"Iona Essence" Retreat ~ Schedule and More Information
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Arrival ~ Saturday 31st August
Our retreat begins at 6pm with a welcome meeting before dinner, followed by evening meditation at 8.15pm. Dinner ~ We will aim to gather for dinner at the Argyll each evening. To allow for choice, you order and pay for your meal according to your personal preferences. Depart ~ Friday 6th September The retreat ends with an optional morning meditation before breakfast. |
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Daily Schedule ~ We will be working to 'Iona time' so that our schedule will be flexible, according to weather conditions for outdoor gatherings.
9.30am - 12.30pm ~ Morning gathering for harp meditation/ creative inspiration. Insights into the Iona experience, Celtic wisdom teachings and what the Celtic vision may offer us. Time and space for reflection, writing, drawing etc in response to the morning's music and words. Afternoon ~ Free time to rest and explore the island, or take your own trip eg. to Staffa. Occasional accompanied walks may also be offered. 5pm - 6pm - Optional gathering for sharing, discussion. 8pm - 9pm ~ Evening meditation/ poetry with the harp. |
Further Information
Who is this retreat for?
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This retreat is for everyone who seeks time and space to listen and attend to the deeper resonance of their own creative soul, away from the demands of daily life. We will listen to the quiet voice of our own hearts, and each other’s hearts, as we share time, space and companionship.
You will be offered a warmly held space for you to rest, relax and explore your own deeper responses to nature, the wildness of Iona, and perhaps also discover truths about your own nature. Inspirational harp music may stimulate your own creative flow, and there will be space for you to respond (if you wish) in words, images, music or journaling - using whatever medium speaks to you. (Please note that this retreat does not include harp tuition.) |
Where will the retreat be held?
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Our retreat will be based at the Argyll Hotel on Iona. This is a small, family owned hotel where the accommodation is homely and comfortable. We will dine together there each evening. Their chefs use local ingredients and fresh seasonal produce from their own organic garden, and are also skilled in accommodating different dietary needs.
The wonderful staff at the Argyll have reserved a number of rooms for our group and have retained prices at the 2023 rate for us. |
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There are a limited number of single rooms available and all rooms, except one, are ensuite. There are also twin and double rooms available, some of them with sea views.
You will choose and book your accommodation directly with the Argyll (see notes below). We will meet each day in their upstairs guest lounge and usually people eat dinner together each evening at the hotel before our closing harp meditation to end the day. * Click here to find out more about the Argyll Hotel |
Booking your Accommodation
Please note that because the Argyll have reserved these rooms for our group, the rooms will show as unavailable on their website. So please call or email them directly and tell them that you are part of Julie Darling’s Spiritual Harp Retreat.
Argyll Hotel website: Argyll Hotel on Iona | Home (argyllhoteliona.co.uk)
Phone : Tel: +44 (0)1681 700334
Email: reception@argyllhoteliona.co.uk
You are free to stay elsewhere if you wish, choosing from other options on the island according to your personal preference and budget, but please bear in mind that all of our meetings will take place at the Argyll, and we will also aim to gather for a our evening meal at the hotel. Accommodation on Iona is limited and also expensive – the Argyll Hotel is offering us one of the most reasonable rates on the island.
You can find other accommodation options here - Isle of Iona - Accommodation (welcometoiona.com)
Accommodation gets booked up very quickly on Iona so please make sure that you book as soon as you secure your place on the retreat with Julie.
Please note that places are limited for this retreat, in order to provide a warm, personal experience for you, so please make sure that you have secured your place with Julie BEFORE booking your accommodation.
Argyll Hotel website: Argyll Hotel on Iona | Home (argyllhoteliona.co.uk)
Phone : Tel: +44 (0)1681 700334
Email: reception@argyllhoteliona.co.uk
You are free to stay elsewhere if you wish, choosing from other options on the island according to your personal preference and budget, but please bear in mind that all of our meetings will take place at the Argyll, and we will also aim to gather for a our evening meal at the hotel. Accommodation on Iona is limited and also expensive – the Argyll Hotel is offering us one of the most reasonable rates on the island.
You can find other accommodation options here - Isle of Iona - Accommodation (welcometoiona.com)
Accommodation gets booked up very quickly on Iona so please make sure that you book as soon as you secure your place on the retreat with Julie.
Please note that places are limited for this retreat, in order to provide a warm, personal experience for you, so please make sure that you have secured your place with Julie BEFORE booking your accommodation.
What will our daily schedule look like?
Our daily routine will include morning sessions for meditation with the harp. There will be space for you to simply rest and be, or to explore whatever is prompted by Julie’s harp music and words. You might choose to journal, write poetry, prose, draw or reflect on your own musical responses.
There is an optional afternoon gathering for sharing and discussion before we meet each evening for dinner, and a final evening session for sharing and harp meditation to send you on your way to bed.
Depending on the weather, we will also meet outside at some of the beautiful locations on the island, to experience the sound of the harp weaving the music of wind and wave. So our schedule will be flexible according to daily weather conditions.
There is an optional afternoon gathering for sharing and discussion before we meet each evening for dinner, and a final evening session for sharing and harp meditation to send you on your way to bed.
Depending on the weather, we will also meet outside at some of the beautiful locations on the island, to experience the sound of the harp weaving the music of wind and wave. So our schedule will be flexible according to daily weather conditions.
