Broughton Sanctuary, Yorkshire, UK
Nostos Retreat Logo

The Nostos Retreat

A spiritual homecoming

with Sharon Blackie
Joined by Mark Vernon and members of the Nostos team

15–20 November 2026
BOOK NOW
Broughton Sanctuary,
Yorkshire, UK
Nostos Retreat Logo

The Nostos Retreat

A spiritual homecoming

with Sharon Blackie
Joined by Mark Vernon and
other friends of Nostos

15–20 November 2026
BOOK NOW
A return to living wisdom
Join us for our first annual Nostos retreat, taking place from November 15 – 20, 2026, here at Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire.
Over five transformative days, we’ll gather together a community of the curious: learners and seekers who’d like to integrate ancient Western wisdom traditions with myth and story, and with insights, tools and practices from contemporary depth psychology. It's an adventure in the mythic imagination, as we dream into being a living spiritual tradition that responds to the challenges and opportunities of today’s world, moving through and beyond personal transformation to centre us in a dancing, animate cosmos saturated in the divine.
This retreat is open to all.

"we will gather a community of the curious: learners and seekers drawn to the integration of ancient Western philosophical and wisdom traditions"

THE NOSTOS RETREAT

"We will gather a community of the curious: learners and seekers drawn to the integration of ancient Western philosophical and wisdom traditions"

THE NOSTOS RETREAT

Reviving ancient cosmologies for a living world

The old mythologies and cosmologies of the West—particularly those embedded in the writings of Classical philosophers such as Plato, Pythagoras and Plotinus—offer rich, complex and beautiful ways of understanding the world. They reveal a cosmos in which everything is alive, purposeful, and intentional.
These traditions describe an animate world into which each soul chooses to incarnate, expressing a unique way of being human through relationship and participation. They offer timeless insights into meaning, imagination, creativity and contemplation, while providing the foundations for an ethical life free from dogma.
During this first annual Nostos retreat, we will revive and reimagine these traditions by weaving them together with Jungian and post-Jungian depth psychology. Our vision is to cultivate a practical wisdom to live by—a mythopoetic, contemplative and mystical approach, rooted in nature and the wild beauty of the cosmos.
Working within an open, spacious and reflective framework, we’ll explore a wide range of ideas and practices designed to awaken the mythic imagination. These include active imagination, dreamwork and personal myth-making, all in service of the art of soul-making: uncovering our unique journey through life and clarifying our deeper calling.
Ultimately, our aim is to guide participants along a path of awakening and transformation through an alchemical blend of philosophy and psychology, creativity and contemplation.
Questions to consider
What can philosophy and Western wisdom traditions teach us about how to live well in today’s challenging world?
What is myth, and why does it matter? How do we cultivate the mythic imagination in practice?
How can active imagination and dreamwork help us engage with the world of soul and the imaginal realms of ancient tradition?
How can a language of image – myth, poetics and the arts – open up richer, more authentic glimpses of the cosmos than any purely intellectual process?
How do we connect with the One – the universal ground of being – through relationship with the natural world and embodied practice?
What to expect
Mornings and some early afternoons will be spent working with Sharon, with participation from philosopher, author and psychotherapist Mark Vernon, and artist and spiritual director Vanessa Chamberlin. We'll mostly be working in the Avalon centre, with occasional forays outside.
Later in the day, if you’d like to, you can indulge in a labyrinth walk or spend some time on the land by yourself, exploring Broughton's remarkable nature recovery programme. Alternatively, you might prefer to unwind in Avalon's state-of-the-art biophilic-designed Pool Suite.
Some evenings will be free and on others you can choose to participate in a sound bathing experience, or in a musical and storytelling gathering around a roaring fire at the Fire Temple.
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"Our vision is to cultivate a practical wisdom to live by—a mythopoetic, contemplative and mystical approach, rooted in nature and the wild beauty of the cosmos."

THE NOSTOS RETREAT

"Our vision is to cultivate a practical wisdom to live by—a mythopoetic, contemplative and mystical approach, rooted in nature and the wild beauty of the cosmos."

THE NOSTOS RETREAT

About Sharon Blackie

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

As well as writing six books of fiction and nonfiction, Sharon’s writing has appeared in international media outlets and she has featured in programs by the BBC, US public radio and independent filmmakers. She’s a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Honorary Member of the Association of Jungian Analysts. Her much-loved publication ‘The Art of Enchantment’ is a Global Top Ten Literature Substack.

sharonblackie.net

About Sharon Blackie

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

As well as writing six books of fiction and nonfiction, Sharon’s writing has appeared in international media outlets and she has featured in programs by the BBC, US public radio and independent filmmakers. She’s a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Honorary Member of the Association of Jungian Analysts. Her much-loved publication ‘The Art of Enchantment’ is a Global Top Ten Literature Substack.

sharonblackie.net

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Avalon Wellbeing Centre
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Broughton Sanctuary

The retreat will be held here at the 3000-acre Broughton Sanctuary, just outside Skipton, at the foothills of The Yorkshire Dales, one of the most picturesque parts of the country. Established in 1097, Broughton Hall is a house of transformation, home to the Tempest family for over 900 years, and enjoys a rich history stretching back over the millennium.

The Sanctuary is also home to one of Britain’s most exciting nature recovery projects, a heartfelt commitment to address one of our deepest contemporary crises, based upon an extensive tree-planting and rewilding programme. In 2025, we welcomed beavers to the Sanctuary alongside our native cattle and Iron Age pigs. Subscribe to our Rewilding Broughton Youtube channel to learn more.

Avalon, our state-of-the-art wellbeing retreat centre is the beating heart of the Sanctuary. With extensive indoor and outdoor resources the building exists to serve the inner voyage of mind, body, spirit. During your stay you may unwind in the state-of-the-art biophilic designed Pool Suite; including a clear 20-metre pool, steam room and sauna, plus hydromassage pool. Beyond the building itself, the Sanctuary grounds offer a chance to return to source, from meditation labyrinths, wild swimming reservoirs, a cosmic garden and much more.

We have a large variety of rooms available, whether in Broughton Hall itself, or throughout our eclectic collection of 20 stunning Retreat Houses, including converted barns, former coachhouses and gatehouses.

Rooming

Tickets range from £1,700 to £3,400 across our collection of Retreat Houses and our stunning historic home, Broughton Hall.

Please note: the images below are examples of the type of room you will be booking, all rooms are subject to availability.

Rooms in Broughton Hall
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Broughton Hall, our Historic Home.

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Broughton Hall Premium, Ensuite.

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Broughton Hall Standard, Shared Bathroom.

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Broughton Hall Deluxe, Ensuite.

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Broughton Hall Premium, Ensuite.

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Broughton Hall Standard, Double Shared Bathroom.

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Broughton Hall Standard, Single Room.

Rooms in Retreat Houses
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The Manse, Retreat House Deluxe.

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The Manse, Retreat House Deluxe, Ensuite.

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The Manse, Retreat House Deluxe, Ensuite.

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The Manse, Retreat House Deluxe, Shared Bathroom.

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Top Lodge, Retreat House Superior.

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Top Lodge, Retreat House Superior, Private Shower/Bathroom.

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Eden, Retreat House Superior.

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Eden, Retreat House Superior, Shared Bathroom.

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Eden, Retreat House Superior, Single Bedroom.

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Stage Cottage, Retreat House Standard.

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Stable Cottage, Retreat House Standard, Shared Bathroom.

How to book

15 - 20 November 2026
Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton, Yorkshire
BD23 3AE

Please select your room and book your place below using the embedded form.

For information regarding daily activities, rooming and pricing, and for any other questions you may have, please email our team or call our us on +44(0)1756 799608

How to book

15 - 20 November 2026
Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton, Yorkshire
BD23 3AE

Please select your room and book your place below using the embedded form. For information regarding daily activities, rooming and pricing, and for any other questions you may have, please email our team or call our us on +44(0)1756 799608.

Location
Broughton Sanctuary is easily accessible by plane, car and public transport.

Broughton Sanctuary
Skipton, Yorkshire
BD23 3AE

3 miles from Skipton Railway Station
24 miles from Leeds Bradford Airport
55 miles from Manchester Airport

3 miles from Skipton Railway Station
24 miles from Leeds Bradford Airport
55 miles from Manchester Airport

National Location
Road and Rail