Dream Illumination Workshop
Our Gathering this Thursday
A Chairde, Friends,
I am feeling all of the dreamy vibes today for our Áes Dána Retreat for founding members this Thursday, 19th June @19:30-21:30 Irish Time.
We are at the apex of Bealtaine, the Summer Solstice when the seasonal energy is at its highest. This is a time of illumination, and so what are the greatest illuminators to guide our lives? For me, it’s our dreams.
‘Dreams are “illuminators” into he vast contents of our unconscious and contain riches and transformational gems set to help us become more whole... by illuminating our inner life, dreams bring “our story” to us at night when our ego is asleep.’
Benig Mauger, The Soul and the Sea
We may naturally associate dreams with the winter solstice—that longest, darkest night of the year, the collective dreamtime—but the truth is we dream every single night. Our dreams are faithful companions that never abandon us, as long as we’re willing to befriend them and honour them deeply.
In our ‘modern’ rational times, dreams are often dismissed as ‘codswobble’, as a confused mind trying to process the day.
What an insult to psyche.
What an insult to soul.
Dreams, the feminine, and the body have all been rejected in globalised Western culture. How interesting that this sacred triplicity can be our greatest source of personal power.
Combined, they can help us dismantle the master’s house.
So, for our retreat this Thursday, this is an invitation to honour your dreams as sacred illuminators.
‘The dream is the small hidden door in the deepest and most intimate sanctum of the soul, which opens to that primeval cosmic night that was soul long before there was conscious ego and will be soul far beyond what a conscious ego could ever reach.’
Carl G. Jung, Civilization in Transition. (CW10, para. 304, p.144)
Our Gathering
In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to explore:
Different ‘types’ of dreams that we’ve experienced in our lives.
Celtic dreaming - the dreaming culture of our ancestors as expressed in the richness of Irish myths, hagiographies, folklore and folk tradition on dreaming (which has not received the attention it deserves).
And work with:
A methodology to capture your dreams inspired by fairytale interpretation.
While also sharing dreams in our collective dreaming circle.
What to Bring:
Yourself - please come live if you can, it will be a lot richer if we have multiple dreams to share.
A recent dream to work with that you are comfortable sharing with others. This does not have to be a big, archetypal dream. Follow the energy, what dream calls to you?
A journal and a pen.
Depending on time, we may work with dream symbols so please bring something for mark-making like colouring pencils, pastels etc.
A candle with matches or a lighter at the ready.
Anything that feels nourishing for you and your body e.g. a blanket, a warm cuppa etc.
Recording:
The retreat will be recorded for those who can’t make it live. I will share this within 24 hours through a private link on Substack. It will not be shared beyond our group. This is our sacred dream space.