Another beautiful Muktinath Retreat is successfully complete and here is our recap for the community!

Way of the Seer Retreat Recap

Who is the Seer?

The Way of the Seer is within

The Seer is one of the many archetypes, or societal roles found in humanity across all cultures. Every archetype exists inside all of us. Some archetypes are easily accessed or recognizably a role we identify with, however, others are held in our shadow or subconscious awareness. It can require courage to take a dive into our hidden archetypes as often fear, negative beliefs, emotions, and even karma are restricting access to the archetype. When we activate the archetype of the Seer we unlock the visionary wisdom within us and fall into the vibration of harmony with the earth, and the capacity to bring profound insight and understanding to our everyday.

Many of the facets of the Seer may also be found in the archetypes of Visionary, Prophet, Diviner, Mage, Clairvoyant, Oracle, or Mystic. An da shealleadh (un daa hall’la), the two sights or the second sight, is the primary gift we first associate with the Seer archetype. The Seer weaves together the invisible other world and the visible everyday world to reveal the interconnectedness of our cosmic universe. Everything in nature becomes a message, the dancing of the branches of a willow tree, the herd of deer grazing in the stillness of the morning, a rainbow hue around the full moon become the gifts of insight, answers, or guidance that was sought. In the heart of the Seer true vision and wisdom intersect and become one creating what is known as gléfiosa (glay fee’sa) or 'bright knowledge'.

The Emerald Isle called us and we showed up!

The Way of the Seer was an intimate spiritual destination retreat in which every part of the experience was designed to open and awaken our many intuitive gifts. This retreat was curated to move us through all the layers of spiritual growth required to facilitate an awakening of the inner eye and unlock the archetype of the seer within us. This retreat was not intended to be a travel bucket list of Ireland, rather a trusting of the inner soul guidance found our heart and following it in an exploration of one of the most wild and magical locales of our world. Every foray out into Kerry was crafted to enhance and cultivate a deeper integration of our learning.

Why Ireland? Ireland is the place where the unicorns, dragons, fairies and all the mystical and magical still call home. Its a place where the veil is thin that protects the Other Realms and the line between reality and magical is blurred. It is a place where the Old Ways have not been forgotten and the land is a cornucopia of ancient relics and symbols divinely designed to inspire spontaneous recall of our past to launch us into our future.

We spent this entire retreat in southwest of the Emerald Isle, specifically in County Kerry on the Dingle Peninsula. Dingle way has been described by National Geographic as “the most beautiful place on earth.” And WOW was this true! This diverse landscape offers impressive vistas at every turn, from the crashing waves and golden sandy beaches to the iconic rolling green hills. Kerry is home to some of the oldest ruins in Europe.

The beauty of this place is indescribable as this place is more than a view, it is a feeling that awakens and rises up inside of you. Kerry is meant to be experienced with an open heart and an awakened inner eye!

The Altar….

Every retreat has its own beautiful alter that takes the center stage. It holds the energy while we are exploring, learning, and in our daily practices and ceremonies. Our retreat opening ceremony included an honoring of the Willow Tree of Life, and a weaving together of each participants energy into oneness for the retreat.

The Irish Celtics saw this tree as the center of their way of life and would gather there for all important moments in the lives of all members of the community. The Tree of Life is a symbol of the interconnectedness of everything in the universe. The roots of the Tree of Life run deep and spread wide and deep into the earth, accepting the nourishment from Mother Earth. Its branches reach up into the sky, accepting energy from the cosmic center of the universe. When the Tree of Life is represented as a willow tree, it is a reminder of our infinite connection to all through our own intuition and imagination.

Our stay…

Our stay was family style at an AUTHENTIC traditional Irish home in Glashembeg, Dingle, Kerry, Ireland. This home was built about 100 years ago by the grandfather of our retreat assistant Ailish McMahon-Lewis. It was the perfect setting for this intimate style retreat experience! Ailish nourished us with the most delicious food and a free flow of chocolate and digestive cookies (sounds weird right? but soooo delicious)!

Check out the incredible view of the Three Sisters from our backyard! It was so amazing how different it looked throughout the day with the different lighting and weather of the moment. The little creatures we saw everyday brought us so much joy, from Henrietta (our cow), Auld Tom (an ancient tom cat), the magpies, the colorful snails, and even the clever slugs. Dooneen pier was right next door and was the perfect place for a little sun nap and meditation to recharge from our flight and gave us great opportunity for a refreshing dip! Such an incredible place to launch the adventure!

Hike to Eask Tower…

Monday included a hike to Eask Tower, just about a mile long and great for every skill level. The tower was built in 1847 rather than in centuries past. Even though it no longer serves its original purpose of guiding boats into the harbor, it is still an impressive sight. There is an old WWII lookout at the top as well. We had an amazing view of where we would be traveling over the next few days. The weather was a bit of an on/off drizzle until the downpour in the perfect timing, just as we made it to the van. We had an amazing guided drum journey at the Tower, connecting deeply to the land and all the elements. Everyone loved it despite the wet weather, one of our participants even made a request for more rain meditations when we go back home!

Kilmalkedar Church: Eye of the Needle, Ogham stone, Fairies….

Tuesday we took a leisurely walk to Kilmalkedar, a mid-12th century church traditionally associated with Saint Brendan, but also with a local saint, Maolcethair (Maol Céadair, Maol Céaltair, Malkedar). It was a traditional assembly site for pilgrims, who followed the Saint's Road northeast to Mount Brandon. A hole in the east wall of the church is called "the eye of the needle", and the story goes, if one can fit through it, one is certain to go to heaven.

The eye of the needle was most definitely key in our process of unlocking the Seer. We each made an attempt to slide through its very narrow opening, a feat many would have given up on just looking with our physical eye. We learned that the physical is an illusion and by speaking to our body and letting go of the “weight” we are carrying we can easily slide through. Several of us made it to the other side, but those that did not each received very clear messages of what they are still holding to work on continuing to let go. In our pictures and videos you can clearly see all the help and love that was being offered from the other side.

Kilmallkedar is home also one of the oldest Ogham stones in all of Ireland (estimated c. AD 600), a sundial; a stone cross; and some bullauns. Ogham Stones are erected stone monuments in Ireland, the Isle of Man, Wales, England and Scotland. The early Irish alphabet, Ogham, enabled the sound representation of the Irish language in its infancy. Ogham Divination is a practice of using the historical associations with these letters to make predictions or understand messages from spirit. We did some group connection with the Ogham stone and we did our first pull from the Ogham deck that was made by Sierra and gifted to each of the participants.

Bullauns are hollowed out rocks and the rainwater that is collected there is said to have healing properties. One of the bullauns is associated with the mythical cow Glas Gaibhnenn, thus offering fertility and healing for women and children. We did blessings at the bullauns and we greeted a fairy circle.

Killarney Day- Part 1: Inch Beach, Kenmare stone circle, Killarney National park & Ladies ‘View….

Killarney Day was such a long exciting day full of magical moments for each of us everywhere, as such I put the day into sections to better catch the depth of this experience.  

Wednesday, after a quick stop to picturesque Inch Beach, we started with a trip to Kenmare Stone Circle. The “Druid’s Circle” is one of the largest Stone Circles in South West Ireland. This unusual egg shaped Stone Circle was built during the Bronze Age (2,200 – 500 B.C.), believed to be for ritual and ceremonial purposes. They were often orientated on certain solar and lunar events, such as the position of the sun on the horizon at the time of a solstice. Kenmare Stone Circle is unusual as its stones are still all intact with 15 standing boulders. and the center Boulder-Dolmen with a giant capstone. It is unclear as to what the meaning of this monument is, however, the Dolmens often marked the burial place of someone important. As we arrived we were blessed to have a beautiful young girl playing the flute for us and then we even had the circle all to ourselves for a while. We walked back through time as we drum journeyed to connect with the circle and the Ancient ones were most definitely speaking. The presuli bluestone crystal spheres that were gifted to each person fit perfectly in the notch at the center of the capstone. Serious magic was happening in this moment and our stones were singing. We wrote prayers for the Hawthorne trees for us, our loved ones, and our community back home. The Hawthorne tree represents a meeting place between worlds for mortals and that of the fairies in the other world.

South and west of the town of Killarney in Co. Kerry is an expanse of rugged mountainous country. This includes the McGillycuddy’s Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland. At the foot of these mountains nestle the world famous lakes of Killarney. Here, stretching across 10,000 hectares, lies Killarney National Park, with its unforgettable combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Killarney National Park incorporates the lakes as well as Kenmare and Muckross Estate. We took hundreds of pics along the way but the most incredible spot, Ladies’ View, was an add on at the suggestion of Ryan, our hunky sweet retreat driver and tour guide. Ladies View is an awe-inspiring scenic panorama, thought to be the most photographed view of Killarney’s stunning Lakes. Back in 1861, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert came to visit the region by horse and carriage, accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting. While on their way to Muckross House, where they were staying as guests, the Queen and her companions decided to stop for a picnic. It’s said that the group were so taken by the view, that it was named after them. Not only was the view stunning but we stumbled upon a magical little grove and all the little nature spirits were dancing there plain as the eye can see.

Killarney Day- Part 2: Torc waterfall, Muckross Estate, Carriage ride to ross castle…

The Devil’s Punchbowl is a high lake that flows out through a small river through the Killarney forest creating the 70-80 foot Torc Waterfall. Like all Irish landmarks, they have names derived from the legend they are associated with, with Torc Waterfall meaning “cascade of the wild boar”. The story has it that a man was bewitched and turned into a boar, he burst into flames and was plunged into devil punchbowl lake and the waterfall was formed. Torc flows over a bedrock of sandstone that’s been dated to Devonian times – this is the era when we find the first land vertebrates. Crazy long time ago! The intense flow of the waterfall was both cleansing and invigorating as the halfway point of our day. We made offerings to the water and took in all the healing energy.

We took a quick lunch at Muckross Estate, nineteenth century Victorian mansion, set against the stunning beauty of Killarney National Park. The house stands close to the shores of Muckross Lake, one of Killarney's three lakes, famed world wide for their splendor. Its old beauty gave us a few surprises, a pair of really old grandmother trees, stunning gardens, and an encounter with a murder of crows (a bit of foreshadowing perhaps…).

Then we were whisked off to our carriage ride guided by Cal and his good steed “Jes” (he said Jessica is really her name but that she doesn’t like it on account that its English). Cal had us sidesplitting with laugher the entire ride with his fantastic Irish humor. He took us a long jaunt through the forest to the gorgeous Ross Castle. We thought he was going to propose to one of our participants, but then he said that’s how he met his first wife. Lol!

We had a quick explore of Ross Castle (Caisleán an Rois), a 15th-century tower house and keep on the edge of Lough Leane, in Killarney National Park. It was the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan O'Donoghue.

Killarney Day- part 3: Muckross abbey

The original Muckross Abbey was founded by Cormac McCarthy Mor in around 1340. In a vision, McCarthy Mor was told to found a monastery nowhere else but on the ‘Carraig na Chiuil’ or ‘Rock of Music’. Cormac sent men out across the local area to search for this stone. They were just about to give up and return home in failure when they stopped for a rest upon a stone. Upon this stone they are said to have heard beautiful music without any apparent source. The Abbey was refounded for the Observatine order as a Franciscan Friary in 1448 by Donal McCarthy Mor (Cormac’s Great Grandson).

There is a native Yew tree growing in the center Cloister of the Abbey. This Yew tree is traditionally said to be as old as the Abbey itself. The Yew tree is now believed to have either predated the Abby making the tree over 600 years old. There is a story locally that the tree is haunted. It is said to bleed if one should be brave enough to nick the bark with a knife. What isn’t as well known is that the sap of the Yew tree is blood red for several hundred years of it’s life!

Muckross is also famous for ‘The miracle of Our Lady’, which tells the story of one of the raids on the abbey, during it the friars rescued the statue of the Virgin Mary and buried it under a dead tree to keep it hidden, the statue was saved, and the dead tree sprung back to life. There is no shortage of legends of ghosts, miracles, and weird occurrences of a paranormal nature at Muckross Abbey. So we should not have been surprised to have our own wild adventure at this hauntingly beautiful locale. The healing and power of this place will certainly take some serious unpacking time back home to fully integrate this sacred work.

Slea Head, dunquin pier…

Thursday morning we set off on Slea Head Drive, a very curvy scenic loop route, at the westernmost part of the Dingle Peninsula, in southwest County Kerry, Ireland. It shows a large number of fascinating attractions and stunning views on the western end of the peninsula. It's one of the best coastal drives in the world. Dunquin pier is legendary for its steep twists and turns as it takes you to the waters edge. It’s one of Ireland’s favorite and most photographed attractions. Even Hollywood couldn´t resist the magic of Slea Head and so the area became the setting of films like “Ryans´s Daughter”, “Far and Away” and Star Wars “The Last Jedi”.

The rugged nature throughout this area was so awe inspiring! At one of the look out spots we met a beautiful woman selling lovingly handcrafted ogham art and a fellow healer, Jon Hart, who heals with his flute and words of wisdom.

Blasket islands

Thursday afternoon we boarded a mini ferry boat to make the 20 min ride to the Blasket Islands. While they used to be inhabited, no one has lived on the Blasket Islands since the 1950s. The residents who lived there at the time were evacuated due to dangerous weather conditions and the mainland’s inability to protect them in the event of severe weather. These days the island is a treasure trove of nature’s creatures, including earthly beasts of sheep and wild donkeys, hares, and plover; and the marine life of seals, dolphins, whales, and sharks.

The Blasket Islands are seen as a place where true Gaelic culture reigned. Even though it was a difficult place to live, people here were proud of their history and everything they overcame. The Blasket Islanders passed down tales, legends, and folklore through generations, keeping the spirit of Irish storytelling alive. Through their captivating oral tradition, they preserved the collective memory of Ireland’s past, embracing a deep sense of community and identity. Their stories, rich with vivid imagery and profound wisdom, transcended the barriers of time and connected people to their roots. This is the island of inspiration, not to mention, literally teeming with fairies and nature spirits.

Two of us sang the Algonquin water song in honor of one of my teachers at the edge of the Island overlooking the ocean side and the seals swam in to listen. We found later that at the same time three other participants were sitting at the ledge above the seal beach listening to the seals song!

The fairy kingdom here is alive and well, we played a haunting song of the fairies that was written just off the coast of the Blasket. Have a listen if you like… Port na bPúcaí - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh & Billy Mag Fhloinn. We found place among the ruins and did a journey to our co-walker, or co-choisiche 'the one who steps with you, our fairy guide. The fairies played some mischief but we all made it back to the ferry safe and sound. The wildness of the place will always live in our spirit.

Dingle….

Dingle developed as a port following the Norman invasion of Ireland and by the sixteenth century, Dingle was one of Ireland's main trading ports, exporting fish and hides and importing wines from the continent of Europe.

The sounds of music filters onto the narrow hilly streetscape of the colorful old world town of Dingle drawing you into one of the many cozy pubs that line the cobblestone streets.

Well that was the description we gave of Dingle, and it so did not disappoint. We got in a little shopping and took in the color and sounds of this quaint Irish town. We had dinner and warmed up with some of the world famous Guinness (wow is it really delicious here!) and some Whiskey at a lovely little pub to close out our Thursday adventures.

along the way…

Literally everywhere you look in Ireland is just beautiful from the shops, the roadside, and even the train station! Also just had to share for our participants a few of our inside jokes and bits of magic from along the way…

Farewell…

And our sacred journey comes to a close, or rather a new road opens to us with surely more adventures ahead. This incredible opportunity to dive deep in the rich Celtic traditions will never be forgotten. Friendship, Spirit, and Magic will continue to flourish all around us. Our intuition abounds as we have called the Way of the Seer into our heart and soul.

Ireland may call us again, or we may go where the winds carry us next. I hope to see you there.