, joy, authenticity and play, welcoming all that they are to the world.
Betty uses nature and the elements to guide her teachings from sharing circles, powerful breath ceremonies and grief spaces to singing, storytelling and creative writing.
She sees life as a ceremony, making everyday life sacred, with the smallest touches to bring us into presence, gratitude and joy, here at Casa da Mãe.
Stu
GUARDIAN, COOK, RETREAT TENDER & CO HOST
Co-creator, steward and guesthouse host Stu will be quietly tending to the hearth of the retreat. From lighting fires to keep us cosy, to preparing ceremonies and pouring his heart (and herbs) into nourishing family style feasts throughout our journey together.
Stu’s creativity can be spotted throughout the space and will be woven into practices that bring nature and creativity together during our Root & Rest experience.
Accommodation options to Root, Rest & Remember
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![A cozy bedroom featuring a bed with floral bedding and decorative pillows, a window with white curtains, and wall art with plants and mirrors.]()
The Bloom Room
Step into The Bloom Room, a sanctuary woven with nature’s quiet magic. Pressed flowers, books whispering the wisdom of trees, and soft botanical touches invite you to slow down and soften. Curl beneath flower-filled bedding and imagine yourself as a seed - resting in the stillness of winter before the bloom. A space for deep exhale, gentle dreaming, and returning to yourself.
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![A cozy bedroom with a white metal bed frame, patterned bedding, a small nightstand with a lamp, candles, and decorative items, against a green paneled wall decorated with artwork, a shelf with vases and plants, and a framed sign with floral design and the quote 'Be wild but always kind'.]()
The Cosmic Cottage
Filled with warm textures and woodland charm, The Cosmic Cottage is a cosy sanctuary for wild souls. Think candlelight, panelled walls, beloved books, tarot cards, and earthy details gathered from sacred travels. A place to retreat after magically full days, where you can rest deeply, reconnect with your inner world, and feel held by the quiet magic of simple living.
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![A cozy bedroom with a bed covered in a leafy-patterned duvet and matching pillows, and a ginger cat lying peacefully on the bed. The wall behind has a macramé wall hanging and a dreamcatcher, with a curved archway at the entrance.]()
Nature's womb
This room is designed for rest, softness, and deep restoration. Warm earth-toned walls and layered textures create a nurturing atmosphere that instantly invites you to melt into stillness, evoking a feeling of being held in the earth’s womb. As sunset arrives, golden light pours through the west-facing windows and fills the room with a soft glow… best enjoyed from the comfort of your queen bed. A gentle cocoon to land, breathe, and simply be.
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![A wooden tiny house with a curved roof, situated in a grassy area. There is an olive tree in front, with a moss-covered trunk. The surroundings include a garden with small decorative stones and figurines, and a dirt path leading past the house. In the background, there are hills covered with trees under a partly cloudy sky during daylight.]()
Cabin in the wild
Hidden beyond the Buddha garden, a small gate leads you toward our Cabin in the Wild; a handcrafted sanctuary surrounded by nature. Built by Stu in 2025, this peaceful retreat was created for silence, inspiration, and slow living. If you’re looking for a rare kind of stillness, why not choose your own private accommodation in our cosy cabin. A beautiful nest with a double (or twin) bed that wakes to the sunrise over the mountains.
There is a supplement of €150, or £75pp if you choose to share.
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![A scenic rural landscape at sunset with two parked vehicles, a white car and a camper van, in front of a garden with blooming trees. There is a tent-like structure in the middle background, with a trellis or vine framework nearby. In the distance, there are trees and a house, with a partly cloudy sky overhead.]()
Sleep in your van
If you’re on the move in your van and want to land somewhere softly to cross this threshold, join us for this journey and return to your van to sleep. You’ll find a peaceful place to land among open skies, birdsong, and gentle countryside energy. You’ll have access to our outdoor bathroom and compost toilet, with optional electric hook-up. Please note that you will need to have some heating in your van to be comfortable in the winter months on the land. If this feels like the way for you to join us, please get in touch to discuss the exchange.
Move through this portal with us for €444
What’s included:
4 days of ceremony, ritual and practices to invite rooting, rest and remembrance
3 night’s accommodation in comfortable and cosy rooms in our home
Family brunches, warming snacks, moments of decadence and celebratory dinners using locally sources and seasonal ingredients.
Tea infusions, coffee, water and fruit available throughout the journey.
Exclusive access to the land at Casa da Mãe - our LUNA space to gather, kitchen garden, majestic cork oak tree, forests to explore and much more
Ethically sourced Peruvian cacao for ceremony
Daily movement/ meditation/ shake awake
Elemental led spaces to support your mind, body, spirit & root into your creativity
Daily rituals and ceremonies to reconnect to and remember your true nature
Held sauna sessions including a sensory journey
Unlimited access to Casa da Mãe’s Creative Apothecary - make, draw, do
Experienced facilitators, space holders & hosts to guide and support your journey
Monthly payment plan available €111 deposit, split payments thereafter, balance by end of November
Soul family connections for life
What’s not included:
Flights
Transfers to and from Casa da Mãe (but happy to help organise)
1:1 massage with our in-house masseuse
