Reflection Retreats

30/10/2025

May you enjoy small miracles today

May every sunrise remind you
that life offers new beginnings,
and every sunset teach you
the art of gently letting go.
May peace settle softly in your heart
like calm waters after a storm,
and may joy find you unexpectedly —
in laughter shared, in moments quiet and warm.
May you walk with courage
even when the path feels unsure,
trusting that every step you take
is guided by a love that endures.
May your days be filled with small miracles —
a kind word, a helping hand,
signs that you are never alone,
but held by something greater than you understand.
May gratitude be your companion,
and hope your faithful friend,
reminding you that even in the hardest chapters,
there is light waiting around the bend.
And as you journey through this life,
may you always remember your worth —
you belong here, you matter deeply,
and your presence is a blessing to this Earth. 🌿


Mitra ➡ Tips That Change Your Life ❤☀

30/10/2025

"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself
to the influence of the earth."
Henry David Thoreau - Walden, 1854.

Lisa Azarmi - In the Woods.

29/10/2025

I would love to live
Like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Fluent, from the book, Conamara Blues.
Ordering Info: https://johnodonohue.com/store

County Galway, Ireland
Photo: © Ann Cahill

27/10/2025

Shine a light.

There are no manuals for the construction of the individual you would like to become. You are the only one who can decide this and take up the lifetime of work that it demands. This is a wonderful privilege and such an exciting adventure. To grow into the person that your deepest longing desires is a great blessing. If you can find a creative harmony between your soul and your life, you will have found something infinitely precious. You may not be able to do much about the great problems of the world or to change the situation you are in, but if you can awaken the eternal beauty and light of your soul, you will bring light wherever you go. The gift of life is given to us for ourselves and also to bring peace, courage, and compassion to others.

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Excerpt from his book, Eternal Echoes
Ordering Info: https://johnodonohue.com/store

County Kerry, Ireland
Photo: © Ann Cahill

27/10/2025

Blessings.

May you know that absence is alive with hidden presence, that nothing is ever lost or forgotten.

May the absences in your life grow full of eternal echo.

May you sense around you the secret Elsewhere where the presences that have left you dwell...

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Excerpt from the blessing, 'For Absence,' found in his books, Benedictus (Europe) / To Bless the Space Between Us (US)
Ordering Info: https://johnodonohue.com/store

County Clare, Ireland
Photo: © Ann Cahill

25/10/2025

A blessing for an October evening.

May you know that absence is alive with hidden presence, that nothing is ever lost or forgotten.

May the absences in your life grow full of eternal echo.

May you sense around you the secret Elsewhere where the presences that have left you dwell...

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Excerpt from the blessing, 'For Absence,' found in his books, Benedictus (Europe) / To Bless the Space Between Us (US)
Ordering Info: https://johnodonohue.com/store

County Clare, Ireland
Photo: © Ann Cahill

24/10/2025

Beginning

Begin by Brendan Kennelly (who died four years ago today).

24/10/2025

How are you pausing today?

"Instead of instantly responding, take a moment to pause and breath before you speak or act. The calmer you stay, the stronger and wiser you become!" ( Reminder)

In the space between stimulus and response lies the potential for profound transformation. Instead of reflexively reacting, the simple act of pausing to breathe becomes a gateway to inner strength and wisdom. This deliberate moment allows us to detach from the immediate surge of emotion, creating space for clarity and thoughtful consideration.

The calmer we remain in the face of provocation, the more readily we access our inner resources, transforming impulsive reactions into measured, intentional actions. This practice cultivates not only emotional resilience but also a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us, ultimately shaping us into stronger, wiser, and more compassionate beings.

Mitra ➡ Tips That Change Your Life ❤☀

24/10/2025

This too shall pass. Skies are always blue, even behind the clouds.

Take some time out this November to listen to yourself, check in with nature and gather with like minded people in a beautiful tree filled valley in West Cork. Home to St Finbarr's monastery and the source of the River Lee. We have exclusive use of the award-winning Gougane Barra Hotel a multi-generation family business.

Last two places available. Contact Mary 085 1215984 to book

24/10/2025

Keep a dry foot, a warm hand and a cool head - Tom Brennan, Sligo

22/10/2025

Thanks Manchán Magan for this beautiful connection to our land, ancestors and weather. I know which book I'll be bringing to the retreat. Remembering all those who have gone before.

I've written a book about rain... the way it falls, whispers, assaults and nourishes — and about the people who lived beneath it. 99 Words for Rain gathers the many shimmering terms our ancestors coined to describe the moods and mysteries of Irish weather, from mist that veils fairy paths to rain that bruises the bones. It’s a celebration of observation, of language as shelter, and of the wisdom held in clouds, robins, and sodden thatch. All weathers are here — each one a story.
Each page has the most beautiful of illustrations by Megan Luddy O'Leary

It'll be published by Gill Books on 11th Sept. You can pre-order at links in my bio or www.manchansbooks.com

This is what Gill say about it:
Meet the néaladóirí (cloud-watchers) and réadóirí (star-gazers) from our past who, without the luxury of Met Éireann at their disposal, observed birds, trees, animals, as well as markers on land and sea for signs of weather change. The sheer richness and variety of terms they amassed reveal the closeness with which they observed the world around them. Swallows flying low foretold rain. The heron's behaviour offered many hints: Aimsir chrua thirim nuair a bhíonn an corr éisc suas in aghaidh srutha chun na sléibhte (when the heron flies upstream to the mountains the weather will be dry but rough). Fearthainn nuair a thagann sí an abhainn anuas (when she goes downstream, it will rain). Evoking countless sodden, shivery experiences on this Atlantic-swept Island of ours, this beautifully illustrated gift book uses Irish words to grasp an almost-lost world through the wisdom stored in the Irish language.