The Burning Fires of Celtic Faith

 

I have a fun update on my round-the-world trip name: it's WASSAP. That is an acronym standing for Worldwide Adventure- Sacred Spiritual Altruistic Pilgrimage. How cool is that?! I got a little help from Heavenly Mother on that one. :) And I actually laughed out loud because it's so ME! "Whazzup?" haha.

So far 2 countries on my list have really spoken to me, really called out to me saying, "Dive into our rich spiritual waters." These countries are Israel and Ireland. 

Israel is calling to me because I want to walk where Jesus walked. I want to experience the Holy Land by going back in time to the Savior's time, and feeling of that sacred energy and transformation in His sanctified holy land. In fact, it was a reference to the Holy Land at church that was one of my big signs that this trip needs to happen for sure.

Ireland is calling to me because of my noble, Celtic, God-intoxicated, spiritual/literal ancestry. (Yes, I know the Celts didn't only live in Ireland, but this is where my ancestors lived). I didn't even realize how connected Israel and Ireland were until last night when I was reading the book pictured above. I've read a lot of books during my goddess journey, and several of them have moved me deeply. But not until last night did I break out into full sobs because I was so overwhelmed with intense power at the words I was reading and the feelings that overcame me.

It was one of those ah ha moments when I realized a beautiful connection (for me) between Israel and Ireland. To better explain this, let me tell you a little bit about the spiritual Celtic wanderer, which is thoroughly entrenched in my blood.

In the book Celtic Journeys by Steve and Lois Rabey, they describe the Celts' "inexhaustible urge to travel." This was inspired by their deep curiosity at the world God had made- their "innate yearning to explore the unknown, and to visit hallowed holy sites." They had a "divine calling to leave all that is known and familiar, to trust in the mercies of God, and to head out into the unknown and often untamed lands." So far this is sounding very familiar to my own desires and adventures.

In addition, the Celts had a strong desire to share their belief in God and Jesus with the world and expose everyone they could find to Christianity. Famous Celtic monks such as St. Brendan, Columba and others, set sail with lofty evangelist goals of heaven in their sails. In 1977, it was proved that St. Brendan could have quite possibly been the very first to land on the modern day American continent, long before the Norsemen or Christopher Columbus. We're going way back here folks, to around the year 550.

Some of the current divine Celtic books I'm reading now.

In the book The Path of Celtic Prayer, it is explained that "the Celt was very much a God-intoxicated man." I loved how beautifully Calvin Miller describes the Celtic faith of fervor. It's just so inspiring!! I was surprised that I cried so hard at reading these words, but you just never know when you're going to be especially moved:

"This narcotic state of heart is indeed intoxicating. For when we have drunk deeply of the nature of God, there is born within us a God-thirst that can never be slaked by any lesser stream. The Celts of the sixth century also believed that Jesus was coming soon, and their expectation of the second coming created a faith of great vitality. 

...Our failure to perceive Christ's imminent return as our "blessed hope" have contributed to our feelings of separateness from God. What of our blasé contentment with things as they are, Christless and self-managed? The Celts found God no casual diversion. They were too needy to talk about spiritual things over tea cups and pastries.

As with much of Europe, the world was always falling down around them. In desperate times, living becomes an altar where you pray and sing because the only good news of the day is that God lives longer than you do. And God promises you that even if your days are few, your dying is not a wall, but a set of gates. Even now the Celtic embers of spirituality are catching fire all around us. 

But a blazing church is not what most people find when they go to a typical worship service today. Disinterest, sparse attendance, and boredom are more common. Such spiritual lethargy was not the nature of Celtic trust. Vitality- flame and gale- was the heart of the Celtic faith. This is both the practice and the hope of all that is being born in current Celtic revival. From the Spirit's breath a new kind of worship is once again rising out of ancient devotion. The Celtic way born long ago in the cold, dank Hebrides Islands stirs anew."

 I think what really touched me and brought on the tears is how the Celts got it. They understood what faith and spirituality really meant. (Unlike the spiritually dead vibe I feel in so many church meetings I attend). Instead of just desiring to close the gap on the separateness between ourselves  and God, they DID it! They understood that Christ was the center, THE good news of the day (every day!) the hope of life, the foundation.

They understood the power of alignment with Oneness. They knew at their core that God is everything and everywhere and is to be praised continually and daily. Long before the Celts even became Christian, they had a profoundly sacred spiritual connection with nature, and honored and revered her sacred powers unlike any other group of people have ever done. 

They understood that a spiritual journey takes place not only within oneself, but literally too, in far-flung unknown places of the world, truly connecting with its exotic four corners. They were willing, and compelled, to leave their homes to undertake long, dangerous, exciting journeys in the name of God that also expanded their Highest Selves. (Sounds a lot like a goddess journey, yes?)

I felt a surge of pride knowing these were my people, and because of that, they get me. It's in my blood!! Maybe they're even reading my blog, smiling knowingly. They get why I feel this strong desire to go travel the world on this spiritual pilgrimage, return to my 'homeland',  feel that energized magical Celtic soil between my toes, and renew that unique spiritual connection that can only feed the deepest parts of the soul. They get why I literally need to walk where Jesus walked in Israel, why I need to be there and see, feel, hear, smell, and breathe it all in myself, and not just read about it.

As I read the passage, did I have a few tears of regret that today I, and others, have lost touch with the burning Celtic flame of faith? Yes. I wept bittersweet tears, both of sadness that I somehow have not lived up to my incredible Celtic spiritual legacy, but also of hope that there's still time to redeem myself. In fact, I hope to spend some good quality time in Ireland, hopefully in the area of my ancestors, working on a farm, rekindling every possible Celtic flame I can light. And I intend to listen to everything my ancestors and their sacred land want to teach me.

Answering the Call

 

The above photo is me at Machu Picchu about a year ago. It was the first time I combined travel with a spiritual purpose, and I loved it! I went with a group of powerful women goddesses, participated in healing earth grid ceremonies with a Peruvian shaman, and felt the intense spiritual energy and power of this sacred place fill my veins. It was life-changing for many reasons. I was hooked.

Next year I will be doing a similar type of journey, but on a much, much bigger scale. But first a little background as to how this came about.

One reason I haven't written for 2 months is that it's been a very confusing, straining, stressful time of upheaval and growth. Helloooo, goddess path! One day I had a job, and the next day I didn't. Not because I was fired or quit, but because the FDA caused my friend's business (whom I work for) to shut down. It's a long story, but it was so unexpected (to both of us), I spent a few days in shock, a few days in deep depression, and a few days feeling intense anger. Then came the confusion and the question I can't stand most of all: "What am I going to do now?"

The great/difficult thing about losing your job, or experiencing any other major life change, whether planned or unplanned, is that you REALLY get to reevaluate what you truly want to be doing. I asked myself that question, and much to my chagrin, did not get an answer for a few weeks. I somewhat patiently waited for the enlightenment I wanted while making it the intention of my meditation. I actively looked for signs from God, angels, and the Universe daily, knowing they would have to reveal their secrets to me at some point.

I started realizing that I wasn't really asking "what job should I get?", and I wasn't even worried about getting a job because I knew that would work out perfectly. Throughout my entire life, I have been blessed with jobs so easily, it's almost laughable. My desires were deeper than just how I was going to earn a living. I needed to know how I was going to make a difference, how I was going to find meaning, and how I was going to be blissfully happy with this gift of life. Basically all the questions that started me on my goddess path to begin with. Aaaaand we have come back to the beginning.

One day I was sitting on my porch in the usual confusion about where I should put my energies, and a thought came to me: "What would you do if money and time were no issue, and all limitations were lifted? Think big. Think dreams. What would you do?" I thought about it, and what came was: "I would take a trip literally around the world combining humanitarian work, several spiritual pilgrimages, and connecting with Gaia and my brothers and sisters in all corners of the globe." BAM!! Thinking big enough?? I was sooo not expecting that answer!

At first I dismissed the idea as a 'real' possibility, because obviously that's crazy, right? Well one thing I've learned is to listen to the inspiration you receive, take it seriously, and sometimes the craziest ideas are the right ones.

But I needed a little proof. I asked for some confirmation that this was really the answer that I've been waiting for, and really what direction I should be taking. Long story short- I got it, and it knocked my socks off. Sooo....here goes nothing!

About the time that my "official" documentation of my goddess path is supposed to end (next May), I will embark on a 5 month worldwide humanitarian/spiritual journey!! Whoa! (This is of course unless God decides to change my life course once again. Flexibility is the name of the game). 

I will continue to work a little bit on my trusty laptop while I'm out adventuring, bringing in a little money, but for the most part, my life will take on entirely new smells, sights, sounds, experiences, and richness. I get to be completely immersed in the international, beautiful, magical tapestry of the world and her wonders. It will be an amazing energy exchange unlike anything I've ever known or could dream.

I haven't had much time to map out my course or do much planning at all other than get a rough estimate of costs and a general idea of countries I'd like to include on the journey. In order they are (so far): China, Japan (transit point), Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Tibet, Egypt, Israel, Romania, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, UK, Portugal, and Spain. That will probably change as I do more research. Some places I will stay in longer than others. I've already got plans to meet up with a couple people for 3-4 of the countries, so that's fantastic.

How does one prepare for a literal circumventing-of-the-world-adventure?? This is a HUGE undertaking that requires a lot of faith, trust, money, networking, miracles, patience, and flexibility. I also know it will be an experience of a lifetime never to be forgotten, that will present so many opportunities to stretch my goddess muscles, I should in fact come back a totally changed person. I don't really know what to expect, but I'm excited and nervous, and feeling like I'm preparing for the biggest, most intense, fun, crazy, breathtaking, and amazing roller coaster ride of my life.

Buckle up.