Beloved Iona

Breathing the blessing of the sacred isle of Iona

A special retreat week on the island of Iona, Scotland, led by Peter and Sarah Dawkins

24-30 September 2012

Iona, once the home of St Columba, ‘the Dove’, is the foremost mystical isle of the British Isles, the Hyperborean “Blessed Isles of the West”. The island rises from the sea as one of the ‘stars’ of the crown chakra of the Grail Land—a star-blessed island that is somehow linked, it would seem, with that starry home of the Great Masters known as Sirius, the Dog Star, the ‘Zion’ on high.

The crown chakra is associated with the spiritual Being known as ‘the Beloved’, the higher Christ self of each one of us. In the Vedic tradition this Being is known as Shiva. As lovers of our Beloved, we are the Shakti, the Soul, loved perfectly for all eternity by our Beloved, the Spirit. The path from root to crown symbolises our path as pilgrim lovers to our Beloved, who patiently waits for us to unite with Him in the crowning glory of our human achievement of loving. If we can do this, we become the Holy Grail, lifted up to heavenly consciousness and bliss, and giving birth to the light of joy.

This event, coming in 2012 and at the culmination of a pilgrimage through all the chakras of the Grail Land, will celebrate this “coming home” to our Beloved, whose mystical name is the same as the ancient name of Iona–‘Ioua’—sometimes transposed as the name ‘John’.

This inspirational and educational retreat led by Peter and Sarah Dawkins will include talks, attunements, meditations, prayer and explorations of the island, and of course celebration.

This event follows on immediately after the ‘Holy Grail’ weekend at Jupiter Artland near Edinburgh, the brow chakra of the Grail Land. The Holy Grail is associated with St John.

Iona is famous for being the monastic settlement of St Columba, the 'light of the west', and burial place of kings and saints. It has been a major focus of pilgrimage for centuries. Its abbey attracts thousands of visitors every year. But more than this, the island is a stunning example of sacred landscape in which the angels heal, inspire and teach. It is a spiritual home and place of peace for many.

Located off the west coast of Scotland, Iona has been inhabited and acknowledged as a sacred island for millennia. Its Celtic name 'Ioua' is a name of God as the Holy Spirit of Love Traditionally symbolised by the Dove, this Name or spiritual vibration has a form, and this energy form is imprinted on the island in various ways.

Experience the energies of this sacred isle and its connection with the ancient mysteries of Hyperborea and of Sirius. The mysteries connected with Sirius are the mysteries of enlightenment and the place where the great masters and guides of humanity dwell. Iona appears especially connected with this, being Sirius in the Scottish landscape zodiac. It is a place where the veil between heaven and earth is very thin and the presence of the masters and the angels can be more easily felt and experienced.

ACCOMMODATION VENUE
St Columba Hotel, Isle of Iona, Argyll, Scotland, PA76 6SL.

COST
Cost includes six nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the St Columba Hotel and use of the village hall, as well as the organisation, teaching and workshop leadership that is an integral part of the retreat week. As we will occupy the whole hotel, priority on choice of room type will be given to those who book first.

If booked before 1 April 2012:
£670 Shared accommodation sea-view
£615 Shared accommodation back-view
£740 Single accommodation sea-view
£670 Single accommodation back-view

If booked after 1 April 2012:
£720 Shared accommodation sea-view
£665 Shared accommodation back-view
£790 Single accommodation sea-view
£720 Single accommodation back-view

BOOKING

If booked before 1 April 2012:
A deposit of 50% of the cost is payable on booking, with the remainder due by 1 April 2012.

If booked after 1 April 2012:
Full amount is payable on booking.

Please fill out and print out on-line booking form and send with cheque for due amount (made out to ‘Zoence Academy’) to:

Sarah Dawkins, Old Rick Barn, Mill Lane, Shenington, Banbury, OX15 6NB, U.K.

The organisers reserve the right to refuse a booking if, in their opinion, it seems appropriate to do so.

CANCELLATIONS
If, for any reason, you find that you are unable to come on the retreat, we will endeavour to refund any monies paid (less £150 administration fee), depending on whether or not your place can be taken by someone else. If this is a worry to you, we recommend that you take out insurance to cover against the possibility of such an unforeseen circumstance.

AGREEMENT
By booking on this Iona Retreat Week, you will be agreeing that you understand that such an event on an island of this nature carries certain risks (e.g. uneven and sometimes rocky ground, uncertain weather) and that you are fully prepared to be responsible for your own safety and health, physical and psychological, as far as is normal and reasonable in such circumstances, and will have suitable and sufficient personal clothing and footwear.

It is also a requirement that you have sufficient health and travel insurance for the event.

TRAVEL               
Travel to/from Iona is the responsibility of each participant and is not included in the cost of the event. Advice can be given if requested.

For participants in the ‘Holy Grail’ weekend at Jupiter Artland, Bonnington, Edinburgh, a private coach or mini-bus, depending on numbers, could be arranged to take you all the way to the Iona ferry at Fionnphort (and return if required). Cost of travel would be divided between those travelling on the coach/mini-bus and would therefore depend on the number of pilgrims involved.

FURTHER INFORMATION
sarah@zoence.co.uk