Awakening the Spirit: Celtic Wisdom for Today
Friday, October 26th, 2018 - Sunday October 28th, 2018
at Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA USA
Co-led by Denise and Nick Prance
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One of the many stunning views at Kirkridge Retreat Center
Join us for a memorable fall weekend at Kirkridge Retreat Center nestled on top of the Kittatinny Mountain Range in Northeast Pennsylvania, USA.
The weekend will offer a balanced mix of structured group gatherings, opportunity to participate in guided activities, time in nature, poetry, music, a drum circle, and individual free time to rest or explore the many wooded trails at Kirkridge and neighboring Columcille Megalith Park with its over 90 Standing Stones.
Together, Denise and Nick will weave the historical and mystical connections of Kirkridge, Columcille and the tiny Hebridean Isle of Iona with aspects of Celtic Spirituality that surrounds us in our everyday lives.
Structured group gatherings will include information and discussions on Celtic Spirituality (then and today), aspects of the Celtic New Year including honoring of the ancestors, setting of intentions, and what constitutes 'healing' along with informational sessions regarding the history and mysteries of the connections between Kirkrid
Denise leading a walk at Kirkridge and Columcille in 2016. ge, Columcille and Iona.
Opt-in guided activities may include the following:
• Early morning guided meditations.
• A guided ‘walking awake’ tour through parts of Kirkridge and Columcille connecting history and story to the mountain and Iona integrated with a focus on seeing the ‘unseen’ and Divine in Nature.
• A Labyrinth walk/meditation using the lessons of the Celtic Spiral.
The Labyrinth at Kirkridge
• A guided drumming meditation. Also, an evening Drum Circle.
• Opportunity to attend Columcille’s Celtic New Year Celebration amongst the torchlit
Standing Stones on the Saturday evening.
The Circle of Standing Stones at Columcille Megalith Park
A Torchlit Thor's Gate at Columcille Megalith Park
Addition
ally, there will be plenty of opportunity to choose alone time to wander amongst the trails and standing stones, journal or 'just be'.
Be sure to bring your love of Nature and your curiosity about Celtic Spirituality, Columcille, Kirkridge and Iona.
Denise (Crawn) Prance is a former Kirkridge employee, Columcille Board Member and resident of the mountain now residing in Scotland with her husband, Nick. Owner of Walking Awake, LLC, Denise is an ordained Interfaith Minister, author of "Walking Awake: The Faces In Nature", and creator of several inspirational card decks. Denise's ministry and love of nature is expressed through her photography, book, cards and events which focus on becoming more aware, mindful and awake through our innate connection with Nature and our relationship with the Divine in, and around us. Since her discovery of Columcille in 1996 which inspired her first visit to Iona in 2003, she has enjoyed visiting and exloring sacred sites and delving deeper into Celtic myth and history.
Nick was born in the north of Ireland, raised in Liverpool, and has lived in Scotland for the last 16 years. During that time, he lived on Iona for three years working for the Iona Community helping to organize and run the program for the many guests who came on pilgrimage and retreat. He also joined the Iona Community as a member at that time. Following a career working within the Mental Health services and training for the Anglican ministry, Nick has been exploring Buddhism, seeing it as a helpful way of engaging compassionately with the human condition and the nature of suffering. Now mostly retired, Nick currently spends his time alternating between walking in the wild and beautiful spaces of Scotland and enjoying the inner child by playing as often as possible with his four young grandchildren!
Denise and Nick at Columba's Bay, Isle of Iona, Scotland
As a couple: Nearly five years ago, Denise and Nick met on a ferry while each were traveling to the Isle of Iona, Scotland. In October 2016 they were married in Scotland surrounded by family and friends. A 'ferry-tale' happily ever after indeed! Over the past five years, they have traveled together throughout Scotland, England and Wales visiting standing stones and ancient sites and loving every moment of it! As co-leaders they bring together an eclectic mixture of backgrounds including everything from trainings in ministry, theater, mental health, shamanism, mindfulness, as well as their love and connectedness to poetry, story, music and nature. Nick and Denise enjoy sharing these treasures, passions and adventures with others as they lead and co-lead workshops, retreats and pilgrimages on 'both sides of the pond'.
Cost for the weekend retreat is $425.00 which includes double occupancy room, meals and workshop tuition. *A $200.00 deposit will hold your place.
To register, contact Janet Lewis registrar at Kirkridge Retreat Center at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2016 Walking Awake Celtic New Year Retreat at Kirkridge
An integral part of Walking Awake’s ministry is to enable opportunities for others to deepen their innate connection with Nature, and to explore the wisdom within the sacred spaces of ancient sites, myth, history, the individual and collective journey, and the land we walk upon. 
Come spend the weekend with Denise Crawn and “remember” how to “Walk Awake”. There is an old saying: You can’t see the forest for the trees.” Denise will take you to that forest both figuratively and literally; a primal place that offers a feeling of magic, remembrance, of not being alone, and of being connected with something larger than the human mind can envision. Based upon her book, “Walking Awake: The Faces in Nature” and her own deep connection with nature, Denise will share her ability to see and sense things that others might miss along the wooded path or on a crowded city street.
