Imagine a journey where your fellow travelers are a part of the same soul group and speak your language, the sights and sounds fill your very being with visions, and metaphysical insights and transformation is a part of the journey. That was my experience.
Our Pilgrimage
Edgar Cayce tells us that we form soul groups for various purposes. This must be true as I found on my A.R.E. Tour to Ireland that our soul group immediately recognized each other. Conversations that normally would’ve taken hours, days, or weeks to initiate flowed easily.
We experienced sights and wonders each day, beginning with my first “holy grail”—the Library at Trinity College and the Book of Kells, continuing to stone circles, monoliths, gardens, and a litany of ancient sites. We were entertained by the Merry Ploughboys, young Irish dancers and folk singers; a lady whom we swore was part fae singing on the steps to St. Kevin’s Monastery; the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, and the Knappogue Castle Banquet.
Each day, John Van Auken led our tour with a wealth of information from the Cayce readings. Our local guide, Paddy Kennedy, not only maneuvered our rock-star worthy coach through narrow roadways with the aplomb of a scooter rider, he told us tales and legends and history. Other members of our soul group shared meditations, music, songs, exercises, life living in Tibet, healing, astrology, psychic and mediumistic visions, palm reading, past-life insights, and the Four Elements Dance. Then there were those of Ireland who shared our journey: hotel owners, chefs, and site guides; faeries, forest gnomes, and leprechauns; sheep, cows, deer, and the flying beauty of butterflies and birds. The family-owned hotels hosted us with charming accommodations and fed us like royalty.
Every morning, our group meditated to help us start the day with added grace. We journeyed through forests and paths over water, up hills (and more hills), through a labyrinth, past tombs and stone circles, and we felt the Earth dance at the Stone of Destiny on the Hill of Tara. Group meditations, such as at Christ Church and the Four Knocks passage tomb, opened our soul group to personal healing and transformation. At each and every place we visited, we walked as pilgrims, with our day bags on our shoulders or backs.
Mystical Wonders
Old Mellifont Abbey greeted us with the sound of mystical bells, prayerful chanting followed by the sounds of everyday life to remind us to continue our pilgrimage in the world. On a path by a magical stream, I left an offering stone with a fairy hole I had brought from home. We watched the colorful water sprites dancing, and it seemed the offering was accepted.
The day we journeyed to Four Knocks began with a gift of crystals a fellow traveler had brought with her from Arkansas. Then we got a bit lost and were stopped by what Paddy called an “Irish Traffic Jam”—many black-and-white cows and one rust bull walking to the day’s pasture. Once inside the unlit Four Knocks barrow, John led a powerful meditation. The engravings and energy generated were breathtaking, and orbs were seen by many and singing heard by some.
On top of the Hill of Tara, we reached out to touch the Stone of Destiny and felt the earth move. For some, it was like a dance or a gentle swaying or the gentle revolution of the Earth around her heart. At that morning’s meditation, we had made a pact: if anyone saw fairies, we would alert the others. Walking down from Tara, I heard a light tinkling and saw golden light coming from some of the little yellow flowers. Closing my eyes, I could see the faeries. I spread the word. The golden orbs and little ones were seen by many. Others visited the faerie trees and communed with our wee friends there.
We saw orbs, fairies, and gnomes’ heard wonderful music; and shared healing at Glendalough. Our group walked the labyrinth and many walked the forest at this mystical site. Waiting for a noisy group to make their way down the stone steps at Glendalough, we realized that we considered ourselves not as tourists, but as pilgrims on a sacred journey.
Kenmare became a bit of home for us the four nights we stayed. We participated in two rituals at the stone circle, both times with others temporarily joining us. The Three Sisters taught us the Four Elements Dance, and it was full of healing and fun. Here our hostess/hotel owner hugged us with tears in her eyes as we left.
Alive
Loughcrew or Witches Hill was an epiphany for me. The energy there is alive rather than slumbering as at some better-known sites. Loughcrew is regularly sung back to life with Earth offerings. On this rainy day, I was reminded that a pilgrimage is not necessarily easy, but forces us to examine our inner motives and resources. It took every bit of my spiritual and physical reserves—with help from the Earth herself—to make it to the top. Once on top, the living energy of this site strongly affected me as it connected me with many other sacred sites, and I began to cry.
Although Loughcrew was the first site that felt alive, there were many others, including one where the ancient guardian lives again. I strongly feel our Ireland soul group included more than just us pilgrims—it included the Earth, Nature Spirits, and Fae, as we shared energies, healing, laughter, and tears and experienced a mystical transformation.
Edgar Cayce was right when he said soul groups form for special purposes.
Explore the Celtic sites of Scotland and the sacred mysteries of Iona with John Van Auken on the Knights Templar and Celtic Wisdom tour from May 13-27, 2017. For a complete list of upcoming tours, visit Edgarcayce.org/tours.
