The Medicine Spiral
An ancient path of reflection, discovery and empowerment
This Course is usually held in Dunderry Park, the Irish Centre for Shamanic Studies, Co. Meath but is currently on hold due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are now sharing an online version commencing after Samhain – the Celtic New Year in November 2021. However you may like to continue reading as the same key elements will be translated into the new version.
To take the Medicine Spiral Journey is to walk onto an ancient path of reflection, discovery and empowerment. In apprenticeship, Shamans throughout the ages boldly stood in front of a great mirror that reflected the truth about themselves and the world. The mirror pointed to wounds unhealed and asked the Shaman to heal themself. The ‘medicine’ in the Spiral refers to all the training gifts that facilitate and empower emergence into a grounded, self-actualised, connected being of power who has taken the journey of the self healer.
What You Will Learn and Experience
Direction 1
North: Path of Finding Wisdom
There are profound healing and mystical rewards waiting for us all, held in the ever loving arms of our Ancestors who bring us into the luminous lineage, heritage and tradition of this sacred isle.
Orientating ourselves by the North Star, we begin our clockwise or deosal journey on the Medicine Spiral by looking North. Synonymous with the season of Winter and the oldest archetypical energy of An Breadán- The Salmon, our work in this direction plants the seeds of our becoming. We connect to our Ancestors, accepting their support as we begin to walk our path in the knowledge we ourselves will be the Ancestors in time to come.
At the core of the North Direction are the Deasghnátha (Rites of Initiation). These are energetic transmissions that activate powerful consciousness that has always been stored within us. They are a legacy of the shamanic tradition and are powerful activations that lift us into our indigenous tradition with grace.
Direction 2
Looking to the horizon of the rising sun, we continue our sunwise (deosal) journey on the Medicine Spiral by looking East. Synonymous with the energy of the season of Spring and the archetypical energies of the Eagle, the Otter and especially Goddess Brigid, our work in this direction allows the germinating ‘seeds of our becoming’ planted in the North, to open the ways to more powerful living. Once again, we connect strongly to our Ancestors, accepting their support as we explore the way to live beyond Fear.
In taking the East direction, our lives truly enter a Springtime that is beyond Time itself, because it is new growth rooted not in our temporal, physical nature, but in our eternal, luminous Spirit nature.
At the core of the East Direction are the Deasghnátha (Rites of Initiation). These are energetic transmissions that activate powerful consciousness that has always been stored within us. They are a legacy of the shamanic tradition and are powerful activations that lift us into our indigenous tradition with grace.
Direction 3
The South direction is a deep crucible of new learning, transformation and alchemy. We are asked to grow our conceptualisation of healing itself. To live life directly from our true, eternal Spirit nature. We are asked to take robust responsibility and accountability for all our learning on our Spirit path.
At the core of the South Direction are the Deasghnátha (Rites of Initiation). These are energetic transmissions that activate powerful consciousness that has always been stored within us. They are a legacy of the shamanic tradition and are powerful activations that lift us into our indigenous tradition with grace.
Direction 4
As we face the West, the sun sets on our first circumference of the Medicine Spiral. To our ancient fore-fathers and mothers, dusk marked the beginning of a new day, thus we complete our journey at the beginning of a new, deeper one, i.e. we ‘pass within’.
The Celtic Spiral shows us this, as one turn is completed, a new revolution begins taking us closer to the centre of the Spiral. Why does the Spiral do this? Because the ancient knowledge was aware that as we complete a Medicine Journey through the four directions, we automatically start a new turning that takes us closer to the centre of the energy matrix that manifests our very Self and the Universe at the same time, taking us nearer to the centre of Creation itself.
This is the epic promise of the West direction, that we can come into the power of working with the forces of Creation and that by doing so, we take part in Creation itself. For us, this realises the true principle of being a shamanic practitioner; that we become organising principles of the world.
Unique to the Slí An Chroí Medicine Spiral
The ‘Deasghnátha’ (Dee-as Ge-naw-ha) Rites are activations or energetic transmissions that awaken within the practitioner seeds of awareness, connection, belonging, power and wisdom. The ‘Mála Naofa’ (Mawl-ah Neigh-fa) Medicine Sacred Bundle is a personal altar of orientation and power and develops as a way to dialogue with and map, the journey of your own Heart/Soul/Spirit.
A Journey of...
Discovery
Our sense and care of ourselves, of ‘how the world works’ are no longer weak or obscure. Our decisions and choices are informed by secure awareness of who we truly are, not from any form of conditioning or limiting beliefs.
We come to live knowing that our truth is honoured and that love, respect and empowerment are our birthright. Living from this place, it is inevitable that we become ‘caretakers of the Earth’.
We learn from experience the vital symbiotic relationship between all that is living, including ourselves and Mother Earth. We ‘care for the earth’ in literal and spiritual ways, knowing this extraordinary planet as an awesome manifestation of creation, gifted to us so that life as we know it, may live harmoniously to its greatest potential.
Medicine
The ‘medicine’ refers to the treasured insights that facilitate and empower our emergence into a grounded and compassionate human who has taken the journey of the healer acknowledging our ‘woundedness’.
The Spiral is orientated by the cardinal directions: North, East, South and West. We enter these, starting with the North, to embark on training that brings us clockwise on a first revolution of the Spiral.
Travelling the four directions provides a map for us to understand the Self and the world, as well as bringing us into awareness of living energy. We come to understand that life continues to ‘spiral’ after the training and having taken the Medicine Spiral, we are equipped to map and navigate our journey onward with confidence and self assurance.
Empowerment
Our sense and care of ourselves, of ‘how the world works’ are no longer weak or obscure. Our decisions and choices are informed by the security of awareness of who we truly are, not from any form of conditioning or limiting beliefs.
We come to live by the maxim that our truth be honoured and that love, dignity, respect and empowerment are our birthright. Living from this place, it becomes inevitable that we also become ‘a caretaker of the Earth’.
We learn from experience the vital symbiotic relationship between all that is living, including ourselves and Mother Earth. We ‘care for the earth’ in literal and Spiritual ways, knowing this extraordinary planet as an awesome manifestation of creation, gifted to us so that life as we know it, may live harmoniously to its greatest potential.
"We become fully human when we experience Nature as us and ourselves as Nature. The 'medicine' in the Spiral refers to the gifts that facilitate and empower our emergence into a grounded, self-actualised, connected being of power who has taken the journey of the healer."
Upcoming Dates
Currently on hold due to Covid-19 Pandemic. We are holding an online version commencing November 6th 2021. See Online Courses for details.
- North Direction - September
- East Direction - December
- South Direction - February
- West Direction - April
The Irish Centre For Shamanic Studies at Dunderry Park, near Trim in County Meath is a beautifully and purposely restored 200 year old Georgian house. It is close to the ancient sites of Tara, Newgrange and Lough Crew. Surrounded by many acres of tranquil parkland with lake and cairn, wild and domestic animals, it is maintained to support shamanic, transpersonal and holistic training. Accommodation is on a room-sharing basis. Please view Dunderry Park on www.dunderrypark.org for directions and transport information.
If you have no formal experience of Shamanism, it is recommended that you attend the ‘Slí An Chroí One Day Introduction To Shamanism’ (click here) before embarking on the Medicine Spiral Training. However, having no previous experience is not a barrier to participation.
Key Aspects of the Medicine Spiral
Deasghnátha-Rites Of Initiation
The Slí An Chroí Rites are an evolvement of ancient energetic transmissions that awaken seeds of consciousness that already lie dormant within us.
The Mála Naofa
In Gaelic this is a ‘Prayer Bag/Bundle’ and throughout the four directions of training, practitioners assemble this treasure of a personal altar of orientation and power.
Journeying
‘Immrama’ literally means ‘wonder voyages’ and refers to techniques of going beyond the ordinary and venturing into mystical states of awareness safely.
Creating and Living In Sacred Space
When we honour the energies in which we live, love and work, they yield a profound positive shift in the sanctity of these precious spaces.
Energy Compassion
Living from ‘Brí Na Taise’ (Bree Naw Tasha) and the balance of reciprocity allow for the fostering of the energy of compassion with simplicity, integrity and meaning.
Working in Nature
We grow evermore our innate, indigenous, animist nature, spending considerable time finding comfort, reflection and mystical connection in our natural surroundings
Key Aspects of the Medicine Spiral
Deasghnátha-Rites Of Initiation
These are energetic transmissions that awaken seeds of consciousness within us
Mála Naofa/Cauldron
Throughout the four directions of training, practitoners assemble this truly awesome, personal altar of orientation and power
Immrama / Journeying
“Immrama” literally means “wonder voyage” and refers to techniques of going beyond the ordinary and venturing into mystical states of awareness.
Creating and Living In Sacred Space
Honouring the energies yield a profound positive shift in the sanctity of the spaces in which we live, love and work
Brí Na Taise “Energy of Compassion"
Living from ”Brí Na Taise” and balance from reciprocity allow for this with simplicity, integrity and meaning.
Working in Nature
We grow evermore our innate, indigenous, animist nature, spending considerable time finding comfort, reflection and mystical connection in our natural surroundings
Testimonials
Dunderry Park Medicine Spiral Details:
Book Your Place
The Medicine Spiral in Dunderry Park investment is €1655.00 in total including accomodation, food, training and mentorship. A €195.00 booking deposit secures your place. There are a number of ways to pay the balance of the Course.
THE ONLINE COURSE IS A DIFFERENT PRICE. PLEASE SEE ONLINE MEDICINE SPIRAL FOR DETAILS
Whether you are paying in 4 (at each weekend) or monthly instalments, final payment is required by the last weekend of the Course in April. The deposit and balance can be paid by Paypal / Stripe or direct bank transfer.
Booking Fee
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Balance 8 Monthly Payments
8 months-
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All Meals (Vegetarian)
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Tuition and Materials
