Unless otherwise specified classes and courses take place at Dancing Moonlight, a 30 min. drive North-West of Galway city. Dancing Moonlight is located in a hundreds of years old stone built village, Oakfield (translated from the Irish Gort Na Darragh). Oakfield is part of a gentle mosiac landscape of native Hazel woodlands and cow pastures, near the shores of Lough Corrib in the Southern wooded fringes of Connemara.
The facilities at Dancing Moonlight include the DreamLodge, a hand-crafted 20 ft yurt built from the surrounding woodlands (built by Sky), a green house teaching and living space, glamping accomodation and camping facilities all held in the loving embrace of the surrounding woodlands, wildlands and fields. Dancing Moonlight is also available for rental as a workshop venue.
The Dreamlodge is a multi generational building project of mother and daughter, Sky and her mother Julia, along with the help of many others. It is a round straw-bale building with a grass roof, with all natural plaster and paint finishes. Inspired by the sanctuaries at Findhorn in Northern Scotland, it was originally built in 1997 during an all women's natural building workshop. After the workshop the roof and other components were completed by Julia, her husband Piet and a local carpenter, Micheal. Some years later Sky, with the help of many willing volunteers, did some repair work and took care of the finishing touches, putting in wooden floors, the interior earth plaster and a wood burning stove inside. It really has been a labour of family love!
The DreamLodge is for dreaming... personal and collective. It is for all activities that enter the dreamtime, that place that exists beyond time and the physical, be it meditation, story-telling, dancing, ceremony or other practices of deep listening.
Catering is also available at Dancing Moonlight and prioritizes fresh, local and organic, providing salads freshly grown on-site within the growing season. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free is joyfully and lovingly prepared. Food is infused with wild edibles when available and wild-crafted/home-grown teas are also provided.
“As a retreat leader from the U.S., it was a breeze to coordinate fabulous food and lodging with Dancing Moonlight. The Dream Lodge and Yurt were beloved by all. Those fairy spirits who love the fresh air, moonlight and early morning sun chose to sleep in the Yurt and the Gnome spirits who love a deep, quiet earthen cave feeling shared the Dream Lodge. The glass Conservatory was the perfect community gathering space for meals and yoga. And talk about the meals! Growing right around our table were raised beds of fresh greens, herbs, tomatoes, berries and much more. The vegan, local, whole foods menu was prepared and served with great love and culinary ingenuity. Sky also had just the right suggestions and connections for both on and off-site activities/facilitators to weave into our trip. The location was profoundly quiet and nurturing with a spacious expanse of wild flower meadows and true fairy forest. Magic was afoot! We could not have been more delighted and hope to return someday soon. ”
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I loved being at Dancing Moonlight. There was a real comfort of being home for me. I loved the greenhouse space - such a wonderful place to kick back out of the wind and rain and still be part of the landscape. The food was hardy, plentiful and exceptional in quality and taste. I loved the poo with a view - yes I did, so much that I came home and had a young man staying on the farm build me one of my own from the piles of wood laying about the place. The old front door of the farm house is now perfectly aligned to give one the best view. That little wood is full of magic. - I lost my direction a couple of times, just by closing my eyes. It was like I was in a whole new place that enticed me to stay and discover the nuances. Can one get lost in moss? I did. And hazel and ivy. Magic. Did I mention magic? Deb and I singing the participants awake on Solstice Morning will be forever etched in my memory.
Your recommendations for places to experience deepened the experience. Who else would know the places where the magic happens? It was an incredible week of personal enlightenment, connection, serenity and Magic. ”