Wild Monastery Retreats 2025

Eco-feminist, interspiritual and creative retreats guided by local grass roots leaders.

All from 10am to 5pm at Brooking Church, Dartington.

Booking essential & on a sliding scale/donation basis: £20 (supported), £40 (standard) and £60 (supporters)

Contact Sam: 07979 057169 or livingspirit3@gmail.com for bookings.

More details will be added as the year unfolds…

Sunday 9^th March – ‘Wild Wise Women’

with Sara Moon and Sam Wernham

For our first retreat this year and to celebrate International Women’s Day, two feminist priest/esses from Jewish and Christian traditions invite you to join them for an exploration of two foundational biblical women, Eve and Mary.

In the morning, Sara, will bring original Hebrew texts, along with rabbinic and contemporary midrash (creative interpretations) to liberate Eve’s story, which has been used as a tool of oppression. We will each work on our own creative midrash to reinstate Eve’s sovereignty and power, as an offering of healing and repair for us all.

In the afternoon, Sam will bring ancient apocryphal gospels, contemporary feminist theology and both traditional and contemporary iconography, to enable us to re-discover Mary as a Hebrew prophet and inspirational teacher. We will work together to co-create an embodied reimagining of a traditional Marian devotional practice: the Angelus.

Open to feminists of any gender. Please bring your journals, note books, sketch pads etc and a packed lunch or some lunch to share. Hot drinks will be provided. We will be both inside and out, so please dress very warmly and bring waterproof gear.

Booking essential – contact Sam.

More about the guides:

Sara is an earth-based Jewish educator, ordained Kohenet/Hebrew Priestess and community organiser based in Dartington, Devon. She is the co-founder of Miknaf Ha’aretz, which cultivates radical-diasporist Jewish community in the UK through deep reconnection with ancient Jewish earth-based wisdom. Sara also loves to grow food, facilitate rites of passage ritual for young people and swim in the river.

Sam is the founder of Wild Monastery and its River Dart Wild Church. You can read more about her here.

Sunday 13^th April – ‘Wild Holy Week’ with Myrtle Cooper of Wild and Curious Foraging and Sam

Sunday 11^th May – ‘No Mow Mystics’ with Clare Coyne and Sam

Sunday 8^th June – ‘Loving the Overlooked’ with Richard Lewis and Sam

Sunday 13^th July – ‘Butterfly Retreat’ with Sim Taylor and Sam

Sunday 14^th September – ‘Creationtide’ with Christine Linfield and Sam

Sunday 12^th October – ‘Beautiful Bats & Harvest’ with Jan Nuttall and Sam

Sunday 9^th November – ‘Remembrance & Peace’ with Sam