JUNE
13-22, 2011: A 10 day Pilgrimage
Experience the Solstice
at The Hill of Tara
Optional 7 Day Pilgrimage (June
13-19, 2010)
PLEASE
NOTE: Limited to 7 people only
Early
Registration Advised
This pilgrimage is now fully booked
Please see below for second pilgrimage in July 2011
or email to be placed on wait list in case of cancellation
Come and explore the rich mystical land of Ireland, with its
myths, otherworldly dimensions, and strong and bold women, both in
ancestral and contemporary context.
We will enter deeply into The Mother, visiting Holy Wells and
sacred sites where the women were honored, and more importantly,
honored themselves.
 Our itinerary is as below:
Day One: Meet at
Galway airport and be transported to the magnificent Kylemore
Abbey, where we
will be staying for 3 nights. Here we will experience the mystical
golden
silence,
internally and externally. As one pilgrim describes the Abbey, "the air
is thick
with a mystic stillness." We will
ground ourselves into and upon the Green Isle, and be introduced to the
Celtic mysteries of the Cauldron of Plenty, the Sword of
Discernment, and the Sovereignty of the Land.
Day Two: We will
visit Brigit's Garden, learning of the ancient mysteries, with a private
tour, followed by a talk on the
Brigit Tradition. We will learn how to make a Brigit Cross.
Day Three: Traveling
to
the Glebe Stone Circle, we will join our energy to that which
resides within these sacred druid stones. We will open to what we can
create as a group for the land, through silence, sound, and sacred
movement.
We will then go
to Cong Abbey where peace and beauty abide harmoniously together.
We will walk in the magical forest
and explore the surrounding regions.
Day Four: We
will take the ferry to Inishmore on the Aran Islands. We will stay here
for
3 nights. Never a
more mystical isle has been known. We will settle in, stroll on a beach,
and make our way
to the grand Aenghus Dun ruins. A creation of unknown origins, with an
otherworldly presence and truly a place of activation. We will create
our own ritual here.
Day Five: We
will visit a 6th century hermit's clochan, or beehive. These were
created for hermits to live and meditate in. The energy abounds, the
spirits remain. Prepare to be transformed.
We will also visit the rounded church
ruins of the woman mystic and hermit, St. Surnai, and the holy well
close by.
Day
Six:
The world's smallest church lives on Inishmore. Entering
into ancient sacred ritual and prayer we will circumnavigate the church
7 times, throwing a stone into the church on every round. We will pray
our own prayer of
peace for self, for family and
community, and for the world. Further exploration of the sacred isle of
Inishmore.
Day Seven: Take
the ferry back to Galway. Those who are ending the pilgrimage will be
taken to Galway airport.
Those continuing,
we drive over to the East Coast and settle into our surroundings for
the next 3 nights.
Preparation for the Solstice and
introduction to the myths of the Holy Hill and Well of Tara.
Day Eight: The Solstice We
will create our own solstice ritual and spend time wandering the Hill
of Tara, and connect with the Standing Stone of Destiny. The Holy Well
of Tara, has 3 names. They are: The Healing One, The Dark Eye, and The
Holy White Cow. We will spend time receiving her blessings and enter
into our own darkness, healing, and holiness (wholeness). We will also create a ritual on the Hill of Slane, one of the places of St.Patrick.
Day Nine: The Newgrange Burial Cairns are
one of the world's greatest mysteries. Built before the Pyramids, they
were the burial chambers for an unknown people before the Celts. We
will visit two of these cairns and learn of their history and mystery.
We will enter deeply into the mystery of death and rebirth.
Day Ten: We will conclude our pilgrimage
with a special parting ritual, once more visiting the Hill of Tara, the
most sacred of places in Ireland. You will then be delivered to Dublin
airport.
Let us thank
the Earth
That
offers
ground for home
And
holds
our feet firm
To
walk
in space open
To
infinite
galaxies
John O'Donohue
______________________________________________________________________________________
Ireland Pilgrimage: Living as an Elder
July 15 - 24, 2011
May you be given wisdom for the eyes of your soul
To see this as a time of gracious harvesting
- John O’Donohue
Please Note: This pilgrimage is restricted to 7 persons only
Registrations being taken now - please email to reserve your place
email: teresaretreats@yahoo.com
Day 1-3: Pick-up at Dublin Airport and one hour drive to Glendalough in county Wicklow. We will stay in this beautiful area of mountains and lochs for three nights, grounding and opening ourselves to the energy of the Green Isle. We will take meditative walks, listen to Celtic stories, and begin to reach into our theme of what an Elder is.
Please see this link for photos:
www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Ireland/South/Wicklow/Glendalough/page1.htm
Day 4-5: We will visit Celtic Standing Stones preparing us for our journey on to Kildare, the home of St. Brigit. At Kildare we will immerse ourselves in the Crone energy of Brigit and listen to what She says about embracing our own Elder within.
Day 6-9: We will journey over to South-Western Ireland and stay in a beautiful retreat center. We will spend time at the Kenmare Stone Circle, the largest in the south-western area, unique for its egg-like shape, with a dolmen in the middle. We will open to the significance of this Stone Circle and its mysteries that it will impart.
We will travel a short distance across the seas to the Isle of Skellig, or Skellig Michael as it is often called due to its dedication to the Archangel Michael. It is a remote island still housing the ancient clochans (hermits huts), of the monastic orders previously inhabiting the island.
Please see www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/skellig-michael.htm for some beautiful photos.
And please visit www.in-between.org.uk/a-sense-of-place/skellig-michael for a good short history of the isle.
This is a true adventure into the Spirit of the Elder.
One of the forgotten traditions is the initiation of the Mantle of Bridget. We will engage in a ritual for those who want to partake in this initiation.
Time will be given for writing and personal reflection throughout the pilgrimage.
Day 10: Dawn closing ceremony and travel back to Dublin and drop-off at airport.
Please note: Itinerary may slightly change depending on weather and spontaneous promptings from the Spirit. Being flexible is one key to Living as an Elder!
This is offered only as a 10 day retreat. See above June pilgrimage for fees.
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Set
out
upon your voyage!
Go to the pure land over the sea.
And may you, with joy everlasting,
Come to the Land of Women.
The
Voyage of Bran
IRELAND FEES & DETAILS
DEPOSITS &
COMMITMENT REQUIRED BY DECEMBER 1ST 2010
- Retreat Includes:
- Double Accommodation
- Breakfast & Dinners
- All transport, taxis and ferries, on
pilgrimage
- All entrance fees to sites
- Retreat Fee
Extra
Costs:
Airfare to Dublin, Ireland
Travel to
Galway Airport (where we will meet) Can either fly or take inexpensive
bus straight from Dublin airport
Lunches
PLEASE
NOTE:
For
those
doing 7 day retreat, you will be picked up and delivered back to
Galway airport.
For those doing 10 day
retreat, you will be picked up at Galway airport and delivered back to
Dublin airport (one-way travel to Galway only required)
FEE for 7
days: US$1950-$2050
Depending
on
exchange rate and price increases
Add
on
US$250 for single accomodation
(when available)
FEE
for 10 days: US$2500-$2600
Depending on exchange rate and price increases
Add on US$500 for single accommodation
(when
available)
Deposit of US$600 required by
Oct.25, 2010
Balance required by May 1st 2011
Payment Installments available
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