I am delighted to introduce a new podcast series, Celtic Conversations, inspired by my new book – The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred – and my time living in Ireland. I am hosting a series of conversations with authors, artists, and guides about Celtic spirituality. So find a cozy space and pour yourself a cup of tea.
My guest today is Deirdre Ni Chinneide and we had a delightful conversation about her background and how she came to live on Inismor, the stories of the island, the marriage between the Celtic and the Christian, the gifts solitude, connecting to a lineage of pilgrims, seasons of living on the island, creating a retreat space for healing, the music she is currently creating, and we close by playing her song “Surrender” from our album The Soul’s Slow Ripening: Songs for Celtic Seekers.
Deirdre Ni Chinneide is trained as a psychotherapist / spiritual director and workshop facilitator. She has worked all over Ireland, the U.S.A. and Europe including Bosnia and Kosovo. The Aran Islands with its unique history, culture and natural beauty provides a special setting for the retreat work, and was the place of inspiration for Celtic Passage, a journey of the heart which she leads through music, reflection and prayer.
Deirdre divides her time between the Aran Islands and the mainland offering retreats, workshops and performances of spiritual music and also works part time with Partners in Faith, a Catholic adult faith education programme working in marginalised areas in Ireland. Her website is Celtic Passage.
Deirdre has three beautiful songs on our newest album from the Abbey, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: Songs for Celtic Seekers.
Deirdre shared this beautiful blessing she wrote to begin our time together:
At each new land, there is a cross, a place to stop and scan direction. It is here you will be tempted to remain the same old story of a self that was cornered by its frame. Take my hand little one, let you walk on the inside, saved from that which blocks your journey home to this good house of hope.
*Opening music track is an excerpt from Simon DeVoil’s song “Water” on his album Heart Medicine (used with kind permission)
