Rediscover your inner light at this powerful planetary moment
Fully booked – Waiting list applies – Contact Bookings
Summer Solstice on Iona
At this moment of greatest light in the turning of the Earth, take a life pause on retreat to reflect on how we can open up our own paths to light and abundance.
Connect to the Earth’s turn
The Summer Solstice is a powerful planetary moment, when the tilt of the Earth brings us closest to the sun and we celebrate the longest day and the fewest hours of darkness.
The sacred Isle of Iona, whose Celtic roots reach deeply into the land, is a perfect place to celebrate the powerful energies of the solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
Join us for a week on retreat where we’ll connect with the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, which are always omnipotent and omnipresent on this wildly beautiful isle.
Open to the light
Like the Celts, who were guided by the solstices and equinoxes rather than calendars, we’ll fall into ‘natural time’, following the rhythms of the tides and the sun.
This is a moment to pause and give thanks for all that has been, releasing with gratitude all that no longer serves. A time to be bold, stepping forward to embrace the Solstice as a peak experience in the alignment of sun and Earth.
We’ll reconnect with our soul goal to be fully awake, energised, inspired, and renewed, and reflect on how we can light and sustain our own inner fires, opening up a path to light and abundance.
What you’ll enjoy
Touch into the energies of Iona, where the honouring of the light and sun has been practised for thousands of years. Connect with the island’s histories and mysteries as you enjoy:
- Healing rituals of gratitude for what has been, next steps, and the setting of intentions for our next journey around the sun.
- Conscious nature walks to sacred sites on the island.
- Meditations and open-hearted sharings with the group.
- Touching on Celtic wisdoms and creating a bonfire on the beach.
- Connecting with the Findhorn Foundation’s spiritual practices, including attunement, inner listening, love in action, and co-creating with the intelligence of nature.
What to expect
The island, the retreat house and your 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 prepare meals and 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 and bathroom 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
The retreat supports just five people, so places are limited.
The price of £1 435 includes seven nights’ accommodation, activities with your guide, 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!
Fully booked – Waiting list applies – Contact Booking
Your focaliser: Geoff Dalglish
Geoff is an award-winning journalist, author, activist and adventurer. In recent years he grabbed headlines when he walked many thousands of miles with climate change messages about treading more lightly and lovingly upon our beloved Earth.
A former race driver, rally driver, 4×4 overland expedition leader and motoring editor, he began to explore ways of living that are kinder to our planet, each other, and all the lifeforms with which we co-exist.
Pivotal to his journey has been time spent with the Findhorn Foundation ecovillage and spiritual community, as well as time on the Isle of Iona. He is the author of the recent memoir Pilgrim – Taking a really long walk from the head to the heart.