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ABOUT VALLEY OF THE CROSS
MISSION & VISION
To offer a calm, land-rooted space for retreats and rest, developed through ongoing care, presence, and a deepening relationship with the natural world.
How it started
After years of facilitating retreats and moving between borrowed and temporary spaces, it became clear that the work we care about needed a place to settle. A place that could be held and grown over time. Where the land, the structures, and the people holding the space are in an ongoing relationship. We chose this valley not because it was easy, but because it asked something of us. The quiet, the natural containment, and the slower rhythm here make it possible to listen more closely and build with care. Valley of the Cross has grown from that decision. It reflects how we choose to live and work, and how we relate to the land. It is also an offering to those who feel drawn to spaces that support rest, depth, and genuine connection.
The Meaning behind the Name
We chose the name Valley of the Cross to honour the Portuguese name of this valley. We understand that this name is connected to the land’s past, likely referencing a former christening site held here. While we do not know the full history, there is a sense that the place has long been used in a way that carries spiritual meaning. Choosing this name felt like a way of acknowledging that. Not to define what it means, but to stay in respect of what has been here before. For us, the name reflects a continuity with the land and its history, and a recognition that this place holds more than just what we build on it now.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND VALLEY OF THE CROSS
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This place is built and shaped by Austin and Christina, partners in life and in the ongoing creation of Valley of the Cross.
Austin brings over a decade of lived experience holding and facilitating healing retreats. Alongside hosting retreats, he is deeply involved in the hands-on building, maintenance of structures, and day-to-day land management, shaping the physical container with care and practicality. His approach is grounded and relational, with a strong emphasis on safety, presence, and personal responsibility, and on working with the land as an active part of what supports healing and integration.
Christina holds much of the work that keeps the space running smoothly. She looks after the online presence and communication, helping translate the atmosphere of the land into words and images. Through this, she often shapes the first connection people have with Valley of the Cross. She also brings careful attention to the smaller details that influence how the place is experienced, from guestbooks and printed materials to the small but meaningful elements that shape how the space is encountered.
Together, we live on the land and are actively involved in its care and development. Valley of the Cross is not a venue we step into temporarily, but a place we are in relationship with. The space is shaped through lived experience, shared responsibility, and an ongoing commitment to creating an environment that supports rest, depth, and genuine connection.
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