Welcome to the Woodland Bard Course
This course will bring together many of the aspects we have explored in previous courses and enable the participant to connect even more deeply to nature through the Irish traditions which are the primal traditions of Western world.
In the Woodland Bard Foundation course we began to explore our soul awareness, exploring our personal tradition, daily prayer, ritual, the elements, seasons and landscapes. The final part of the course knitted together these elements into a patchwork of knowledge to access our inner worlds concluding with the words:
'The spirit of every rock, plant, tree and animal potentially is an ally to help us understand our true nature, bringing back our lost parts and becoming our soul family; bringing us a continued sense of peace and joy in a sometimes tumultuous world. This is our birthright and the normal state of being.'
This course will give clear, practical, sequential exercises and techniques to help bring about this normal state of being that is our birthright. Of course this only happens with practice and a consistent effort is far more effective than an occasional extended practice. As with the foundation course we will suggest practices that can be done daily within a busy lifestyle with options to extend them as time permits.
The spiritual practices of the tradition I present here, although devotional, do not require serious fixed ideas or any requirement to adhere to any system other than your own natural leanings. There are no rules, no set methods just an encouragement to engage with your own personal experiences through your imagination. If you are able to sit and enjoy a story then you will have the skills to partake in this course.
Tradition is applied, it is living and it is borne out through embodied involvement with the themes presented. This course will build up a worthwhile spiritual practice to help bring a nourishing spiritual life to fruition , a foundation that will help guide and inspire you through difficult times.
For our most up to date articles join our mailing list and become a patron to support our work :
In the Woodland Bard Foundation course we began to explore our soul awareness, exploring our personal tradition, daily prayer, ritual, the elements, seasons and landscapes. The final part of the course knitted together these elements into a patchwork of knowledge to access our inner worlds concluding with the words:
'The spirit of every rock, plant, tree and animal potentially is an ally to help us understand our true nature, bringing back our lost parts and becoming our soul family; bringing us a continued sense of peace and joy in a sometimes tumultuous world. This is our birthright and the normal state of being.'
This course will give clear, practical, sequential exercises and techniques to help bring about this normal state of being that is our birthright. Of course this only happens with practice and a consistent effort is far more effective than an occasional extended practice. As with the foundation course we will suggest practices that can be done daily within a busy lifestyle with options to extend them as time permits.
The spiritual practices of the tradition I present here, although devotional, do not require serious fixed ideas or any requirement to adhere to any system other than your own natural leanings. There are no rules, no set methods just an encouragement to engage with your own personal experiences through your imagination. If you are able to sit and enjoy a story then you will have the skills to partake in this course.
Tradition is applied, it is living and it is borne out through embodied involvement with the themes presented. This course will build up a worthwhile spiritual practice to help bring a nourishing spiritual life to fruition , a foundation that will help guide and inspire you through difficult times.
For our most up to date articles join our mailing list and become a patron to support our work :
Stage 1 - Setting up a daily Practice
In this stage we will set up a daily meditation practice, connecting to the Earth Mother and exploring the role of Sidhe, the ancestors of the sacred land in Irish Mythology.
Please click on the picture below to access this first stage.
In this stage we will set up a daily meditation practice, connecting to the Earth Mother and exploring the role of Sidhe, the ancestors of the sacred land in Irish Mythology.
Please click on the picture below to access this first stage.
Stage 2- Invoking Father Earth
In this stage we will connect with the Earth in a male form and explore the key roles of deity and the importance of role models and their influence in our lives.
Please click on the picture below.
In this stage we will connect with the Earth in a male form and explore the key roles of deity and the importance of role models and their influence in our lives.
Please click on the picture below.
Stage 3- A Story of Place
In this stage we will connect with the importance of place and how to bring healing to your own local sacred spots.
Please click on the picture below.
In this stage we will connect with the importance of place and how to bring healing to your own local sacred spots.
Please click on the picture below.
Stage 4- Entering the Soul Shrine.
In this stage we enter into our own soul shrine, a place where we can nurture our inner worlds.
Please click on the picture below:
In this stage we enter into our own soul shrine, a place where we can nurture our inner worlds.
Please click on the picture below:
Stage 5- The Pilgrim's Path.
In this stage we shall begin the pilgrim's path into the old woods and experience the protection of Brighid's mantle.
Please click on the picture below:
In this stage we shall begin the pilgrim's path into the old woods and experience the protection of Brighid's mantle.
Please click on the picture below:
Stage 6 – Exploring Woodland Knowledge
In this stage we shall enter the gentle murmur of lost landscapes, places of rolling hills, cascading waterfalls, red berried thorn and the mountain ash, the early summer woodland which welcomes, nurtures and replenishes our souls.
Please click on the picture below:
In this stage we shall enter the gentle murmur of lost landscapes, places of rolling hills, cascading waterfalls, red berried thorn and the mountain ash, the early summer woodland which welcomes, nurtures and replenishes our souls.
Please click on the picture below:
Stage 7- Awakening the Green World
In this stage we shall explore the first awakens of nature through the Lebor Gabala Erenn- The takings of Ireland which are also known as the five invasions of Ireland. We shall explore the importance of plants and how the stories educate us about the ecology and evolution of the natural world.
Please click on the picture below:
In this stage we shall explore the first awakens of nature through the Lebor Gabala Erenn- The takings of Ireland which are also known as the five invasions of Ireland. We shall explore the importance of plants and how the stories educate us about the ecology and evolution of the natural world.
Please click on the picture below:
Stage 8- The Evolution of Races.
We continue to explore the Lebor Gabala Erenn introducing Dalny and Macha and the birth of the early races of mankind and how creation responded to their presence.
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We continue to explore the Lebor Gabala Erenn introducing Dalny and Macha and the birth of the early races of mankind and how creation responded to their presence.
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Stage 9- Heart of the Forest, Queen of the soil.
In this section we explore the race of the Firbolgs, their deep connection to the soil and early cultivation, introducing Tailtu the Heart of the Forest and Queen of the Soil. We shall explore the first battle of Moytura and introduce the early Druids and the power of the Morriginia.
Please click on the picture below:
In this section we explore the race of the Firbolgs, their deep connection to the soil and early cultivation, introducing Tailtu the Heart of the Forest and Queen of the Soil. We shall explore the first battle of Moytura and introduce the early Druids and the power of the Morriginia.
Please click on the picture below:
Stage 10- The Cave of Knowing
In this section we enter the cave of knowing and explore the tale of Tuan Mac Carrill further and how the story points to Shamanism in the Celtic traditions.
Please click on the picture below:
In this section we enter the cave of knowing and explore the tale of Tuan Mac Carrill further and how the story points to Shamanism in the Celtic traditions.
Please click on the picture below:
Stage 11- The Dark Mother, Samhain Special.
In this section we will go deeper into the Goddess mysteries and the deep powers of the Earth.
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In this section we will go deeper into the Goddess mysteries and the deep powers of the Earth.
Please click on the picture below:
Stage 12- The Faerie Realms
In the final section we shall bring together all the themes and practices that we have explored so far and enter Tir na nOg, the Celtic Otherlands to discover our Soul's journey.
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In the final section we shall bring together all the themes and practices that we have explored so far and enter Tir na nOg, the Celtic Otherlands to discover our Soul's journey.
Please click on the picture:
