We'll begin the day with tea, coffee and homemade gingerbread men as everyone settles into the beautiful surroundings of Hopton Court. This gentle arrival offers time to meet one another, explore the space and contribute to our communal ancestor altar, which will grow throughout the day into a shared place of remembrance.

Together we will open sacred space, introduce the spirit of Samhain and explore why this season has been honoured for centuries as a time to pause between worlds. Through meditation, intention setting and ritual, we will create a warm and welcoming container for the day ahead.

A workshop exploring crystals as vessels of memory, remembrance and ancestral connection.

Stone has marked graves, sacred places and sites of remembrance for thousands of years. In this workshop, we will explore the relationship between crystal, earth and ancestry, discovering how these ancient formations can become companions in our own practices of remembrance.

Working intuitively, each participant will choose a crystal before exploring its folklore, symbolism and traditional associations. Together, we will create a personal Ancestral Medicine Pouch containing a chosen crystal, seasonal herbs, and a handwritten blessing or ancestor's name, creating a keepsake to support your practice throughout the darker half of the year.

Using black paper and charcoal we will create intuitive artwork inspired by dreams, thresholds and the unseen.

This workshop is an invitation to explore feeling rather than technique, allowing symbols, memory and imagination to guide the creative process. No artistic experience is needed, only curiosity and a willingness to create.

A lovingly prepared autumn lunch shared around the table. Samhain reminds us that gathering in community is one of our oldest traditions, and this is a chance to rest, connect and enjoy the warmth of the season together.

Take time to explore the Victorian grounds of Hopton Court at your own pace, noticing the quiet details that often go unseen. Ancient trees, autumn fungi, birdsong, seed heads and changing leaves all have stories to tell. Create your own simple identification guides and plant pressings. 

As evening approaches, we will create remembrance lanterns using glass jars, natural materials and candlelight.

Inside each lantern, participants may choose to place a handwritten blessing, the name of an ancestor or an intention for the winter months ahead. These lanterns will accompany us during our evening procession through the grounds.

An immersive woodland sound ceremony using voice, gong and sacred instruments.

This ceremony is dedicated not only to our own ancestors, but also to those who have no one left to remember them. Those without marked graves. Those who lived on the margins. Those whose stories have faded from memory.

Through sound, meditation and quiet ritual, we will honour the unseen threads that connect us across generations, creating space for gratitude, peace and deep reflection.

As darkness falls, we gather once more around the table for a hearty seasonal supper. A time to celebrate friendship, laughter and community before moving into the final rituals of the day.

Carrying our handmade lanterns, we will walk together in quiet reflection through the grounds of Hopton Court.

This gentle procession becomes an act of remembrance, honouring our loved ones, our ancestors and those whose names have been lost with time, as we carry light into the darker half of the year.

As the light begins to fade, we gather to hear the stories held within the land itself.

Lizzy will share the history, folklore and ghost stories connected to Hopton Court, celebrating the ancient tradition of gathering together at Samhain to share tales of mystery, memory and the unseen. Guests are welcome to simply listen or share their own stories if they feel called to.

We gather one final time around the ancestor altar to offer thanks to one another, to those who came before us and to the turning of the wheel.

As we extinguish the final candle, we gently close our sacred space, carrying the warmth, memories and blessings of the day home with us as we step into the darker half of the year.