October 31 – Nov 2, 2025 (3 Days in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia)
“Awen: Inspiration from the Ancient Irish Ancestors” – residential & non-residential retreat (20 people maximum) at the Mountain Light Retreat.
Early Bird Cost: $333 residential / $222 non-residential
Retreat Summary: “AWEN: Inspiration from the Ancient Irish Ancestors” – weekend retreat Oct 31-Nov 2, 2025
In the Celtic tradition, Awen refers to inspiration or divine spark. This weekend retreat aligns with the Celtic Holiday of Samhain (pronounced “sow-wen”), which became popularized as Halloween. In Ireland, wood is gathered, and fires lit to mark the end of harvest and the approach of winter. A time when the veils between the Otherworld is thin, we take a few days to honor our forebears, and offer their stories of wisdom and hope to the next generation.
This retreat will be the perfect moment to turn within and give thanks to the ancestors that brought us life, to forgive any lingering issues, and to connect with our ancient ancestors who can give us renewed strength and courage. This retreat will involve Storytelling from the Irish & British traditions. We will also explore the Divine Feminine in Celtic Spirituality, particularly the many faces of St. Brigit/Bride/Brighid and the Cailleach. We will use meditation, self-inquiry and visualization techniques for personal reflection in a framework based on the open embrace of Celtic Spirituality.
All are welcome.
Retreat Leader: About Ayn Cates Sullivan, Ph.D.
Ayn Cates Sullivan attended Hollins University and went on to earn a MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University, a Masters in Spiritual Psychology (USM), as well as a doctorate degree in Anglo-Irish Literature from King’s College London. She combined these degrees to create her “Awen” workshops, which help people develop poetic, creative, intuitive and mystical skillsets. Ayn Cates Sullivan makes an annual pilgrimage to Britain, where she often meets with her mentor, author Caitlín Matthews.
Dr Sullivan has written twenty-four books and has won over sixty literary awards. She spent decades researching Celtic Mythology, resulting in a popular series of books called Legends of the Grail. In September 2025, her new Celtic Elemental Tarot will be published by Findhorn Press/ Inner Traditions, followed by the Fair Folk Oracle in 2026.
Stories only stay alive when they are told to each generation. For this reason, Ayn loves to share the ancient wisdom of Celtic Spirituality. Having lived in New York City, London, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Ayn Cates Sullivan has returned home to Virginia. She lives with her husband and many animals in Albemarle County, Virginia.
About the Mountain Light Retreats
These retreats will take place in rural Virginia, near Charlottesville, at the Mountain Light Retreat, at the gateway to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah National Park.
Contact Deborah Scott for more information or to book the retreat: debbie@mountainlightretreatva.com
Address: Mountain Light Retreat
6656 Mountain Light Place, Crozet, VA