SUMMER SONG CENTRE RETREAT DETAILS
MAY 25-26 OPENING WEEKENG
Come and join us for our grand celebratory opening weekend, with taster sessions for all the family, a drop in and a party!
See more details about the weekend here
The centre is directly opposite the Poolewe Hotel, next to the old church
There's no need to book - just turn up and say hi :)
See more details about the weekend here
The centre is directly opposite the Poolewe Hotel, next to the old church
There's no need to book - just turn up and say hi :)
June 6 - 9 Scotland's Ancient Keening and Prayer Traditions - Cultural reTRIEval, with Madge Bray
Born Margery Allan into a family of traditional singers poets and musicians, Madge Bray recieved our Scots cultural inheritance with the breastmilk. You can watch Madge introduce herself here on this video from her YouTube channel 'Traditional Futures'
Madge worked in creative approaches to trauma resolution before her current path led her naturally into cultural retrieval of our ancient Scots keening tradition.
The word keening originates from the Gaelic caoineadh meaning “crying”. Historically in Gaelic-speaking Scotland certain women in the community had the official role to lament the dead (something that is found worldwide across cultures). These women, known in Gaelic as as mnàthan-tuirim, paid respects to the deceased and expressed grief on behalf of the bereaved family through the ritualised vocal sounds of the keening. Madge is part of a current movement to revive the lost art of keening, and to help people connect with this important practice so as to be able to honour our losses, our history and our culture.
You can learn more about keening here
As part of her commitment to Scottish culture, Madge is currently exploring the Carmina Gadaelica, a collection of Herbidean folk prayers, runes and incantations collected in the late 1800s-early 1900s.
It is from this deep wellspring that we will sing and share during this powerful three day retreat, with opportunities to visit some powerful places on the land as well as process our own grief and trauma.
Times and dates: 6.30pm Fri 6th June 2025 to 3pm Monday 9th June
Cost: residential (camping) including all meals: £250
non-residential, including all meals: £220 (£212.50 if breakfast isn't included)
additional nights camping: £10/night
The word keening originates from the Gaelic caoineadh meaning “crying”. Historically in Gaelic-speaking Scotland certain women in the community had the official role to lament the dead (something that is found worldwide across cultures). These women, known in Gaelic as as mnàthan-tuirim, paid respects to the deceased and expressed grief on behalf of the bereaved family through the ritualised vocal sounds of the keening. Madge is part of a current movement to revive the lost art of keening, and to help people connect with this important practice so as to be able to honour our losses, our history and our culture.
You can learn more about keening here
As part of her commitment to Scottish culture, Madge is currently exploring the Carmina Gadaelica, a collection of Herbidean folk prayers, runes and incantations collected in the late 1800s-early 1900s.
It is from this deep wellspring that we will sing and share during this powerful three day retreat, with opportunities to visit some powerful places on the land as well as process our own grief and trauma.
Times and dates: 6.30pm Fri 6th June 2025 to 3pm Monday 9th June
Cost: residential (camping) including all meals: £250
non-residential, including all meals: £220 (£212.50 if breakfast isn't included)
additional nights camping: £10/night
june 19 FRAME DRUMMING TASTER SESSIOn
Come and learn about frame drums and have a go at this taster session in advance of the
Elemental Frame Drumming at the Summer Solstice weekend (see below)
Times: 6-7pm
Cost: £5
Elemental Frame Drumming at the Summer Solstice weekend (see below)
Times: 6-7pm
Cost: £5
June 20-22 Elemental Frame drumming at the Summer Solstice with Sarah Bonner-Morgan
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The frame drum has been used in many traditions and is a powerful way to connect to ourselves, our inner sense of rhythm and our hearts and, through that, to the universe around us.
Join Sarah Bonner-Morgan for a weekend exploring this incredible ancient tool of inner transformation and how it supports our wellbeing and sense of power at this powerful time of the year. In some traditions, each stroke of the drum corresponds to an element. During this weekend we will practice the elemental teachings of legendary female drummer Layne Redmond (author of the book When The Drummers Were Women). Co-led by experimental percussionist and singer Joanie Bones Times and dates: 6.30pm Fri 20th June 2025 to 3pm Sunday 22nd June Cost: Friday night session only (8-9pm): £10 Full event: residential (camping) including all meals: £170 non-residential, including all meals: £150 (£145 if breakfast isn't included) additional nights camping: £10/night |
JULY 4-6 sACRED CHANTS OF CELTIC SPRITUALITY
WITH KATE BEVAN BAKER AND IANTHE
Come and discover the simple yet powerful sacred chants of ancient Celtic spirituality, rooted in a belief in the divinity of all, encompassing both the immanent and the transcendent whilst immersing yourself in the very landscape from which they emerged. The chants, taken from the Ceile De tradition, are in Gaelic and are repetitive, short phrases and easy for anyone to pick up - see Kate singing in the video below
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Kate's eclectic musical odyssey has covered classical, folk, punk and pop, and for many years now has been flourishing in sacred chant. She will be joined by Ianthe who brings her deep love and wisdom of Celtic earth spirituality. Times and dates: 6.30pm Fri 4th July 2025 to 3pm Sunday 6th July Cost: Please note this retreat is charged differently than the others. The costs below go to covering the costs of the summer song centre and food, and do not include tuition, which is by donation. Any tuition donations received will go towards covering tutors' travel costs. Saturday only option: £30 (£25 concession) Whole retreat: Residential (camping) including all meals: £85 Non-residential, including all meals: £75 (£72.50 if breakfast isn't included) Additional nights camping: £10/night |
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CLOSING EVENT: Sunday 6th July, 7pm
THE 1000 NAMES OF THE MOTHER with vaishnavi brassey
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Join chant and mantra singer Vaishnavi Brassey for our very special closing event. Vaishnavi, who's mesmerising voice has been described as 'a flute that the Divine uses to carry heart-penetrating beauty' will be singing the sacred practice of reciting the 1000 Names of the Goddess, a practice from the Hindu tradition allied with the humanitarian and spiritual teacher Amma, commonly known as 'the hugging saint'.
All are welcome to come and hear Vaishnavi sing this special text. You may want to lie down and receive the music as you would a sound bath (bring blankets and cosy things to stay warm) or you might choose to join in. Cost: Free |
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