Warm greetings,

It's early March and the sap is rising. I find myself setting projects in motion, each day a different creative spark needs tending. Some near, some far, some online, some theatre, some fireside, some wolves, some salmon, some plants...it's a curious array.

Today, I want to share a project I've been co-tending through the winter, that's ready to reach out to the world, as we launch our programme of events, and welcome fine folk to a gem of a glen, in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands this summer.

The Shieling Collective

The short version, is that a small group of us, including traditional crafters, musicians, storytellers, fire keepers and food growers have taken on a site west of Inverness. We have some cabins, a workshop space, purpose built kitchen, faery hill and more, nestled into the glen beside the river Farrar.

It's birch country, currently the hills are purple in the absence of leaves. Whilst only 40 minutes drive from Inverness, if you walked west from our site you could go a long way before meeting another human. We're on the edge of the wild.

Formerly the 'Shieling Project', the programme reflects a yearning to get back to the land and explore ancestral culture in a way that is of benefit to people and the environment today.

There is more I could say, much more, but I feel the best way to explain it is by sharing our programme of events, including the Salmon of Wisdom retreat that I'll be co-facilitating in June (8-12).

As one of the keystone myths of the Celtic Isles, 'Fionn and the Salmon of Wisdom' is a story that has grown on me over the years. It gains relevance the longer I carry it. It feels like THE tale of these islands. It features in my Animate Lands show, and Myth as Medicine course, and now I'm delighted to curate a whole retreat inspired by this myth.

But what does such an event look like?

This retreat will work with the Salmon of Wisdom story as a lens through which to relate to the landscape, culture and ourselves. We take a mythopoetic approach to this tale. We will hear the story, dream the story, allow its poetry to move through us, yet also explore the practical elements of the story.

We will practice animal tracking (like Fionn's wild aunties), we will learn the ecology of the Salmon and try out primitive fishing techniques. There will be crafting, making salmon leather pouches, to reclaim the practical skill of older cultures. We will use hands, head and heart as we cultivate something akin to the 'true seeing' that Fionn was blessed with.

We will gather by the fire and wander on the land, dreaming with the Salmon, Finnegas and Fionn. All in a remote, yet accessible, Highland glen on the banks of the river Farrar.

I'll be joined by Aoife Lowden and Michael Wachter, who are both incredibly talented facilitators and wonderful people. I've a sense this one will be a special one and I likely to fill up quick!

Join Salmon of Wisdom

Summer Programme

We have many more fine events taking place this summer, from Gaelic song, to hide-tanning, dry stone walling to herbal story craft.

We start our season by kindling the collective hearth at our Beltane event, Stoking Ancient Embers, which still has some places available.

Below are the events I'm directly involved with.

Stoking Ancient Embers will be our Beltane flavoured launch, where the whole team will been site and we'll welcome in the summer.

The Hearthside Herbal is another one to look out for that I'll be running with a basket weaver and herbalist...maybe a singer too!

Way of the Deer People In the Autumn we'll have another mytho-ecological fusion in this weeklong event relating to the deer.

Full Programme

You can see what we're up to at theshielingcollective.com or follow us one Instagram @theshielingcollective

In truth, this is the sort of place that I've dreamed of existing in Scotland.

It's easy to visit Scotland and get the 'shortbread tin' experience, whilst yearning for so much more. This has the potential to offer something quite unique in Scotland, for locals and visitors alike.

It's a labour of love at this stage as we rebirth and revise a project that had been neglected. We will announce more ways of getting involved further down the line.

For now, we're delighted to offer what feels like an innovative yet rooted programme of events. We hope you'll join us by our hearth in the hills sometime soon.

Stay blessed

Dougie