Becoming a Wise Woman
Terri Conroy B.A (Hons) H.Dip (Ed) M. Phil, Dip AK
I live in a little cottage on a small holding in Connemara in the west of Ireland. My spiritual life turns to Mother Earth and I am in service to Her by working in a practical way on the land growing fruit and vegetables, herbs, flowers and trees. I also teach herbal medicine courses, a herbal apprenticeship and I lead Plant Wisdom – Wise Woman Training – an initiatory path which reconnects us to the Goddess, to our true path.
The Plant Wisdom – Wise Woman Training is a very special, one year course which runs from Samhain to Samhain. One can join at any time as the Wheel of the Year is cyclical. The training aims to foster a deep relationship between the plant world, the Goddess and yourself, the apprentice. Journeying around the Celtic Wheel of the Year we will find Plant Allies and meet the Goddess in her various forms. We will celebrate the eight fire festivals – Samhain, Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Bealtaine, Summer Solstice, Lughnasadh, Autumn Equinox and Samhain weaving myth and reality in this world and other worlds, rekindling a love for and a relationship with our land and with the Earth.
To deepen our connection we will recall our Celtic heritage through folklore, story and music whilst we craft our sacred tools, remembering how our ancestors respected the Goddess. We will come to understand how everything is alive and filled with spirit. We will spend time in Nature here in Connemara, walking the land, wandering the sea shore and communing with the plants. The land of Connemara is imbued with an unseen presence that can be felt when walking with gratitude for the Beauty of Nature.
As we craft our magical tools, (beginning with our Crane Bag) at each of the fire festivals you will learn how to journey with the Drum and with Dance. We will practice ritual and ceremony as you prepare for a Vision Quest at the end of the Wheel.
At every step the plants will be with us, forging our connection to Mother Earth. As we journey with the plants to the Goddess we will undergo personal transformation remembering that everything is alive and Love is all there is. Crafting will include,
- how to build an altar
- how to make sacred, magical tools
- how to journey to other realms
- how to make plant remedies and flower essences
- making ritual and ceremony
- preparation for a Vision Quest
as well as recalling our folklore and music.
It is my belief that to save our planet, (or rather to save humankind), we must follow a path that leads us to the Goddess via the plant world. If we can inculcate a relationship with Nature and with the plants then we will become a force that will work with the planet. To reforge that connection with the Goddess and Divine Feminine, energy will ripple out from each individual and bring about the change we need to see, a change from exploitation of Earth’s resources that harms all, to collaboration and appreciation.
The plants have been here for 700 million years whereas humans have only been around in our present state for about 200,000 years. Is it possible that plants have something to teach us? YES!!!! Plants are eager to share their wisdom with us and Plant Wisdom – Wise Woman Training is a vehicle for them to do so.
Each cross quarter festival, (Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasadh), and each cardinal festival, (Solstices and Equinoxes) take place on the Saturday nearest to the festival date and costs €100 per person. This includes an organic, vegetarian lunch and teas. Participants are encouraged to bring food to share so that we all nourish and support each other.
Dates for 2018/2019 are as follows:
- Samhain 3rd November 2018
- Winter Solstice 15 December 2018
- Imbolc 2nd February 2019
- Spring Equinox 23rd March 2019
- Bealtaine 4th May 2019
- Summer Solstice 22nd June 2019
- Lughnasadh 3rd August 2019
- Autumn Equinox 21st September 2019
- Samhain 2nd November 2019
- Winter Solstice 14th December 2019
So tune into your wild side, the side that is aching with loss, the side that wants to remember the Divine Feminine and join us on the path of becoming a Wise Woman. This course is open to all and can also be taken alone, as a lone retreat. Contact me for more details. Please note dates may be subject to variation.
My path in life is to heal and teach working holistically to bring balance and harmony to mind, body and soul and to tread softly on this Earth.