Sacred Sites of Ireland

Since 2019, I have been partnering with the Irish Heritage School to create a series of mythic study tours of Ireland. These courses are offered for college credit through Sonoma State University (Psychology 322: Myth Dream and Symbol in Ireland, 3 units of upper division Psychology) in selected winter and summer sessions.  Explore below to learn more about the courses, and use the contact form to join the mailing list to hear more about upcoming opportunities. In the near future, I plan to also offer non-credit versions of the study tours for those who wish to dive deep into the connection between the Irish landscape and folklore while exploring their own dreams, but who do not have need of college credit.

 

This course presents an opportunity to explore the inner world of the unconscious through work with myth, dream, and symbol. We will draw from contemporary dream research and Jungian dreamwork processes in order to understand and engage with dreams. We will employ methods of dream incubation (asking specific questions of our dreams) to work with the creative and integrative potential of the dreaming mind. We will study the role of myth and storytelling in traditional societies, with a specific emphasis on Irish myth. Myth, in traditional oral cultures, is intimately connected with people’s relationship with the land. We will explore that connection through visits to sacred sites of Ireland, including Newgrange (part of the Bru Na Boinne UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and one of the most significant sacred sites of Irish culture), Hill of Uisneach (traditional location of the lighting of the Bealtaine Fires), the Hill of Tara (the seat of the high kings of ancient Ireland), and Loughcrew Cairns (a group of Neolithic passage tombs also known as the Hill of the Witch, due to its connection with a prominent Irish legend.)

This course is taught in collaboration with the Irish Heritage School, which provides field-based cultural education and site visits. Accommodations will be at Rock Farm Slane located in the Boyne Valley near Dublin and Newgrange. Rock Farm Slane is an ecotourism center and organic farm on the Slane Castle estate.