21st & 22nd March 2026Humble Haven (Battle) & Winchelsea New HallHeld by Natasha SaltzerThe First Time I Sat in the Lodge
A story from Natasha about the moment everything changed Over twenty years ago now, I did something that would shape the rest of my life — though at the time, I had no idea what I was walking into. It was the New Year, and I’d booked myself onto a week-long retreat in California. I was in a place in my life where I knew I needed something… but I didn’t quite know what. I just knew I had to go. The retreat began right over my birthday. I’ll never forget it — not just because it was my birthday, but because of what happened there. I arrived without my suitcase. I’d left it at my sister’s house in all the travel chaos, and the friend who’d kindly driven me two hours out into the wilds was not impressed when we realised we had to go back the next day to fetch it. I showed up for the first day with nothing but my coat, a pair of shoes, and myself. Looking back now, I see the symbolism in that.I entered the retreat completely empty-handed.No belongings. No baggage.Just me, stripped back to my essence. And then came the sweat lodge. At that time, I didn’t know what a lodge even was, really. I’d never done one before. I just followed the group out through the trees to this strange dome-shaped structure covered in blankets. The fire was burning. The stones were heating. And I felt something stirring in me — quietly, deeply. When I stepped into the darkness of that lodge, something ancient woke up. I sat on the earth, steam rising around me, the scent of cedar in the air. It was pitch black. The only light came from the glowing stones — bright orange and alive, like miniature suns — placed in the pit at the centre of the Earth. The water hissed and spat as it was poured over them, and the lodge filled with heat, prayer, breath, and song. I can’t explain exactly what happened. I just know that I crossed a threshold.A doorway opened inside me — or maybe I remembered one I’d walked through long before.I entered a kind of trance. Not spaced out — more awake than I’d ever been. Everything felt familiar, and yet totally new. It felt like I’d done this before. Like I’d done it many times.Like my soul had been waiting to come back to this moment. That week changed everything. I was sung “Happy Birthday” at least three times by the shaman leading the retreat — I don’t think I’ve ever felt my birthday celebrated in such a heartfelt way. I cried. I laughed. I felt deeply seen. And something clicked into place. That was the moment I truly stepped onto the shamanic path. I didn’t know it then, but it was the first step of a long road — one that would eventually lead me to become a ceremonial leader, a teacher, and now… someone who holds the Rainbow Lodge herself.
🌿 Why I’m Telling You This
I’m sharing this now because this March, I’ll be holding a Rainbow Lodge ceremony right over the weekend of the Spring Equinox. And something about the timing feels just as significant — just as life-changing — as that first experience I had all those years ago. To have the Rainbow Lodge fall right on the Spring Equinox, on a weekend, is rare. These things don’t always line up. But this year, they do.And I feel it in my whole being — the power, the possibility, the potential. This is a weekend where personal rebirth and planetary alignment come together.Where you’ll be invited into the lodge — into the Earth’s womb — while the whole planet is in balance between light and dark.It’s the moment when life stirs again. When the roots push up. When something deep inside us says, “I’m ready.” This isn’t just about having a beautiful experience.It’s about stepping into a field of energy that can change your life.Clear grief. Awaken fire. Realign your path.Or simply bring you back to yourself — to what’s true.
🌞 If You Feel the Call
You don’t need to have done this kind of thing before. I hadn’t, either.You don’t need to be “spiritual” or “ready” or “experienced.”All you need is the nudge. The curiosity. The whisper in your bones. If something about this speaks to you — even if you’re not sure why — I would love to hold space for you. We’ll gather in the forest on the Saturday, step into the Rainbow Lodge, and pray with the Earth, the stones, the fire, and each other.Then on Sunday, we’ll come back together to rest, to move gently, to integrate, and to listen for what wants to emerge in your life now. We are not meant to walk through these Turning Times alone.l
🔥 Saturday 21st March
Rainbow Lodge CeremonyHumble Haven, Battle | 10:30am – 8:00pm At the heart of the weekend is the Rainbow Lodge — a sacred sweat lodge ceremony aligned with the moment of Equinox. This is a place of purification, release, and deep soul remembrance. Together we will:
Sing and pray around the fire
Enter the sacred lodge in ceremony
Receive the healing and wisdom of the stones
Call in the Divine Mother and the ancestors
Be with the elements in their purest form
Let go of what no longer serves
Remember who we truly are
You do not need any prior experience to take part. All that is required is a willingness to listen, honour the sacred, and return to the womb of the Earth for a few potent hours.
🌿 Sunday 22nd March
Integration & EmergenceWinchelsea New Hall | 10:30am – 6:00pm The second day of our gathering is a gentle and beautiful time of integration and emergence. We’ll spend the day together in circle and out on the land, with time for:
Nature connection and time by the river
Embodied movement
Drawing and creative reflection
Sacred songs and chants
Shamanic journeying
Sharing and listening
Deepening the Equinox teachings
🔥 Booking & Practical Details
Dawnfire is a sacred two-day gathering taking place across two venues in East Sussex:
Sunday 22nd March 2026 Winchelsea New Hall, Winchelsea 🕰 10:30am – 6:00pm
🌿 Exchange & Booking Options
I want this experience to be as accessible as possible while honouring the time, resources, and deep preparation that go into creating a ceremonial space of this depth — including hundreds of pounds in sacred wood, the building of the Rainbow Lodge, ceremonial blankets, stones, and more. Please feel into what rate feels most aligned and supportive for you.
🌈 Pricing Tiers
🌿 £125 Early Bird Available until midnight on February 1stFor those ready to say yes with the rising spring energy. 💛 £149 Concession RateFor those in financial transition or on lower incomes. 🌍 £199 General RateThe standard rate for this deep two-day ceremonial immersion.
📥 How to Book
To reserve your place, please pay a £50 deposit using the booking link below.
The remaining balance is due in full by March 15th, 2026.
You’ll receive a confirmation email with all details, what to bring, how to prepare, and directions for both venues.
🔗 Click here to book your place Or feel free to email me directly with any questions:📧 natasha@natashasaltzer.com
💧 Health Note – Please Read
The Rainbow Lodge is a traditional-style sweat lodge ceremony. It involves sitting in the heat, close to the earth, within a small dome structure where steam is created by pouring water over glowing stones. While deeply sacred and transformational, it is not suitable for everyone. It is recommended that you seek the approval of a doctor regarding any medical conditions or medical issues and your suitability to attend. Please email me before booking if you:
Are pregnant
Have high or low blood pressure
Experience heart conditions or respiratory issues
Or any medical condition that you are unsure of regarding your suitability.
💞 Final Words
This is a powerful and sacred gathering. The Rainbow Lodge ceremony is not a casual experience — it is a soul-deep remembering. We are coming together to honour the Earth, to walk with Spirit, and to open to the new frequencies of the Spring Equinox and the New Dawn.
I would love to welcome you into the circle. With love and flame,Natasha🌈🔥🌍