- We currently have 2 places left on this retreat -
Keening Over the Bones. 18th - 25th July 2020. Isle of Eigg, Scotland
The theme of this years retreat is 'Keening Over the Bones'. Keening is an old Celtic way of lamenting death, a role carried out by the Keening woman. As a Cultural Activist, I dig into my Celtic heritage to bring practices like Keening into a modern setting to help us honor the deep grief many of us are experiencing for all that is going on in the world - from ecological destruction, climate devastation and the uncountable and overwhelming swell of social injustices.
I merge the experience of keening with Joanna Macy’s spiral of the Work That Reconnects. Throughout our week we will explore each of these four phases - expressing our joy of living, honoring our pain, contacting future beings (for their advice) and then going forth and making our commitment to the world.
Expressing our joy might take the form of a dance on the beach at the edge of the ocean while honoring our pain will take the form of a Keening ceremony. A guided journey will be your invitation to to a Keening ceremony which honors our grief and an invitation for us to drop down into that grief. Keening can be a cathartic experience while our grief doesn't change the way we look at it changes.
A guided journey will be our invitation to ask your ancestors or the Ancestral Mothers for their advice and then we will conclude our time together on the island in a ceremony which weaves together all of our experiences over the week as well as your commitment to the world and a celebration of your role and the unique path you walk in the world.
The Bones
The bones are the remnants of stories and lives long-lived. The retreat is an invitation to listen to the bones, to the wisdom of your ancestors knitted deep in your own bones. Your time on the island allows you to sink down into your relationship you will build with the land in a journey which can often be an externalization of your inner journey.
The early booking discount of $100 off is available until the end of the month
Please get in touch here if you have any questions. Click on any of the photos to go to the main retreat page on my website.
The Journey
There are many journeys on the Ancestral Mothers retreat - while the retreat itself can often be a life changing journey the physical journey is also an inspiring one.
The first steps are often you answering an ancient calling and when our paths cross and you sign up for the retreat you get a free pass to all the Ancestral Mothers courses currently running. You'll most likely begin with the Ancestral Mothers Wheel of the Year course which introduces you to the figures of ancestral Wise Women, Amazons, Celtic Goddesses and pre-celtic ancient deities.
On arriving in Glasgow the journey begins on the West Highland Railway a journey that takes you through away from roads and towns as you cross across the wide and wild beauty of Rannoch moor. Watch the terrain change as we move into a mountainous realm and skirt the bottom of Ben Nevis, Scotlands highest mountain which even in July is likely to have a little snow on its peak.
You'll travel over the Glennfinnian viaduct made famous by the harry Potter films.
Once you arrive in Mallaig it's a one hour ferry ride over to the island and the chance to stand outside, feel the sea breeze and let it blow off any cobwebs or any other residue, watch the Isle of Skye pass as Eigg comes more into focus and also the chance to keep an eye out for dolphins, seabirds or even an orca.
Once on Eigg your luggage will be taken to our accommodation, Glebe Barn as you have a chance to stretch your legs and take in your first impressions of the island.
Sheela Na Gig
Our first visit to an Ancestral Mother will be your visit to a Sheela na Gig in the ruins of Kildonnan Chapel then we will wander down to Shell beach and perhaps find a cowrie shell as we keep a lookout for seals in the bay.
Loch of the Big Women
You will hear the stories of the Big Women of the islands from the female warriors of the Queen of Moidart to Scatatch the female warrior from the neighboring isle of Skye.
You will visit the Loch of the Big Women our biggest hike of the week where your have the invitation to submerge yourself under the water if your brave enough.
This is a ritual which can help you focus on becoming a Carrier of the Stream, an initiation I use for women as we journey through menopause.
You can read more abut this ritual here
Community
Our days together will begin by quite time in the mornings and one option will be to hang out in the sun room, which is a silent room which offers spectacular views over to the mainland.
We will start each day after breakfast with a guided journey in which you'll meet one of the Ancestral Mother figures.
Island Community
We will join the local singing group for an evening of song (if their schedule matches ours) and there will also be the option of touring a local working croft (a unique form of farming found on the West coast of Scotland) We will get to meet their animals which includes a herd of Soay Sheep, a primitive Scottish breed of sheep. We will tour their kitchen garden - did you know you get palm trees in Scotland? As well as the ability to ask questions and really get an insiders view on a Scottish croft. There is also the option to visit the historic croft museum which is right next door. (Both activities depending on scheduling).
The intention for the retreat is to build some community before we gather and so you will be invited to take my Ancestral Mothers of Scotland Wheel of the Year course for free as well as an online course on the Goddess Brighid and one on the Cailleach.
