Celts spoke of sacred “thin places” where heaven and earth are very close to one another.
Why is Iona often described as a thin space? Some say it’s the quality of light on the Hebridean island off the west coast of Scotland. Some argue it’s the quiet found on that tiny place 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. Still others claim it must be the centuries of prayers that have now soaked into the very soil.
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Join us and determine for yourself!
You'll love this retreat if...
You are drawn to Celtic spirituality.
You long for a quiet space to reflect and restore your soul.
You want the option of being with others or spending time in solitude.
Something about the Scotland and the Island of Iona calls to you.
You are open to yoga, guided island walks, and other forms of prayer through movement.
You long for some stillness so you can listen to the divine within you.
The world feels a bit too much right now and you are looking for ways to use stillness in your own life as a way to counterbalance the chaos.
Retreat Leaders
Pastor Lynell Caudillo
As an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) for over 40 years, and a spiritual director/companion with the Ignatian tradition of Spiritual Exercises for Everyday Living (SEEL) for nearly 20 years, Lynell says it is a joy and privilege to encourage others in their spiritual journeys.
Creating sabbath time and space for focused, intentional, intimate encounters with God has been and is essential to her own spiritual life and growth. Nothing brings her greater joy than to encourage others in their spiritual growth.
As an educator and pastor she has served churches in every major metropolitan area on the west coast, and she has lived in the Seattle area since 1990.
Among many roles in life Pastor Lynell is a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, spiritual director/ companion and recently retired pastor (PCUSA). She enjoys being in nature, gardening, walking, reading and sewing. She is ALSO a quilter and fiber artist.
Check out the quilts she created from her past trip to Iona!
Beth's home church is Immanuel Presbyterian in Tacoma’s North End. She holds Masters’ degrees in Pastoral Studies (2019) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (2001), both from Seattle University, a fine Jesuit University just up the I-5 corridor.
Retired since 2018, Beth enjoys traveling, singing with the South Sound Threshold Singers, cooking, and being outdoors, and she has a part-time position at Immanuel. As Pastoral Associate, she’s involved with visiting the home-bound and working with the Deacon Board, facilitating spiritual retreat mornings, and teaching others how they can advocate in Olympia. She recently completed the Portuguese Coastal Camino, walking over 160 miles in 2 weeks. No blisters! She’s lived in the Puget Sound area since 1982 and a visit to Mt. Rainier National Park always brings her great joy.
Beth is also a Spiritual Director for the Spiritual Exercises for Everyday Living (SEEL) Puget Sound program and is a member of Spiritual Directors International.
Beth Prevo
Karrie Zylstra Myton
Although she has never been to Iona, Karrie is looking forward to the chance to deepen her yoga practice and experience the thin space of the island with others. In the past, she has found that practicing yoga offered her a way to experience her feelings, process those feelings, and move more willingly into her next steps.
Creating artwork, writing, and working with others has had a powerfully healing impact and all of these practices have allowed her to feel connected to her loved ones, past and present.
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Currently she offers Art Words and Yoga at Puyallup United Methodist Church twice a week and at L’Arche Tahoma Hope once a month. She also uses her background in language teaching to work with nonprofit organizations through their communications and development programs.
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Karrie earned her Registered Yoga Teacher certification through Yoga Alliance in 2022 and her chair-based yoga certification shortly after. She has also taken courses on adapting yoga for students with dementia and sincerely enjoys continuing her own ongoing yoga education. She offers many modifications for poses and especially enjoys sharing the wisdom of yoga that goes beyond the shapes people make with their bodies.
