IRELAND COURSE SCHEDULE & RETREAT DETAILS September 1st September 10th, 2017 ARRIVAL & TRANSPORTATION FROM AIRPORT - Getting from Shannon Airport to Crann Og Eco Farm in Gort, Ireland Retreat participants arriving from Shannon Airport will need to take a taxi or bus 25-30 minutes to the town of Ennis where you can catch the mini-bus. Tell your taxi driver to take you to the tourist office in Ennis. The cost of the taxi from Shannon airport to Ennis town will be around 35 Euros, and can be shared with others on the retreat! ~ http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/passengers/ go/by-airport-cab.aspx LOCATION FOR MINI-BUS PICK UP IN ENNIS - Ennis Tourist Office, Ennis town 12pm September 1st to Crann Og Eco-farm $10 Euros per person - Bus Company - Owen Linane Transport to Crann Og Eco Farm will be from Ennis town at the Tourist Office at 12pm, Friday, September 1st. The transport from Ennis to Crann Og is about 30 minutes. Lunch will be waiting for you at 1pm at Crann Og. MONEY WHILE TRAVELING - You can get Euros from any ATM, there will be an ATM located at the Shannon airport. No need to do any currency exchange. Course begins Friday, September 1st ~ 1pm Crann Og Eco Farm, Gort, Ireland LODGING OPTIONS - Tuition pays for dorm style lodging. Those wanting private or double rooms at an extra cost please let us know. RETURNING TO SHANNON AIRPORT ~ September 10th - Boghill Eco Centre to Shannon Airport. The retreat will end after lunch on the 10th at Boghill Eco Centre. We will have transportation options for you back to the airport or to Ennis town on the 10th.
RETREAT LOCATIONS ~ Boghill Eco Centre & Crannog Eco Farm ~ ABOUT BOGHILL CENTRE The Boghill Centre is a residential venue holistic focused retreats and workshops in Ireland. Boghill offers a sustainable complex including organic vegetable and fruit gardens, a nature trail, a stone circle, a wildlife pond, two rush labyrinths, a chicken coop, an orchard and recently planted native woodland areas. The Boghill kitchen is renowned for its delicious nurturing vegetarian food sourced primarily from the adjoining organic garden and orchard. The Centre nestles on the edge of the Burren - a unique limestone area offering one of the most distinctive landscapes in Ireland, and a varied coast stretching south into the Cliffs of Moher. With its unusual geological features, its well preserved archaeology, its unique flora and fauna and its local culture, it is a magical area to explore. Situated in 50 acres of natural bogland in the Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark, North Clare, the centre is secluded and has a quiet atmosphere making it the perfect place to relax, unwind and renew your spirit. The nearest villages are Lisdoonvarna (2 miles) and Kilfenora (3 miles). ABOUT CRANNOG ECO FARM A beautiful paradise of 14 acres of natural gardens, trees, arches, domes and tunnels. Hand crafted living willow features meander through a contemplative garden and pond. Overlooking these is the bright yoga studio, serving also as meditation hall and training room. Accommodation in two cabins,
yurts and bell tents. Beautiful outdoor facilities in the Hogan round house. Gorgeous grounds, friendly animals and access to surrounding wilderness. Facilities are hand crafted from reclaimed and recycled materials, avoiding use of potentially toxic building materials. There are additional areas for camping, retreating, playing and many friendly animals. The simple quality of Crann Og has been recognised by Eco Tourism Ireland and it's strict certification criteria as Gold Standard EcoTourism. This certification is recognized and ratified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The ultimate in 'up-scale' recycle building and a comprehensive reduce, re-use and recycle program give Crann Og an incredibly low carbon footprint. The perfect location to get away from the hustle and bustle. So close to all the action, yet far enough away to be another world. Utter tranquillity in nature. Crann Og uses dry composting toilets, solar heated showers and generally keeps energy consumption to a minimum. All of the facilities, including the main house and Yoga studio, are constructed using re-use and recycle principles. Crann Og is also perfect for nature lovers seeking a quiet, restful break where you can hear only the sound of the wind and the birds in the trees, the animals of the forest and the farm. Connect with nature and relax away from the modern, hectic lifestyle. Learn to be and play in nature once again, leave rejuvenated, happy and peaceful!
Journeying with us into the magic of Ireland Throughout our 10 days we will be visiting ancient oak forests, dulse and kelp beds by the sea, standing stone ceremonial sites, holy wells, and rich ecosystems filled with ancient medicinal plants. Greet each day with ceremony and prayer at the stone circle, morning yoga and meditation, or a quiet walk through moss covered oak forest. As we journey each day with the Druid's sacred plants, we will weave in healing rituals, meditation, medicine making, and wild plant harvesting. The retreat will be located at two beautiful eco-lodges, Crannog Eco Farm and Boghill Eco Center, offering organic meals from their beautiful gardens. Each day of the course will center on journeying with sacred plants of Ireland, learning their medicine, magick, history, and botany. The retreat will include traditional healing practices, daily plant medicine classes, meditation, yoga, hiking, plant medicine journeys, medicine making, and ritual. Bodywork and massage will be available for those wishing to schedule healing sessions. Plants we will be journeying with throughout the retreat will include ~ Alder, Rowan, Elder, Hawthorn, Heather, Gorse, Bramble, Vervain, Ivy, Linden, Mallow, Meadowsweet, Angelica, Yarrow, Mistletoe, Nettles, St. John's Wort, Mugwort, Elecampane, Dock, Juniper, Oak, Dandelion, Burdock, Wild Garlic, Yew, Hazel, Apple, Cherry, Willow, Foxglove, Chickweed, Plantain, Mullein, Yellow flag, Thistle, Valerian, Dulse, Irish Moss, Kelp, Bladderwrack (and other seaweeds) and more! Throughout the retreat we will talk about both the medicine, ethnobotany, ecology, and sacred uses of each plant. As in all Gaia School courses, students learn through experiential learning with the plant teachers themselves. We will enjoy plant medicine walks, guided journeys with plant spirits, meditation and ritual with sacred plants, wildcrafting and medicine making with prayer and offerings. We will explore the history, ethnobotany, ecology, and landscapes of Western Ireland as we journey to meet healing land and sea plants.
DAILY ITINERARY All classes are optional, morning circles everyone is asked to attend. Friday, September 1st - ARRIVAL DAY ONE ~ Grounding ~ Folk & Traditional Herbalism of Ireland 1pm Lunch & Check in at Crann Og Eco Farm * Explore forest, gardens, & lodging. 4pm - 6pm - Welcome Circle & Introductions ~ Tea Meditation with Heather & Blessing Herbs Folk Herbalism with Ireland s Healing Plants & Ancient Pagan Traditions 7pm 8pm Dinner 8pm 9pm Optional Evening Circle, Ritual Offerings, & Restorative Yoga. Saturday, September 2nd DAY TWO ~ Celtic Sacred Trees, Oak & Moss Forest - Deer spirit 7 am 8 am Yoga Grounding & Centering 9:30 am 10:30 am - Welcome Circle, Introductions, Tea Meditation with Linden, and Blessing Herbs 11 am 1 pm Pagan Traditions & Wheel of the Year, Celtic Sacred Tree Calendar Oak & Moss Forest 4 pm 6 pm Medicinal Tree & Plant Walk ~ Sacred Trees of Ireland 8 pm 9 pm Restorative Yoga Optional - Juniper & Pine ~ Sauna sweat with Evergreens Sunday, September 3rd DAY THREE ~ Danu & The Faery Realms - Hawthorn & Brambles - Salmon spirit 7 am 8 am Yoga Opening the Heart 9:30 am 10:30 am - Morning Circle, Tea Meditation with Blackberry, and Blessing Herbs 11 am 1 pm Hawthorn ~ Gateways to Spirit Realms & The Heart
4 pm 6 pm Danu & The Faery Traditions, Journeying with Faery and River Spirits 8 pm 9 pm Fire Circle, Offerings, & Storytelling Optional ~ Sauna sweat with Mugwort Monday, September 4th DAY FOUR ~ Grandmother s Nourishing Traditions - Nettles - Cow & Sheep spirit 9:30 am 10:30 am - Morning Circle, Tea Meditation with Nettles and Blessing Herbs 11 am 1 pm Wild Foods & Nourishing Traditions of the Grandmothers Burdock, Dandelion, Nettles, Chickweed, Plantain, Watercress ss 4 pm 6 pm Roots & Lineages ~ Journeying with Elder Tree (Flower tea) & Ancestral Traditions 8 pm 9 pm Guided Journey to Ancestors & Grandmother Willow Optional - Juniper & Pine ~ Sauna sweat with Evergreens Tuesday, September 5th DAY FIVE ~ Boghill Eco Centre & Poulnabrone Tomb - Fox spirit 9:30 am 1pm - Travel to Boghill Eco Centre ~ Visit to Poulnabrone Ceremonial Tomb Grounding in Sacred Landscape 2 pm 4 pm Afternoon Break ~ (settling into lodging & eco centre) 4 pm 6 pm Meditation with Rowan Tree & Boghill Eco Centre Plant Medicine Walk 8 pm 10pm Restorative Yoga, Flute Music & Full Moon Offerings at Stone Circle
Wednesday, September 6th DAY SIX ~ Ocean Seaweeds & Holy Wells - Seal spirit 9:30 am 1pm - Harvesting Seaweeds. Ocean Rituals & Holy Wells ~ Offerings & Prayers Dulse, Kelp, Bladderwrack, & Irish Moss 4 pm 6 pm Tea Meditation with Blue Vervain & Selkie Seal Myths 8 pm 9 pm Meditation & Flute Music Thursday, September 7th DAY SEVEN ~ Arctic Plants of the Burren - Bear & Rabbit spirit 9:30 am 1pm - Burren Hike & Arctic Plant Walk ~ Sacred Landscape Ecology, History, Flora & Fauna of the Burren 4 pm 6 pm Journeying with Yarrow ~ Sacred Warriorship & Ancient Legends of Ireland 8 pm 9 pm Stone Circle Ceremony & Sacred Smoke Offerings Friday, September 8th DAY EIGHT ~ The Spiral & The Tree of Life ~ Raven & Crow spirits 9:30 am 10:30 am - Morning Circle, Tea Meditation with Yarrow and Blessing Herbs 11 am 1 pm Shamanic Journeying ~ The Sacred Tree ~ Above, Middle, and Below Realms Sacred Tombs of Ireland ~ Yew, Mistletoe, & Foxglove 4 pm 6 pm Journeying with Raven & Crow ~ Mugwort ~ Dark Goddess ~ Class & Tea Meditations
8 pm 9 pm Restorative yoga & tea meditation with Valerian Saturday, September 9th DAY NINE ~ The Sacred Flame & Brigid ~ Tending the Fire ~ Snake spirit 9:30 am 10:30 am - Morning Circle, Tea Meditation with Gorse & Broom, Blessing Herbs 11 am 1 pm Tending the Flames of Devotion ~ Brigid & The Sacred Fire ~ Snake spirit Angelica, St. John s Wort & Mullein 4 pm 6 pm Journeying with Elecampane ~ Class & Tea Meditation 8 pm 9 pm Stone Circle Ceremony & Fire Ritual ~ Closing Prayers & Offerings Sunday, September 10th DAY TEN ~ Closing Circle & Offerings ~ Bear spirit 7 am 8 am Yoga ~ Grounding for Transition 8 am 9 am - Breakfast 9:30 am 11:30 am - Morning Closing Circle & Offerings, Tea Meditation with Marshmallow Giving Thanks & Blessing Herbs to the Land ~ Sacred Seeds 11:30 am 1 pm Final Harvests, Medicine Making, & Preparing to leave Boghill Eco Lodge 3pm ~ Transportation to Ennis Town
PACKING LIST - Updated! * Warm clothes for cool nights - Plan on weather in the 50's - 70's Please bring enough clothes for 10 days of travel with no laundry. You can wear clothes more than once of course, and we recommend bringing rain gear if you can. * Sacred altar items, offerings to the land, or blessing herbs - Optional! It's wonderful to have folks add something to the altar, and if you have your own blessing herbs/resins and charcoal, please bring them. Or it might be some sage, juniper, cedar, evergreen resin etc. to offer. * Small jars for medicine making - We recommend 3-5 pint sized jars. You will likely want to make some medicine from plants there. We suggest packing some empty pint jars into your checked bag. You can then carry them back in your checked back - either herbal tinctures you've made or another medicinal preparation. You can only bring herbs back that are dry or tinctured. * Yoga mat & clothes - Let us know if you can bring your own yoga mat! We will try to bring a few extra. Only one of the retreat centers has yoga mats available for about half of us... So please bring one if you want to do yoga! * Waterproof good grip shoes - We will be walking on slippery rocks collecting and identifying sea weeds. We recommend having shoes that can get wet and that have a good grip. Optional for seaweed class. * Hiking shoes - We won't be doing heavy duty hiking. Just make sure you have shoes that work well for a hike. * Journal * Water canteen/vessel * Rain gear and/or umbrella * Headlamp or flashlights - Helpful at night! * Swim suit * Camera * Sun hat and sun protection * Bug spray (natural) * Toiletries (shampoo - biodegradable) * Travel mug