Our journey to the Sacred edge of Ireland has come to an end, and while I’ll still be on the Emerald Isle for a few more days, I will miss the community I’ve journeyed so deeply with so far during my first trip to Ireland. Though it might be days, weeks, or even months before I have the words to more deeply explore here my own stirrings while on this journey, I wanted to share with you pictures from the road.
Below you’ll find pictures and captions that I’ve been sharing on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook since my journey began. I have a few days left here and Ireland and will continue to share pictures online, so be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter and like A Sacred Journey on Facebook!
SETTLING IN…
I arrived a few days early to talk about pilgrimage with Christine (our guide and online Abbess of Abbey of the Arts) and settle in at our B&B in Galway on the west coast of Ireland before the others arrived.
Didn’t even know until getting here that my B&B is in Claddagh, birthplace of the Claddagh Ring, a symbol of love, loyalty, and friendship. Now I know what my souvenir will be!
DAY 1: HOSPITALITY
In the spirit of hospitality, John and Christine gave us a tour of their new hometown, Galway, and encouraged us to practice hospitality within on the journey ahead.
Started our walking tour at Galway Cathedral. Can you believe it was built in the 1950s? My favorite rose windows I’ve ever seen…
Another “Who knew?”: Seattle and Galway are sister cities! This plaque has an arrow facing Seattle’s direction, and apparently there is one in Seattle facing here.
DAY 2: COMMUNITY
As we began to get to know each other as those we would journey with over the next week, our temporary community of monks set out for our first day of visiting Sacred sites, including Temple Cronan in the Burren and Kilmacduagh Abbey.
Just returned from our first outing visiting Sacred sites—ruins of monasteries and Celtic Christian communities over 1,000 years old (image of Kilmacduagh Abbey)—and we were graced by the presence of a rainbow (and harsh winds and hail… It’s a give and a take). No word yet on the pot of gold…
DAY 3: KINSHIP WITH NATURE
Nature dominates the Irish landscape and atmosphere and consequently played a central role in Celtic spirituality. On this day we visited a garden created in honor of St. Brigit, called Brigit’s Garden, as well as Cnoc Suain, where we learned more about Irish culture and how greatly it is informed by its natural surroundings.
Spent a rainy morning at St. Brigit’s garden today, where there are gardens for each of the four Celtic seasons. This is “Samhain,” or winter—a time for shelter and rest, stillness and reflection, death and rebirth.
DAY 4: SILENCE + SOLITUDE
As we visited Cong Abbey and Inchagoill Island, we were encouraged to explore the sites and soak in their essence in silence and solitude.
Today’s theme: silence and solitude. My theme: soulful rest. This is how I started my day. (In a café called “The Hungry Monk” of course!)
Inchagoill Island, or “the island of the devout foreigner,” where St. Patrick was briefly in exile.
DAY 5: SABBATH
To mark the middle of our journey, we paused for a day of rest and delight, encouraged to follow the stirrings of our souls.
The start of Sabbath… “And it was good.”
DAY 6: WORK + SERVICE
As we entered the latter half of our journey and began to think about transitioning back to life at home, we visited Inishmore in the Aran Islands, with a tour of the island’s various Sacred sites led by Celtic priest Dara Malloy.
Took the scariest boat ride of my life to Inishmore in the Aran Islands, but the sites were worth it. Tying a prayer on a Hawthorne tree, found at Celtic Sacred sites.
The hole down there is a holy well, and as we knelt in the mud and reached in today, our guide and Celtic priest told us it was like reaching deep within to find the Source of life. Loved that.
DAY 7: CONVERSION
On our final full day of our journey, we reflected on the transformation happening within us as we visited St. Colman’s hermitage and holy well in the Burren, spent time collecting rocks by the sea, and then ritualized the end of our journey and blessed those who had journeyed with us around the altar at Corcomroe Abbey.
Evidence that pilgrims have gone before us to today’s holy well. There were ribbons, strips of fabric, keepsakes, medallions, and perhaps most poignant of all, a hospital bracelet, no doubt left as gratitude for healing or a prayer for a passed soul.
Within these stone walls we sang and blessed one another as our journey came to an end. Tomorrow we say goodbye, and then I’m off to Dublin!
GO FURTHER…
Have you been to Ireland? Were you able to experience much of the island’s spiritual history while there?