“Gather the keeners, for we need new rituals. We need each other, we need the tears, laughter, and love. We need the magic and lamenting as the world unravels. ”
Exploring grief through making a Keening Doll
Dolls. DOlls have been created for thousands and thousands of years, and for just as many purposes. For the ancient figurines that still exist today while we don’t know the exact meaning that hands fashioned them, we can make our own informed guesses.
The Woman of Hohle Fels, was created between 35,000 and 40,000 years, and perhaps one of the most famous the Woman of WIllendorf was carved by ancient hands around 28,000–25,000 BCE. In Scotland we have the figrine of the Wifey of Westry, found in Orkney and is 5,000 years old.
This figurines are always described as fertility Goddesses, children’s toys or even scientific journals discuss their role as ancient pornography.
One theory is that they were created in a matriarchal social system. This isn’t the mirror of patriarchy but an egalitarian and partnership culture. What worlds these little figurines have seen.
A Doll for Grief
Dolls the world over represent the entire spectrum of human emotions through intentions, petitions and prayers. One way to speak to our grief is through the figure of the keening woman. This woman who brought the community together in grief, brought them through the grieving ritual as well as performing the role of guiding the soul home.
Our inspiration for exploring grief is in the indigenous practise of ritual lament, and the role of the keening woman who performed that ritual. Like those ancient figurines we will dip into the inspiration of an ancient keening woman, whose role might have been very different in ancient cultures who held very different beleif systems to ours. Look at an example of how Clad Hallan in what island.
Like my logo - the keening woman of the past, today as well as a figurine in the future.
Our Interpretation / Your doll
The meaning of your doll will come apparent through the ritual of doll making. You will have full instructions on making this type of doll from
how to create the wire armature,
build up the layers of wool to form the body
How to incoporate natural materisls such as the twigs
Create meaningful symbols which will adorn your doll
Dress your doll
Create a headdress
Embellishments - from natural materials to personal meangingful embellishments
Create a bag - as well as making cords with a lucette
Working With Dolls
We will discuss how to work with dolls as a ritual practise but also with grief. The doll can be an altar - a figure born between the worlds. Anne doll. I was making a doll, unknowingly at the time a friend was dying. I made a bag for the doll and write notes to my friend. Roll them up in scrolls and add them to the bag.
Grief Rituals
To accompany our journey exploring grief we will have our own grief rituals to explore the grief we carry as well as visiting wise women such as the women who once tended the well and Sheela na Gig who adorns an old ruined church.
Shawl ritual
Visit the Well of the Holy Women
Sheela na Gig
Evening Keening Circles
Particpants Requirments
Particpants are required to have basic sewing and needlefelting skills in making 3D objects. If you have sewing skills, you can learn the basics of neede felting through youtube videos before attending the retreat.
email: judelally@gmail.com
The ancient practice of keening offers a communal ritual allowing us to express the fear, anger and grief coursing through our veins. Sharing our stories, through art and grief rituals provides ways of processing, and experiencing grief, weaving of sorrow, into a tapestry of hope and action.
This island space offers an inspiration, an opportunity to share stories and learn from one another, as we co-create meaningful grief rituals. It’s a retreat that reconnects us with the wild landscape, deepening our commitment to collective action and healing.
Gather the keeners! For we need to sing and dance with grief. We need to wail by the ocean, dance with the drum and to step between the worlds. We need to ask the old ones for their healing so we can heal ourselves and offer healing to others. We need to sit with our grief, not hide it away within our bodies for that makes us ill. We need new rituals and ways to engage with grief rather be overcome by it. We can weave old threads into new traditions, and root them an ancient spiritual bedrock.
Between The Worlds / something around doll making? / Where does the healing occur?
Whether we step into a keening circle or chose to make art, engage in ritual or sing laments - each has the potential to bring us into liminal space. We will seek out these liminal spaces, the hidden places on the island, the dark places (both within and without) for it’s here we often meet healing. Healing takes many forms, a shift, a change, a different perspective or the words or presence of an ancestor. The keening woman worked throughout history worked in these liminal spaces, guiding the community through their grief and guiding the soul of the dead home.
An Hebridean Retreat
You are invited to join me on the Isle of Eigg, in the Inner Hebrides - referred to as the Isles of Brighid. In a world whose ecological, social, and political systems are unravelling you are invited to join me for a week-long retreat dedicated to practicing and exploring the language of grief.
Who is this Retreat For?
This retreat is for anyone who wishes to learn doll making and add a deeper layer of meaning to their doll
It’s a retreat if you wish to be engaging with your own personal grief and just as relevant for those working as death doulas or those who focus on grief. There is a wonderful element of co-creating within the retreat as each person bring their stills, knowledge and insight.
You will create a little clay figurine, inspired by ancient dolls like the Woman of Westry. What meaning will you embue into her and what symbols will adorn her?
The keening circle is a larger ritual which allows for a full expression of the range of emotions of grief from anger and rage, to despair. It is a musical journey guiding us through the emotions but offers opportunities to sink down into your grief - which can be expressed by sound or movement. A cathartic ritual which can bring healing and the strength to work through grief.
This retreat was exactly what I needed as a caregiver and a mental health worker – a break from rushing around and a chance to connect more fully with myself, my surroundings, and the people in my life. There were many unexpected moments of laughter and playfulness – I I even had the chance to fly a tiny kite by the Loch of the Big Women. I arrived home with a full heart and a handful of tiny shells.
Rebekah P, USA.
There's something about crossing the sea and stepping on to an island that gives you perspective on your life. The retreat provided a perfect balance of reflective time and sharing, exploring and experiencing the land and creative time to process emotion. The time dedicated to grief rituals was invaluable. The carrying of the names from the cleared village to the church along the coffin road felt really important and sacred. The keening ritual was an opportunity for me to tend to my grief in multiple different ways leaving me with tools to use in future and to find what worked best for me. Each member of the group brought their unique perspective to the mix creating a rich and deep experience. Deeply nourishing with delicious food for the body, mind and soul. And our little rabbit friend who came to die outside was the greatest teacher of all.
Morag D, Northern Ireland
A wonderful retreat blending wild Scottish landscape, and a spiritual exploration. Powerful dreams and visions gained through this work and land enabled me to carry out a ritual which I feel in my bones healed a deep scarring in my female linage. I am still connected to the stone I planted in the islands soil and on challenging days I see through its eyes and am reminded of who I really am. Lengthy walks, delicious eating, and sincere mindful women made this a life-changing experience.
Gayle Mair, Asheville, NC, USA
Jude’s depth of understanding and passion of the ancestral mothers inspired me to want to know more and connect more deeply with them. As the retreat progressed, I felt myself connecting more and more with each passing day. I particularly enjoyed connecting with the Big Women through making my doll, feeling her come alive more and more to where I felt the spirit of the ancestral mothers both in her and myself. The retreat offered me a richer and deeper understanding of where I’ve been and new inspiration and vision for where I want to go
Katherine Daniels, Texas, USA
Jude is an excellent facilitator leading us on a journey to meet the ancestral mothers and to find their strength within ourselves. Through journeying, hill walking, storytelling and doll making her style is gentle and the schedule relaxed. The food was nutritious and fortifying to enable our exploration of the island. The women were each amazing and a delight to be with from the first moment to the last. I made connections to the land and nature on Eigg. I knew this retreat would be life changing but I didn’t know how. I find that I have much more confidence and determination with the ability to handle higher levels of stress in a clam way than I did before. This is a life changing adventure that you don’t want to miss.
Kat Toebes, USA
Jude is so much more than tour guide and retreat leader. Her connection to Eigg – the island and its residents – deepened and grounded my soul-expanding experience. All the while, Jude deftly handled the practical and complex tasks of leading a retreat, while providing a relaxed, trustworthy container throughout the week where personal transformation, and even magic, took place.
Our stay on Eigg was a satisfying balance of communal time and individual contemplative time. Through Jude’s weaving of academic and mythopoetic history – derived from years of study and her creative re-imagining of old stories and song into our contemporary world – the island becomes imbued with the feeling that the Ancestral Mothers on Eigg are alive and energetically powerful, and sometimes mischievous.
Caroline Mason, Asheville, NC, USA
Applications are now closed and both positions have now been filled
I’ve been visiting this little, but remarkable island, for over 25 years. The name Eigg comes from an old Norse description meaning notch or wedge, referring to the Sgurr, the tall rock formation that gives Eigg its easily identifiable profile. Its Gaelic name, Eilean Nan Bam Mora, means Isle of the Big Women, which refers to stories of female warriors and mythical giant women.
Big is also description of honour and respect and there are many threads of stories left from which might well have been a rich culture of powerful and inspiring women around these islands, and islands throughout the UK. Sadly these stories are so threadbare that we are only left with the thinnest of threads to try and weave back together.
Walking the Path of the Ancestral Mothers of Scotland
I’ll share the stories of these ‘Big Women’ as well as introducing you to the Ancestral Mothers of Scotland, the stories I have found out on the land, stories and feelings which took decades to build a relationship with and there behind the stories were figures rooted in the land. There are also stories which were shared, folk stories and traditions, stories that have come down to us today with the Cailleach and the Goddess Brighid.
Throughout the week I’ll share some stories of the Ancestral Mothers, Scotland offers long lingering twilights at this time of year, hours of enchanted light after the sun has set that feel between the worlds. This quality of light paints the land so you can clearly see the face in the cliff and the outline of the woman in the land.
Ritual With the Land
Walking the land is an essential part of this retreat to visit sites, to spend time submerging ourselves in the feeling of place and engaging with our spiritual senses.
On the train ride from Glasgow to Mallaig (where you get the ferry to Eigg) you'll travel on one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world - the West Highland Way. The train travels through the inspiring scenery of Rannoch Moor and travels across the Glenfinnan Viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films
The Well of the Holy Women
We being our time on the Island by visiting the Well of the Holy Women to ask for a blessing for our time on the island, just as people might once have - travelled to ask for a blessing. We too have the power to give blessings for it’s not the person it is what they are blessing with - the living waters bubbling up from deep aquifers, or a blessing made by the sun, rain, eagle or expansive views out to the Atlantic.
The Hearth - Even although May often experiences Scotland’s hottest weather we will probably be lighting the woodstove!
UK ETA - Electronic Travel Authorisation
The UK Governments Travel Authorisation is now required for travelers who do not have a UK visa or legal residency in the UK or the Republic of Ireland. An ETA is an electonic document which is attatched to your passport, it lasts for 2 years and the maximum duration of stay in the UK is 6 months.
Apply online
Receive an email of authorisation
Processing time is 3 days
Fee is £10
Click here for more details
Travel Details
If your traveling from outside of Scotland the nearest airport is Glasgow International
The main route of travel to the retreat is by the West Highland Line train which leaves Glasgow Queen Street, and via Fort William arrives in at the port town of Mallaig. in Mallaig.
A Calmac ferry takes you fro Mallaig to Eigg. Full details of travel will be given after booking.
Fitness Level
Retreat participants are required to have an average fitness level and be comfortable walking on all types of terrain. Walks vary from two miles to seven miles, they are optional, and you may wish to take a taxi to join us a meeting point and cut out some of the leg work.
What Do I Pack?
Scottish summers can see all weather in just one day. When your booked up there will be a rough guide of what to bring - from a wooly hat, to a swimsuit to good and brown in hiking boots.
Cancellation and Refunds
Refunds are available up until the 24th March. The only instance a refund is possible is if you are able to transfer your booking to another person. We do try to provide a flexible booking policy but as this retreat works on a small scale, substantial expenses are incurred well before the event. Running a retreat with insufficient bookings becomes impractical for us and can cause the cancellation of the entire retreat.
What if I the Retreat Gets Cancelled?
If the retreat is canceled for any reason then all participants will receive a full refund (minus any transaction fees)
The Retreat Agreement Form
Signing this form, after full payment has been received confirms your booking, It outlines all the Retreat terms and conditions. There will also be a separate waiver form to sign.
Gender Inclusivity
This retreat is open to all individuals who identify as women, including trans women.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend you are have travel insurance for this trip. Travel insurance covers you if in the rare event you may need medical assistance among other things depending on your policy. Please ensure you have the correct insurance to meet your requirements.
Medical Assistance on Eigg
The Small Isles Medical Practice is available for temporary residents and visitors. Please note I cannot advise anyone on insurance.
What is Included In the Price of Your Retreat?
Seven nights accommodation at Glebe Barn on the Isle of Eigg
Dinner on arrival day, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day and breakfast and a packed lunch on our departing day
All art materials and tuition for doll making
Tour of a working croft and visit to a croft museum (if schedule allows)
Personal care and attention to any issue or concerns from Jude pre-Retreat and during the Retreat
What Is Not Included in the Price of your Retreat?
Any travel costs to the isle of Eigg
Travel Insurance (which is recommended)
All travel to the Isle of Eigg (train and ferry journeys)
Optional taxi rides on Eigg (yes, Eigg has a taxi)
Any meals or drinks other than the meals listed above
Any medical treatment costs
When Does Registration Close?
Registration deadline is the 24th March
I’m happy to help with any queries, advise on travel connections and will provide further details after booking
Our home for the retreat is Glebe Barn which is a converted 19th-century building which offers wonderful views across the harbour and over to the Scottish mainland. It’s perfectly situated in the middle of the island - a great location for our trips to visit local sites and within one mile of the harbor which offers the a cafe, shop and craft shop.
The kitchen, dining room, gathering room & library and sunroom are all on the ground floor. An entrance hall offers storage for coats and walking boots and there is also a laundry room with washer and dryer, and a shower room (with toilet) and a second toilet.
The Glebe Barn is a hostel (we have the entire hostel booked), and offers two sleeping accommodations:
Two rooms with three single beds on the second floor.
Bunk bed rooms on the first floor. There are two bunk rooms one with three and the other with four bunk beds. You will have both the upper and lower bed to yourself. Bunk rooms are on the first floor
The second floor is accessible by stairs, there is no lift in the building. This floor has a bathroom between the two bedrooms - with a toilet and shower. There are two more showers and toilets on the first floor and one additional shower on the ground floor.
There are also two showers on the first floor and an additional shower on the ground floor.
The cost for this retreat is £1229 (approx. USD $1590). A non refundable deposit of £399 is required to secure your booking (as organising a small group retreat requires up front payments before the retreat even launches). You can either pay your deposit of £399 ($529) or the full amount using the button below which will take you to Paypal. I will email you a payment receipt.
Please get in touch if you’d like to pay by bank transfer.
Sign up before the 31st Jan and you will receive £100 discount.
‘Bring a Friend Discount’ will be taken off your remaining sum payment, after deposit
Both promotion discounts will be taken off your remaining sum after you make your deposit. If you wish to pay in full - ge tin touch and I’ll email you an invoice
Only one discount code can be applied per participant
Please get in touch for details of the ‘Big Woman’ Discount
You will be emailed a receipt after payment. We will meet on Zoom to discuss further details before the retreat takes place
Your Guide
Jude has been visiting the Isle of Eigg for over 20 years and has formed deep ties with the land and made friendships with the islanders. As an artist and writer with a background in Human Ecology her work explores connection to the land through art, story and ritual.
Her approach is in re-envisioning keening, being inspired by this age-old practice - taking the remaining threads and weaving them into new rituals while remaining rooted in an ancient spiritual bedrock. These new rituals can help us change our relationship with grief, to reclaim grief and find the words and expression of grief through art and ritual. This reclaiming is an act of resistance which can help us to heal and transform ourselves, work which can then become an effective tool within our communities.
Her focus centers on the liminal, the in-between and on the edge places which we experience in keening circles, art and in the land. These are the places the keening woman worked and it’s here we might find healing, or begin our journey towards healing.
She is a Radical Doll Maker viewing her art as part of a practice that stretches back to the first dolls fashioned from bones and stones – such as the Woman of Willendorf. She uses dolls as a way of connecting to ancestral figures, as well as dolls themselves as becoming part of our healing process and holding and speaking to our grief. As a painter she explores stories of the land, her images incorporating local soils.
She gained her MSc Masters Degree in Human Ecology at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and lives on the West Coast of Scotland on the banks of the River Clyde, near Loch Lomond. She is currently writing her first book, Walking the Path of the Ancestral Mothers.