Rest & Re-imagine on the Sacred Isle of Iona
Iona Retreat Week 3 September 2022
*Fully booked* Press pause on your life for a week on retreat on the sacred Isle of Iona. Relax into the rhythms of nature and the sea as you reconnect with what really brings you joy.
Do you ever wish you could pause the rollercoaster of life for a brief time, to relax and reconnect with what really brings you joy ?
You’re invited to enjoy the expansiveness of a week on the West Coast Isle of Iona, to rest and to re-imagine your next steps, in a place of immense peace and great beauty.
We’ll move with the gentle rhythms of the island and the ocean, connecting with nature and your ‘still, small voice within’, as you deepen into the sacred energy of Iona, a spiritual focal point for thousands of years.
You’ll be in good company at our retreat house right on the sea, with like-minded people also on a soul journey, sharing space, good food and insightful conversation, with quiet time to fully listen to your own inner knowing.
This retreat is limited to just five people.
You’re invited to ...
Relax into the rhythms of nature, letting the sun and the tides guide your activities.
Give yourself time for quiet contemplation – to simply pause in the healing embrace of the island.
Tune in again to the dreams of your soul, that may have been lost in life’s busy-ness.
Remember and reconnect with the things that bring you joy to your heart.
Re-imagine the next steps you want to take in your life.
Open and reconnect to the invisible, the mystery and the magic.
What you’ll enjoy
As a small group we’ll take this Iona journey together, enriching each other with our diverse experiences, insights and discoveries. We’ll contrast quiet moments for inner work with outside time in Iona’s wild and natural beauty, including:
- Morning meditations in the Sanctuary, and sharings on some evenings.
- A guided walk to some of the island’s most sacred points.
- Rituals to support our unfolding journey, such as creating a labyrinth on the beach.
- A possible visit to our sister community on Erraid, exploring that historic island.
- Touching in on some of the island community’s experiences.
Why do a retreat on Iona?
- You’ll leave your everyday busy-ness behind
- Your days will be shaped by the natural rhythms of nature and island life
- It’s a chance to explore at the pace of our ancestors
- You’ll be staying in a comfy house a pebble’s throw from the ocean
- Retreats are expansive and tailored to the needs of participants
- No more than five retreat participants will be welcomed at a time.
What to expect
The island, the retreat house and your two focalisers will hold a safe space that allows you to relax and deepen into the peace of Iona.
You may not want to join all the activities, but we’ll eat together each evening, creating a heart-centred container and bonding as a group. We’ll share the cooking between us, in the house’s warm kitchen!
Be sure to bring:
Warm and waterproof outdoor clothing – the weather is changeable.
Good walking shoes to enjoy exploring the island.
Sun hat and water bottle.
A journal for insights.
Try to travel light – we carry our goods to the house in a cart or on our backs (or you can book the taxi!) It takes about 25-30 minutes to walk to the retreat house.
The retreat house – Traigh Bhan
Traigh Bhan is in the quieter, more remote northern part of the island, on a beach called Traigh Ban nam Manach – the white strand of the monks.
There’s a beautiful porch overlooking the garden and sea – excellent in all kinds of weather – and plenty of books to read.
The shared bedrooms are downstairs, while the beautiful Sanctuary is upstairs overlooking the sea. You can see the Isle of Mull across the Sound of Iona, with Erraid in the distance.
Book your space
** This week is fully booked. **
If you’d like to be notified when other retreat dates become available, please email Iona enquiries.
The retreat supports just five people, so places are limited.
The price of £550 includes seven nights’ accommodation and all your meals.
The bedrooms and bathroom are shared. One room has four private bunk beds, each with a privacy curtain, individual bedside lamp and bookshelf. The other room has a double bed and a single bed.
We look forward to welcoming you to the peace of Iona!