The Sacred Power of Solitude: A Room of One’s Own Revisited

Virginia Woolf once wrote that 'a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction'.

Her words, drawn from A Room of One’s Own, speak to something timeless - the need for space, both physical and emotional, to connect with ourselves. Woolf was talking about women’s ability to create, but I think her insight runs much deeper. It’s about the value of time alone.

For so many people, the idea of carving out time just for ourselves can feel like a luxury - or even an indulgence. Life has a way of pulling us in a thousand directions.

Whether it’s family, work, friends, or community, we’re often caught in the rhythm of giving and doing And while that rhythm might bring its own joy, it can also leave us with little space to simply be.

Solitude offers something different.

It’s not about loneliness, but about connection - the kind that happens when we’re quiet enough to really hear ourselves. In those moments of stillness, the layers we wear in daily life can gently fall away.

We’re left with something raw, real, and whole: us.

I think that’s why Woolf’s words resonate so deeply. She wasn’t just talking about the physical act of having a room - though that can certainly help! She was talking about what happens when we give ourselves permission to step away, to pause, to think and to dream.

For many of us, especially at moments of change - like menopause, new life chapters, or simply the shifting seasons - solitude can feel more urgent. Questions we’ve been carrying for years seem to rise to the surface:

• Who am I beyond all these roles I play?
• What actually happens if I pause?
• What do I want next?

These aren’t questions we can answer in the rush of everyday life. They need time. They need space.

And research backs this up.

Regular time alone can boost creativity, strengthen resilience, and help us feel more grounded. But honestly, I think we already know this deep down. We feel it when we take a quiet walk or sit with a cup of tea in the early morning.

There’s a kind of magic in the pause.

That’s part of what inspired us to create solo retreats at Bach Brook. These are opportunities to step away from all the busyness (all the busIness) and gently step back into yourself.

It’s not about escaping; it’s about arriving - fully, wholly and unapologetically.

So, if you’ve been feeling the call for 'room of one’s own' - even for just a few days - I’d love to invite you here. This is your time to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with who you are beneath all the doing.

After all, as Woolf said, it’s in the quiet that we begin to hear 'the singing of the real world.'

Maybe it’s time we listen?

FURTHER EXPLORATION

A Solo Retreat can be the essence of having a room of one's own. To see how this could serve you, take a look at the Solo Retreats we offer here at Bach Brook Farm in Herefordshire.