Ireland Blog #2
March 27-31 2023
Remembrance
The Wild Song moves
Undisturbed
Ready again for your arrival.
It bends with the rhythms of time,
Not forsaken
Not forgotten
Nearly resting,
Awaiting illumination.
Her shadow is a holy place
Reverberating
A time before time
Do you remember the song
That sang itself into the dark
And birthed breath
Memory ignited
A pilgrimage
Like the alchemy of flame
Into the forge
Like silk though fingers
Nothing in the world could claim
Such a beautiful melody.
Our path meandered along the sea, between Doolin and Galway. We stopped a few times along the way to speak and be with the rocks and the salt. When we got to Galway we enjoyed a delicious cup of coffee from Coffeewerk + Press. I remember coming here with my family five years prior, the quality of the coffee still imprinted into my memory. They sold some locally roasted coffee as well as Onyx and some other notable roasters. It was sweet to have an Onyx cup as it reminded me of home. After some journaling and work in the coffee shop, we walked around to some different stores, finding some treasures for loved ones and a couple boons for ourselves. We both got an Aran sweater (as you do when in Galway).
The next day we went back into Galway for some coffee, and found ourselves in a magical bookstore. I found nearly 10 books to look through to see which ones we would want, when a man walked by. I let him know I could move, “no bother”, he replied, and that paused looking closer at the books I had lain about on the ground. “I’ve read all of those”, he said, and then shared which ones he enjoyed and which ones did not quite hit the mark. He was a very mystical being, reminding us that much of the wisdom of the Ancients were not in books, but rather still very much alive in the land. He suggested we go to Lough Gur and the Grange Stone Circle in Co. Limerick, which was already our plan for the next day. After the bookstore we went to the seaside, where we sang and wept and danced, and dove naked into the waves right as dusk arrived.
I realized that night that I had left my shopping bag at one of the shops. The next morning we went back to the shop I thought I had left it at. While it was not there, a woman overheard us and said that a bag had been left in the bathroom of a pub up the way. That was it! We were so grateful that woman piped in and let us know. We got the back and one more quick cup of coffee, and we were on our way!
We arrived to the Grange Stone Circle. Our experience was so rich and pure, we chose not to document it. From there we went to Lough Gur, an enchanted and sacred lake. We sang to the waters and communed with a beautiful swan-kindred.
Just before dusk we arrived to my Sarah and her families house. I had only met Sarah online through two different courses: Whapio’s 1 Year Birthkeepers Cohort, and Scoil Scarte, a 9 week Journey into the remembering of Gaelic language. She lives with her husband, Padraig, and her six wonderful children in their sweet and most welcoming home. We had a delightfully joyful night, the eldest son Noah giving up his epic space for us to sleep.
The next morning Em and I closed this part of our journey together. Em headed home to her family, and I stayed here with Sarah and hers. My friend Laura will be meeting up with me in the next coming days where another part of this journey will continue. The rest of the day consisted of a beautiful walk with the children, and loads of laughs and delicious food.
I spent the next few days on my own staying with Sarah and her amazing family. They were all incredibly generous and joyous to be around. I was able to deeply drop in and connect with the land and Goddess Aine. I am so grateful that this family is now so close to my heart, and I will surely be back!
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more :)
~Savannah