Looking for a real treat to lift the January blues, Positive Lifers? If so, check out Soul Centred Retreats’ ‘New Year, New You’ retreat, taking place in Aherlow House Hotel, Co. Tipperary, from January 14th to the 17th.
As this year draws to a close, many people’s thoughts are turning towards warmer days ahead … and if you’re looking for a getaway with a difference in 2019, we have a great suggestion for you. Learn all about the magic of the Earthsong camps in this beautiful article by Ruth Pinson, which appears in our Winter 2018/19 issue.
This beautiful reflection on the famed Spanish Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route by Brendan McManus gave us some food for thought. This account of his incredible journey appears in our Winter 2018/19 issue, and it’s got us feeling inspired … have any of you ever walked the Camino or a similar pilgrimage route, Positive Lifers?
It’s time for our Winter Vibes roundup! This selection of amazing holistic products, services, events and news appeared in our Winter 2018/19 issue. If you haven’t yet seen the magazine, click here to find your nearest stockist, or here to subscribe and receive a copy direct to your door.
Looking for a restorative and deeply healing retreat experience this winter? If so, look no further than the amazing Nourish women’s retreat led by Judith McAdam and Kathy Scott. It takes place in the The Elbow Room Escape, Donard, Co. Wicklow, from 4.00 p.m. on Friday November 30th to 2.00 p.m. on Sunday December 2nd. Read on to learn all about it!
Nourish is a special weekend retreat inviting you to experience a heartwarming winter break in the Wicklow mountains, so you can acknowledge and celebrate all that is sacred at this time of year.
This retreat is designed for women who feel drawn to unplug, unwind and unravel before the intensity of the Christmas season kicks in. This will be a deeply nurturing journey that will enable you to reconnect, restore and rejuvenate from the inside out. We promise warm fires, delicious food, wild landscape, hot tubs and great company. All are welcome and no experience is necessary.
Join Judith McAdam (author of The Source) and Kathy Scott (creative director of The Trailblazery) for an alchemical weekend of yoga, mindfulness, energy alignment, visualisation techniques, kundalini kriyas, ritual, creative practices and other gifts from the wisdom traditions.
This will be a deep healing experience where you will:
• Move in tune with the natural rhythms of the season
• Explore what makes you feel really alive inside and out
• Tune into your intuition and psychic abilities
• Release habits and patterns that are holding you back
• Embody the power of intention and start to deliberately create your own reality.
• Welcome the gifts in store for the year ahead
Judith McAdam, author of The Source, is a mother, theologian, kinesiologist, life coach, course facilitator and inspirational speaker. Throughout her career Judith has been inspiring women and men to tap into their unique creative intelligence and step into their true potential realising their personal and higher purpose in this life.
Kathy Scott is a creative producer, curator and strategist in the cultural arena. She is the Creative Director of The Trailblazery, ‘The Ireland: Iceland Project’ and Wonderlust at Body & Soul Festival. She is currently artist-in-residence at Trinity College Dublin. Kathy is trained in the Sivananda, Anusara and Kundalini yoga methods.
Retreat Date: 30th November to 2nd December 2018 Time: 4pm Friday to 2pm Sunday
Venue: The Elbow Room Escape, Donard, Co. Wicklow https://www.the-elbowroomescape.com/
Investment: €395 each for Shared Room or €425 each for Twin Room
Click here for more information and a full programme of events. For Booking & Enquiries: Contact Anna at judithmcadam.ie@gmail.com.
We’re still on a high after attending the wonderful Vitality Expo in the RDS last weekend. For an in-depth tour of the atmosphere on the day, and a behind-the-scenes insight into the people who made the event so great, make sure you watch the live video we recorded over the weekend, showcasing the presenting skills of our very own Paul Congdon! Catch it here.
We wanted to put together this list of our best picks from the show. If you didn’t get the chance to go, consider this a recap of the best and brightest offerings!
Eskimo 3 Fish Oil
Eskimo-3 aims to differentiate themselves from many other fish oil brands through an unwavering commitment to high quality. They are proud to be one of the purest, safest and most environmentally friendly fish oils on the market.
Rossmore Health
Rossmore Health, located in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, is a family owned business founded in 1997. They stock a huge range of natural products, covering areas such as weight loss, energy boosters, immune enhancers, detox, skin care, joint care, sugar free candies and snacks (diabetic friendly), and food supplements.
Macánta Nutrition
Macánta Nutrition Ltd. is an Irish company based in Galway producing high quality nutritional supplements that are available exclusively within Irish Health Stores. The word Macánta itself means honest/sincere, and to the company, it represents the standard for everything they do. In the design and development of their products, product integrity and quality are number one priorities.
Wild Nutrition
Wild Nutrition was formulated by the best-selling nutritional author, practitioner and speaker, Henrietta Norton BSc DipNT. The company’s Food-Grown® supplements provide superior nutritional support throughout the key stages and events in life. In 2018, Wild Nutrition won the Best Natural Supplements honour at the Beauty & Wellbeing Awards.
Pravera
Pravera is dedicated to helping people lead a healthier life. The company specialises in offering its customers the best possible product options in the fields of cosmetics, skin care, natural household cleaning and more. Some of its brands include Lavera, Primavera, SoulTree, Khadi, Organyc, Organii, and EcoCosmetics.
Nature’s Plus
Nature’s Plus has worked hard to earn the loyalty of millions of satisfied consumers and health food retailers worldwide with their emphasis on high quality at every stage, from manufacturing to on-time delivery to their work with retailers. Nature’s Plus is committed to supplying superior quality natural vitamins and nutritional supplements.
April Danann’s Shroom Coffee
Holistic coach April Danann takes great care when producing her amazing Shroom Coffee. The coffee is blended with medicinal mushrooms: reishi, shiitake, cordceps and lions mane. It also contains organic cocoa powder, cinnamon, roasted dandelion root and chicory root. Delicious! Click here to read all about it.
Abundance and Health
We were very impressed by Altrient C, Abundance and Health’s innovative vitamin C sachets which promise up to 98% absorption, thanks to liposomal technology. Liposomal Encapsulation Technology consists of microscopic healthy fat particles which are made up of phospholipids, along with water soluble vitamins and minerals. This technology has been used for many years as a way of delivering small amounts of therapeutic substances to the specific tissues of the body, without affecting any other part of the body.
TurmeriX
Turmerix is a new company that specialises in producing high-quality, fast-acting turmeric powder. This powder also contains an “X-blend” of supporting spices and herbs: cinnamon, coconut powder, green tea, liquorice, kelp, fennel, vanilla, aniseed, caraway, ginger, clove, cardamon and more.
Ooom Snacks
Many of us are on the lookout for something that can reduce stress and help us achieve a sense of balance. Stefan and Lorenzo – the dynamic duo behind a brand-new food company called Ooom Snacks – have come up with a nutritious solution. Ooom products have a measurable anti-stress effect, due to the presence of adaptogen plants. These plants can increase our body’s ability to resist the detrimental effects of stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol.
Hifas Da Terra
Hifas Da Terra is a Spanish biotechnology company founded in 1999. The company is committed to improving people’s quality of life using the previously untapped medicinal properties of mushrooms. This emerging science is called mycology. Hifas Da Terra’s range includes medicinal products, food, skincare goods and supplements.
Creacon Wellness Retreat
Creacon Wellness Retreat in New Ross, Co. Wexford, is dedicated to giving guests the most relaxing retreat experience possible when they visit, offering comforting and nutritious food, spacious rooms, and a range of interesting activities through a daily opt in/out schedule that includes Five Tibetan yoga, Gentle Hatha Yoga, Japa Meditation Class, Mandala Class and more. Tara Congdon wrote about her experience with them in our most recent Autumn 2018 issue. You can read Tara’s full article here.
Dr. Bronner’s
Dr. Bronner’s is a family business committed to honouring the vision of their founder Dr. E.H. Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating their profits to help make a better world. These fantastic products are available in Ireland through their wholesaler, Life’s Great.
Genovese Foods
Genovese Foods is an award-winning producer of pestos, tapenades and mayonnaise, with a passionate clean food ethos. Their ranges include: Genovese, Oh Mayo and the brand-new Veggie Earth, which was launched at the Vitality Expo. It contains delicious pestos, tapenade and veganaise (a type of mayonnaise produced without eggs).
Mag365
Mag 365 produces high-quality dietary supplements to assist individuals in achieving optimum health, while simultaneously providing education on how a healthy lifestyle and supplementation can increase quality of life. Their powdered magnesium supplements contain a highly bioavailable active ingredient called magnesium citrate. All natural ingredients and no fillers.
Alison Canavan
The acclaimed wellness coach Alison Canavan gave a great talk at the Expo – and Paul caught up with her for a quick chat which you can watch here. Alison runs a highly successful series of health and wellness shows around the country called the Full 360 Tour. Check her website for full details! You can also read her most recent article for us here.
Monmore Organic Male Grooming
We were intrigued by the products of men’s skin care brand, Monmore Organic Male Grooming. The company describes themselves as “an Irish brand with Italian quality”. They create unique combinations of ingredients which are carefully blended to ensure the collective works as one, smell subtle, feel good and leave skin and hair in prime condition.
Grown Clothing
Grown Clothing is an Irish ethical clothing company inspired by the sea, coast and wildlife of Ireland. They use only organic, post-consumer and earth friendly materials to make their garments … and the clothes themselves are of an amazing quality!
Kama Hemp Juice
This juice packs a powerful punch! Kama Hemp Juice is high in calcium, zinc, vitamin B12, provitamin A, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium and iron. The company grows their hemp organically, under the sun, wind and rain, on our family farm in Co. Monaghan, Ireland. They harvest and juice the crop at the very peak of its growing season to ensure that its nutrition is preserved at its best.
Creacon Wellness Retreat in New Ross, Co. Wexford, served as the perfect getaway location for Tara Congdon, who described it as “a blissful place.” Learn more about it below!
by Tara Congdon
I recently had the enormous pleasure of taking a trip to Creacon Wellness Retreat. Creacon is cosily nestled a stone’s throw from New Ross in Co. Wexford. On entering the little driveway, a cute Buddha welcomed me with a smile from the garden, and as I parked, my eye was drawn to a sign that said, ‘it’s a wonderful life.’ My usual frantic adrenalin immediately began to settle itself.
I tumbled out of my car and into reception, passing sweet chimes on my way, setting the tone for my adventure. An aside – bags hanging out of me and arriving late, just a few minutes before dinner, I was distracted from the fact that my top had pretty much come undone and so I stood in front of Veronica, the receptionist (decorated receptionist, I might add: Veronica won the 2017 Receptionist of the year award) in my bra – I have to say I would highly recommend it as an icebreaker because it gave us a great belly laugh and we were solid buds from then on.
From the minute I saw my beautiful bedroom, named Hawthorn, and my big cosy double bed, all of my busy world faded away and I was completely enchanted by the place. There is Anespa Alkaline mineral ion water in the bathrooms – it helps relax the entire body, helps improve dry skin, poor circulation, eczema, insomnia, stiffness, fatigue, rheumatism and much more.
Creacon serves Kangen water, which is alkaline water. Some of its benefits include: relief of IBS and Acid Reflux, lowers blood pressure and blood sugar, and alleviating stress and anxiety!
At dinner, I was served up the most delicious menu of nutritious, wholesome and healthy plate of food – homemade marinated salmon served with basil mousse and garlic crostini, followed by a vegetarian ragu and polenta. Later, I had some chamomile tea with cookies in the heart room.
The café has recently opened up daily to the public too. The chef is Gaetano Pernagallo, who believes ‘food is medicine.’ The benefits of each dish are listed on the menus. Something I really liked is how everyone seems to gravitate together for meal times – including the staff – and it’s like chowing down with your family. It’s warm, with lots of storytelling and great craic too.
Some of the other lovely treats I discovered during my stay at Creacon were the bijou conservatory area for quiet time and meditative colouring, the yoga/meditation room equipped with cushions and cosy mats, the relaxing heart room, sometimes showing an inspirational film, and the upstairs yellow room with the most snug couches.
There is a daily opt in/out schedule, including things like Five Tibetan yoga, Gentle Hatha Yoga, Japa Meditation Class, Mandala Class … there really is something for everyone! If you wish, you can book a consultation or private session. Everything is put together so carefully to nurture and love its guests. Nothing is missed.
I am blessed to have had this experience. If I was to put my finger on one stand-out from my stay, it was, without a doubt, the people: staff and guests. Funny, witty, warm, honest, down to earth people – I immediately felt like part of the family … and I just felt completely at home. Creacon is a blissful place!
One of our lovely editors, Alison McEvoy, shares her story of visiting the amazing Scottish community of Findhorn. This is a must-read!
By Alison McEvoy
As in any good relationship, an understanding of the past of the person, place or thing you are relating to is essential. Initially a layer of mystery peels away from the ‘new’ you are encountering, but soon, if the understanding goes deeper, mystery is re-encountered.
Before I set foot on the Scottish soil which is home to Findhorn, I read of the lives of Eileen and Peter Caddy, and Dorothy Maclean, who arrived at the Findhorn Caravan Park In November 1962. These three spiritual warriors, guided by Eileen’s “small inner voice”, Peter’s dedicated action and Dorothy’s connection with the natural world, forged from a rubbish site within the park a spiritual, environmental and transformational community which today teems with spiritual-seeking individuals from all over the world.
‘HONOURING SPIRIT, EACH OTHER AND WHAT’S AROUND US’ (Jonathan Caddy)
Eileen, Peter and Dorothy lived into being the three principles which continue to underpin daily life at Findhorn;
Reading these principles provided a conceptual framework for understanding the unique way of doing things I encountered at Findhorn. The living into these principles opened up a whole other experience however – and mystery was reborn.
TRANSFORMATIONAL LIVING
Attending early morning Taize and silent meditation, meditating and sharing with colleagues before starting the work-day, being encouraged to see the symbolism in my work of untangling grass roots from chive roots in the herb garden…during these moments, and many more like them, the dedication of those around me to these principles nurtured a sensitivity to, and awareness of, the deeper aspects of life and myself; the spiritual and soulful side of my human-being-ness came out further into the light – a tender part which so easily retreats from the rough and tumble of less principled living.
Jonathan Caddy, son of Eileen and Peter, described the experience of a visitor to Findhorn in a way that rang true for me. He said that coming to Findhorn is like taking a “homeopathic dose” of each of these principles – at the time it seems small, but the effects can have a huge influence.
DIVERSITY IN UNITY
Findhorn is home to a wide assortment of creative, environmentally- and spiritually-minded individuals, business and projects, such that there are a variety of homeopathic doses to choose from:
THE ECO-VILLAGE is where the doors of the living, environmental laboratory which is Findhorn are thrown wide open.
Craig Gibson, Findhorn elder, regularly takes eco-village experience week groups into his home, where he reveals the experiments in building houses, growing food, generating electricity and much more which are being lived at Findhorn. “How else,” he says, “will people see and experience change?”
THE UNIVERSAL HALL is where retreats, workshops and events are held to support people from around the world to experience a new way of being.
I attended sacred dance one evening, an ancient practice for weaving people together, connecting them to each other, the seasons and the world. This was just one small sample of Findhorn’s offerings to people seeking positive connection with each other, deeper meaning in life and enlightened alternatives to the modes of competition and conflict in operation in so many sectors of society.
There is so much to explore in Findhorn that this article cannot possibly encompass the depth and breadth of all that is on offer. I invite you to read the lengthier online version and to delve into the Findhorn website at your leisure. Opportunities await!
Images are with thanks to Hugo Klip, Findhorn resident and photographer: hugoklipphotography.com
Join legendary mystics Tantra Maat and Anne Tyrrell on their sacred spiritual tour of Ireland, taking place from September the 13th to September the 23rd. Their tour will take them from the North to the West of the country, then the South to the East, before journeying to the centre and ending their journey at Uisneach Hill at 10.00 a.m. on September the 24th. The full explanation of their tour, including further information about locations and times, can be found via this link.
Tantra Maat is a mystic, seer and the author of An Irish Tale of a Modern Mystic and The Language of Creation. Maat was highly intuitive from a young age. Throughout her life, she has accurately predicted the challenges of awakening in humankind. In 2011, she created what she terms ‘a living field of unity within which humankind could get a living experience of the realm of unity.’ She is passionate about assisting the evolutionary process of the Earth, knowing that this is our time to awaken beyond the social, biological and cultural limitations that have been imposed upon us.
Maat says: ‘I give voice to the sacred vision manifesting at this unique point in the evolution of human consciousness. That sacred vision awakens us into embodying our unique and essential design that carries our direct link with Creation. My life’s work is devoted to freeing the human system – mind, body, and spirit – from the illusion of separateness that has manifested realities of separation, and to return the human system to the unified fields of Creation from which the human system was created. This reunification opens human beings into realities of unity that exist in obscurity in realities that separate human beings from themselves, others, life and the greater eternity of which they are a part.’
Maat has a special connection with Ireland, as her spiritual name of Tantra Maat was given to her by none other than Fungi the Dolphin, Dingle Bay’s most well-known resident! She has returned to Ireland many times over the years to access the special energies that this land holds – secrets that we are only just beginning to understand. Maat asks:
Did you make a pact in the distant past to walk again on this sacred land now named Ireland?
Did you promise your clans and allies you would, in future time, rally to move together into the greater whole of that which we are all a part?
Do you hear that you are part of a pilgrimage that has to be honoured in the now?
If so, Tantra Maat and fellow seer Anne Tyrrell invite you to walk with them as they progress on a spiritual tour around Ireland, reconciling the past, present and future, answering an ancient call to meet in this potent time within time. You may be called to one stop, many or all. Each will have its significance.
At various points, they will stop to rest and to gather as community in unity, “ag cur eolais trí scéalta” -sharing through stories – at “oíche comhluadar” – nights in the company of clann or family – to honour the ancient and the new, the myths and legends, the Gods and Goddesses, the elementals and Shee, the masculine and feminine, the language and the sounds of this deeply mystical land.
To learn more, click here.
The Tidings of August: Summer is starting to give way to autumn, but not to worry: there are sure to be plenty more bursts of sunshine to enjoy this month! As always, we’ve been enthusiastically tracking down the best events, products, getaways and general news that Ireland’s holistic scene has to offer. Read on to learn more about the highlights we’ve picked out for you for this month. If you haven’t picked up our Summer 2018 issue yet, make sure you call into one of our stockists throughout the country soon. You can also subscribe here to get a copy delivered right to your door.
Chi Fit Tea is an Irish company with a passion for high-quality, energising tea. They named the company after the Chinese word ‘Chi’, or ‘energy’, to emphasise the origin and heritage of their ingredients. When the founders felt that green tea, oolong tea and pu’erh tea were a little too bitter for them, they set out to create their own unique blend. They did this by blending a specific variety of powerful teas and spending months perfecting this blend until they were happy with the taste. They then set about finding an amazing organic tea producer in China. Now, Chi Fit Tea is composed of ten naturally powerful ingredients, full of naturally occurring properties that give drinkers an energy boost. This tea is great for pre-gym sessions, as the ingredients promote health and fitness benefits.
On September the 8th and 9th, 2018, Dublin’s RDS will play host to the amazing Vitality Expo 2018, brought to you by Health Stores Ireland. The Expo will be dedicated to all things health-related, with a diverse array of wellness, lifestyle, fitness and nutrition talks being delivered by Irish and international speakers and natural health brands. The Expo’s Vitality Stage will play host to Alison Canavan, Vivienne Campbell, Rachel and Hannah Dare, Dr. Robert Verkerk Ph.D, Phil Beard, Dr. Sarah Murphy, Jessica Hatchett and Fiann Ó Nualláin (a bestselling author, horticultural therapist and community gardening advocate). All of the talks will be hosted by nutritional therapist Jemma Kehoe. For a full list of confirmed exhibitors and speakers, make sure you check out their website below.
Dr. Jerry Tenant – a board-certified ophthalmologist in the U.S., who is now the director of the Tennant Institute for Integrative Medicine – has a revolutionary approach to healing that he outlines in his new book, Healing is Voltage. He explains that every cell in the body is designed to run at -20 to -25 millivolts. To heal, we must make new cells. To make a new cell requires -50 millivolts. Chronic disease occurs when voltage drops below -20 and/or you cannot achieve -50 millivolts to make new cells. Thus chronic disease is always defined by having low voltage. His book aims to tell you how to measure your voltage in each organ, how to correct it, and how to determine why your voltage may have dropped enough to allow you to get sick.
Well-known Irish café and sandwich bar company O’Brien’s has launched a new vegetarian Mediterranean Bowl – created with chef Rachel Allen and nutritionist Erika Doolan – and it looks delicious! The Mediterranean Bowl features grilled halloumi, falafel, spelt, kale slaw, houmous, Ballymaloe Foods beetroot, chunky salsa, rocket and mixed leaves. Pop into your local O’Brien’s and try it out today!
Venant Wong, an expert in Kundalini, movement and energy, will be joining us at Positive Nights from 7.00 to 9.30 p.m.on Thursday August 2nd in the Central Hotel, 1 – 5 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. Venant will discuss his Kundalini Activation Process: a direct Kundalini Transmission that activates our own personal Kundalini Awakening process. Venant has trained with three Kundalini Transmission masters: Adi Da Samraj (Fiji), Ratu Bagus (Bali), and Pi Villaraza (Phillipines) – after which the capacity to activate the kundalini in others arose. He has been leading Facilitator Trainings & Immersions in this modality, as well as open sessions for groups & individuals in Asia, Australia, and now in Europe. Click here to learn more and book your tickets.
Adyashanti, the world-renowned spiritual teacher, writer and international speaker, who graces the front cover of our current summer issue, and who you may also recognise from his fascinating SuperSoul interview with Oprah (video link here), is coming to Dublin this August for a Special Intensive teaching event. This will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday August 19th, in the Gibson Hotel, Point Square, North Dock, Dublin 1. The exciting news is that we have two tickets to give away to this incredible event! This competiton is being run on our Facebook page. All you have to do to enter is click on this linked post, comment who you would bring with you and why, then be sure to like the post and our page for a chance to win! The winner will be announced on August 17th. Good luck, Positive Pals!
Kitty Maguire, a yoga teacher who – alongside a variety of musicians – specialises in offering ‘Yocella’ classes (yoga accompanied by the music of the cello) has another exciting event coming up this month at the Fleadh Cheoil in Drogheda, Co. Louth. She is teaming up with fellow yoga teacher Gráinne O’Kane to tell the story of the historic Pirate Queen, Gráinne Mhaol, through the media of yoga, voice, fiddle and bodhrán. Gráinne will lead a Warrior of the Heart practice – inspired by hatha yoga – to fully embody the strength and resilience of the Warrior Queen. Kitty will then lead a Peaceful Warrior session, based on yin yoga. This will be a soothing practice of stillness throughout the body, to the sound of the bodhrán’s heartbeat, that will bring the Pirate Queen home. Kieran Gallagher will play the bodhrán and Ben McKenzie the fiddle. This event will take place on Monday August 13th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in St. Peter’s Church of Ireland Parish Hall, Drogheda. To learn more, check out the event page here.
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