the little cotswold

A private healing sanctuary for children

AS SOULS, WE ALL HAVE A PROMISED PURPOSE TO THE WORLD — PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO FIND OUT HOW THIS PASSION PROJECT CAME TO BE

Why the Cotswolds? I have no idea, it’s one of those inner knowings that it does not feel right if it was modeled after another.

The Cotswolds is a region of central South West England known for its bountiful rolling hills and luscious meadows. The quintessential towns and villages are filled with honey-colored stone homes and lively shops. It offers breathtaking landscapes and beautiful historic architecture. At the Little Cotswold, located in our very own Indiana backyard, however small, we are creating a setting that evokes similar emotions, dedicated to children aged 5 to 12 years — a beautiful, open space where their inner child is reawakened and nurtured.

The sanctuary is designed to hold 16 indoor activity centers replicating the historic honey-colored homes of the Cotswolds. The outdoor space offers narrow gravel pathways that lead from one playhouse to the next. The landscape is lush with greenery, surrounded by stone walls for added safety. You will find small ponds with ducks swimming, gardens, and mini stone bridges throughout. The children will feel as if they’ve stepped into an otherworldly adventure all on their own. The place is strictly for children; they play for three hours, feel rejuvenated and grounded, go home, and share their joyful experiences with their mommy, daddy, aunts and uncles, grandmothers, and grandfathers., A quiet space is available for parents to enjoy as they watch their children play from the second floor of the main house, where tea, coffee, and other refreshments are available. Here, parents are also encouraged to relax and unplug from the world — it’s a win-win situation!

Each activity center is equipped with safety and carefully chosen tools and instruments to nurture their artistic and creative side. The interiors are decorated elaborately as this is no ordinary play place; it’s an actual, well-designed tiny town for kids where they can pretend to be farmers, shoppers, bakers, artists, florists, and more — all the simple pleasures in life in one place. At the Little Cotswold, it’s our priority to provide a safe, calm, and peaceful environment, allowing a maximum of 25 children per shift, where five unprivileged children are invited weekly. An off-duty police officer is present all day to provide security. For their nourishment, we offer an array of healthy snacks and beverages prepared by a local chef. During their stay, the children are free to come and go for a snack as they please — NO SCHEDULES, NO RULES, JUST FREEDOM TO BE THEIR MOST AUTHENTIC SELF.

WHAT MAKES THIS SANCTUARY HEALING?

“Your nervous system will naturally feel calm and safe around people with pure intentions and authentic energy. Trust it.” ~ unknown

THERE ARE SO MANY ENERGIES THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE UNCONSCIOUSLY INFLUENCED BY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES, SOME GOOD AND SOME NOT SO GOOD. THESE ENERGIES ARE PICKED UP SUBCONSCIOUSLY FROM THEIR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT. LUCKILY, CHILDREN ARE NATURALLY RESILIENT; HOWEVER, IF THEIR NERVOUS SYSTEM REMAINS NEGLECTED AND UNHEALED, IT CAN HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, SUCH AS ANXIETY, FEAR, AND SELF-DOUBT.

THE HEALING POWER OF THE SANCTUARY LIES QUIETLY WITH NATURE AND OTHER ORGANIC ELEMENTS ON OUR COMPOUND, INCLUDING OUR TEAM MEMBERS. AS A NATURAL HEALER AND A FEMININE WHO EMBODIES THE ENERGY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE CULTIVATED THROUGH MANY HARDSHIPS IN MY LIFE, I HAVE THE ABILITY TO SENSE ENERGY IN A POWERFUL WAY; IT IS MY INNER COMPASS IN FINDING THE SOULS WHO ARE MEANT TO WORK IN OUR SANCTUARY. MY ENERGY ALONE PROVIDES A HEALING EFFECT, AND THAT, IN COMBINATION WITH THE OTHER AWAKENED SOULS WORKING IN OUR SANCTUARY, CREATES A POWERFUL UNSPOKEN HEALING ESSENCE. IN ADDITION, AN ENERGY CLEARING RITUAL IS ALSO PERFORMED IN BETWEEN PLAYTIME SHIFTS TO RESET THE ENERGY FOR ALL ACTIVITY CENTERS FOR THE NEXT GROUP OF CHILDREN.

SINCE THE SANCTUARY ONLY ALLOWS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF CHILDREN PER PLAYTIME SHIFT, IT ENSURES A CALM AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT, IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER CHILDREN’S PLACES THAT TEND TO BE TOO BUSY, WHICH CREATES A CHAOTIC ENERGY NOT CONDUCIVE TO THEIR WELL-BEING. OUR SANCTUARY OFFERS AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING EXPERIENCE OF EXPLORATION, PLAY, CREATIVITY, RELAXATION, AND ADVENTURE MINUS THE CHAOS. MOREOVER, THE PLAYHOUSES ARE DESIGNED FOR ACTUAL INTERIOR USE, AND THERE’S ENOUGH SPACE FOR ALL THE CHILDREN TO HIDE AWAY IN THEIR OWN SPACE IN CASE THERE’S A NEED FOR SOME QUIET TIME.

CREATING FOR THE CHILDREN AS CHILDREN

CHILDREN’S IMAGINATIONS ARE LIMITLESS AND BOUNTIFUL, AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW WE ARE APPROACHING THIS MAGICAL PROJECT WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING IT — WITHOUT LIMITS. THE OVERALL AESTHETIC PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN ACHIEVING THE UTMOST HEALING ESSENCE, FROM THE QUALITY OF THE LANDSCAPE TO THE AUTHENTIC AND EMOTIONAL INTERIORS OF THE PLAY HOUSES. EACH PIECE OF ART, EACH SIGNPOST, EACH STONE, AND EACH TREE MUST HAVE A MEANING AND PURPOSE. THE CONTRIBUTORS MUST POSSESS AN EXPANDED MIND AND VISION, NOT ALLOWING LOGIC TO DEFY ITS LIMITLESS POTENTIAL BECAUSE THE CHILDREN DESERVE THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT. IT ALSO MATTERS THAT THE CONTRIBUTORS HAVE AN AMAZING AND FUN EXPERIENCE DURING THE CREATIVE AND BUILDING PROCESS, AS THEIR ENERGY WILL TRANSFER INTO THE SANCTUARY’S HEALING ESSENCE.

IT ‘S SUCH A FUN PROJECT, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO GET CARRIED AWAY WITH FUN!

OUR HEART-BASED COLLABORATORS

M INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO | KEVIN MARION, FULLER ARCHITECTURE | MLA GROUP | HARTLEY BOTANIC | PEARLWORKS ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS | DRAPERY STREETS | CHINA PAINTER AMY CARROLL | O. HENRY HOUSE | REUBEN KRABBE PHOTOGRAPHY