HAPPY OSTARA
(Spring Equinox / Easter)

In celebration of Ostara and to encourage you to take the plunge and join me in Turkey for some belated Equinox magic, I'm knocking off £100 from the usual cost of a week yoga detox retreat!

Spring Ostara Special:
7 nights: £595 (was £695)
14 nights: £1175 (was £1375)
- p/p based on sharing
- single supplement: £80/wk

Dates:
April 23-30 (1 week)
April 30 - May 7 (1 week)
April 23 - May 7 (2 weeks)

• As the first detox programme starts less than a month away, don't think about it for too long!
• Returning guests still get to knock off another 10% from the special rate!
  

Dear all

I hope you are well and enjoying the arrival of Spring - may the Spring Equinox bring you new beginnings, new life and shower you in abundance...

'Ostara' is a pagan term and is about welcoming the return of the Spring Goddess from her long season of dormant sleep. The sap begins to flow, the trees begin to bud, the ground softens, the ice melts, and everywhere the fragrance and colour of Spring slowly awakens and rejuvenates our own life force.

Here in Portugal, Spring's presence is everywhere. Our tangerine trees perfume the air with the Divine fragrance of their blossoms, and the brand-new, bright-green fig leaves are opening up in promise of the delicious fruits to come... - my favourite fruit!

Modern-day pagans might honour Ostara by eating the fresh greens and early vegetables that arrive with spring: dandelion greens, nettles, asparagus, and the like. In earlier times, witches would often fast at the Equinox, as fasting was known  to be very healthy and magical: clearing away all the toxins stored over winter, when heavier foods were eaten to keep warm, and creating an altered state of consciousness for doing Equinox magic!

By eliminating all the "poisons" from our diets for a few days (including sugar, caffeine, alcohol, red meats, dairy products, refined foods), and fasting on fresh fruits and vegetables juices, we not only shed a few pounds and improve the appearance of our hair and skin, but also improve our health over the long term. The overall benefit to health from an occasional cleansing fast helps strengthen our immune system, making our bodies more resistant to illness, and help us feel more alert and energetic.

Along with the fasting practice, this is a time for many of us to create new beginnings in our lives: this can apply to jobs, relationships, living situations, lifestyle choices. Sometimes a fast allows more clarity, and it's easier to see what changes needs to be made.

Blessed Be in the Season of Spring! Go Forth and Flower!