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Sacred Earth: A Contemplative Spiritual Retreat

Such a wonderful experience in all ways! Lindsey and Simon are truly gifted leaders, and even with the challenges we faced, I felt very supported and cared for, and had an amazing week. They opened Iona to me in unique and powerful ways. I hope to return!

Life changing! Simon and Linden were wonderful, kind, and knowledgeable leaders who facilitated an amazing experience on Iona!

Everything was well organized, yet the schedule was flexible with options for participating. The facility was great as was the food.

The week on Iona was magical — good company, good food, good accommodations.  Linden, Simon, David and Jurian did a great job of facilitating.  Now the real challenge will be to keep the peace of Iona with me as I return home.

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Come to the sacred island of Iona, where together we will practice listening to the voice of Creation within and all around us. We will gather at the “thin place” of Iona, off the coast of Scotland, where heaven and earth are said to press very close to one another. Barely three miles long and one mile wide, this small sacred isle holds a profound peace and breathtaking beauty that touches everyone who goes there. St. Columba (or Colum Cille, in Gaelic) established the first Celtic Church and monastic community here in 563 CE. In turning to the roots of that tradition, we'll explore how contemporary spiritual practices converge with the ancient wisdom of the monks — and with the life of the island itself. Join us for a seven day transformational journey, deepening our connection to the sacred through our relationship with the natural world and through mindful spiritual practices. Ritual, community worship, poetry, body prayer, meditation, journaling, music and movement will be our tools to deeply listen to the voice of The Great Mystery. We will walk the landscape of Iona together as pilgrims, wandering to special places on the island to embrace the wilderness and to pray with nature. Together we will gather as a community of kindred spirits to worship in a myriad of ways – to give thanks; to celebrate beauty; to share our awe; and to cultivate authentic connection ... to one another, to ourselves, to the land, and to the Exquisite Invisible. For more details, please go to <a target="_blank" href="https://simondevoil.com/iona-2024">https://simondevoil.com/iona-2026</a>

Iona, Scotland, UK

Air travel to Scotland

You can reach the Iona ferry by bus, train, car, or a combination of all three. 

Travel to Iona

Any food and drink beyond the three daily meals and snacks provided by Bishop's House is not included.

Off-site meals/drinks

We strongly encourage participants to purchase travel insurance that allows cancellation for any reason.

Travel insurance

Lodging and three daily meals at Bishop's House Island Retreat Centre

Accommodation

All program sessions, worship services, and experiences

Retreat program

Make your way to Iona to meet the island.
 
Travel to Iona is a pilgrimage in itself; you'll take a ferry, a coach across the island of Mull, and another short, beautiful ferry ride to arrive on Iona.&nbsp;
 
We'll be waiting to greet you on the other side!

Arrival

August 22

Our days together will follow a rhythm that weaves in silence and song, prayer and meditation, contemplation and reflective conversation, time in nature and time for stillness. You'll encounter the history of the land and people of Iona through story and exploration of the island, and you'll be invited to experience a range of spiritual and contemplative practices as you sink into the presence of this very special place. For more detail, please go to <a target="_blank" href="https://simondevoil.com/iona-2020">https://simondevoil.com/iona-2025</a>

Connection and Contemplation on Iona

August 23 - 28

After an early breakfast, bid farewell to the island and take the ferry back to Mull.&nbsp;From there you can travel back to Oban, on the mainland, and make your to Glasgow or Edinburgh, or journey on to explore more of Scotland.

Departing the island

August 29

Pilgrimage Leaders: Rev. Simon Ruth de Voil and Linden de Voil
 
Rev. Simon Ruth de Voil was born and raised in Scotland, and knows the island well. He first came to Iona as a baby in his mother’s womb, and he spent much of his childhood roaming her rocky hills and beaches. Simon returned to live and work at the Abbey at Iona from 2006 to 2008. Simon says of Iona, “She is ‘my island’ because in some inexplicable way I belong to her, and I am in her service.”&nbsp;
 
Simon is an ordained interfaith minister specializing in sacred song and chant. Drawing on decades of experience as a musician, counselor, and group leader, Simon creates space for spiritual practice and celebration that welcomes us all into the embrace of the divine mystery.
 
Linden de Voil, RH(AHG), is a practicing clinical herbalist and professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, the only accrediting body for herbalists in the U.S. A writer and educator in the field of plant medicine, natural health, and earth-based spiritual practice, her work invites us to strengthen our innate ties to the more-than-human, living world through curiosity, observation, and delight.
 
A believer in practical magic and an animist witch, Linden uses somatic practices, simple ritual, and plant medicine to help clients and students find their own path back into belonging and connection with the natural world.

Your Guides

We’ll have exclusive use of Bishop’s House, a beautiful center built in 1894 that serves as a retreat house for the Scottish Episcopal Church—though you don’t need to be of any particular faith tradition to enjoy their warm welcome and hospitality! Bishop’s House is a retreat house, not a hotel; it offers comfortable, simple accommodation including wholesome home-cooked meals, a cozy library, access to a beautiful chapel, and a lovely garden looking out on the sound of Iona. All bedrooms are up one flights of stairs, although a chair lift is available. Each bathroom is shared by several guests.

Although Bishop’s House itself is just a short walk from the ferry, this retreat will require some walking over rough ground, short uphill walks, and muddy terrain. In order to participate fully in these portions of the pilgrimage, you should be comfortable walking up to three miles on uneven ground.
 
For those who aren't able to join these rambles — or simply prefer not to! — we'll offer suggestions for shorter walks and other ways to make use of your time on the island.

Walking the Island

We're happy to offer payment plans on request! Your initial deposit ($500) is fully non-refundable.&nbsp; If you need to cancel, we'll do our best to find someone to fill your spot. If we can find a replacement, we'll refund the balance of your payments, minus the non-refundable initial deposit.&nbsp; If you decide to cancel your registration less than 4 weeks prior to the retreat, we will not be able to help you find a replacement — but you're welcome to pass your registration on to someone else of your choosing!&nbsp; We HIGHLY recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance companies offer policies that insure your investment in case you need to cancel (including covered medical reasons, as well as optional “cancel for any reason” coverages), coverages for expenses incurred due to to weather &amp; travel delays, personal property loss and emergency travel medical.&nbsp; Please review policies carefully to choose the coverage you need.

Payment Plan, Refunds, and Cancellation

Double Occupancy Room (per person)

This two to three hour sail on a wooden schooner is a beautiful and unique way to experience the island and the sea around. The exact duration and destination will depend on weather and the captain's discretion, but sails typically either go around Iona or out to one of the neighboring small isles. Either way, you can expect incredible views! Weather dependent; maximum 10 participants.

Coastal sailing excursion (optional!)

Single Occupancy Room

Day guest

United States

Linden de Voil

Come to the sacred island of Iona, where together we will practice listening to the voice of Creation within and all around us.
 
We will gather at the “thin place” of Iona, off the coast of Scotland, where heaven and earth are said to press very close to one another. Barely three miles long and one mile wide, this small sacred isle holds a profound peace and breathtaking beauty that touches everyone who goes there. St. Columba (or Colum Cille, in Gaelic) established the first Celtic Church and monastic community here in 563 CE, and it is to the roots of that tradition that we will turn, to explore how contemporary spiritual practices converge with the ancient wisdom of the monks.
 
Join us for a seven day transformational journey, deepening our connection to the sacred through our relationship with the natural world and through mindful spiritual practices. Ritual, community worship, poetry, body prayer, meditation, journaling, music and movement will be our tools to deeply listen to the voice of The Great Mystery. We will walk the landscape of Iona together as pilgrims, wandering to special places on the island to embrace the wilderness and to pray with nature.
 
Together we will gather as a community of kindred spirits to worship in a myriad of ways – to give thanks; to celebrate beauty; to share our awe; and to cultivate authentic connection ... to one another, to ourselves, to the land, and to the Exquisite Invisible.
 
For more details, please go to <a target='_blank' href="https://simondevoil.com/iona-2024">https://simondevoil.com/iona-2024</a>

You'll have several afternoons off, and we highly recommend a boat trip to the neighboring islands!

Personal excursions

August 24

Our days together will follow a rhythm that weaves in silence and song, prayer and meditation, contemplation and reflective conversation, time in nature and time for stillness. You'll encounter the history of the land and people of Iona through story and exploration of the island, and you'll be invited to experience a range of spiritual and contemplative practices as you sink into the presence of this very special place.
 
For more detail, please go to <a target="_blank" href="https://simondevoil.com/iona-2020">https://simondevoil.com/iona-2024</a>

August 25 - September 30

After breakfast, we’ll bid farewell to the island and take the ferry back to Mull.&nbsp;

August 31

We’ll have exclusive use of Bishop’s House, a beautiful center built in 1894 that serves as a retreat house for the Scottish Episcopal Church—though you don’t need to be of any particular faith tradition to enjoy their warm welcome and hospitality!
 
Bishop’s House is a retreat house, not a hotel; it offers comfortable, simple accommodation including wholesome home-cooked meals, use of a library with open fire, access to a beautiful chapel, and a view of the sound of Iona. All bedrooms are up one flights of stairs, although a chair lift is available. Each bathroom is shared by several guests.

Bring a Friend, Share a Room, Get a Discount! We have just one double room left for this upcoming retreat. Register with a companion before July 1 to save $500 on your shared registration ($250 per person). Use the code DOUBLE at checkout to apply the discount.

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