Dreaming of Ireland... And How I'm Making The Dream A Reality
My last trip to Ireland in 2016 included 4 epic days of seeing the land on horsback.
A year ago, I planted a seed. One I wasn’t sure how to nourish and grow, but I did it anyway.
It began with what you might call a prophetic dream.
I dreamed my ancestors were calling me home to Ireland, to learn from the land itself. To deepen my spiritual studies in direct connection with my Celtic roots. To become a bridge between the old ways and the world we live in today.
When I emerged from the dreamtime, I knew I had to go. There was just the small matter of HOW.
The chorus of objections in my busy brain began almost immediately.
I didn’t know any Irish teachers. I wasn’t sure how to afford it. I wondered if I could take the time off that would be required.
Beyond the logistics, I questioned whether I was ready. Or if I was “good enough” to embrace a dream so much bigger than anything I’ve dared to dream before.
Nevertheless, I planted that seed of intention.
I found a hospitable place inside my heart to hold this idea so that it could slowly take root. And then… I opened my mind to the possibilities.
I didn’t rush the process, but I wasn’t passive about it either.
I began researching. Asking for leads. Connecting more intentionally with Celtic traditions and Irish folklore. I spoke to a number of ritualists and practitioners in these traditions, searching for the right mentors to guide me through this next stage of my training and evolution.
And after nearly a year of exploring, I found them! I’m delighted to say that I began my studies with Dr. Karen Ward and John Cantwell at Slí An Chroí last November.
But I knew that alone wasn’t gonna be enough. I need to be on the land.
And so, last month I took a wild leap of faith and committed to a 9-day walking trip in Ireland this summer. I’ll be traveling with my teacher Karen along Brigid’s Way, taking part in a growing movement to revive the ancient practice of pilgrimage in Ireland. Listening to the land and learning its mysteries.
I’m writing about this as an example of what can emerge when we say yes to the inner spark of inspiration.
Even when it might seem impossible on its face.
The past year has been one of the more challenging periods of my life. From a logical perspective, there are at least twenty reasons why this may not be “the right time” for me to act on this vision.
I could have shrugged off my dream as impractical. And you know what? An earlier version of me surely would have.
What I’ve learned is that when I open up my heart, and am willing to co-create with life itself… the way becomes more clear. And that process begins when I simply say YES instead of NO to an idea that inspires me.
THIS is what I help others cultivate in ritual space. The planting of your seeds through saying that all-important, internal YES to whatever is calling you.
Intention jump-starts the process. Your job is simply to open the door so that magic and wonder and serendipity can come through.
If you’re holding a dream that you’d like to plant, I welcome you to take a look at some of the ways that we might work together by visiting my Services page.
As we step into Springtime, I hope you can steal away a few minutes to pause now and again and notice nature waking up all around you. The buds emerging on trees, the grass growing longer, the birds in flight.
Notice, too, what’s waking up inside you.
In whatever ways are right for you, I hope you’ll nurture those tender seedlings of the heart as they prepare to sprout! The world needs your dreams and your magic.
To your rise,
Want to Join My Dream Team?
I'm taking a big intake of breath as I write this next part. Whooosh... here goes.
An important aspect of pilgrimage is community participation. The Brigid’s Way organizers encourage us to invite sponsorship to help with funding, build community, and offer support.
This is admittedly uncomfortable for me! I tend to get squirmy when it comes to asking for assistance and truly receiving it. (Maybe you do too? A lot of us high achieving types learned to be self-sufficient to a fault.)
Inviting this support is a growth edge for me. And to be honest, I wasn't going to do it. I figured I'd just ignore the sponsorship part of the pilgrimage. But what I realized is that it's vital, because none of us actually walk alone.
So if you’re inspired by this idea of going on pilgrimage and would like to help me do so, I warmly welcome you to share in this dream and join my team! To learn more, you can visit my GoFundMe.