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Join me in 2013 for a Journey to Ireland!
The sacred land of Ireland calls to
us to connect to our ancestors, our spiritual selves, to the oceans
that spiral within us. She beckons me back again and again, is a
part of my blood and my body, my heart and my soul. I am honored to
share with you what She has shared with me.
Three trips are offered in 2013:
Beltane Pilgrimage: Awakenings
April 27- May 4
Journey to Ireland: Herbcraft
September 1-8
Journey to Ireland: Healing Herbs and Sacred Sites
September 18-28
Tour price includes all lodging, admission fees, transportation
within Ireland and 2 meals per day. Does not include airfare to
Ireland, alcohol or one meal per day. Note: for the September
pilgrimage, flights arrive into Shannon and depart Dublin. For
Beltane and Herbcraft, flights arrive into and depart from Shannon.
Beltane Pilgrimage: Awakenings
April 27- May 4
Join us during this most fertile, fecund, awakening time of the year
in Ireland. The hedgerows are bursting with hawthorn flowers and
the humble herbs are abundant throughout the land, inviting us to
make intentional medicines for body and spirit. We will connect to
sacred places associated with this time of the year, we will indulge
in seaweed therapies and spend a day with a potter to create our own
mortar and pestle in sacred circle. We will celebrate in ritual on
this land, encouraging her fertility as she encourages ours.
$1,850
Daily
itinerary for Beltane Pilgrimage: Awakenings (subject to
change):
Day
1: April 27. Kinvara. You will
be met at Shannon Airport for your morning arrival into the magical
isle of Ireland! To get grounded in this land, we will take a
gentle, spirit-awakening walk in a mystical wood and explore an
ancient castle ruin. We will get settled into our home for a week
and have time for a rest, a walk to the bay or a stroll along the
beach. In the liminal light, we will have our opening ritual at a
sacred well tucked into the mystical hazel groves of the Burren and
collect holy spring water to bless our awakening journey.
Day
2: April 28. Kinvara. After a
hearty and restorative Irish breakfast we will be inspired by the
mystical land of Coole Park. Enjoy a gentle walk, sit along the
lake and watch the swans and connect with this land through
literature and journaling. We will explore the hidden herbs in the
limestone pavers of the Burren and wildcraft from the overflowing
hedges to create a healing herbal tea. At sunset, we will visit
Flaggy Shore on Galway Bay and collect seaweed for foot and body
soaks before supping seaside at Linnane’s Lobster Bar, where we will
enjoy just-caught seafood and lots of Irish craic!
Day
3: April 29. Kinvara. Just as
the Irish have done for millennia and still do to this day at this
time of this year, we will climb the sacred hill of Uisneach to
connect with the sensual, unfurling hawthorn trees, experience the
navel of Ireland and wash our faces in the liminal dew. From there
we will visit a heart-shaped Brighid’s well to receive the blessing
of the waters and the ash, then stop at my teacher’s house to
experience her healing herbs and enjoy a cup of tea. We will have
dinner in Galway at one of my favorite restaurants in Ireland!
Day
4: April 30. Kinvara. We
travel the short distance to Brighid’s Garden to explore the amazing
Celtic Festival-themed gardens dedicated to this Goddess and Saint
of Healing. From there we will head north into the blue mists, bogs
and stark beauty of Connemara. We will seek healing from the sea
and perhaps take a baptismal dip into one of her waters. We will
be transported by the white sands (which we will collect to create
luscious foot scrubs!) and turquoise waters and the fertile
possibility of this land and sea, within and without us. At dusk we
will build a Beltane fire as our ancestors have done for thousands
of years. Perhaps the fairy host will join us!
Day
5: May 1. Kinvara. We will
begin Beltane day with a seaside ritual and meditation on beautiful
Traught Beach and traverse the countryside from there, seeking out
fairy forts, ivy-covered abbey ruins, castles and Sheela na Gig.
We will sit in circle and create medicines in the wilds of the
Burren and in the cozy kitten of my Irish cottage. We will visit
an herb garden and be inspired by locally handcrafted herbal
products. We will prepare a feast together, celebrating the
awakening bounty of this land.
Day
6: May 2. Kinvara. We will
greet the new day with gentle yoga and meditation before we traverse
into the lush midlands to join a local potter for a day of ritual,
intention and creativity. In her pink cottage and beautiful
workshop, serenaded by her clucking hens and a haughty peacock, we
will create our own mortar and pestle to use in our medicine making
and to pass on to our children.
Day
7: May 3. Kinvara: We will enjoy
a picnic along the coast road to Doolin, traditional music capital
of Ireland, and visit the Cliffs of Moher. We will connect with
the ancient wisdom of land’s end known as Hag’s Head and spend time
at Brighid’s Well in Liscannor for a ritual and to learn about the
healing waters taken there for thousands of years. We will take a
cliff side herb walk and harvest rushes to make Brighid’s crosses.
We will invoke Brighid, Goddess of healing, to guide our hands and
our hearts as we create healing salves and infused oils. We will
return home for a closing feast!
Day
8: May 4. Kinvara. Departure
from Shannon Airport.
Optional Extension:
Stay an additional night and take in
the festivities of Kinvara’s most popular festival, the
Cuckoo Fleadh, highlighting some of
Ireland’s most talented traditional musicians, storytellers and
more! On your own for meals (except breakfast) and no formal
itinerary, just a bonus day for you to enjoy this place! We will
transport you to Shannon for departing flights on Sunday May 5. $85
includes lodging, breakfast on Sunday and transport to Shannon
Airport.
Journey to Ireland: Herbcraft
September 1-8
Make your home
for 7 nights in the mystical Burren in County Clare! We will spiral
outward from there to experience Celtic and pre-Celtic sacred sites,
seashores of County Galway, Connemara and the stunning beauty that
the West has to offer. We will connect to the land and the wild
plants that flourish so abundantly there. Each day we will create
medicines, teas, salves and potions in addition to journeying
through the inspiration of Ireland! $1,850.
Daily
itinerary for Journey to Ireland: Herbcraft (subject to
change):
Day
1: Sept 1. Kinvara. You will be
met at Shannon Airport for your morning arrival into the magical
isle of Ireland! To get grounded in this land, we will take a
gentle, spirit-awakening walk in a mystical wood and explore an
ancient castle ruin. We will get settled into our home for a week
and have time for a rest, a walk to the bay or a stroll along the
beach. In the evening mists, we will have our opening ritual and
create a gem essence at a sacred spring hidden in the limestone
landscape of the Burren.
Day 2: Sept 2. Kinvara. After
a hearty and restorative Irish breakfast we will be inspired by the
mystical land of Coole Park. Enjoy a gentle walk, sit along the
lake and watch the swans and connect with this land through
literature and journaling. We will explore the hidden herbs in the
limestone pavers of the Burren and wildcraft from the overflowing
hedges to create herbal tinctures and teas. At sunset, we will
visit Flaggy Shore on Galway Bay and collect seaweed for foot and
body soaks before supping seaside at Linnane’s Lobster Bar, where we
will enjoy just-caught seafood and lots of Irish craic!
Day 3: Sept 3. Kinvara. We
travel the short distance to Brighid’s Garden to explore the amazing
Celtic Festival-themed gardens and enjoy a guided meditation. There
will be time for shopping and exploring Galway, one of Ireland’s
most vibrant cities. We will return home and spend an evening
experiencing Irish hospitality including a session of traditional
Irish music, if you please. Slainte!
Day 4: Sept 4. Kinvara. We
will begin the day with a seaside ritual and meditation on beautiful
Traught Beach and traverse the countryside from there, seeking out
fairy forts, ivy-covered abbey ruins, castles and Sheela na Gig.
We will sit in circle and create medicines in the wilds of the
Burren and in the cozy kitten of my Irish cottage. We will prepare
a feast together, celebrating the seasonal bounty of this land.
Day
5: Sept 5. Kinvara: We will
enjoy a picnic along the coast road to Doolin, traditional music
capital of Ireland, and visit the Cliffs of Moher. We will spend
time at Brighid’s Well in Liscannor for a ritual and to learn about
the healing waters taken there for thousands of years. We will
take a cliff side herb walk and harvest rushes to make Brighid’s
crosses. We will invoke Brighid, goddess of healing, to guide our
hands and our hearts as we create healing salves.
Day 6: Sept 6. Kinvara. We
will head north into the blue mists, bogs and stark beauty of
Connemara. We will seek out stone circles, indigenous craft shops
and healing from the sea. We will sip tea overlooking seaweed swept
beaches. The bays of Connemara will beckon and we will be
transported by the white sands (which we will collect to create
luscious foot scrubs!) and turquoise waters.
Day 7: Sept 7. Kinvara. We
will begin the day with gentle yoga and meditation before we
traverse into the lush midlands and join a local potter for a day of
ritual, intention and creativity. We will spend the day in her
pink cottage and beautiful workshop creating our own mortar and
pestle to use in our medicine making and to pass on to our
children. We will return home for our closing feast and ritual.
Day 8: Sept 8. Kinvara.
Departure from Shannon Airport.
Journey to Ireland: Healing Herbs and Sacred Sites
September 18-28
Join us on a pilgrimmage to this sacred land- a journey of
connection: connecting to ourselves by opening up to the mysteries
of the sacred sites of the Burren, Sligo and Bru na Boinne,
connecting to spirit through meditation, journaling and ritual, and
connecting to nature by pampering ourselves with pure products and
learning about the bountiful and wild herbs. $2,400.
Daily itinerary for Journey to
Ireland: Healing Herbs and Sacred Sites (subject to
change):
Day
1: Sept 18. Wednesday: Kinvara.
You will be met at Shannon Airport for your morning
arrival into the magical isle of Ireland! To get grounded in this
land, we will take a gentle, spirit-awakening walk in a mystical
wood and explore an ancient castle ruin. We will get settled into
our home for a week and have time for a rest, a walk to the bay or a
stroll along the beach. In the evening mists, we will have our
opening ritual at a sacred spring hidden in the limestone landscape
of the Burren.
Day 2: Sept 19. Thursday:
Kinvara.
After a hearty and restorative Irish
breakfast we will be inspired by the fairy land of Coole Park.
Enjoy a gentle walk, sit along the lake and watch the swans and
connect with this land through literature and journaling. At
sunset, we will visit Flaggy Shore on Galway Bay for an
ocean-inspired ritual before supping seaside at Linnane’s Lobster
Bar, where we will enjoy just-caught seafood and lots of Irish craic!
Day 3: Sept 20. Friday:
Kinvara.
To begin the day, we will each
receive a luxurious and relaxing seaweed wrap including reflexology,
with plenty of time to explore Kinvara’s picturesque Dunguaire
castle and quay and their local, vibrant farmer's market. Tea will
be taken at the Burren Perfumery and we will walk in their magical
herb garden and experience many of their natural bath and body
products. In the liminal twilight we will stand upon the sacred
ground of Poulnabroune Dolmen.
Day
4: Sept 21. Saturday: Kinvara.
We travel the short
distance to Brighid’s Garden to explore the amazing Celtic
Festival-themed gardens and enjoy a guided meditation. There will
be time for shopping and exploring Galway, one of Ireland’s most
vibrant cities. We will return home and spend an evening
experiencing Irish hospitality including a session of traditional
Irish music, if you please. Slainte!
Day 5: Sept 22. Sunday:
Kinvara.
We will enjoy a picnic along the
coast road to Doolin, traditional music capital of Ireland, and
visit the Cliffs of Moher, stopping at craft shops along the way.
We will visit Brighid’s Well at Liscannor and take a cliffside herb
walk and harvest rushes to make a Brighid’s cross.
Day
6: Sept 23. Monday: Kinvara.
We will begin the day with a
seaside ritual and meditation on beautiful Traught Beach and
traverse the countryside from there, seeking out fairy forts,
ivy-covered abbey ruins, castles and Sheela na Gig. Sunset dinner
will be served at a Burren landmark overlooking the mysterious
turlough.
Day 7: Sept 24. Tuesday:
Sligo.
Traveling north to the land of
Knocknarea and Benbulben, we will visit the Neolithic site of
Carrowmore with its many stone circles and dolmens. Some of us may
decide to hike up Knocknarea, Maeve’s Cairn and receive the blessing
of this feisty, sovereign goddess and others may enjoy a day of
shopping in Sligo. To complete the day, a luxurious seaweed bath
awaits at the famous Strandhill seaweed bath.
Day 8: Sept 25. Wednesday: Sligo.
We will have a relaxing
morning enjoying the farm where we are residing and its many
residents including ponies, goats, sheep, cows, ducks, bunnies, wild
goats and rescued dogs! We will walk a labyrinth and be carried
away to another time in our own private harp concert held in a
restored thatched roof cottage. We will enjoy an organic dinner at
our farm lodge as we celebrate the autumn equinox with a group
ritual.
Day
9: Sept 26. Thursday: Slane.
The air will seem to change as
we near the sacred center of Ireland, the Boyne River Valley. Home
of Bru na Boinne- Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth- ritual centers built
over 5,000 years ago, filledwith astrological significance and
Neolithic art. We will reside at a working farm near Slane Castle
and within walking distance to the Hill of Slane (through an
enchanted forest which we were warned not to walk through after
dark!).
Day
10: Sept 27. Friday: Slane. Today will be spent exploring,
experiencing and opening ourselves to the joy of Tara, seat of the
ancient high kings of Ireland as well as many myths and legends of
the gods and goddesses. We will stand at the Stone of Destiny and
hear it sing to us. The afternoon will lead us to Lough Crew,
Slieve na Caillegh, for a ceremony at the Hag’s Chair and plenty of
time to explore the stone circles and Neolithic art. Return to
Slane for a farewell feast and closing circle.
Day
11: Sept 28. Dublin:
Farewell from Dublin Airport.
Tonja Reichley, herbalist, ritualist and owner of MoonDance
Botanicals, will lead your journey through Ireland. Tonja has spent
many days of learning, reflection and joy on the sacred soil of this
magical land. She studies there with a traditional Celtic
herbalist and has immersed herself in the sacredness of that land
many
times over the past 12 years. Tonja owns a herbal
boutique, celebrating the power of the humble herbs, in Denver
Colorado.
For
more information please call 303-263-7275 or email
moondancebotanicals@gmail.com.
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