Women of the Dark Skies | Chettle

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A storytelling pilgrimage for women, exploring the darkness, our power and our freedom. Join us to cross the ancient lands of Cranborne Chase at night. You will travel back in time nearly 2,000 years. From across the vast chalk landscape, you will gather with fellow Durotriges tribes women in the Valley of the Winter Lake to honour Arla the Hare Runner, on the eve of her coming-of-age ceremony. You will meet the local Story Weaver, who will lead you on a pilgrimage across the dark landscape to hear the story of Arla’s journey from child to woman. However, the Story Weaver brings word that an uprising against the Romans is being seeded by a formidable female Iceni warrior. As Rome threatens to extinguish your freedom and culture, will you heed the call to keep the powerful lore of your lands alive? Women of the Dark Skies is a theatrical, storytelling pilgrimage for women, walking at night over the ancient landscape that surrounds the village of Chettle in North Dorset. This magical event will take you back in time to late Iron Age Dorset and offers a unique opportunity to experience the wonder of the Cranborne Chase’s famous dark skies. This is a transformative experience combining storytelling, night walking, ritual, history, nature connection, stargazing, feminism and spirituality. The route will be approximately 4 miles, with stops along the way for story telling. During the pilgrimage, we are inviting participants to walk in silence, without the use of torches, to allow a fully immersive experience of this historic landscape at night. The evening will finish in a secluded woodland glade, where we will hold a Women's Circle around a fire, with hot drinks and biscuits. This pilgrimage is led by its creator Becky Burchell and was developed with support from with local ecology, dark skies and archaeology experts and members of the Chettle community. This event was originally developed with funding from CHANGE Festival, Cranborne Chase and Chalke Valley Landscape Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. What others are saying.... Very unique and powerful, tapping into something the world needs right now: female unity and leadership - Helen The experience of walking in the dark, with the safety of women, with a guide, allowing us to hear the owls and the night sounds, was truly special. I felt myself slowing down, calming, connecting and feeling things more deeply. It was deeply restorative. I loved the story, and imagining us back in celtic time. Becky was an incredible guide and storyteller. She was thoughtful, warm and inspiring. - Lucy Absolutely brilliant evening. A wonderful insight into an ancient way of life I never learnt about - Olivia A wonderful evening with amazing storytelling, I felt transported to another time and felt less scared of the darkness - Jeanette The ritual elements of the evening and the women circle were particularly moving - Victoria A beautiful experience that will stay on in my memory for a long time - Anon Information Source: Becky Burchell | eventbrite