AN DA SHEALLADH 2026 RETREAT DETAILS
June 15th-17th, 17th-19th and 19th-21st
Elemental invitations at the Summer Solstice 2026
with sarah bonner morgan and brÍd dawid
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Using the Elements as our portal come and enter the natural world of our inner and outer landscapes in the glorious environs of Poolewe in the Scottish Highlands. Join us for the whole week or opt in for specific delights as we journey towards the Summer Solstice and our full expansion into the light. Drawing on precious practices from the Sufi and Buddhist traditions we will begin our time together by deepening into connection through Elemental and planetary walks, centering chants, meditation and Sufi poetry and dancing. As the week progresses we wake up the frame drums learning and refining the Elemental drum strokes as taught by Nubian musician Hamza El Din and passed down by Layne Redmond (When the Drummers were Women). Our hands and fingers will shape and create these evocative sounds, moving across the drum skin in the beat of ancient rhythms from North Africa and West Asia. There will be drums available for anyone who needs to borrow one. Finally we bring together our hearts, voices and frame drums to celebrate and mark the Summer Solstice with the Elements in ceremony, ritual and community. |
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Throughout the week there will be time for solitude and time for laughter at the communal garden table sharing food and stories. There will be time for quiet relaxation and playful sharing of kitchen prep. We want the practices to take us to a deep, spacious connection with ourselves, our companions and the beautiful nature that surrounds An Da Shealladh, our home base for the week. We, Sarah Bonner-Morgan and Bríd Dawid (aka Joanie Bones) will be your facilitators. Between us we have many years of experience in holding space, play and improvisation, interspiritual leadership, voice work, music, frame drumming, dance and movement and we are delighted to offer this week at An Da Shealladh, Bríd’s inviting and welcoming centre on the Loch at Poolewe. |
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Times and dates:
Elemental practices: 6.30pm Mon 15th-5pm Wed 17th June Frame drumming: 6.30pm Wed 17th- 5pm Fri 19th June Solstice celebration: 6.30pm Fri 19th-4pm Sun 21st June Cost: Whole week: £630-£730 (early bird £540) Elemental practices: sliding scale £220-£270 (early bird £190) Frame drumming: sliding scale £220-270 (early bird £190) Solstice ceremony weekend: £210-245 (early bird £180) early bird available till May 31st prices include food but do not include accommodation. Please see here for more information about accommodation options |
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fri JUNE 26th - tues june 30th
Goddess of the Land, GODDESS OF THE SEA
retreat with BRÍD DAWID
Humans and nature are intrinsically linked. Indeed, what are we if not nature?
During these times of climate and ecological crises, what do we need to do to reconnect with the land and nature, and our innate nature as humans, in ways that help all beings?
Join us for this special cross-traditions nature-focused retreat which marries the reflective, creative and the hands-in-the-mud rooted practical. We will:
Led by Bríd Dawid, song maker, earth lover and listener and group facilitator
Cost:
Sliding scale £345-£400 (early bird £285-£350). Early bird available till May 31st
The bottom end of this scale is what we need to cover our basic costs of running the retreat. Payment above this is greatly appreciated as it helps support us with ongoing costs of running the centre.
Prices include food but do not include accommodation. Please see here for more information about accommodation options
During these times of climate and ecological crises, what do we need to do to reconnect with the land and nature, and our innate nature as humans, in ways that help all beings?
Join us for this special cross-traditions nature-focused retreat which marries the reflective, creative and the hands-in-the-mud rooted practical. We will:
- Explore wisdom practices connected to the health and wealth of the earth and the connections between our bodies, minds and outer environment
- Learn about the practices of making offerings to local land spirits and deities and how to listen to them / the land
- Learn practices to connect with and thank the ‘great mother’ and other earth-related deities as realised through Buddhist tradition
- Offer our practical service to the land through helping with some local conservation projects
- And have time to connect to the land and listen to what messages it may have for us.
Led by Bríd Dawid, song maker, earth lover and listener and group facilitator
Cost:
Sliding scale £345-£400 (early bird £285-£350). Early bird available till May 31st
The bottom end of this scale is what we need to cover our basic costs of running the retreat. Payment above this is greatly appreciated as it helps support us with ongoing costs of running the centre.
Prices include food but do not include accommodation. Please see here for more information about accommodation options
FRI JULY 31st to tues aug 4th
Two views: gathering treasures from spiritual traditions and Attachment Theory in service of our deepest awakening
a peer exploration with space held by brÍd dawid
Spiritual paths ultimately lead towards the ‘self beyond self’, but on our way to awakening we need to have developed a healthy sense of the ‘self’ which allows us to operate from a place of psychological stability.
This groundbreaking peer-led exploratory retreat brings together two radical and wonderful ways of viewing the human psyche and the potentiality of humans:
What different religions and authentic spiritual paths say about the self and ego, and western psychology’s Attachment Theory of how personalities and patterns are formed according to caregiving received in early infancy.
Bríd Dawid will gently hold space for this event so that together we can:
-share insights from our traditions and backgrounds which we have found helpful
-identify and explore blockages in our path towards experiencing healthy connection
-consider how these two approaches can complement each other towards a deep psychology that helps lead us beyond any and all psychological limitations.
Along the way we may use creative practices such as role play, song and music, ceremony, playful interaction, offering deep heart listening to each other, peer-consented body work and other modalities as they may appear appropriate.
Retreatants are asked to have listened to an audio book about Attachment Theory in advance of the retreat to provide a common knowledge base and understanding of the basic theory, or to have a good working knowledge of Attachment Theory already.
Cost:
Sliding scale £345-£400 (early bird £285-£350). Early bird available till June 26th
The bottom end of this scale is what we need to cover our basic costs of running the retreat. Payment above this is greatly appreciated as it helps support us with ongoing costs of running the centre.
Prices include food but do not include accommodation. Please see here for more information about accommodation options
This groundbreaking peer-led exploratory retreat brings together two radical and wonderful ways of viewing the human psyche and the potentiality of humans:
What different religions and authentic spiritual paths say about the self and ego, and western psychology’s Attachment Theory of how personalities and patterns are formed according to caregiving received in early infancy.
Bríd Dawid will gently hold space for this event so that together we can:
-share insights from our traditions and backgrounds which we have found helpful
-identify and explore blockages in our path towards experiencing healthy connection
-consider how these two approaches can complement each other towards a deep psychology that helps lead us beyond any and all psychological limitations.
Along the way we may use creative practices such as role play, song and music, ceremony, playful interaction, offering deep heart listening to each other, peer-consented body work and other modalities as they may appear appropriate.
Retreatants are asked to have listened to an audio book about Attachment Theory in advance of the retreat to provide a common knowledge base and understanding of the basic theory, or to have a good working knowledge of Attachment Theory already.
Cost:
Sliding scale £345-£400 (early bird £285-£350). Early bird available till June 26th
The bottom end of this scale is what we need to cover our basic costs of running the retreat. Payment above this is greatly appreciated as it helps support us with ongoing costs of running the centre.
Prices include food but do not include accommodation. Please see here for more information about accommodation options
SAT AUG 22nd
working with dreams
with alison whiteford
A day to explore working with your dreams creatively, in art and writing, making a collage, using clay, drawing a dream mandala or making a picture with the symbols of the dream. We will learn techniques to work with the dream using examples from Alison's own dreams and dreamwork, which she has worked with deeply for over 40 years. We will write dialogues using inspiration with dream figures and symbols, symbol immersion, active imagination and participants will try out these techniques on their own dream.
Come with a dream written down, preferably a snippet or a small part of a longer dream. The dream can be recent or from the past. All materials will be provided. If you have your favourite art materials then please bring them too.
Come with a dream written down, preferably a snippet or a small part of a longer dream. The dream can be recent or from the past. All materials will be provided. If you have your favourite art materials then please bring them too.
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Alison has a degree in psychology, trained in dreamwork at Wellspring, Edinburgh with Hilary Scaife and then completed a course in counselling. The way she works with dreams is informed by Carl Jung. Her dreams have taken her on many unexpected paths and for 10 years she sculpted and exhibited animal forms from her dreams. She runs dream groups and offers individual sessions helping people to understand their dreams.
Alison is an initiate of Brid of Scotland and Brigid of Ireland and lives in the hills outside of Edinburgh. Timings: 10am-4.30pm Cost: £40 |
FRI Aug 28-TUES Sep 1st
Songs of Awakening: singing as Buddhist practice, VIEW, CONTEMPLATION & MEDITATION
with joanie bones
Tibetan Buddhism describes the essential nature of reality as ‘bliss-emptiness’.
Come and explore what this means through the joyful, uplifting experience of group singing.
Drawing on a wide variety of music spanning chants, pop songs, Buddhist mantra and writings and songs by realised masters, we will use singing as a means of connecting to ourselves and others, contemplation, meditation and perhaps bliss!
Joanie Bones (aka Bríd Dawid) has studied Applied Buddhism under the guidance of world-renowned Tibetan teacher Mingyur Rinpoche. Rinpoche encourages his students to find engaging ways to apply their understanding of the Buddha's teachings to the world - and in response Joanie has developed a joyful and unique approach using singing as a pathway into core Buddhist principles. Everyone who sings with Joanie gets a taste of the freedom that these principles can lead to - an understanding of our essence as awareness, love and compassion, and wisdom.
All are welcome to the retreat, whether new to singing or Buddhism, or somewhere along the path of either.
Cost:
Sliding scale £345-£400 (early bird £285-£350). Early bird available till July 24th
The bottom end of this scale is what we need to cover our basic costs of running the retreat. Payment above this is greatly appreciated as it helps support us with ongoing costs of running the centre.
Prices include food but do not include accommodation. Please see here for more information about accommodation options
Come and explore what this means through the joyful, uplifting experience of group singing.
Drawing on a wide variety of music spanning chants, pop songs, Buddhist mantra and writings and songs by realised masters, we will use singing as a means of connecting to ourselves and others, contemplation, meditation and perhaps bliss!
Joanie Bones (aka Bríd Dawid) has studied Applied Buddhism under the guidance of world-renowned Tibetan teacher Mingyur Rinpoche. Rinpoche encourages his students to find engaging ways to apply their understanding of the Buddha's teachings to the world - and in response Joanie has developed a joyful and unique approach using singing as a pathway into core Buddhist principles. Everyone who sings with Joanie gets a taste of the freedom that these principles can lead to - an understanding of our essence as awareness, love and compassion, and wisdom.
All are welcome to the retreat, whether new to singing or Buddhism, or somewhere along the path of either.
Cost:
Sliding scale £345-£400 (early bird £285-£350). Early bird available till July 24th
The bottom end of this scale is what we need to cover our basic costs of running the retreat. Payment above this is greatly appreciated as it helps support us with ongoing costs of running the centre.
Prices include food but do not include accommodation. Please see here for more information about accommodation options
tERMS AND CONDITIONS
RETREAT TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Full payment is due when you book.
If you cancel up to 28 days before the start of the retreat, we will refund your money if we are able to fill your place.
Later than 28 days, no refund is available unless you are able to fill your place.
If we have to cancel the retreat you will receive a full refund of your payment.
Information about the centre can be found here
Full payment is due when you book.
If you cancel up to 28 days before the start of the retreat, we will refund your money if we are able to fill your place.
Later than 28 days, no refund is available unless you are able to fill your place.
If we have to cancel the retreat you will receive a full refund of your payment.
Information about the centre can be found here