A meditation retreat with Jimmy Wightman
Stillness &
Self-Discovery.
Four days of silence, nature and deep meditation in the Cheshire/Shropshire countryside.
five attendee limit · semi-private
As seen on
Imagine stepping away from the noise of everyday life for a few days. No emails, no scrolling, no social obligations.
BirdsongA flowing streamA warm log burnerSpace to reconnect
Perhaps you…
Feel burned out
and need a proper reset.
Want to deepen
your meditation practice.
Are curious
about difficult emotions, or the deeper questions of who you are.
Whatever brings you here, this retreat offers you the time, space and guidance to explore.
Hosted in our own home in the beautiful Cheshire countryside: a small, relaxed retreat combining silence, nature, expert guidance and the warmth of a home-cooked nourishing meal.
You'll learn to rest deeply, slow down and gain insight into the nature of your mind.
- No pressure to meditate for hours on end
- No expectation of a dramatic breakthrough
- No rigid routine to force yourself through
With Christmas and New Year behind you, a few days of peace and quiet might be exactly what you need to start the year on the
right foot.
Birdsong, a flowing stream, and the space to reconnect with yourself.
Our home and grounds · Cheshire
The setting
A very special place to retreat.
Magdalena and I spent a long time searching across the UK for somewhere truly special: peaceful, secluded and surrounded by nature.
Eventually, we found it.
The stream
Runs through the property. Its sound can be heard throughout the grounds, a natural object for meditation.
The grounds
Mature trees, wildflowers, birdsong and open landscapes. Space to wander, walk and sit quietly.
The night sky
Away from town lights, a clear night opens into an extraordinary carpet of stars.
Our home
Not a commercial retreat centre. Your home, from home. A cosy living space and plenty of room to relax.
The meditation studio
A dedicated meditation and yoga studio, fully equipped with zafu cushions, meditation chairs, yoga mats, blankets and anything else you could possibly need.
Luna
Our lovely Samoyed. She won't interrupt your sessions, but welcomes a little affection.
“For us, nature isn't just a beautiful backdrop to meditation. It's part of the practice itself.”
Our approach
A retreat without the pressure.
Gradual cultivation · our focus
Developing calm, awareness, emotional balance and a deeper understanding of experience, cultivating presence, stillness, equanimity and inner freedom.
Go at your pace
Choose how much formal sitting you do. If you need rest, you can rest.
Go deeper if drawn
If you'd like to explore absorption or peak states, we'll will support you.
Nothing to force
We'll create the conditions for meditation to happen naturally, without a predetermined result.
“In the beginning, meditation is something that happens within your day. Eventually, the day becomes something that happens within your meditation.” - Shinzen Young
Mindfulness meditation
Learning to surf the waves of experience.
Gentle waves
Joy, bliss, tranquillity, profound stillness. Learning to work with these will deepen your practice.
Choppy water
A racing mind, anxiety, difficult memories.
These moments can be just as valuable as the peaceful ones. In fact, learning to meet difficult emotions with awareness and equanimity can be some of the most profound work we do.
The goal isn't to control the ocean, but to develop the skill to meet whatever comes.
THE STREAM AT OUR HOME
I call this
Developing skill at feeling.
On the retreat you'll learn how to become intimately familiar with your own experience, clearer about what's happening in your mind and body, and more capable of meeting thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them.
This approach draws on the meditation system taught by my teacher, Shinzen Young. Rather than one technique for everyone, it's a flexible framework for working with whatever arises, so you make intentional decisions about how to practise in each moment.
The skills you develop here will transform how you live your life once you get home.
The teachings
What we'll explore together.
Alongside developing presence, awareness and emotional freedom, we'll explore several other dimensions of meditation.
Calm and stillness
Settle the mind and body, deepen concentration and explore tranquillity and absorption (without chasing a particular experience).
Heart practices
Cultivate kindness, compassion, friendliness, warmth and ease. Shortly after Christmas, a little extra compassion for ourselves and our families might come in handy!
Non-duality and our deeper nature
We'll explore practices and wisdom teachings that point towards a deeper question: what are we, really? What is the nature of consciousness?
Everyday life revolves around being a separate individual who must constantly think, decide, achieve and protect a personal identity. Meditation gives us the time and space for that activity to soften and settle. So we can let our usual sense of separation relax, and discover a different way of experiencing ourselves and the world.
I'll also share stories and insights from yogis, Zen masters and contemplatives, and how their discoveries relate to our own practice.
The group
5
attendees, with plenty of individual attention.
We'll meditate together, share questions and experiences, and learn from one another.
Settling into deep calm
Working with difficult emotions
Cultivating joy
Shifting perspectives
Group Q&A sessionsOne-to-one time with Jimmy
Your teacher
Jimmy Wightman.
Jimmy's approach draws on the meditation system designed by his teacher, Shinzen Young, but brings in elements of self inquiry, nonduality, and various wisdom traditions depending on the needs of the group.
2,000+
people taught to meditate
Noble silence
Silence, without the austerity.
The retreat will be held largely in silence, stepping away from casual conversation, so the mind can fall quiet and the body can find stillness.
Put down
Deciding what to say
Worrying what others think
Making conversation
Maintaining a social identity
Keep
✓ Meditation instruction
✓ Group Q&A
✓ Discussion about practice
✓ Freedom to turn inwards
For a few days, put down your responsibilities, be yourself. Restore your energy. Find inner balance.
Step outside and you'll find space to wander, breathe and reconnect with the natural world.
Our garden · Cheshire
The rhythm of the retreat
What will a typical day look like?
Each day will include three group meditation sessions, with guided practice, teachings and time for questions and answers.
Morning
Start the day with group meditation, practical instruction and Q&A.
Afternoon
Explore and deepen your practice, with guidance tailored to the experiences and needs of the group.
Evening
Come together for another meditation and Q&A, with space to consolidate your insights from that day.
Between sessions
Sit by the log burner
Walking meditation outdoors
Sit beside the stream
A countryside walk
A quiet place to read
A cup of tea
Enough structure to support your practice, while leaving you free to follow your own rhythm.
Hospitality
Your home away from home.
Magdalena and I want you to feel comfortable and well looked after. We'll take care of the practicalities so you can focus on your practice.
Home-cooked by Magdalena
Delicious, nourishing vegetarian meals.
Tea & treats
Plenty of herbal tea and wholesome snacks.
A separate studio
Sessions in our warm, cosy meditation and yoga studio.
Five guests
Mostly private rooms; one shared room for two, with its own bathroom.
YOUR HOSTS & LUNA
Beyond the retreat
Take your new skills into the year ahead.
Some of a retreat's greatest benefits emerge once you get home.
01
Accomplish more but stress less
02
Notice old patterns of reactivity and choose a new path
03
Deeper spiritual connection, a new perspective on life
Think of this retreat as an investment in the year ahead.
There's no single outcome to aim for, just skills and insights you can keep cultivating throughout 2027 and for the rest of
your life.
At a glance
The practical details.
£899
per person
When
18th-22nd February 2027
Duration
Silent retreat runs from Thursday evening to Sunday evening, with an optional integration day on Monday when talking is resumed. Monday will include optional activities: sound bath, dancing, dyads.
Where
Our private home in the Cheshire/Shropshire countryside, near Malpas.
Group size
Semi-private: five attendee limit
Price
£899 per person.
Accommodation
Mostly private rooms with shared bathroom. One twin room for two people, including its own dedicated bathroom. Book early to secure your preference.
Food
Home-cooked nourishing vegetarian meals, tea, herbal tea and wholesome snacks.
What's included
Accommodation, meals and refreshments, daily group meditation sessions, theory teachings, group Q&A and opportunities for individual guidance.
An optional integration day
The silent part of the retreat officially ends on Sunday evening, but we'd love for you to stay until Monday afternoon for additional integration time.
This gives you time to unwind, reflect on your experience, chat to other participants (if you wish), without the retreat schedule.
Plus, we'll have optional activities: Sound bath, dancing, dyads, stroking Luna, more walks.
limited group size: five places
Give yourself permission to be taken care of for a few days.
Enquire nowFebruary 2027
Give yourself a different kind of start to 2027.
You don't need to wait until life gets quieter to start taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, the most useful thing you can do is step away from everything for a little while.
Give yourself a few days without the usual distractions. Spend time in nature. Eat nourishing food. Learn from an experienced meditation teacher. Explore your mind and emotions in a supportive environment.
Magdalena and I would love to welcome you into our home.
With only five places available, this will be a genuinely intimate experience, with plenty of space for individual guidance and a retreat shaped around your needs.
Interested in joining us?
Enquire about the February 2027 retreat.
Stillness & Self-Discovery
18th-22nd February 2027
Max five participants
£899pp private room (shared bathroom)
£799pp shared twin room (en-suite)
No payment is taken at the point.