For all enquiries, please contact Gail Garrie via email on:

Events at the Hermitage

Upcoming events - please book your retreats and workshops by contacting Gail on 07775 775 079.

Buddhist / Christian Retreat

The pathless path
The gateless gate

A contemplative space for those whose spiritual practice draws from both the treasuries of Christian Mysticism and the Buddha Dhamma. Sister Ruth, the founder of the Hermitage , spoke often of 'The Great Koan' , involving a discipline of interpraxis which leads 'Beyond opposites, beyond identity'. This retreat is offered in that spirit to those who like Sr Ruth and St Gregory of Nyssa recognise that "To find God is to seek for him incessantly".

Individual Retreats at Morning Star Hermitage

‘Silentium Tibi Laus’
Silence is Praise for You

This inscription above the door of one of the retreat spaces at The Hermitage, The Hall of Mindfulness, perfectly encapsulates the profound Spirit of Silence that is to be experienced there.

Situated in a glorious Welsh landscape, Disserth y Mynydd, the Hermitage on the Mountain, was the home of Sr Ruth Furneaux/Kashin sama who lived there as a vowed Solitary for fifteen years until her passing in April 2024. Since then, a small dedicated Morning Star Hermitage group has been formed whose vision is to secure the future for The Hermitage as a place where those practicing a contemplative way of life may step aside from our conflicted World for a while and enter a space where they will find the deep Silence, Stillness and Solitude nurtured there by Sr Ruth.

The Hermitage is off grid but, given the simplicity of the life, we aim to make our guests as comfortable as possible. For those visiting for the first time, arrangements can be made to meet them in the nearest town, Llandovery, and from there accompany them out to The Hermitage where they would be welcomed and taken through every detail affecting the practicalities of their stay.

For anyone who feels they would like further details, in the first instance please contact Gail Garrie via email on: or call her on 07775 775 079 and she will be delighted to hear from you.

Group Retreats at Morning Star Hermitage

The Morning Star Hermitage is available for solitary and group retreats that are compatible with our cross-faith ethos. Under its current set-up the maximum number attending a group session is 7 plus the host. Part of the ambience of the Hermitage is its off-grid rustic simplicity. There is accommodation on site for the host plus 3-4 others depending on the season. Guests bring their own bedding and warm layers. Those wishing to camp or visit in a campervan or caravan can also be accommodated subject to prior arrangement. Good Bed & Breakfast accommodation is available nearby at Llanerchindda Farm and Royal Oak Public House in Rhandirmwyn.

Our first group retreat was held by John Brooks, one of the Co-Chairs and a Fellow of the Shiatsu Society, who visited the Hermitage many times to give Sr Ruth Shiatsu which is an ancient East Asian touch therapy she studied earlier in her life and greatly valued. The group programme started on a Friday evening in August 2025 and continued through the weekend to the following Monday. This format will be followed again in 2026.

Future group retreats led by John, will include a mix of silent contemplation, breathing exercises; gentle movement; Shiatsu techniques; five elements of Classical Chinese Medicine, mindfulness, meditiation and visualisation. John is open for those attending to lead sessions themselves from their own interests and expertise if they are compatible with the ethos of the Hermitage. Please contact him before attending to discuss. The agenda is open and there is plenty of time for solitude, walking and sitting meditation, and mindfulness around the grounds with stunning views in every direction.

In August 2025 the group walked to the Royal Oak pub in the local village for lunch via a standing stone and cairn on the hill above the Hermitage. The walk is just over 2 miles and, with stops, took 1 hour and 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. A car was left at the pub to drive back. A walk like this can be incorporated into a retreat if requested by those attending. The surrounding area is a mecca for walks through remote landscapes and those wishing to include walking days have many options from strolls to challenging hikes. John is a Hill and Moorland Leader with Mountain Training and as such is open to building walks compatible with those attending.

Those staying work together as a community to prepare and cook food they have brought to share and clean up afterwards. While on site, guests are invited to take part in activities which help to maintain and improve the Hermitage. All who visit should be mindful to leave the Hermitage as they found it … or better. Comprehensive notes are provided for all retreatants to help make their stay as safe and comfortable as possible. Those staying have a responsibility to leave the premise clean and tidy. The notes include safety checks for hosts or individuals to carry out before leaving. Donations will be gratefully received from those visiting but we do not want cost to deter anyone. Pay what you can afford. That may be less or more than the guide prices. All donations are used for the upkeep and development of the Hermitage. Those staying in accommodation at the Hermitage may consider a donation of £40 a night appropriate; Those camping or bringing a campervan or caravan may consider giving slightly less. Those staying in local B&Bs, the local pub or day visitors may feel that £25/£30 a day for hosted events is appropriate. It really is up to you. We are trying to cover the cost of keeping the Hermitage viable and hopefully, develop it further as an important sanctuary.

If you wish to host a group retreat yourself please contact Gail Garrie via email on: or call her on 07775 775 079.

Updated on 12^th May 2026. Copyright © 2025-26, Morning Star Hermitage.