​   The physical body is only meant to withstand a certain amount of sleeplessness, which varies on a person-to-person basis. Somewhere on the drive up to Wicklow Town for my brother to visit the amazing Bridge Street Bookstore there, I reached my limit. Instead of being excited to be visiting one of my favorite places in the whole world, I was sullen and quiet, back to brooding about how foolish I was being in trying to accomplish any of what this trip was about. And, probably more to the point, I was hangry. There was a glimmer of excitement in the thought of getting takeaway dinner at the Bridge Tavern, across from the bookstore, but there, my friends, is where the last of my pleasantness reserves ran out. We were told they were not offering takeaway, and this glitch in my plan was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back.
   When I get in a mood such as the one I was ruminating in at this point, hangry, exhausted, vulnerable, I really like that I do have the decency to keep my mouth shut, knowing the foul things running around in my head are not constructive or helpful to myself, or anyone around me. I give them their space, acknowledge their perspective as valid, yet realize I do not have to agree with them or let them take over my words. So, while my lowered cognitive ability gave them an easier target to hit in my head, I knew that the main target I still needed to be aiming for was my stomach.

   I walked down to the waterfront and the sunset bathed me in the reminders that no matter what, we live in a beautiful and simple world. Where the sun rises and sets every day, often offering us a gorgeous show in the process. I watched a large tanker vessel come into dock at the harbor and remembered the times I had walked out to the little lighthouse with my children and listened to the waves crash against the cement wall that protected the harbor from the brunt of the Atlantic's waves. The tanker also reminded me of my dear friend in Ireland who I was hoping to see on this trip. I felt like it was her way of saying welcome back to Wicklow and to Ireland. I was grateful the effect of these fifteen minutes standing and breathing on the quay were enough to buoy me back up to a respectable level of civility towards my brother, and myself. We picked up our food and I drove us back to the Meetings in Avoca where we had a quiet dinner in our room, and both were asleep by 9:00 pm. Well, I was at least.
   The rollercoaster ride of dealing with ourselves and our emotions is not something to be scoffed at or taken lightly. But we sometimes forget that we are the main creators of our track. I am grateful for the time I’ve taken to learn the mechanics of building my track as I go, and how to create a new one if I do not like the one I’m on or where it is taking me. Our thoughts are our most powerful tools, and the more we practice using them for the creation of good in our lives, the better we get at creating good lives, just like the entire rest of this journey.

(originally published 01/13/22)

The Beltany Stone Circle exists in County Donegal, and it was there that I received the seed of what has now grown into a sprout. I didn't know it at the time, but my profound experience there in 2015 would go on to shape the trajectory of my life in transformative ways. It is why I decided to offer my services under the name Beltany Wellness, also amused by the familiar initials. :) I am on course to offer spiritual journeys through Ireland to those wanting to learn more about their intuitive selves within the safe space of a sacred container, created for healing and with love. I've learned this was my path over the last few years while doing my own personal transformative inner work through the practice of Shamanic Breathwork. In January of 2021, I completed my Facilitator Training to be a Licensed Practitioner of Shamanic Breathwork and I hope to complete my Master Facilitator Training in January of 2022, both through the Aahara Spiritual Community of Venus Rising right here in Springfield.

And now, I am in the final preparations of returning to Ireland for my third time. There is a new sense of nervousness within, gently held by a newly-deeper sense of trust. I am not stepping off the final precipice of this vision-made-reality, with this trip, but I am taking great, big strides closer to the edge. The precipice will be the first tour I lead, tentatively set for June 2022, although something tells me it might take a little longer to get all my ducks in a row. However, I have been known to surprise myself by what I can get done when I focus my attention. That being said, this current trip for which I depart on All Saint's Day is an anchoring of the route that I will lead folks on. I hope to take photos AND share them. Lol Because I hope to allow myself to share this process with those that may one day feel called to take the journey with me. As it is translated from the great teacher Lao Tzu,

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
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In light and love...