Mindfulness, Nature and Sound Healing

From 2 to 7 August, 2025 in the Dordogne, France in English and Dutch

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to lose touch with our true selves and the natural world that supports us. Our Tune in to your True Nature retreat offers a unique opportunity to slow down, reconnect and explore the deep inner landscape within. Join us for a 5-day mindfulness retreat at Simply Canvas Farm, a beautiful permaculture farm in the Southwest of France, surrounded by nature. Via Mindfulness, nature-based healing techniques, gong baths, dance and the soothing power of sound you are invited to relax both body and mind, listening deeply to your own inner rhythms while being supported by the wisdom of nature.

Together with two extraordinary guides; Rachel and Mick, with decades of experience in mindfulness and nature connection, we will explore questions of self-care and transformation: What does our inner garden look like right now? Where do we need to weed, and what new growth can we nurture so we can live more harmoniously with ourselves, our loved ones, and the Earth? Through mindfulness practices, silent nature walks, and deep listening to the soundscape of the world around us, we’ll explore the many ways to cultivate inner peace and clarity.

This retreat will be guided in English, so it is handy to understand English, however if you wish to share in Dutch during sharing moments, you can and translation will be taken care of.

This retreat will guide you through a series of practices that open your heart, deepen your self-awareness, and cultivate a renewed sense of harmony with the natural world. Whether through the calming resonance of a gong bath, the empowering rhythm of dance, or the stillness of mindful walking, this retreat will help you reconnect with your true nature—one step, one breath, and one sound at a time.

Different sessions that are offered by Mick and Rachel

The approach of Rachel and Mick is rooted in deep presence, compassion, and a commitment to fostering harmony within ourselves and with the world around us. Each guide offers several unique, inspiring sessions that combine mindfulness, movement, and the healing power of sound, helping you embark on a journey of self-discovery and connection.

Sessions offered by Mick 

• These steps will save your life: Learning the art of walking meditation. The practice of mindful walking is a simple yet profoundly deep practice we can enjoy daily which can help us receive nourishment and healing from the Earth.  
• Interbeing in the natural world: Exploring the interconnectedness of our own lives with the natural world around us. Reconnect with your true wild nature to discover your place in this beautiful world and that you belong.  
• 5 Rhythms dance: 5 Rhythms is a dynamic sound and movement practice. A practice of being in your body that ignites creativity, connection and community. 5 Rhythms dance facilitates deep explorations, moving the dancer beyond self-imposed limitations and isolation into new depths of creativity, connection and self expression. 
• You are the Earth that carries you: A deep exploration together to help us remove the many notions that disconnect us from our true wild nature. Together we will explore themes that can help to dissolve our sense of a separate self, dispelling a sense of separation and loneliness. Offering our lives deep meaning as we reconnect to the reality that we are an integral part of this living, breathing planet Earth.

Sessions offered by Rachel 

• Tuning In: Deep relaxation with mindfulness, healing sound and sharing from the heart. 
• Awakening Harmony: Gong bath meditation to relax, release tension and return to harmony within as we bath in healing sound supported by the natural world. 
• YCSN: A holistic approach to self advocacy: Develop the art of self awareness, self care & self advocacy to help you live in harmony with your inner sound & communicate it clearly with confidence & love for the benefit of all. 
• We Are Capable: Immerse your heart in this empowering sound, vibrating in resonance with the frequency of love (528 Hz) a healing tone scientifically proven to reduce stress, calm the mind and open the heart to relax and receive the wonders of life. In gentle repetition, you be invited into a practice of deep listening, love in speech and emergent action, reminding us of our innate goodness, interconnected nature and limitless possibility to bloom as a collective.

The daily schedule has enough time to rest and to be inspired:

• Arrival Day: 20.00 Relaxation with Rachel and Mick
• 07.30-08.00 Mindful sitting and movement
• 08.30 Breakfast
• 09.30-11.30 program with Rachel or Mick
• 12.30 Lunch
• 15.30-17.30 program with Rachel or Mick
• 19.00 Dinner
• 20.00 sometimes an evening program with camp fire, relaxation or other.

Holiday elements during the retreat

You stay in the beautiful countryside of the Dordogne in Southwest France on Simply Canvas Farm. There is enough space during the retreat to relax, read a book in a hammock, gaze at the stars by the campfire and have an interesting conversation with a participant. Also you will be well taken care of with amazing home-made dinners with vegetables from the farm’s garden or surrounding farms.

Mick: The regeneration and healing of mindfulness, nature connection, deep ecology

Mick McEvoy, an Irish native, curates and facilitates mindfulness retreats, workshops and programs based on the themes of nature connection, regenerative farming, rewilding and deep ecology. Mick brings over twenty years of experience working with people, plants, ecology and mindfulness practice to his management of the Plum Village Happy Farm and its rewilding projects. The farm welcomes hundreds of guests annually and combines mindfulness-based approaches with seasonal organic food production and land regeneration rooted in sacred ecology.

Rachel: Meditator, artist & sound healer

Rachel Butt of wondrousound is a meditator, artist and warrior with background in music, law and social justice advocacy that tipped her over the edge and deep into the wonders of mindfulness, meditation and the yoga of sound. Seeing deeply how a new world arrives through us, she integrates 20 years experience leading change with holistic practices to facilitate sound meditation, workshops and retreats that help us live in greater harmony with ourselves, each other and the earth. 

These five days are all-inclusive, and you will be treated to delicious meals three times a day. Sandra and Santi are known for their culinary skills using fresh, local and organic vegetables, edible flowers, and other products from their own garden. All meals are vegetarian. Allergies? We can accommodate almost all allergies - please inquire before your stay. Would you like to eat gluten-free? That's possible, we charge an extra €5 per day for this.           

As for drinks, there is a large common area (the former cow shed) where you can make coffee and herbal tea all day, for free (you can pick the herbs yourself in the garden). If you fancy soft drinks, wine, cappuccinos or ice cream, you can grab those from the “honesty fridge” at an affordable price, due at the end of your stay. Feel free to bring your own snacks or drinks for in-between-moments and store them in our refrigerators. 

Date 2025 2 to 7 August. Arrival: Saturday after 4:00 p.m. Departure: Thursday after breakfast. 

This retreat will be guided in English, so it is necessary that you understand English. However if you wish to share in Dutch during sharing circles this is possible and translation will be provided.

Luxury safari tents:

• €945,- for a spacious safari tent to yourself
• €795,- for a shared safari tent (two single beds)

Tiny house:

• €890 for the tiny house to yourself (double bed)
• €795 per person for the tiny house shared with a friend / your partner (double bed)

Houses (two bedrooms, living room, one shared bathroom)

• €890,- for a single room to yourself 
• €795,- for a shared room in a house

Or, bring your own tent/camper:

• €695

You can book extra nights at €70 per night or €35 in your own tent, including breakfast. 

The prices include full board (three vegetarian meals per day). 

Excluding your travel to us.

The Journey and Accessibility

We are easily accessible by public transport and by car:

Train

High-speed train to Bordeaux (allow about an hour in Paris to change trains), then take the regular train to Sainte Foy la Grande (10 minutes from us, we will arrange a transfer for the last part. This journey takes approximately 8 to 9 hours in total.

By car

It is 1100 km from Utrecht. Closer to the retreat, we will create a WhatsApp group for those who want to carpool.

Flixbus

Check flixbus.com for departure locations. Take the bus to Bordeaux and from Bordeaux Saint Jean train station to Sainte Foy la Grande train station, where we can arrange a transfer for you. The Flixbus is the cheapest option but also the longest (almost 20 hours).

Plane

Fly with Transavia from Rotterdam to Bergerac (30 minutes from us), and for the last part, we can arrange a transfer for an additional cost. Or fly to Bordeaux and then take a bus to the train station and take the train to Sainte Foy La Grande from which you take a transfer to our place.

Transfer

From Sainte Foy la Grande and Bergerac, you will need a transfer to our place. We work with a specific person for this service. The costs are between €10 to €30 depending on where you arrive and the amount of people you share the transfer with.

Book your spot for Tuning in to Your True Nature Retreat

To reserve your spot please click Here We require a €350,- down payment. You can also make your reservation via email (hello@simplycanvasfarm.com) or by sending us a message on Whatsapp (bottom right of your screen). 

Questions?

If you have any questions, feel free to email us or send us a message on Whatsapp (bottom right of your screen).