Irish-Celtic Winter Solstice Gathering with Karen Ward and John Cantwell

If you are Irish-Celtic in blood or spiritual lineage (or are just drawn to it), then you will love the ancient wisdoms come alive through Irish-Celtic shamans Karen Ward and John Cantwell. In these two lively workshops, you will come to a deeper understanding of Mother Earth and the fae through ceremony, storytelling, and practical work. This is a workshop like no other, with authentic Irish-Celtic traditions and ancient truths.

"When showing us the Irish sacred site of Tara, I realised how blessed I was to have Karen and John as my guides, introducing me to a magical Otherworld of an ancient site I just would never have found on my own.

"When Karen and John spoke of the Old Ways, their words sent shivers - I knew it was truth and that at some point in my life, that truth had been mine."
-- Billie Dean

Solstice Fulacht Fia. A ritualistic opening of the Earth, a sacred pit to place our prayers and harvest the blessings of the darkest night and the rebirth of the Sun.
Danú – Daghda - Dia. Celtic honouring of our universal sacred Mother and sacred Father as parental composites of Great Spirit for their weaving through us in the darkness and returning light of Solstice.
Immrama. “Wonder Voyage”, journeying to realms of The Otherworld on the bodhrán drum.
Faerie Rites. Energetic transmissions to awaken consciousness and integration with An Sí, The Faerie Kind.
Step Into Our Ancestors. A ritual for deep connection to those who lived so that we have life today.
Anamcara. Thenurturing principle of “Soul Friendship”.
The Tree People. The Irish-Celtic shamanic tradition is held and organised by the spirits of the trees.
Celtic Myths, Stories and Poetry. A sharing of tales and rhymes that offer stepping stones and guidance for our journey at this seasonal time.
Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Embracing the four elements for personal and collective balance and alchemy.
Cauldron. Using the honoured Celtic vessel for harmony and transformation.
Time In Nature. We gather not to be “on the land”, but “in the land”.
Medicine Bundles, Solstice Wreaths &Totems. Looking to our sacred, personal power items during our journey and making traditional Celtic Solstice prayer artefacts to honour our personal rebirth at this time.
Ruaille-Buaille. The only translation is another Gaelic word, craic. A letting go into our innate wildness, opening the Celtic heart to release the ecstatic.

Screeing. An ancient Irish word for divination. The Winter Solstice is an auspicious time for opening awareness and envisaging our journey forward. We will work with revered, traditional methods of screeing.
Ireland-Australia Heartline. Exploring the luminous thread between two ancient lands as an energy meridian connecting hemispheres, that calls us to harvest from what is known and unknown of this artery of Light.
Healing With An Sí. Developing a healing relationship with the Faeries for oneself and as a power ally for your healing of others.
The Sacred Tree. Navigating the Lower World, the Middle and Upper World along pre-Celtic and Celtic maps. Here, we will connect with archetypes revered for their power and wisdom.
Tuatha De Danann. Bringing an understanding of the myth of ‘the tribe of Mother Earth’ to the literal level of our lives.
Immrama To An Cailleach. Translating as the ‘hag’, ‘crone’ or ‘witch’, an Cailleach as a seasonal and location bound personification of Danú, the Cailleach is a powerful teacher for us particularly at this time of year.
The Irish Lineage and Sacred Time. We will embrace mythic maps, archetypal energies and wisdom teachings to support our grounding, understanding and vision during the cycles of change to 2012 and beyond.
The Seven Doors. How the ancient Irish concept of what we commonly call the “chakras” can develop our understanding of personal energy fields and transformation of energy.