Come carry a little light into the autumn woods.

An immersive twilight experience of story, lantern light, woodland animals, music and fire for families, children and adults.

Each autumn, as the evenings grow longer and the woodland prepares for winter, old stories tell of the animals gathering together.

The woods are anything but still. Squirrels gather. Seeds fall. Animals forage, listen, seek shelter and prepare for the colder season ahead. Each has its own way of meeting the changing light and the coming dark.

This year's Woodland Lantern Walk invites you into that story.

Whether you come with children, grandchildren, a friend, a partner, or simply on your own, we'll gather at the Forest House as daylight begins to fade.

There will be story and song. We'll light our lanterns and, in small groups, cross the woodland threshold and follow the forest paths. We'll slow down, listen, play, wonder, and discover what the woodland might have to share.

This is not a haunted walk or theatrical performance. It is a gentle, imaginative woodland experience rooted in the real lives of our wild neighbors, seasonal story, music, and our relationship with the living world.

As we walk together, the lantern each of us carries becomes a small reminder that we don't need to turn darkness into light. Sometimes a little light is enough to help us find one another and keep walking together.

Our woodland journey concludes around a welcoming fire before we return to the Forest House for warm cider, donuts, and time to linger together beneath the almost-full October moon.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• A welcoming twilight gathering at the Forest House woodland amphitheater

• Story and lantern songs with Gramma Luna

• Lighting our lanterns and crossing the woodland threshold

• A lantern-lit journey in small groups along the forest paths

• Encounters with Animal People inspired by the lives of our woodland neighbors

• Music and sound woven through the woods

• A gathering around the woodland fire

• A return to the Forest House for cider, donuts, conversation—and room for children to play

Celebrating Light & the Turning of the Seasons

This workshop offers families — including homeschoolers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking gentle seasonal rituals — a chance to gather, create, and connect. We’ll be making beautiful, simple lanterns from natural materials, and learning songs to carry with us into the season.

In the Waldorf tradition, lantern walks remind us that even as the outer light fades, we each carry a steady flame of warmth and kindness within. Children delight in carrying lanterns they’ve crafted themselves, walking into the early evening with songs that celebrate both light and community.

What to Expect

• Hands-on lantern-making (materials provided)

• A warm and welcoming space for families and friends

• Seasonal songs to sing together

• Cider & light refreshments

• Optional: bring your own jars, pressed leaves, or favorite colors of tissue paper

Why Lanterns?

In many cultures, lanterns are lit at the turn of the season as a way of carrying light into darkness—both literally and symbolically. We gather to remind ourselves (and our children) that even as the days shorten, we can kindle warmth, creativity, and community from within.

Lanterns invite us to:

• Walk with quiet wonder,

• Make beauty with our hands, and

• Shine light from our hearts outward.

Together we’ll prepare for a simple, soul-nourishing Lantern Walk where children and adults carry these small beacons of hope into the forest—guided by songs, stories, and moments of awe.

Registration Required – Space is limited

Host

Robin Thompson a holistic nurse, mindfulness teacher, has been guiding families and communities in seasonal celebrations for decades, blending mindfulness, play, and earth-honoring practices.

fee $25 per family, includes materials

A Day to Return to What Sustains You

In a world that often pulls us in every direction, this retreat offers a full day to pause, reconnect, and remember what truly matters. This one-day retreat at The Forest House offers a space to reconnect with your inner sanctuary, clarify your path, and nourish your belonging to the living world.

This retreat is rooted in the teachings of relational healing and collective belonging to guide you through gentle silence, intuitive movement, creative reflection, and sacred community connection. Together, we’ll explore how to meet both our inner world and our outer reality with presence, compassion, and moral clarity.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by the world, seeking clarity for what's next, or simply longing for a breath of forest bathing—this retreat is for you.

We begin in stillness, walk with awareness, and return together—rooted and renewed.

RETREAT HOSTS

Robin Thompson Holistic nurse, mindfulness teacher, and a guide for seasonal and soul centered living;

Angela Hutchins Somatic trauma practitioner, grief worker, and yoga facilitator committed to individual, collective, and intergenerational healing and liberation.

TESTIMONIALS

“This retreat gave me peace in a chaotic, angry, volatile world. In the quiet, I found space to listen to my heart’s yearning, and I left with a sense of hope and trust in life’s cycles. The gentleness of the day created a rare sense of peace and belonging that I will carry home.”

🌿

“What stood out most was the deep connection — to myself, to community, and to nature’s gifts. The retreat offered a warm and welcoming group, led by knowledgeable facilitators who created space for authentic awareness. I left with gratitude, fierce love, and the reminder that trees are embodiments of equanimity.”

🌿

“This retreat was transformational. The quiet can be challenging — silence is not always easy — but it gave me the space to discern, to rest, and to hear what is seldom heard in the busyness of the world. What I took home was not just peace, but also ideas for how I can live more whole and aligned with my true self.”

🌿

“I came away with seeds of a shift toward opening. The retreat invited me to notice my cycles of contraction and expansion, and gave me practical ways to be in relationship with them. I carry home not only a sunflower, but also hope for the future and a renewed trust in the natural rhythms that hold us all.”

A Council of All Beings: The Samhain Festival celebrates and honors being in the right relationship with what is good and regenerative.

As the world becomes increasingly complex and challenging, our communities and connections are more important than ever for our well-being and sense of belonging.

The council of all beings: A Samhain Festival

At the heart of this festival is a dynamic performance of A Council of All Beings, an adaptation of Joanna Macy's transformative program. A council of witches and other characters embodying the presence of various species and ecosystems helps us peer into the world of nature to hear her wisdom and insights.

This enchanting festival is kid-family-friendly and interactive, featuring activities such as mask making, crystal bowl sound healing, a spirited parade, an ancestor altar, a fire ritual, tarot card readings, and more. These activities will enhance a sense of belonging and understanding of the world around you and the importance of conservation and sustainable living practices.

Join us for a magical experience to celebrate our connections with nature and the beings that inhabit it while inspiring our urgent need for greater stewardship of our planet.

Accessibility—Wheelchairs are welcome to navigate uneven lawn terrain. Special parking is available; please call when you get your tickets so we can discuss your needs and make appropriate arrangements.

RAIN DATe

Sunday, October 20, 2024, same time

FEE

$25/INDIVIDUAL RATE; $20/SENIOR DISCOUNT; $40/COUPLE RATE (Children under 17 FREE)

Please Bring:

Portable chairs for relaxation and sitting in our Amphitheater

Water Bottle

Wear sturdy footwear to help you navigate our grounds safely.

Dress up in family-friendly costumes (let's keep it fun and avoid anything violent or gory!)

A photo or a meaningful item to add to our Ancestor Altar for the day

Cash or credit card for tarot card readings and seasonal food/drink purchases

Location:

THE FOREST HOUSE - 147 Windy Hill Road, Hampton, CT

free PARKING

In the field before 147 Windy Hill mailbox

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

12:30 PM—2:30 PM: Choose from a variety of activities, including craft-making, a scenic woodland trail walk, tarot card readings, and delightful season food and drinks.

1:15 PM: Join us as we honor extinct species at our Ancestor Altar

1:30 PM: Experience the soothing Crystal Bowl Sound Healing

2:30 PM: Our Spirited Parade and the captivating Council of All Beings Performance.

4:30 PM: We'll wrap up the day with a heartfelt Closing Circle