Aurora Gatherings

By Nikki Brown.

In 2022 an idea came to me to hold a retreat for people who visit Hillhouse Farm and are focused on their deep inner work. I felt it would provide an opportunity to get away from everyday life and to relax, share and process with like-minded people during the winter season.

In March 2024 this became a reality. 

From the outset I asked for the Highest good and the ease with which it all eventually came together helped me to see that the Universe was supporting the initiative. For some time I was unable to find a suitable property and then suddenly I realised that I needed to search for a property in a non-tourist area, and immediately found the perfect location. A nice confirmation of this came when I arrived at the property in March and the lady greeting me said that many people book it for celebrations and parties but they’d rather it was used as a retreat – she did not know that was our intention!

Set in the National Forest in Leicestershire, with an aga in the kitchen, butterflies on the duvet covers in a couple of the bedrooms, wood burning stoves, a large garden and sheep in the fields around it, it reminded us somewhat of Hillhouse Farm! 

The whole process was a great learning experience for me. It took time to organise and prepare and I enjoyed adding little touches that would help to make it special. We drew ‘straws’ for the rooms, had co-ordinators spend the day with us on 2 days and invited some people who live more locally to join us for an aurora gathering one morning.  

Everyone seemed to have had a moment before arriving or soon after arriving when they felt they wanted to run for the hills! Fear and other emotions coming up to be released. We were able to see what so often happens, the Universe preparing us for the experience and opportunity ahead.

Five people who don’t know each other that well coming together to share a house for a week could have been rather challenging but it was not so. It was great to see the respect and support everyone had for each other. Everyone cleaned up after themselves and used the time to do what they felt they needed – chatting, resting, sleeping, processing, eating, walking etc. Although there were a few things planned it was made clear that nothing was mandatory and that time was theirs to do as they wished. Perhaps not surprisingly many hours were spent in conversation at the long table in the kitchen and in the adjoining sitting room. As at Hillhouse Farm conversations were deep and meaningful. 

There were some amazing dreams, insights and emotional releases – each of us with our own experiences of these to share. I was conscious of the energy and regularly asked the Universe to remove any energy from me that was not mine and any energy lingering in and around the property too, and to do with it what was needed for the Highest good.

The following feedback was received from one of the guests:

“For me it all started with choosing the rooms. To see the Universe in Action at that very early stage was mind blowing. We have a little father  daughter figurine at home that my daughter bought for her Dad. The exact same figurine was in my chosen bedroom.

I had a 1 to 1 with Nikki which started off with just menial triggers but that led to a really huge release. Once I could stop crying and get the words out I released something that has been a worrying burden for the last 20 years. I was speechless.

It became even more apparent how the Universe was supporting us as the week progressed. Going to Hillhouse Farm is awesome and I feel that to have the opportunity to work at length and in an environment that is so supported in all ways is needed for me to progress on this journey.”

This lady’s daughter was arriving from Australia for a visit whilst she was at the retreat and so her husband and daughter were very much on her mind. What she released in the 1:1 was also connected with her daughter and she finally understood where the root of a long-held feeling came from.

The bedrooms we blindly chose were exactly what we needed for our journey and not necessarily what we wanted or felt we needed! A guest even tried to swap the double en-suite room they blindly chose for the single room, a lovely gesture but it was very clear that at some level they did not feel worthy of having it.

One guest had been struggling with low energy and mood after having covid a couple of weeks previously. They had asked the Universe to help them get well so that they could attend the retreat. At the retreat, with repetition and explaining things in different ways, they started to understand more about the soul journey and how/when emotions first arose. The person had an ‘A-ha’ moment when they realised that they had not actually been releasing emotions when they came up and they felt they could only do this at Hillhouse Farm, with Louisa present. Everyone sharing their experiences of how they release helped to improve this guest’s understanding. 

It was interesting to note that whenever this person talked about their journey and experiences they used the word ‘you’ rather than ‘I’.  In other words they were not owning it and were looking at it as a story that they were not involved with. The magic for them actually happened as they were driving home after the retreat. There was a sudden deeper realisation that it was their soul’s journey, and that is why they carry the emotions today. The person’s energy and mood by the end of the retreat was so much better, lighter and more positive. I wondered whether this would last and a week later at the time of writing this it has. Since then they have had other insights and realisations and I look forward to seeing whether the person’s language has changed.

One day a guest had a severe headache and sat quietly in the sitting room, dozing, whilst the rest of the group chatted in the adjoining kitchen. At one point they woke and the voices in the next room sounded so loud, as if through a loud haler. The guest felt panicky and confused and then recognised where the root of these feelings came from. As they released the emotions back to their root they began to relax and eventually drifted back to sleep. 

I was aware that I can still doubt myself at times. One night I woke in the early hours with an uneasy feeling and could not work out what it was. I asked the Universe for help and a while later I got the word ‘doubt’. Even though I wasn’t sure what I was doubting I released the feeling and almost immediately my mind cleared and I fell back asleep. I later had two vivid dreams that I strongly felt were not mine. I felt that I had picked up on someone’s energy. This has happened a couple of times whilst helping at Hillhouse Farm where I have been able to get confirmation that the energy and dreams were not mine. When I looked at the dreams and the people in the house someone immediately came to mind and then I remembered clearing on doubt during the night. If I had not cleared on doubt I would probably not have shared the dreams and emotions associated with them with this person. Releasing doubt gave me the confidence to trust what I was feeling and to share. The emotions resonated deeply with the person and helped in the release process. 

I received the feedback below from someone who joined us for the aurora gathering held whilst at the retreat. It is a lovely example of how we can benefit from attending these gatherings:

“Thank you so much for inviting me to the Aurora. What a lovely house and location! Thank you for organising it. It was so good to meet you and everyone and wonderful to share our triggers and blocks and help each other.

I was ‘spinning’ for some time afterwards but I have been able to see things from a slightly different perspective which changed everything in regard to my work and where I need to change direction. To that end I made a significant change to my circumstances and now just allowing, and pausing to receive, and to gather thought, feelings, and inspiration for what comes next.
Wow! 🙂”

These are just a few of the experiences that arose at the retreat, there are many more. 

Finally I share below two more comments from guests:

“I learned during this week away how to cope with certain triggers. Also, I was shown in a dream what I still needed look at. I released re-occurring feelings of judgement, control and assumptions that also arose from judgement. My collective experience habit was challenged once again providing another opportunity to let go”.

“Despite being on the same path, there was no guarantee that our different personalities would gel, so to find like-minded souls with whom I could have deep, fulfilling conversations was amazing.” 

I feel the last comment sums it up. When we can come together with like-minded individuals and respect our differences, form loving connections and be held in a supportive, non-judgemental space, magic can happen.

With love, Nikki xx