Ireland Landscape

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all! You're probably well aware of Ireland's most internationally celebrated holiday, held on March 17th to honor the patron saint Patrick, but what do you know of Ireland's holy women? Women who slew dragons, performed miracles, and leveled fortresses single-handedly

From the Magic of the Land series describing a Labyrinth created at a Retreat Centre.

The passing of a popular and favourite tree

In the Magic of the Land blog

An article from the Magic of the Land blog.

A blog in the Magic of the Land series.

Solstice lasts for about 5 days... and over that period sunrise in Dublin area is around 4.57am and sunset 21.57 (9.57pm). On the June solstice, the sun reaches it's northernmost point and the Earth’s North Pole tilts directly towards it, at about 23.4 degrees. The light of the sun on the wheel of the year stands in the mid-point, before moving into the Darkening. This is the time of the longest day - full of light and shadow.

This is the Feast of Bealtaine. The light of the sun in the Wheel of the Year stands in the south east. This is the time of spring flowering, this is the time of the 'shining fire' light. Our celebrations are in the light of day.

2019 - Light - Dalgan Park A lovely day yesterday in Dalgan Park for Beltane. The theme was Light. We gathered together at the carpark. Abundance, love, accepting, gratitude, peace, joy, fun, light, happy awareness, live, and keeping it simple, were some of the words shared yesterday as we walked in silent mediation, using the senses as we went into the woods.

Hi Everyone. Welcome to the Magic of the Land and some rare moments I'm sure you have all experienced at some stage of your life. It was sparked off for me when I saw a photo of a white rainbow taken over the Scottish moor 22nd of November 2016. Melvin Nicholson was out on the moor south of Glen Coe on Sunday when the unbelievably beautiful white rainbow appeared.

This gull looks out, over the Irish Sea, from it's wall on the promenade at Ayr. If we take the time to look around us, rather than keep our eyes directed downward at our path, we see the tell tale signs and there is “no mistaking” where we are.

Acknowledgement Each place has a unique quality and energy and it will always be surrounded by local legends and folklore. Depending on our cultural background, on our own experience and whether we operate from our emotional, physical or mental body we have different ways of noticing the Sense of Space, Spirit of Place and / or Genus Loci.

At a Tara Celebrations get-together, or when we visit Tara on our own, one particular bird often shows up.... and appears to join in with us.... Quotes taken from our archives of pre 2018 celebrations Samhain 2008 - Tara. The black crows circled as we circled... and summer turned to winter in the season of samhain... Winter Solstice 2017 - Tara. Crow takes up a high vantage place on Patrick's head.

How is the genus loci recognised as our multi-sensory world awakens in the rebirth of the land at Springtime? In attentive observation, when walking and sitting, humans imagine the ephemeral qualities of place into more anthropomorphic forms. Understanding of energies, arises through story, poetry, and every rock, tree and spring gains an identifiable spirit, which can then be named and assigned a personality. In Ireland the 'feeling' or 'spirit' is transferred into the story of the place…

In Commonly Asked Questions we refer to the genus loci or spirit of place and suggest before a ceremony we would ask if it would be willing to welcome us. Who do we mean by this? The Genus Loci is a Latin phrase originating in the old Roman belief that every place had a protective spirit or deity. This is an expression of the essence of the place. Yet, the understanding that every place has a guardian or energy / essence connected to it is not just Roman.

Mandala means ‘circle’ and represents wholeness, symbolising that life is never ending. The circle being endless represented in Pagan beliefs and practises. The Wheel of The Year, Pentacle, Brigid’s Cross, etc. They appear in many of the world’s other religions having a spiritual significance and are used for meditation purposes allowing the individual to become at one with the universe. Probably not attainable for the majority of us!