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 https://simondevoil.com/iona-2026

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.” 

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.

We're happy to offer payment plans on request!

Your initial deposit ($500) is fully non-refundable. 

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. 

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! 

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 & travel delays, personal property loss and emergency travel medical.  Please review policies carefully to choose the coverage you need.