"A Taste of Misty Mountain": A Wellness Conference and Retreat Review

More Than a Retreat: Five Days of Learning, Connection and Renewed Hope

A Taste of Misty Mountain – My Experience at the Barbara O'Neill Retreat & Conference, October 2026. With thanks and credit to Steve and The Good Food Project for the photo.

Sometimes the greatest investment we can make isn't in material things. It's in ourselves, our health, our knowledge and our purpose.

Last year, I decided to treat myself to something a little different for my birthday. Rather than something I could unwrap, I used my birthday money to book a five-day retreat and conference with Barbara O'Neill, organised by Steve Pollard and The Good Food Project.

And what a gift it turned out to be!

Five days of learning, listening, connecting, questioning, reflecting and, perhaps most importantly, rediscovering a little hope.

My Why – A Personal Journey

For those who know me, you'll know that health and wellbeing aren't simply things I practise professionally. They're woven into my everyday life. My own health journey, including complications following surgical mesh, has led me to question, explore and better understand the human body and its incredible complexities. Alongside this, I'm a wife, a mother and a home education advocate. Our family life includes navigating autism, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, sleepless nights and the challenges that come with supporting children whose needs don't always fit neatly into conventional systems.

Some days are wonderful. Others are utterly exhausting.

I'm also a Reiki Master, Sound Therapist, Tai Chi Qigong instructor and wellness practitioner. Through Serendipity with Kimberley, I share the practices and experiences that have supported me and others along the way. Over time, I've developed my own holistic wellbeing philosophy, NATURE'S WAY®, bringing together nature, movement, nourishment, connection, stillness and self-awareness.

I certainly didn't arrive at this retreat as someone new to natural health. I came with my own experiences, existing knowledge, plenty of questions and an open mind. I wanted to learn more. To explore different perspectives. To strengthen my understanding and perhaps find some new pieces of the puzzle.

And, if I'm completely truthful, I needed a little time for myself too.

A Taste of Misty Mountain

The retreat was held at the beautiful De Vere Cranage Estate in Cheshire. The venue was wonderful, with comfortable rooms, welcoming staff and spaces that allowed us to gather, learn and connect. The food reflected the natural health principles being discussed throughout the retreat, providing another opportunity to experience a different approach to nourishment. Each day brought lectures with Barbara, additional sessions with Michael and opportunities for questions, conversations and reflection.

There was plenty to absorb!

From sleep and nutrition to the mind, emotional wellbeing, lifestyle choices and traditional natural remedies, the subjects were wide-ranging and often thought-provoking. Some ideas reinforced what I already practise. Others encouraged me to research further, consider new perspectives or revisit things I'd previously learnt.

For me, that's what continued education is all about. Not simply accepting everything we hear, but listening, exploring, researching and deciding how new knowledge fits with our own experiences and understanding.

An Example: Sleep, the Mind and Our Everyday Choices

One of the subjects that particularly resonated with me was sleep. Oh, sleep! Something so natural, yet something that can become incredibly complicated when you're raising children with additional needs.

We explored sleep cycles, the importance of rest, the relationship between sleep and emotional regulation and how our daily routines may influence our ability to settle at night. I found myself reflecting on our own family experiences, particularly the impact that disrupted sleep can have on behaviour, anxiety, learning and the wellbeing of everyone in the household.

We also explored the mind, our emotional responses, decision-making and the importance of giving children opportunities to develop independence and responsibility. There were some lovely reminders about the value of practical life skills, gardening, cooking, creativity and allowing children to learn through experience. As someone who works with children and families through The Edventure Project CiC, so much of this connected with what I already see in practice.

Children need opportunities to explore, make mistakes, build confidence and discover their own capabilities. And sometimes, as adults, we need reminding of that too.

Returning to Nature

Another theme running throughout the retreat was the value of returning to simple, everyday foundations of wellbeing. Fresh air. Natural light. Movement. Nourishment. Hydration. Rest. Faith. These are all familiar elements within my NATURE'S WAY® approach.

We discussed nutrition, healthy fats, protein, fibre, meal timings and the role of hydration in supporting our bodies. Traditional approaches such as castor oil applications and magnesium were also explored.

I came away with plenty of notes and a growing list of subjects to investigate further, including the research behind different approaches, their traditional uses and how they may fit safely into individual wellbeing practices.

What struck me was how often we can overlook the foundations of everyday health while searching for increasingly complicated answers. Of course, health isn't always simple. I know that from personal experience. There isn't one solution for everyone and sometimes we need many different forms of support. But there is something empowering about understanding the choices available to us and taking an active role in our own wellbeing.

The Unexpected Gift – Connection

I travelled to Cheshire on my own. And I'll admit, I was nervous!

Walking into a room full of people you don't know can feel rather daunting, especially when you're away from home for several days.

But one of the most wonderful parts of the experience was meeting people who shared a curiosity about health, wellbeing and living more intentionally. Different backgrounds. Different stories. Different experiences. Yet so many shared values. The conversations over meals, between lectures and during our free time were every bit as valuable as the sessions themselves. I even found myself sharing a little of my own work, offering a couple of sound baths for fellow attendees – stealthily finding a quiet space to fit us in. What a beautiful experience that was.

To arrive as a participant, eager to learn and then have the opportunity to share something I love with others felt incredibly special. It reminded me that learning isn't always a one-way experience. We all bring something to the table.

The Wonderful Exhibitors – Sharing Knowledge and Experiences

Another lovely part of the retreat was having the opportunity to meet some wonderful exhibitors and practitioners, each bringing their own knowledge, passion and approach to health and wellbeing.

It wasn't just about listening to lectures. There were opportunities to chat, ask questions, discover new products and experience different therapies firsthand.

A special mention and thank you to Cassie from Oraphim Shungite, who shared her passion and knowledge of shungite, a fascinating natural mineral with a long history of traditional use. Many of us guests couldn’t get enough of her beautiful jewellery, socks, scarfs and even a chalice!

To Chris from Roundways Supplements, thank you for the conversations, advice and opportunity to explore the different nutritional products available – I bought plenty!

I also loved visiting The Good Food Project's stand, where I explored their castor oil compresses,  supplements, books and more. Having discussed traditional castor oil applications during the retreat, it was lovely to see the products and learn more about their practical use. Again, bought one for mentstrual care and it did the trick this week – I was so grateful!

And a huge thank you to Dave and Cam, the Osteopath and Osteomyologist, for sharing their expertise and providing hands-on treatments. Having the opportunity to experience osteopathy alongside all the learning was another wonderful part of the retreat.

What I particularly appreciated was the chance to speak directly with people who are passionate about their work, hear their experiences and explore different perspectives. It all added another layer to the retreat – learning not just through lectures, but through conversations, connections and experiences. So a big thank you to all the exhibitors and practitioners who helped make the five days so special

A Celebration of Learning, Connection and Gratitude

Our final evening was a wonderful celebration of everything we'd shared over those five days. A delicious three course dinner (with pudding which I had been very good at declining until then), a dance floor with live band, disco but mostly an opportunity to chat, connect and have a good giggle.

The learning, the laughter, the conversations, the friendships and the incredible energy that comes from bringing so many like-minded people together.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to Steve Pollard and The Good Food Project for making this experience possible. To the wonderful team at De Vere Cranage Estate for looking after us so beautifully and to Michael for sharing his time and knowledge.

And to every single person who attended – thank you! Your warmth, openness, stories, encouragement and friendship made this retreat so much more than a conference. You brought your own experiences, your own journeys and your own beautiful energy. I feel incredibly grateful for the connections made and hope many of our paths cross again.

But my biggest thank you goes to Barbara O'Neill. Thank you, Barbara, for your generosity, your time, your knowledge and your passion. For sharing your experiences, encouraging us to question, research and continue learning. For reminding us of the value of traditional wisdom, the natural world and taking responsibility for our own wellbeing. Your enthusiasm, conviction and dedication were truly inspiring.

There was one message in particular that stayed with me, a beautiful reminder from Scripture that Barbara shared:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (King James Version)

Those words really resonated with me. Because sometimes life, our experiences and the challenges we face can leave us feeling powerless. Yet this verse reminds us of something incredibly important – courage, love and the strength of our own minds.

For me, it was a reminder to continue moving forwards with faith rather than fear. To trust my intuition, embrace knowledge to “choose my hard” and remember that even when life feels overwhelming, there is still hope. I arrived with questions, curiosity and a desire to deepen my understanding. I leave with new knowledge to explore, beautiful connections, a grateful heart and something I hadn't quite realised I needed so much. Hope and renewed faith. And for that, I am truly thankful.

A Final Thought

One of the messages I brought home was the importance of recognising that we have choices. Choices about how we spend our time, how we nourish ourselves, what we learn and how we approach our wellbeing. Not every circumstance is within our control. Life can be complicated, unpredictable and sometimes incredibly difficult. But even small changes can help us move towards a life that feels more balanced and intentional. Also, to make them informed choices – ensuring that we have the pros, cons and everything in the middle to make a good decision.

My greatest takeaway from these five days?

Keep learning. Keep questioning. Keep connecting. And never underestimate the power of hope. I'll be taking the knowledge, experiences and inspiration from this retreat back into my own NATURE'S WAY® practice, continuing to explore how nature, movement, nourishment, understanding and connection can support our everyday wellbeing.

With gratitude and a very full heart.

Kimberley xx