MAGICAL WOODLANDS OF ireland Retreat

EXPERIENCE THE HEALING EFFECTS OF FOREST BATHING

Called ‘Shinrin Yoku’ in Japan, forest bathing is the simple exercise of mindfully walking through the woods and taking in the atmosphere of the forest. This practice has a multitude of impressive physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits that you will learn about and experience as you immerse yourself in the magical woodlands of Counties Cork and Kerry.

COMMUNE WITH SACRED CELTIC TREES

During our woodland walks you will be introduced to the full array of sacred Celtic trees and learn about their healing properties. We will explore the myths and legends associated with these special trees and you will learn why ancient peoples so revered them. You will also learn about Ogham, an ancient Irish alphabet known as the ‘Celtic Tree Alphabet’, with each of its 20 characters referencing a different Celtic tree. The Ogham translation of your name will help you decipher the tree energies in your name and the related experiences that this attracts into your life.

CREATE YOUR OWN HEALING POTIONS

In the evenings you will learn how to use leaves, tree flowers, twigs, and bits of bark that we’ve collected along the way to brew medicinal teas and to make healing tree essences. You will also learn how to do medicinal smudging and make your own Celtic healing pouch, personalized with your name printed in Ogham. 

LEARN THE ABCS OF TALKING WITH TREES

Lots of people talk to trees, but how many people do you know who experience the trees talking back? Trees can and will communicate with any human who has an open heart, a receptive mind, a positive intention, and a proper understanding of the methods that trees use to communicate with people. During our week together you will learn everything you need to know to start actively conversing with trees. Trees are highly evolved spiritually and have much wisdom to share with those who want to receive it. 

FEEL THE HEALING ENERGIES OF HOLY WELLS AND PRAYER TREES

Ancient holy wells can be found throughout Ireland and nearby most of them you will find one or more sacred prayer trees covered with rags, ribbons, and gifts. These tokens are called clouties which are used as tools of intention to anchor blessings of restored health for oneself or a loved one. Pilgrims have flocked to these sites for thousands of years. The uplifting energy at these places is extraordinary and easily sensed.

SPECIAL EXPERIENCES & PLACES WE’LL VISIT

Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve

The reserve is only ten minutes from Ardnagashel House (our home for the week), so we’ll do several walks here to explore the various trails. You will learn about the powers and healing properties of oak trees, and holly, and mushrooms, and more, as we meander through the woods and stroll along the banks of the Glengarriff River. We will surely see a few red squirrels, a native species who has occupied this area since the last Ice Age, and we might get lucky and spot a freshwater Pearl Mussell in the river. This rare species lives to over 120 years old, making it the longest living animal in Ireland.

Garnish Island (Ilnacullin)

A hundred years ago a few enlightened individuals with a deep love of Nature decided to create this place. The land was mostly a barren hunk of rock before then. What you will see here is what happens when man unites with Nature in a loving, working partnership. Thousands of nature spirits helped with the job and remain on the island still, tending to the many trees, plants, and flowers. As a special treat, our ferry ride to Ilnacullin will take us past Seal Island, where you’ll get to see the Glengarriff harbor seals basking on the rocks, posing for photographs, and swimming around without a care in the world. A good model for us all!

Blarney Castle and Rock Close

A visit to Blarney Castle is a very touristy thing to do, but not to be missed. For the bold, you can kiss the legendary Blarney Stone and start your collection of great stories to tell when you get home. We’ll photograph you to prove that you did it. Lesser know on the castle estate is an amazing garden called Rock Close that is filled with extraordinary trees.

Liss Ard Estate and Sky Garden

The Liss Ard estate includes an impressive 60 hectares of gardens, ponds and forest, and has been planned to reveal a collection of ‘garden rooms’, including: the lakeside walk, the waterfall garden, the woodland garden, the water garden and arboretum, the wildflower meadow, and the otherwordly Sky Garden that is an awesome earthwork that was designed by famed American artist James Turrell.

Sneem Fairy Forest and Holy Well

This is a magical place and home to hundreds of fairies. There is a sacred spring along the forest trail with powerful healing energy – you will surely be able to feel it. If you know someone who needs healing energy (maybe you?) you will have the opportunity to say a prayer and tie a cloutie to one of the prayer trees that surround the spring.

Gougane Barra National Forest Park

The name Gougane Barra means ‘rock of Barra’ and the word ‘Barra’ relates to Saint Finbarr, the patron saint of Cork. In 1938 forest cultivation began in the area and in 1966 Gougane Barra became a national park, spanning over 350 acres that include twenty tree species and many varieties of flora and fauna. St. Finbarr is said to have built a monastery on the small island in Gougane Barra Lake during the 6th century and another monastery was built at the end of the 17th century on the same site. It is no surprise that holy men were called to this location. A profound spiritual quality is unmistakable here – a perfect place for tuning into yourself as we merge with Nature on the forest paths.

OUR HOME FOR THE WEEK

Ardnagashel House is a spectacular home situated on its own 20-acre wild woodland garden by the shores of Bantry Bay. The property is host to exotic specimen trees and shrubs from various parts of the world – our own private forest for the week!

YOUR GUIDE

Michele Fitzgerald is a life-long student and teacher of practical spirituality, a highly sensitive empath, and co-creator of the Healing Power of Trees website. Along with many helpers from the Nature Kingdom, she will serve as your guide and teacher throughout this retreat. Michele has been introducing nature lovers to the magical woodlands of Ireland for over twenty years. She has been communicating with trees and the invisible beings of the Nature Kingdom for decades and has a special affinity with tree spirits and their helpers.

COST TO PARTICIPATE

$3,200 PER PERSON

Price includes one night’s lodging at Jury’s Inn in Cork City (our meet-up location), 7 nights lodging at Ardnagashel House, ground transportation throughout the week, entrance fees to paid attractions, ferry fee to Garnish Island, and breakfasts on all days of the retreat. Price also includes guided forest bathing experiences, other spiritual and health-boosting activities involving trees, and various site-seeing adventures. Package price does not include airfare to and from Ireland.  Rate quoted above is per person and is based on double-occupancy room accommodation.

GIVING BACK TO THE TREES

There was a time in the ancient past when Ireland was covered with forests. Natural events, the clearing of forests for farming, and the use of wood by humans for housing, ship building, and more, greatly impacted Ireland’s tree population, along with the forest wildlife and the all the invisible beings who lived in these woods. By the start of World War I, only 1% of the country had tree cover. While there has been some reforestation since that time, the forest cover is still only 10%, the lowest percentage of any country in Europe.

The decimation of Ireland’s tree population is a great tragedy that many Irish people are working to amend. To help with this restoration effort, 10% of your enrollment fee will be donated to the Tree Council of Ireland and the non-profit Crann ‘Trees for Ireland’ organization (“crann” is Irish for ‘tree’). Both organizations are playing major roles in the reforestation of Ireland and in educating the public about the importance of trees to the well-being of Earth and all her inhabitants.