Autumn Pilgrimage to Ireland
Departure: September 16 – 25, 2011
Reservations Now Closed
Hosted by Amantha Murphy
Immersing ourselves into the Land of Eiru
“She calls to us and we answer”.
The Mother is calling you home, calling to a space within, where we can rest awhile, knowing we are being held and fed, loved and cared for, filling us, as we drink from the chalice, so that we may carry forward Her love/our love into all aspects of our lives.
As part of our journey upon the Way, we will gather the threads and weave ourselves whole: as powerful and light-filled Souls. We will sing and chant, we will dance and move and there will be times when we will hold the silence and bear witness. For we come together to hear the pulse of Her nature and the beat of Her Heart through the inner and outer landscapes of Herself/ourselves.
The land of Ireland is feminine, often referred to as ‘Mother Ireland’ and we acknowledge this as we journey upon Her body. We start our Pilgrimage connecting with the Fairy Queen – moving on to the Great Mother – and finishing with Maebh the great and wild Goddess of the land, who lay with the chieftain at Bealtaine for the fertility of the land and the people and Tea the Ancient One of Tara.
In this Pilgrimage we also take space for inner work to prepare us to walk the body and connect with honor and openness to the Great Goddess in Her many phases and places. We will take space each day for inner work and creating a space of safety to allow those aspects of our nature to emerge, flow and integrate, allowing ourselves the opportunity to be fully who we are in joy and in life.
Each Pilgrimage is unique in that we follow the flow of the group dynamic and what emerges is always beautiful and ever-unfolding, therefore we have an itinerary, which is changeable according to the needs of the group. We come together as strangers, we walk a while together, awakening to our selves and our many faces and we move on as Family, connected through laughter, loving, sharing and openness.
Your Celtic & Shamanic Guide in Ireland
Your Celtic and Shamanic guide throughout is Amantha Murphy, who started her spiritual work 40 years ago as a clairvoyant and moved on to trance mediumship. “I grew up spending my summers in Kerry with my grandmother, a midwife and healer, who opened my awareness from an early age to the essence of the Mother, the Land and Her Nature. I work primarily with the presence of the Grandmothers and the Way of the Sidhe, our Shining Ones, the Tuatha De Danann.”
Featured Hotels or similar
- In Killarney: The Lake Hotel
- In Kildare: Eagle View Farmhouse
- In Navan: Boyne Farmhouse
THE TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
- 5 nights in Killarney
- 2 nights in Kildare
- 2 nights in Navan
- Breakfast every day
- 2 lunches
- 6 dinners
- Hotel taxes and service charges
- Transporation within Ireland
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
- Guided by Amantha Murphy
- Day of ‘meeting your inner Seabhean’
- In pilgrimage with the Sisters of Briget
- Special Seaweed Bath
- Evening on the bog fields
- Connecting with the Spirit of Ireland
- Learning of the lore of the land
- Stories and songs along the way
TOUR ITINERARY
(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Day 1, Friday, September 16: Arrival at Shannon Airport / Grange Stone Circle / Lough Gur / Killarney (L/D)
Pick-up from Shannon airport at 9:30am, or local guest house, at 10:00am. From here we will be moving on to the Grange Stone Circle for our opening ceremony. Next we visit Lough Gur, followed by lunch in Bruff. Then on to Killarney, stopping en-route for a blessing of the waters at Briget’s well. Here we take time to relax before an early dinner. The Grange Stone Circle is dedicated to Ainé, Sun Goddess and Fairy Queen. It is here, at the summer solstice, that the first rays of the sun move through the two dolmen stones into the centre of the largest stone circle in Ireland. The goddess Ainé is beloved of her people and guards the Land. Behind this stone circle we have Lough Gur, which Ainé is believed to have formed. We have stories here of a sacred tree within the lake, which magically arises every seven years and holds the fabric of Ireland together upon her branches. The area around Lough Gur has been inhabited for at least 5,000 years and the first Neolithic houses to be found in Ireland were excavated here. Dinner and overnight at Lake Hotel.
Very important note: When arranging your flights, arrange your overnight flight from home to arrive very early on the morning of 16 September because your included transfer will depart from Shannon promptly at 9:30am. Your flights should be arranged so that you will fly into Shannon and out of Dublin.
Note: Body Mind Spirit Journeys will be happy to assist you with your flight plans.
Day 2, Saturday, September 17: In Killarney: A day of inner work (B/L/D)
We will connect with our ancestors and totems. We will journey to that place within, betwixt and between, to honour all which we will carry, out onto the land, preparing ourselves for our journey and our opening to our communion with Her. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Lake Hotel.
Day 3, Sunday, September 18: In Killarney: Excursions to The City / Gobnait / Sheela-na-gig (B)
We will visit the City, place of one of the four great cities of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Gods and Goddesses of our land. The Tuatha Dé Danann were known for their magic and worshipped the Mother Goddess Anu. It is at this place that they placed two cairns atop the mountains behind the City and saw them as the breasts of Anu. It was here they worshipped her. Much later, when the first Celts came and conquered, the four great cities of the Tuatha Dé Danann arose from the land and moved into another plane of existence: many say they moved to below the land Herself. From here we move on to visit Gobnait’s well, one of the oldest wells of pilgrimage in Ireland and a Sheela-na-gig. The Sheela-na-gig is a stone carving of a pre-Christian female idol signifying freedom and creativity. Most were broken up during the reformation and some small ones still exist around Ireland, mainly on the ruins of old churches. The Sheela-na-gig has become a symbol for many Irish woman as the right to choose and is becoming re-named as the Sacred whore. Late afternoon free for some R&R and some personal time to explore the area in and around Killarney.
Dinner on your own. Overnight at Lake Hotel.
Day 4, Monday, September 19: In Killarney: Excursions to either the Dingle Peninsula – Ring of Kerry OR Ardgroom Stone Circles, Kenmare and Fairy Glen (B/D)
Today we will select the touring we wish to do as a group….
Morning Attunment.
Your exploration could be around the world-famous Ring of Kerry, a winding scenic route on the Iveragh Peninsula that connects the communities of Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Sneem, and Kenmare in south-western Ireland. Some say it’s the best that Ireland has to offer…with its romantic glens, towering peaks and constantly changing color. As you visit the various places and interact with the landscape, focus on your Maiden, Mother and Crone and see where and when you connect more fully with each aspect. What brings Her out? What keeps Her inside? Is She happy? Is She sad? Reflective? Joyful? This is an awesome opportunity to live the gamut of yourself today!
You will visit ancient Cahergall Fort (Caher Gael) outside of Cahersiveen, originally built around 2,500 BC. Like many ancient forts the local community used it as a supply of building material after it was abandoned around AD 900. You stop for your group lunch at the Smuggler’s Inn outside of Waterville, (An CoireÁn – The Little Whirlpool), the premier coastal tourist centre on the Ring of Kerry. Afterwards, you’ll visit a nearby 5,000 year old stone circle, where legend says Amhairghin, the Milesian bard, landed when he and his brothers led their tribe across the seas from Spain for our first Celtic invasion. His magic was powerful. You take time to commune with his ancient energies.
OR
We could travel to Kenmare & Ardgroom. Outside of Ardgroom we have two stone circles. It is said that one is dedicated to women and one to men and that it was here that many rituals were held involving the coming together of the sexes. Stopping in Kenmare for lunch and some time to explore the scenic town. There is also a small stone circle on the outskirts of the town and two holy wells if you would like to visit them. Originally Kenmare in Irish was called Neidine, meaning ‘little nest’ as it is settled within the mountains. This name was changed in the 17th century to the Kenmare town and means ‘at the head of the Sea’. On to Killarney via Moll’s Gap and Ladies view, the name being given by the Ladies-in-Waiting of Queen Victoria as the view as seen to be fit for a lady. We will be driving through the mountains and stopping at a fairy glen as well as drinking in the wonderful views of the three lakes of Killarney. Dinner and overnight at Lake Hotel.
Day 5 Tuesday, September 20 In Killarney: Excursions to Scotia’s Grave and a special Seaweed Baths (B/D)
Morning Attunment.
Scotia was an Egyptian Princess, well versed in magic and the wife of one of the seven sons of the Chieftain of the Milesians – the first Celts to come to Ireland. She fought with Fodla, one of the three Daughters/Goddesses of the Tuatha de Danann in the SliveMish mountains outside of Tralee. It is there that she was buried, protected from the land by a Sacred grove of trees. After lunch on our own, we are off to Ballybunion for a seaweed Bath on the beach, with time to walk and explore the area. These baths have been in the family for generations and many still come to avail themselves of the healing properties of the iodine rich seaweed. It helps to clear the lymphatic system and rejuvenate the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. A natural ‘spa’. Return to Killarney. Dinner and overnight at Lake Hotel.
Day 6, Wednesday, September 21: To Kildare. Stops in Kildare, stopping en-route at Killaloe and Beal Boru (B/D)
Morning Attunment
Today we travel up to Kildare. We will lunch in Kilmallock and visit Beal Boru a massive ring fort used by Brian Boru and his men in the 11th century. It was here they would prepare themselves for battle. Brian Boru had a foot in both the Pagan tradition and the Christian. The former tradition was of the peoples and the latter was, for so many Chieftans, political. The fort itself is first mentioned in 877AD. The energies here are strong. We journey on to a wonderful farmhouse B&B, to Julie and her family, where we will be staying for the next two nights. Colm, Julie’s husband, will take us out onto the Bog fields and share with us his knowledge and understanding of the ancient bogs. Dinner and overnight at Eagle View Farmhouse.
Day 7, Thursday, September 22: In Kildare — In honor of Bridget. Pilgrimage with the Bridine Sisters (B/D)
What can be said to even try to share what a heart-felt presence we feel when we share this day with Sister Mary and Sister Phil. These nuns really have created a bridge between the Goddess and the Saint. We start the day with the Sisters in their home, attuning together. The sisters are the keepers of the lore of Bridget and it is themselves who will introduce us to Her Sacred places – the Fire Temple, the Holy Wells and the local Sheela-na-gig. Dinner and overnight at Eagle View Farmhouse
Day 8, Friday, September 23: To Mullingar, Uisneach and Navan (B/D)
Morning Attunment
We journey on from Kildare to Uisneach, the very centre and Soul of Eiru. It was here that She was worshipped in Her three faces and great ceremonies were held here at Bealtaine. A place where all the clans would meet. Peoples from the four provinces would come up the hill to ‘Midhe’ the fifth and interdimensional province. It was from the central fire here that all the fires in Ireland were lit. There was, up until the 1800’s, a road that went from Uisneach, the Soul of Ireland to Tara, the political and royal center of Ireland. We will stop in the lively town of Mullingar for lunch on our own at the Druid’s Chair. We then continue our journey across land to our guest house outside of Trim. Trim is known for it’s medieval Castle which is lit up at night and can be visited during the day. Dinner and overnight at Boyne Farmhouse.
Day 9, Saturday, September 24: To Loughcrew and Tara (B/D)
Morning. Attunment
Loughcrew Passage cairn is on the hill of Sliabh na Calli – the hill of the hag, or witch, as is often referred to in these latter days. The main cairn is magnificent with the interior stones having the Neolithic hieroglyphs . The back stone of the chamber is illuminated by a beam of light at sunrise on the Spring and Autumnal Equinoxes. The Equinox Stone in the Hag’s Cairn is of similar design to Newgrange. It has been traditionally described as a Passage Tomb and place of ritual. Outside of the main cairn is the Hags Seat, where, traditionally, the elder of the clan would sit for her tribe to receive illumination for the peoples.
Tara is the Royal Centre of Ireland and it was here that the High Kings and Chieftains were crowned. It was the place of the Ban Fheis – the sacred marriage of the Goddess and the king(Green Man)/ the people to the land. Priestesses of Mabd would lie with a chosen chieftain and he would be the head Chieftain for the year. Great enclosures here held the people and the Stone of Destiny, which screamed when the rightful heir to the Irish land touched it, is still here. We will also visit the fairy tree and the sacred well for our closing ceremony. Dinner and overnight at Boyne Farmhouse.
Day 10, Sunday, September 25: To Dublin Airport – Tour Ends (B)
Early morning departure to the airport and we say our sad farewells, till we meet again.
Please note: This itinerary is subject to change without notice due to circumstances beyond our control. Pre/post nights are available upon request. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Some inclusions may not be available on indicated dates and dates may have to be adjusted. Listed local Hosts and guides are subject to availability and will be hosting your itinerary wherever possible. However, due to scheduling, there may be some times when the local Host or guide is not available. If this occurs, BMSJ will provide a comparable and experienced substitute.
TOUR PRICES:
** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.
Tour – Per Person, double occupancy, LAND ONLY (no flights)
$3,299 payments via check or money order
$3,473 payments via credit card
PLUS: (to be added to the above price)
Pre-Paid Gratuities:
$90 payments via check or money order
$95 payments via credit card
Single Room Supplement:
$399 payments via check or money order
$420 payments via credit card
NOTE: The Single Room Supplement applies for those who would like to secure a private room throughout the tour.
ROOMMATES: We will be happy to try to find a suitable roommate for those who are traveling alone and would like to share a room. Per our Terms and Conditions, registration for the tour will be held open until 4 weeks before the departure date in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If, by that date, we have not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. An early registration will facilitate this process.
Travel Insurance
Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Access America.
If you need additional information or have questions, please call Access America directly at
800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.
Please read our Body Mind Spirit Journeys Terms and Conditions.