How can we return to the land, to our land-based, indigenous practices, when those practices were coopted, covered, and hidden from view through colonization? This week, I’ll take us on a little trip to a holy well in Ireland to discuss ancient practices, sacred sites, and how to seek clues to the practices our ancestors left us. Many land-based practices have been coopted by colonizers and empires, and the truth of our connection to land, spirit, ancestors, and healing lie just below the surface.

We’ll discuss the St. Michael’s Well, its fascinating healing properties, and its ancient history on the land and to healing the people long before Christians arrived and re-named it after a saint. The well’s story reveals its true roots: connection to land, understanding the healing power of earth and water, and reverence for pilgrimage to a sacred site.

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References:

Holy Wells of Cork & Kerry: Tobar Mhíchíl, St. Michael’s Well, County Kerry

Book - Irish Customs and Traditions: How our ancestors celebrated life and the seasons by Marion McGarry

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This podcast is written, produced, and edited by Red Cedar Way.

Cover Artwork and Music Credits:

Music in this podcast is the track Glacier by the artist SalmonLikeTheFish on the album Music for the Sleepy Traveler. It is used under creative commons license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Cover art by Lisa Berry via Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@lnberry_

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