From autumn onwards we continue with much loved gatherings and lovely new beginnings in our Wild Monastery and Wild Church. More details below. Our monthly 2024 pilgrimages conclude in November & return from Spring 2025 (1st Sunday of the month). Wild Monastics continue to meet on Zoom twice a month (2nd & 4th Wednesdays) and our Wild Cat(echetical) Course opens to new members from September (3rd & 4th Sundays).

New initiatives include regular retreat days on the second Sunday of the month (except for December) at Brooking Church. Some of these retreats will be followed by a wild communion. We also now hold a gender inclusive language, contemplative Evensong on the fourth Sunday, also at Brooking Church.

An outline of all upcoming dates for this Autumn/Winter term are below. Spiritual counselling/mentoring & short stays in the micro-monastery are also available. Please contact Sam for more details & bookings.

September

Monday 2nd, 5.30-7pm – Community of Sophia & Mary led by Sam. A new monastic Zoom group for women. This is a closed group, available by invitation for those who have been committed to wild monastics/wild church meetings for some time.

Sunday 8th – Wild Monastery Retreat: 9am – 4.30pm with the option of a half (either morning or afternoon) or a full day retreat at beautiful Brooking Church. We start with Morning Practice, followed by a session focussed on iconography for Marymas, as we explore today’s Feast of the Birth of Mary. After an optional Angelus + packed or ‘bring & share’ lunch, the afternoon explores mystical Judaism, including some sacred geometry & learning how to draw the Tree of Life . Booking essential – contact Sam. More details here.

Wednesday 11th – First ‘Heart Prayer & Holy Days‘ second Wednesday, Wild Monastics meeting, from 5.30-7pm on Zoom. New members are welcome to join at any point during each term.

Sunday 15th – Zoom Wild Cat course from 2-4pm + optional Q&A afterwards. Open to new members in September only & then again from September 2025.

Sunday 22nd – ‘In person’ Wild Cat course at the micro-monastery 2-4pm. Open to new members in September only & then again from January 2025. More details here. Please subscribe to the newsletter for future dates.

Sunday 22nd – Wild Cats offer a 5pm contemplative, eco-feminist Autumn Equinox Evensong inside & outside at Brooking Church – open to all and yet please be aware that this is a 90 minute ceremony full of meditation, chanting, incense, candles, icons etc! More details here & donations invited.

Wednesday 25th -‘Wild Scripture‘ fourth Wednesday Wild Monastics meeting from 5.30-7pm on Zoom. New members are welcome to join at any point during each term.

Please note that Sam will be unavailable and on retreat from Thursday 26th, returning to work on Tuesday 1st October.

October

Sunday 6th – Wild Church Secular Pilgrimage, full day (mostly) silent walk from Hembury to Holne, in collaboration with Tyler Freeman Smith. Based on his own ‘sea to source’ pilgrimage along the Dart for his Masters degree at Schumacher College recently, Tyler will guide us in using ‘performance scores’ as a way into deeper relationship with ourselves and the Dart watershed. Please contact Sam for bookings.

Monday 7th, 5.30-7pm – Community of Sophia & Mary led by Sam. A new monastic Zoom group for women. By invitation only.

Wednesday 9th – The second Wednesday ‘Heart Prayer & Holy Days‘ Wild Monastics meeting from 5.30-7pm on Zoom. New members welcome.

Sunday 13th – Harvest Retreat at Brooking Church + wild communion. More details soon. Booking essential – please contact Sam.

Sunday 20th – Zoom Wild Cat course, 2-4pm on Zoom + optional Q&A afterwards. A committed & closed group in October. Open again from January 2025. More details here. Please subscribe to the newsletter for future dates.

Wednesday 23rd – ‘Wild Scripture‘ fourth Wednesday Wild Monastics meeting from 5.30-7pm on Zoom. New members welcome.

Sunday 27th – ‘In person’ Wild Cat course at the micro-monastery 2-4pm. A committed & closed group in October. Open again from January 2025. More details here. Please subscribe to the newsletter for future dates.

Sunday 27th – Wild Cats offer a 5pm contemplative, eco-feminist All Hallows Evensong at Brooking Church. Open to all and yet please be aware that this is a 90 minute ceremony full of meditation, chanting, incense, candles, icons etc!

November

Sunday 3rd – Wild Church ‘Salmon & Saltmarsh’ Pilgrimage, from Ashprington to Totnes, in collaboration with the British Pilgrimage Trust. More details and bookings here.

Monday 4th, 5.30-7pm – Community of Sophia & Mary led by Jan. A new monastic Zoom group for women. By invitation only.

Sunday 10th – Peace & Remembrance Retreat at Brooking Church + wild communion. More details soon. Booking essential – please contact Sam.

Wednesday 13th – ‘Heart Prayer & Holy Days‘ second Wednesday Wild Monastics meeting from 5.30-7pm on Zoom. New members welcome.

Sunday 17th – Zoom Wild Cat course + optional Q&A afterwards. A committed & closed group in November. Open again from January 2025. More details here. Please subscribe to the newsletter for future dates.

Sunday 24th – ‘In person’ Wild Cat course at the micro-monastery 2-4pm. A committed & closed group in November. Open again from January 2025. More details here. Please subscribe to the newsletter for future dates. (Please note that there will be no Evensong at Brooking Church this month, as we are holding a private memorial for the loved one of a core member).

Wednesday 27th – ‘Wild Scripture‘ fourth Wednesday Wild Monastics meeting from 5.30-7pm on Zoom. Final Wild Scripture session before Midwinter/Christmas. New members welcome.

December

Sunday 1st – Advent Quiet Hour 3-4pm and Lost Species Vigil 4-5pm – More details soon. Drop in – please contact Sam.

Monday 2nd, 5.30-7pm – Community of Sophia & Mary. A new monastic Zoom group for women. By invitation only.

Please note that there will be no second Sunday retreat in December.

Wednesday 11th – ‘Heart Prayer & Holy Days‘ second Wednesday Wild Monastics meeting from 5.30-7pm on Zoom. New members welcome.

Sunday 15th – Zoom Wild Cat course + optional Q&A afterwards. A committed & closed group in December. Open again from January 2025. More details here. Please subscribe to the newsletter for future dates.

Sunday 22nd – ‘In person’ Wild Cat course at the micro-monastery 2-4pm. A committed & closed group in November. Open again from January 2025. More details here. Please subscribe to the newsletter for future dates.

Sunday 22nd – Wild Cats offer a 5pm contemplative, eco-feminist Midwinter/Christmas celebration at Brooking Church.

Please note there is no Wild Scripture Zoom meeting in December.

Sam will be away from her desk from Monday 23rd December until Epiphany Sunday on January 5th.