We live in uncertain times.
Many of us are searching for something solid to help us through these uncertain times.
Life is a mystery.
There are things we cannot see but somehow know are present.
A fragrance can fill a room without being seen.
The mystery is we know there is more to life than we can see?
**Finding what is solid **and discovering what is present.
Perhaps being spiritually curious is simply being willing to ask the question.
Keziah makes perfumes with her hands. She’ll rebuild Jerusalem with her heart.
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In the aftermath of the Babylonian Siege, seventeen-year-old Keziah bat Alter is the unmarried daughter of a district ruler, struggling to ‘behave’ as a woman in the rubble of Jerusalem’s fallen streets.
With her mother blind and her twin sister desperate to marry, Keziah finds solace in the practice of perfumery and in the presence of her close friend, Ben.
But solace is a luxury she can’t afford for long.
When the governor Nehemiah calls the city to rebuild its walls, her father has no sons to respond, and Keziah knows that upholding their family’s honour rests firmly on her shoulders.
Once the districts are assigned their sections, Keziah is left with an impossible choice: let her family’s name be dragged through the dirt, or defy everything a woman is permitted to do and risk rebuilding it herself.
Set among the limestone hills and dusty streets of fifth-century Jerusalem, where stars shine brightly and God rewards the courageous, Scent and Stone is a reimagined version of the events in Nehemiah, full of hope, first loves and the power of faith.
The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls is fundamentally about laying foundations, restoring what has been broken, creating something secure, and rebuilding a community around what matters. Family, Faith and Freedom.
Step away from the busyness of everyday life and make space for stillness, reflection and renewal.
Inspired by my novel Scent and Stone and the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the book of Nehemiah, these retreats invite you to explore your own story: what you build your life on, what sustains you, and where God may be inviting a new beginning.
Through story, Scripture, silence and gentle spiritual practices, we discover how God rebuilds lives as well as walls.
What to expect
A spacious rhythm of short reflections and unhurried personal time, including:
- Readings from Scent and Stone alongside passages from Scripture.
- Guided prayer and compassionate reflection.
- Silence, with opportunities for journalling or a quiet walk.
- Optional conversation and shared reflection.
- A contemplative focus using stones, pottery, lantern light and optional fragrance.
You do not need to have read the novel or attended a retreat before. There is no pressure to speak or share anything personal. Fragrance-based activities are optional; please mention any scent sensitivities when enquiring.
Who are these days for?
You may be seeking rest, navigating change, carrying responsibility for others, or longing for a deeper connection with God self and others.
You are welcome to join us as you are.
Bring Scent and Stone to your community
My retreats and quiet days for a variety of organisation.
A half-day or full-day programme can be shaped around your community’s needs.
Themes include:
- Rebuilding the Heart — hope, compassion and new beginnings.
- The Stones We build on — acknowledging the foundations we build our lives on.
- The Fragrance of Compassion — owning, receiving and sharing compassion.
- Courage to Rebuild — strength and resilience in times of change.
Send Ian a message today!
