Ireland- November 2021 (6)

Information posted by St. Kevin's Church Labyrinth

    Labyrinths have been used for over 4000 years as meditative tools for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. They create a representation of the winding and unwinding of a thought or process for a person to contemplate anything, or nothing at all and still their mind. Being renewed after walking the labyrinth on the grounds of St. Kevin's Parish Church above the Glendalough Hermitage Center, I returned to the Upper Lake. We pulled into the parking lot, being recognized by the kind young man who was concurrently staffing the concession stand and the gate. It had grown visibly busier in the time it took us to leave and come back, and yet his positive attitude and friendliness was undeterred. It made me happy to know such a place had such a person as steward. The Labyrinth Stone on the sign above is at the visitor's center on display, but I did not visit it this trip.

Stone wall and 'seat' in Glendalough

    I began to walk the short distance back over to the Upper Lake, and instead found myself drawn to a low, circular stone wall enclosing a gravel area a few steps down into the earth. One of the stones jutted out enough for me to take a seat and I sat there with myself, once again surrounded by the deep energy of the place. I imagined the thousands of pilgrimages that had been taken to the site over the centuries, and was again struck by poignancy of having this sacred place be the first place on my journeys. I suppose we will be pilgrims of a different sort, pilgrims and stewards of our own spirituality. Sitting there, I also felt settle into myself the mantle which I would be wearing for each person on the journey. It is a responsibility that continues to this day, and probably always will, to grow and transform with deeper purpose and humility. There began the realization that so much will be up to me, yet it must also remain not about me at all. I asked for the support and help of those that had come before me, my ancestors, and their ancestors, and I felt the circle fill with their support and love. I cried in gratitude and thanked them, breathing deeper than I had all day. 

Walk to Upper Lake

    I knew it was getting time for us to check into our first place, so I finished up in the circle and walked the short distance back over to the Upper Lake. I enjoyed watching some ducks on the edge of the lake for a moment, and left an offering of a stone and a feather on the banks of the lake, a symbol of my gratitude for everything this place has been and continues to be for me. 

    It was around 2:30 by this time, so I returned to the car, where my brother was again dozing in the passenger seat. His patience during this trip becomes a real theme, for which I was constantly grateful. We decided to check into our accommodation for the night and then travel up to Wicklow and go to a bookstore where he had pre-purchased a few books, another theme. We drove the 15 minutes to the Meetings of the Waters, located where the Avonbeg and Avonmore rivers meet to form the Avoca River. I had emailed the property in our weeks leading up to the trip to let them know of my intention of staying with them when I traveled through with groups, and we were shown around the property by a lovely young lady whose name unfortunately escapes me at the moment and I failed to get written down. Nevertheless, she graciously showed us to our room and then proceeded to give us a tour of each room in the property since we happened to arrive before any other current guests. I am happy to say the place looks perfect for the tour, with many of the rooms overlooking the river out back. It also has a large back terrace and patio for people to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The Meetings in Avoca

    What most excited me, however, was the little tidbit of information our guide mentioned almost in passing. The surrounding area was very big for mining over the last century plus, although all mining activity has since ceased. Across the river were copper mines and I find it very exciting to think that copper veins run all under the ground in this area. Copper is perhaps best known for its conductivity, and I loved finding out that our first night in Ireland would be at a place that is amplifying the conduction of the energies that are being awoken. It was the perfect affirmation of my strong felt sense that this inn, which I had driven by many, many times when I lived in Wicklow, was the only place to stay to begin the journeys. I was delighted to feel like I was on the right track for the journey.