Iona Community

Call of the Cailleach: Wise Women Week (FULLY BOOKED)
2025-09-13 15:00 - 2025-09-19 09:00 UTC | Iona Abbey Centre, Isle of Iona, United Kingdom
Call of the Cailleach: Wise Women Week 13th – 19th September 2025
(WAITING LIST: please contact ionaabbeybookings@iona.org.uk to add your name.)
How do our spiritual lives change as we age?
Autumn is the time of letting go, maturing, reaping fruit, marking the passing of summer, preparing for winter and embracing the new season. This is also the spiritual journey of ageing. What is my harvest? What inspires me as I move into this new season?
This Wise Women week offers guided reflections and engaging discussions to explore life’s transitions. Honouring the changing body we will discern our developing role in the world as wise women. We’ll explore life as a work of art, taking on creative challenges and designing rituals to weave new-found wisdom into the winter months to come.
In Scottish legend the Cailleach is a powerful figure, a mythical hag who personifies winter while embodying wisdom and is guardian of the natural world’s balance.
This week is open to those who will experience, have experienced or are experiencing menopause.
Programme leaders
Elspeth Murray is an Edinburgh-based artist, writer, celebrant, facilitator and baker. She supports people facing life transitions to embrace their creative yearnings and learn how to integrate the miraculous with the mundane. She is also founder of the Silver Sisters, a supportive community for women embracing their silver hair. Find out more about Elspeth’s work.

Rachel Weiss is a counsellor and trainer who enjoys facilitating groups to find the divine spark within. Rachel founded Menopause Café charity in 2017 to help make menopause part of everyday conversations. She is an Associate Member of the Iona Community living in Perth, Scotland.

Costs
6 Nights: £846.00 per adult, £423.00 for reduced rate – see our programme page for more information.
