“Spring offers me   a chance to look inside myself and find   a new playfulness”

In Ireland  February  1st  La  Feile  Bhride(  Brigid’s  day ) traditionally marks the beginning  of  Springtime.  This year  Brigid’s Day arrived on the  wings of  Storm  Brigid, with lashing rain and  gale  force winds,  blew us  into  a legendary  beginning of  spring! The storm coincided with the “celebration of Brigid of Faughart Festival, now in its 7th year, in Dundalk Faughart and Ravensdale Co. Louth. www.brigidoffaughart.ie

Faughart  Co. Louth is  traditionally  considered to be    the birthplace of  Brigid,  Celtic  Christian  saint, who later founded the wonderful  double  monastery in Kildare town  .  However the storm did  not deter the many people  who made their  way  through  floods and  wild  weather to be  at Faughart  on that special day! As is often the case in Ireland  the  weather  changes  rapidly  and on Feb  2^nd  we  walked our 5mile ( 8 km )pilgrimage from Dundalk  via  Fatima  Toberona  and Kilcurry  to  Faughart shrine in balmy  sunshine.  Storm Brigid   felt  like  a baptism and cleansing  of winter energy which would in time  allow each of us   to enter into  Springtime  with its  energy of new possibilities,  born out of that  playful energy that can be  felt in  springtime.. During the weekend February 14th -16^th, I facilitated a retreat called “Awakening to springtime” in the Galilee retreat Centre in Arnprior Ontario Canada with 21 women. Outside there was little sign of springtime an s the land lay dormant under a thick blanket of snow! Inside however the hearts  and  minds  of all gathered  were certainly  awakening  to  the spring within themselves as they  said farewell to the  winter  energy of the Cailleach  and  welcomed  Brigid’s  energy to  breathe life into the mount of dead  winter wherever it  still lingered within them.. During the retreat we experienced much joy and playfulness together and we held the vision that this would unfold into the many new creations uniquely born out of the heartfelt and soulful passion of each person   gathered.  For the past week I have enjoyed the snow-covered landscape of Vermont while resting reading and reflecting in the beautiful Immanuel   Retreat Centre in Bellows Falls Vermont.  While there I   re-read Eckhart Tolle’s masterpiece   “The power of Now “and realized that this is probably one of the most important books that I have read in the past 10 years.  As I  spent time  with this book  , I became  acutely  aware of the importance  of not merely reading this book but of the need in me to commit myself to  the practises  it offers.  For some time now I have   a sense that 2014 may be the year in which a big shift in human consciousness may take place. Having re-read Eckhart Tolle’s book I know that this will only happen as each of us, you and I, make the decision to become more conscious of our own inner environment.  Eckhart  says  “ If you get it right on the inside the outside will fall into place “  p 64 This may indeed  be   a challenging  statement  for us  who are more  at ease  with “Fixing “  the outside.  I also know that this is an important part of the journey into greater consciousness and freedom at this time in our human evolution.

So I wish you much joy and playfulness and many blessings as the year unfolds and the light increases! May it light your way towards Joy and peace in your heart and in the world

Le Beannachtai Dolores

Feb 22nd 2014