Retreat Testimonials

Sara, I know I've thanked you countless times already for the loving healing I've received in Mairela, but you know what..?.... I'm going to thank you again! It's been a few days since my visit, and when I look back at my time there I can truly see how immense and powerful the experience was. Mairela is such a beautiful place; and yet it's more than nice views. There is a pristine energy rising out of the earth and the air sings with it. It's definite and it's strong, and simply sitting by the lake, or high up on Kuhmoinen Hillfort, is enough to make your heart tingle and soar. I am in awe of the place.

And I loved the cottage, and the simplicity of the life there. To walk to a natural spring well and pump water from deep in the earth and then bring it inside to cook with and drink, or to build a crackling log fire with birch and pine from the woodlands, or simply to open the door and step into the brilliant air of the trees, all of these things truly reconnect you to the earth, and remind you that the ground beneath your feet is indeed Mother Earth, and she provides plenty, and we touch her with every step we take.

And thank you so much for your warm embrace when I arrived at the airport. You have a great gift of welcome. I felt that same welcome throughout my stay, in fact I felt as though my week there was a great acceptance that came from your heart, and I was greatly strengthened and reassured by that. It created a strong sense of safety and assurance, and yes, great healing can truly take place when the heart is safe and assured.

And the healing. Without a doubt, without a shadow of a doubt, the healing I received through your hands has been one of the most profound experiences of my life, and it has been life changing and will stay with me forever. I can say no more than that, because it is beyond words. Except these two.

Thank you.

Love and Peace,

Sean (Wexford) Farmer

"Your capacity for holding is immense. The love and safety that you create at Mairela enabled me to explore the deepest darkest parts of myself that I dared not to have entered before and I emerged back into the light with your guidance. Words cannot express my gratitude, you are an Angel on Earth."

Pete (Birmingham) Healer

"When everything is mad and manic, I think back to my lovely time in Finland with you and your daughter. I think back to sitting on the little pier when I first arrived and holding my breath when a leaf fell into the water and broke the absolute quiet. It was a great inspiration to come and stay with you. It was a ‘meant to be’ situation for me. You were lovely with me, leaving me be when I was happy to find my own way and then being there when I asked for a session. I very rarely ask for ‘help’ but you were wonderful. Thank you!"

Christine - The Grange (IoW)

"Money cannot buy the healing that you just gave me"

Fenni (Helsinki) -Chef

"The memories of the stillness and quiet of Mairela still linger. People did remark about how composed, relaxed and still I had become. On the week of my return a lady at a craft fair directly asked if I was a spiritual healer because she could sense great depth in me. I imagine this could be the combination of the place and what you Sara add to it. I think Mairela is in a location of incredibly concentrated earth energy which I felt as a powerful stillness almost skin-prickling in its intensity. It doesn't feel like I have taken away anything, more like a link has been forged.

Since my visit I have found it easier to flow through situations and coalesce at a point where there is a purpose for me to draw peoples' attention. Your Blog is still an inspiration and a delightful link to natural events at the lake as well as an intriguing ramble on other items"

Nick - Project Manager

I never knew how relaxed I could be until I came here!

Tina W. (Northampton) - Aromatherapist

"Despite having read everything on the web site, I did not know what to expect of a healing week at Mairela. All I can say is that Mairela was a complete panacea for a fairly toxic, stressed, professional from London. The beauty of the environment, the simplicity of living so close to nature and being so looked after by Sara. I had my retreat from the world and was nicely independent but not alone. Thank you so much, I learned and experienced many things that I will carry with me for a long time - if not forever. Thank you."

Caroline Crawford (London) - Solicitor

Thank you so much Sara for being such an inspiration & providing me with the hope that I needed. lots of love,

Jill (Northampton) - Administrator

I don't know what it was you did to that horse but he is now going like he has done this all his life and he has just taken the Gold cup at his first show. Thank you so much for everything.

Penny (Powys) Horse trainer

Dear Sara,

Thank you so much for everything!!!

We had a LOVELY vacation at your place in Mairela. That place is wonderful.

So relaxing, away from everything… just us, the lake, the animals… it was great! I would have spent there the whole summer!

Elena Bohjanen (Spain) - Teacher

Thank you SO much for EVERYTHING Sara. It was a beautiful, chilled-out week. No frustrating computers, no driving, no hassles. I miss the lake, the space, the sauna.

Angie (Norfolk) - Care worker

"Dear Sara, Thank you for a wonderful stay at Mairela. We're very sad to be leaving but we'll be taking home many happy memories!"

" Thank you for supplying such a lovely place to honeymoon! We had a wonderfully relaxing time and returned home feeling refreshed"

Monica & Alex (London) - Architects

"Thank you so much for all your help and kindness during our stay. We certainly gathered some wonderful photographs and an insight into Finnish culture"

Cathy & Clyde (Wales) - Artist & Poet

"Thank you very much for making us so welcome at Mairela - we had a great time, felt really relaxed, and are very happy with the tales of lost pikes, local elk burgers and axed legs that we can interest our friends with!"

Jenny & Craig (London) - Teacher

Thank you for a great week. I felt more relaxed than I have for a long, long time. I'm not surprised that you moved out here, it's idyllic.

Karen (UAE) Teacher