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On the 13th -16th of February, we gathered in the emerald heights of Magoebaskloof. Hosted at Diggersrest Lodge, we found ourselves enveloped by ancient forests, drifting mist, and a silence so thick it felt like an invitation to listen in.
For the women who joined us, the intention was deceptively simple: to rest.
Not to “perform” healing. Not to white-knuckle our way through emotional breakthroughs. We were there simply to pause, to breathe, and to remember the way back to ourselves.
A Gentle Arrival
The retreat began exactly as it was meant to—slowly.
As the sun dipped behind the ridges on our first evening, we gathered around a toasty fire on the deck. There was no pressure for formal introductions or rigid icebreakers; instead, we let the warmth of the fire do the work. We traded stories and laughter, acknowledging the quiet truth that everyone had arrived carrying a different weight.
After a nourishing, communal dinner, we set our intentions. We spoke into the space about what we were bringing with us and what we hoped to receive. The night ended in a soft hum of readiness as everyone settled into the calm rhythm of the mountain.
Movement, Stillness, and “The Long Pause”
Saturday morning broke with soft light and intentional movement led by Dr Gaspa. The practice was a slow awakening for the body, followed by breathwork and meditation that allowed us to drop deeper into the quiet energy of the forest.
However, the most profound part of the day wasn’t a scheduled activity. It was the absence of one.
We intentionally carved out what many participants later called their favourite part of the experience: The Long Pause. For several hours, the schedule vanished.
- Some took deep, dream-filled naps.
- Some sat in still contemplation on the grass.
- Others wandered through the trees or simply lay down to watch the trees dance.
For many women, this level of uninterrupted, “unproductive” rest is a foreign concept. Here, it was our primary work.
Vibration and Honest Dialogue
Just before sunset, Joel Karabo Elliott (JKE) led us through a sound healing session. As the vibrations filled the hill, the collective tension seemed to dissolve. Many described it as a physical shedding—a moment where the body finally felt safe enough to let go of the armour it had been wearing for years. The rain harmonised with the trumpet from a distance, and the wind chimed in gracefully.
Over dinner that night, the conversation deepened. We spoke openly about the complexities of choosing oneself in a world that asks women to come last. We touched on the sacredness of our bodies and the unnecessary shame often attached to natural cycles like menstruation. In that sharing, a powerful sense of community was born.
Integration and the Closing Circle
Our final morning began with the scratch of pens on paper—a quiet window for journaling and reflection. We moved through a breathwork session by Hazel Tobo, allowing for emotional release, but the energy remained unhurried. There was no rush to “get back to reality.”
By Monday morning, as we gathered for our closing circle, the transformation was visible in the softened shoulders and clearer eyes of the group. We asked two simple questions:
- What brought you here?
- 2. Did you receive what you came for?
The answers were a rhythmic echo of the same word: Rest. The need to step away from responsibilities. The need to listen to their own voices. The need to choose themselves, if only for a few days. One by one, the reflections confirmed that the mountains had provided exactly what was required.
A Reminder: Rest is Not a Luxury
This retreat served as a profound reminder of a simple truth: Rest is not a reward for being productive.
For many women, it is a necessity that has been postponed for far too long. Sometimes we don’t need another tool, another “hack,” or another structured solution.
Sometimes, what we need most is space.
Space to breathe. Space to be held by a community. Space to remember who we are when no one is asking anything of us.
For one quiet weekend in Magoebaskloof, that space existed. And it was enough.
