Let yourself be guided by the shepherd through the raw wild coastal landscape of Western Denmark. Switch off your phone and slow down, wandering into a timeless space of pure presence with the sheep: we go back to basics and participate in one of the oldest professions on earth.
Tourists and locals are invited to join the shepherd in their daily work of taking the sheep out of the night-fold into the open landscape, where the sheep help with nature conservation, reducing invasive species and increasing biodiversity. This also provides the participants with an opportunity to get away from daily stresses and to connect with nature, themselves, each other, and the animals.
Along the way the path is open for enjoying the meditative quiet, for sharing life-stories, philosophic questions or songs, and for getting a good dose of exercise and fresh air. All accompanied by the sound of waves beyond the sand dunes at Husby, Vestylland.
According to the seasons it is possible to forage for wild food along the coast, heath or forest, and learn how to prepare it, for example: which herbs and flowers to use for tea and tasting it. Special focus is put on invasive species like rosa rugosa (dog-rose) and stillehavsøsters (oysters). There is the possibility to engage in hand crafts and meet local artisanal producers.
We are part of a growing movement reviving this ancient workplace, which is a fundamental part of our own cultural heritage.
Can we imagine a possible future where; while agriculture becomes highly efficient and technologized, using fx. drones for precision farming: there may also simultaneously be more land reserved for nature and responsible recreation, in which shepherding could play a core role?
Here, participants can witness and participate in an old way of life re-explored to match modern needs; to de-stress, disconnect from social media, reconnect with sources of food and expand our attention. To be present and patient.
Through these days spent shepherding, can we develop tools and resources that we can integrate into our daily lives and work places? How does this contribute to taking small steps to making ourselves, our communities and ultimately the world a better place and to live more sustainably?
At the end of the day it is possible to swim in the sea and watch the sunset over the west coast. Sleep in simple accommodation in a summer house, or shepherds wagon. Enjoy local seasonal food cooked over fire.
How to Participate
You can come for one day, a weekend, or for longer retreat holidays.
One day Walk with the shepherd
A day to go down in gear. Switch off your phone and lose track of time as we spend the day watching over the sheep as we go about the daily work conserving nature. We take the sheep out of their night fold and go out of the fence into the open landscape. are in symbiosis and go in flow with the sheep and the sheep are the ones who decide when lunch break is.
There is time and space for what is necessary, if wished we have time to talk and share stories from life, concerns and joys. There is also time for silence and this can be a highly meditative practice. The skill is to pay attention to the sheep no matter what. They know as soon as you are not looking.
Over coffee in the morning there is time to engage in conversation over what really matters in life, we may also wish to simply spend hours in silence, sitting in the sand dunes, the sound of the sea. On a windy day the sheep can be more restless and that means we also need to be more active, to collect them together or move them to a new area. It is impossible to plan ahead exactly how the day will be, and that is the beauty of it: we can only be present with what is. We are out in almost all weather; wind, sun, rain and cloud, so be prepared!