Thrive in Wellness

12/08/2026

Spring Equinox Retreat at the Majestic Oak - 20 September 2026

Embrace the season of renewal at our Spring Equinox Retreat. Join us at the beautiful Majestic Oak for a day dedicated to nurturing yourself in serene, natural surroundings. This is your opportunity to reconnect, recharge, and welcome new beginnings.

Retreat Highlights:
• Experience renewal, growth, and balance.
• Life Skills, meditation supporting holistic wellness.
• Connect with a supportive community and nature.
• Lunch provided.
• See flyer for more information and registration.

Early Bird Registration: $160. Secure your spot for the Spring Equinox Retreat at the special Early Bird price.

Give yourself the gift of self-care, and step into the new season refreshed and inspired.

05/08/2026

Spring Equinox Retreat at the Majestic Oak 20 September 2026

Theme: Renewal, Growth, Balance, and New Beginnings

Join us for a transformative day retreat designed to support your journey of renewal and connection. Experience the energy of the Spring Equinox in a nurturing and inspiring environment, surrounded by the beauty of nature.

What to Expect:
• A supportive, engaging, and practical community experience.
• Educational sessions on holistic wellness, balance, and new beginnings.
• Activities designed for self-reflection, connection, and personal empowerment.
• Facilitator has over 40 years of experience in clinical healthcare, holistic wellness, spiritual practices, teaching, and performing arts, combined with a passion for empowering others.
• This immersive retreat will leave you feeling refreshed, inspired, and deeply connected to yourself and the natural world.

For more details, see flyer.

31/07/2026

Happy 1st of August 2026!
Time has been moving very fast over the past few months, with
July especially feeling like a whirlwind.
Another month has passed, and it is already the 213th day of
the year. A fitting thought for 1 August comes from the Daily
Mindfulness Book by Familius, quoting Anton Chekhov:
“Let us learn to appreciate that there will be times when the trees will be bare and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit."

After the great response at our last retreat, I am excited to announce our upcoming One Day Wellness Retreats will be held on Sunday 20 September and Sunday 29 November.

Join us to Reset, Restore, and Reconnect.
More information will follow soon. For updates, please connect
with us on:
Facebook: Majestic Oak Retreat – Thrive in Wellness
www.majesticoakretreat.nz

Happy 1st of August 2026!

Time has been moving very fast over the past few months, with
July especially feeling like a whirlwind and another month has passed. It is already the 213th day of the year. A fitting thought for 1 August comes from the Daily Mindfulness Book by Familius, quoting Anton Chekhov:

“Let us learn to appreciate that there will be times when the trees will be bare and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit."

After the great response at our last retreat, I am excited to announce our upcoming One Day Wellness Retreats will be held on Sunday 20 September and Sunday 29 November. More information will follow soon.

Join us to Reset, Restore, and Reconnect.

For updates, please connect with us on:
Facebook: Majestic Oak Retreat – Thrive in Wellness
www.majesticoakretreat.nz

31/07/2026

Happy 1st of August 2026!

Time has been moving very fast over the past few months, with
July especially feeling like a whirlwind and another month has passed. It is already the 213th day of the year. A fitting thought for 1 August comes from the Daily Mindfulness Book by Familius, quoting Anton Chekhov:

“Let us learn to appreciate that there will be times when the trees will be bare and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit."

After the great response at our last retreat, I am excited to announce our upcoming One Day Wellness Retreats will be held on Sunday 20 September and Sunday 29 November. More information will follow soon.

Join us to Reset, Restore, and Reconnect.

For updates, please connect with us on:
Facebook: Majestic Oak Retreat – Thrive in Wellness
www.majesticoakretreat.nz

29/07/2026

Happy Full Moon in Aquarius

Time has been moving very fast over the past few months, with June and July especially feeling like a whirlwind of energetic and astrological events.

The full moon in Aquarius arrives at the end of a busy month for many, ushering in a period of clearing, healing, transformation, and powerful vibrational shifts.

Now is the time to pause. Breathe deeply. Allow yourself space to recover and let your emotions flow freely. Bring your attention to your body—notice physical sensations, honour your feelings, acknowledge what arises, let go, and invite calmness to settle within you.

I am sharing two candle meditation options to help you reflect on the changes and growth you have experienced in recent months. Use these meditations to gently ask yourself:
What am I ready to release? What can I let go of in order to move forward and welcome new possibilities into my life?

Candle gazing is a practice for cultivating awareness and presence, anchoring and grounding in the current moment.
As you meditate, bring your focus to your heart centre, fostering compassion and love—for yourself, for others, for Mother Earth, for the collective, for the universe, and for all living beings: animals, birds, insects, trees, water, and plants.

Open-eyed Candle Meditation
1. Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
2. Place a lit candle at arm’s length, positioned at eye level.
3. Take a few deep breaths to settle your mind and body.
4. Gaze softly at the flame of the candle for 10–15 minutes. It’s natural to blink—just try to keep your focus on the flame.
5. If your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to the candle’s flame.
Closed-eyed Candle Meditation
1. Sit comfortably with your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
2. Place a lit candle at arm’s length, positioned at eye level.
3. Take a few deep breaths to relax.
4. Focus your eyes on the candle’s flame for 15–20 seconds, then gently close your eyes.
5. Visualize the image of the candle’s flame at the centre of your forehead (third eye area/Ajna chakra).
6. Hold the image in your mind’s eye. If the image fades or flickers, open your eyes to look at the candle again, then close your eyes and continue visualizing.
7. Continue until the image of the flame becomes steady and clear, or for as long as feels comfortable.

Oracle card is a photograph from Moonology cards by Yasmin Boland and artwork Nyx Rowan

28/07/2026

A cold and frosty morning here at the Majestic Oak - 29 July

What a perfect, clear, cold morning! All wrapped up, enjoying my morning walk around the property. I love these crisp mornings—the clear blue skies, the radiant sun rising above the trees, bringing warmth for the day ahead.

Here are some pictures taken this morning, along with photographs of the daffodils, which I took mid-morning, reaching towards the sun. Unbelievable the daffodils are out already!

Enjoy this beautiful day!

27/07/2026

Thought of the Day

I recently bought a lovely box of 24 soulful messages—a guide for inner peace—and thought I would share them with you as I just opened the box. (Affirmations Publishing House, Soul Life, DSL).
Although I have so many books and cards, I was drawn to the beautiful colours and patterns of the box, with the cards having gold-coloured edging, thinking they would be perfect to use at my retreats. The front of the cards is decorated with a beautiful lotus flower and the Crown Chakra symbol (Sahasrara) in the centre, representing “I understand”—the bridge to the cosmos—and the mantra chant “Om.”

Today, I randomly picked a card:

'A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.'
Buddhist Teaching

27/07/2026

01/07/2026

Happy 1st of July 2026!

Today, New Zealand is enjoying a brilliant sunny day that feels more like spring than winter. Despite the morning frost and frozen bird baths, in a sheltered spot, with the warmth of the sun, it feels more like 18-20 degrees, rather than the official 12 degrees.

As the 182nd day of the year unfolds, I rediscovered “The Daily Mindfulness Book” by Familius, filled with daily reflections and wisdom.

Today’s quote, from A.A. Milne’s beloved “Winnie-the-Pooh,” reminds us:

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”

Thought of the Day: What are we grateful for? What do we appreciate and feel thankful for on this 1st of July and as we step into the new month?

Accompanying this reflection is a photograph of a Rose Quartz heart crystal, the stone of unconditional love, infinite peace, and healing for the heart chakra. May it inspire us to hold gratitude and love close as we move forward.

01/05/2026

Happy 1st of May! From the Majestic Oak

We’ve enjoyed wonderful weather across New Zealand recently, with sunshine forecast to continue into early next week.
It’s an ideal time for gardening, planting, and pruning before winter settles in. Spending time outdoors in nature is a great way to ground yourself—something I’ve been doing a lot of this past week. Yesterday, I took myself to the beach to relax my tired muscles, grounding myself in the ocean and walking along the sand.

April seemed to pass by quickly, and astrologically it was a fascinating month. Many planets lined up in Aries, and most notably, Uranus moved into the zodiac sign of Gemini on April 26th, where it will remain until 2033. We also have a full moon in Scorpio on May 2nd here in New Zealand.

Below, I’ve included some interpretations for both Uranus in Gemini and the Scorpio full moon.

When Uranus is in Gemini, the combined energies may bring:

• Innovative Communication: New, unconventional ways of thinking, learning, and communicating. Pay attention to your self-talk, listen to your intuition, and you may notice enhanced telepathy.
• Restless Curiosity: A strong desire for mental stimulation and variety, leading to sudden interests and rapid adaptation to new information. Don't let fear stop you, just try it.
• Unconventional Ideas: Challenging traditional thinking, encouraging open-mindedness and experimentation in education and social interactions.
• Social Change: Potential for radical shifts in how people connect, network, and share knowledge.
• Revolution in Media & Technology: Uranus in Gemini periods often coincide with breakthroughs in communication technology.

These influences will be felt both collectively and personally, depending on where Uranus and Gemini are placed in your birth chart.
For example, if Uranus is in your 9th house, it may bring innovation and unpredictability to your quest for meaning. Your approach to philosophy, travel, education, and spirituality is likely to be unique, independent, and sometimes ahead of its time. This placement encourages challenging conventions in these areas, and your worldview may shift quickly and unexpectedly.

If Gemini is in your 7th house, it highlights the importance of communication, adaptability, and mental connection in partnerships. It’s essential that relationships flow freely and remain open to change and new perspectives—a strong need for mental engagement is key.

Scorpio Full Moon
A Full Moon in Scorpio is known for its intensity and transformative energy. Scorpio is a water sign associated with depth, secrets, emotional honesty, and rebirth. When the Moon is full in Scorpio, emotions tend to run deep, and there’s a strong urge to uncover what’s hidden, confront truths, or release what no longer serves you.
Due to the influence of other planets at the time of this full moon—such as Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and Chiron—the energy may feel less intense. Here are some useful tips:
• Look for opportunities for growth and transformation.
• Reflect on areas of your life where you need closure or change.
• Review your relationships and finances.
• Try journaling, meditation, or letting go of past hurts or resentments. Focus on what you’re ready to release or transform.

Acknowledgement Photographs of Full moon in Scorpio by Yasmin Boland, Moonology Oracle cards.

Have a wonderful weekend and reminder of our D-stress Workshop on the 21 June 2026
Early bird price $160 until 24 May. Full Price $190