The Spirit of Ireland

explore the Mystic Path of Fire…

For our 2019 Ireland retreat with Herbalists and Flower Essence Practitioners Lupo Passero & Brooke Sullivan.  We are excited to share our great grandmothers birthplace with you and to explore these ancient lands of magic and gentle mysticism, quite a nurturing seat of Soul to be found on the planet. This retreat is a collaboration between The Wild Temple & Twin Star Tribe, two amazing, groundbreaking schools spanning from California to Connecticut and offering an exciting range of classes, programs, workshops and retreats around the world. Join us for this adventure of a lifetime & discover for yourself the magic of Ireland’s great heart.

This trip is perfect for all levels of herbal experience; whether you are a beginner, the “budding” herbalist or if you’re an experienced herbalist and would like a deeper understanding of sacred plant medicine. Each day will include time with our herbal allies, interaction with the local plants and time for exploring the rich history of this sacred land. At the end of this tour, each participant will be awarded a Certificate of Completion to commemorate what we have discovered and learned on this trip.

Program Dates: Aug 1-7, 2019

Itinerary

Day 1: Pick Up At Dublin Airport

11am to depart for Lunch in Mullingar and then to the powerful and mystical site of the ancient Beltane fires, Uisneach, considered the navel center of Ireland. Here we will walk the grounds learning about the history and lore with our native guide and the keeper of the grounds {said to be a Sidhe guardian} and do a rich opening ceremony involving the sacred power of the legendary Catstone (Stone of Division). From the hills we will travel west to check in at a luxury hotel in Sligo in time for dinner.

Day 2: Knocknashee

Known as the legendary “Hill of the Faeries” and is one of Ireland’s seven most sacred hills. The name comes from the Irish “knock” (cnoc) meaning “hill” and “shee” meaning “fairy”. At the foot of this his legendary “Hill of the Fairy’s” is Gilligan’s World which is the original home of Lupo’s Great Grandmother Mary and where her family resided for centuries. On the grounds you can find a Dolman, all 13 sacred celtic trees and a Faerie Ring (Celtic Ring Fort) on the property that sits at the base of Knocknashee. There is a very rare white hawthorn tree on the grounds as well! Breakfast + dinner included.

In the evening we arrive at our lovely retreat center for dinner and our home base for the duration of the trip.

Day 3: The Burren

Enjoy a leisure filled day at our our luscious 52 acre retreat center. Complete with trails, 2 labyrinths, a stone circle, herbal gardens, orchard, pond and more…we will explore as well as continue our studies with the native plants of Ireland. After dinner, for folks interested, we can visit the town of Galway for traditional Irish Music and pub experience. Breakfast, lunch + dinner are included.

Day 4: Sage’s Cave

Walk along the sea, on ‘limestone flagstones’, taking in the sea air. Here we may also find flowers to make essences. Afterwards, we will go the short distance to a very magical cave where a sage from 800 AD meditated for over 7 years. There is truly a shimmer in the air when approaching this very sacred space, complete too with another holy spring and flowers to make medicines. Breakfast, lunch + dinner are included.

Day 5:  Magical Wooded Walk

This is a 2 hour walk over the ever changing landscapes of the Burren. Through wooded areas that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write the Hobbit, across meadows, “lunar landscapes” that are a signature of this area, lovely views of inland Burren and an ancient Holy well + wish fulfilling tree, this place is a delight. Expect to possibly see the Druid on site as perhaps a few unicorns:) Feedback from past participants: “this is quite possibly the most magical and best walk I have ever done in my life.” Followed by tea and cookies at the local farm and then a delicious lunch back home. Breakfast, packed lunch + dinner are included (but not the tea + cookies)

Day 6: Cliffs Of Moher

No trip to Ireland would be complete without a visit to these majestic cliffs. Situated in County Clare and bordering the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights. Standing 230 metres above the ground at their highest point and 8 km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara. A famous Harry Potter scene was also taken in one of the caves, and when the weather is good, is easily seen from the cliffs. Breakfast + packed lunch included

Day 7: Check Out & Airport Departure

Journey to the Airport to arrive at Dublin Airport by 12:30 for flights to depart no less than 3 hours after this time. (International travel requires 3 hours to check in and move through security). Once dropped off at the airport our tour completes, and people source own accommodation for night of August 7th if necessary. Breakfast included

HIGHLIGHTS​:

• Intimate group size, not to exceed 18 people

• Daily herb and essence classes, workshops & ceremonies

• Medicine making

• Local Guide/s

• Certificate of Completion

• Completely escorted

• Meditation (and optional yoga) with Brooke to embody the ancient teachings and power of the plants

• Ceremony with Lupo and our native guide to embrace the magic of Ireland + its lore

• Making flower essences from the flowers and sacred waters of Ireland

• NO CROWDS!! We visit mostly secret, hidden gems (plus 1-2 “touristy” places

• “Home Base” is a retreat space with labyrinths, ponds and herbal gardens

PRICE (​does not include airfare​): $2400 PAY IN FULL

• Deposit: $800 due immediately to reserve your spot. Space is very limited as we keep the group size very small. This is a non-refundable deposit, but is negotiable if we can sell your spot.

• Payment ONE due by April 30, 2019: Payment of $800.00

• Payment TWO / Final Payment due by May 31, 2019: Balance due $800.00 

Your Guides…

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Transfer to/from Dublin airport (DUB) at designated times

• Single and Shared room accommodations – we will do our best to facilitate single rooms for all travelers in need.

• All breakfasts, most lunches and some dinners as specified in the itinerary

• All entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary

• Airport pickup/drop off and all ground transportation as per the itinerary

• Herbalism classes taught by Lupo Passero & Brooke Sullivan (Community Herbalists & Flower Essence Practitioners)

• Meditation + (Optional Yoga) with Brooke

• Medicine Making

• Certification in Plant Spirit Wisdom

• Local Guides

NOT INCLUDED:

• Airfare; ​please do not finalize/purchase any airfare​ until we have confirmed that this departure will go. If it does not go due to lack of participants, all funds will be refunded. We are keeping watch on airfare trends and are happy to help coordinate air travel if so desired.

• Travel insurance (we very strongly recommend this, see registration form for more info)

• Some meals as specified in Itinerary

• personal expenses/spending

• alcohol/drinks

• any transfers not mentioned in the itinerary

• paper/notebooks and whatever you like to have for note-taking

• All participants are required to bring 12 one-ounce amber bottles with dropper tops, these can be easily ordered on amazon for less than a dollar a piece.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

• Travel documents ​- A valid passport is needed.

• Weather ​- It is much like the weather in the Northeast, but perhaps with a bit cooler. For a better feel, you can check the weather online to get an idea of what to expect.

• Money (Euros) – ​Our personal experience has been to use the local ATMs to get Euros. There is, of course, a fee. Check with your bank. Consider the convenience, security and ease of having access to your money most anywhere you go and the fee suddenly seems reasonable. Do NOT use Traveler’s Checks – there will be no place to cash them in. Please also keep in mind that credit cards are not always as widely accepted as in the US.

• Baggage ​- we ask that you pack as lightly as possible. Our transportation has limited baggage stowage.

• Backpacks and water bottles ​- are recommended and are very useful for our daily outings.

• Notebooks​ – consider what kind of notebook is most comfortable for you as we will not always be in a “classroom” setting.

• Comfortable shoes and layered clothing –​ highly recommended for our daily outings. Evenings are cool. Meal times will be casual. Please remember, pack simply and lightly!

• Hiking ​- there will be plenty of walking and hiking. Most of it is considered easy, but there are a few places where the hike is more moderate. There will always be a place where you can sit out if so desired.

Every effort will be made to follow the itinerary as noted. We reserve the right to make adjustments as necessitated by weather, safety and unforeseen variables.

Both the Wild Temple and Twin Star specialize in empowering the Divine in all of us by leading people to sacred, off-the-beaten path sites, rich in botanical lore. Our trips encourage individuals to deepen their plant-soul connection. By gently walking the Earth in these special places, our alliance to Spirit is strengthened. Through this unification, we come back to our lives and shine the light that we are.