We are all descended from indigenous people of the earth. When we retrace our ancestors’ steps to restore our interconnection with the land and people, we re-establish right relationship with ourselves, each other and the earth.

Patty Creighton and I went to our ancestors’ land, Ireland, in 2014.

I walked on the granite and quartz hills of Achill Island, found the holy waters, and sat looking at the ocean, as if I was dissolving into the space between land, sea and sky. I moved along ancient paths and felt those that had come before me and their legacy of great feeling for the spirit of place and its abundant embodiment and texture in rocks, plants, birds, fish, all of which supplied food and shelter for the people and the animals they kept. The current aggrandizement of human existence had not happened yet when people built in harmony with the land, carefully siting any home or tomb or shelter; the scale of mountains and sea and sky kept humans conscious of where their source of nurturing and energy came from, and our part in it was a humble place in it. I walked right back into that energy field of awareness. i was feeling the devotion, the sharing, the play and the gratitude for the blessings that humans received as long as they were farming or fishing or raising families or praying, singing, dancing or writing for God.

It was easy for me to follow in the footsteps of those who had gone before, to sense the link to the moon and stars and to feel myself open to the green fire of my heart. I felt supported by flashes of light on water, rush of falls over cliff, shifting of shadow on mountain, crowning mists on the heights, indigo hills in the distance, and sand beach laying like an edge between day and night on the shore. I felt the energy of dolphins leaping, tides turning, grasses waving in the wind, masses of white quartz rising out of the hillside like dragon heads, and breezes bringing in whispers, sighs and chasing midday heat away. The clear northwestern light of Achill Island was always cutting edges, augmenting colours, creating sharpness in the forms of things, reminding me to catch the moment, because the next one will change.

I have a photo of the place where I return in my meditations now, on a loch high in the hills; it was easy to dissolve into the space there and let the heaviness of human identity drop away. The spirit can merge easily with the soul of such places and there is no reason but to be.

Because of my teachers on the other side have shown me how we align with a place, or not, joining our energy centres to the site, or not, I believe that Ireland holds one of the greatest heart spaces for me right now because of its land and its people. It was possible to rest in the serenity of the hills, forgoing more sites that might have called through intellect and instead letting the ones I found “choose me,” The “remembering” on Achill Island not only of Irish but of human cultures and other lifetimes spent in caves, in cloisters, in service to faerie, and to tending sheep and tending fires. There were times of great soul and fewer material distractions, not to mention the harshness that brought out the character of our ancestors who developed their strength of spirit and creative skills. The memories of their dreams shifted in the mists of Achill, reminding me of the impermanence of the moment, a lifetime, or a century of change, such as this one we are experiencing now.

This is not a passive peace but a dynamic interaction between what is changing and what is remaining, letting go and building resilience. It’s work.

And it is play, a dance of the polarities and not having to know what is next, because it will arise and show itself and the dance goes on.

Have a look at the videos that express this; yes, I planned to dance, no, I did not always know when I would be recorded, but trusted my friend Patricia who felt she wanted to honour what was happening by blending her gifts with mine to share our intentions and work with others.

Below are excerpts from a letter that Patty wrote to the son of our wonderful hosts at the Achill Sound Hotel in County Mayo, Peter and Loretto Connaugton.

Nancy and I absolutely loved frequenting your parents’ hotel and sincerely hope that you all are doing very well.

One of my passions in the last number of years has been making movies, and one of Nancy’s is shamanic dancing. She and I paired these interests in Ireland.

Meeting your parents and what a profound impact they had on our stay on Achill Island! While we didn’t really ‘know’ each other when we went, we have forged an incredible friendship.

I play principal flute with Symphony Nova Scotia and Nancy plays in the ether by weaving a web of history and herstory, helping people of many walks of life to heal their inner selves and discover their deeper life purposes.

Blessings to you all from us here in Canada!

Patricia Creighton

May Patricia and I be blessed to communicate our experience of the liminal spaces of Ireland with you.

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Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8