Ancient Landscapes
A creative pilgrimage in Kilkee, Ireland
Anticipated: May or June 2027
Ancient landscapes is a 7 - day creative pilgrimage on the wild western coast of Ireland.
A small, intimate gathering for those who feel drawn to slow down, listen deeply, and enter
into a more conscious relationship with the living earth.
Based in Kilkee, County Clare, our days will be shaped by the elemental landscape of this remarkable place: water, stone, wind, and land.
Through guided meditation, contemplative time outdoors, writing, sketching and painting we will explore the landscape not simply as something beautiful to observe, but as something alive with which we can enter into relationship.
Each day will move between time on the land and time in the studio. No particular level of artistic experience or skill is necessary. The creative work is not about making “great art,” but about allowing what we encounter - externally and internally - to become part of an unfolding conversation.
This is not a sightseeing tour or a traditional art workshop. It is an invitation to pilgrimage: to travel with intention, to experience the sacred and to become more attentive and perhaps to discover something ancient in the landscape that awakens something equally ancient within ourselves.
On the fourth day of the retreat we will take a break from the daily routine and venture into the countryside with an experienced local guide, to see and experience what a typical tourist would not.
Because much of our experience will take place outdoors, participants will need to be comfortable walking approximately 2 to 5 miles a day over uneven and sometimes rugged terrain. A reasonable level of physical fitness, balance, and mobility will be important for participating fully and safely in the pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage will be limited to approximately 8 to 12 participants so that we can create a genuine sense of community and shared intention.
Because of the intimate nature of the experience, participation will begin with a brief application followed by a personal conversation with me. There will be a $75 interview fee. The purpose is simply to help us determine together whether this particular pilgrimage feels like a good fit.
Final dates, costs, lodging arrangements, and application details are still being developed. I am currently considering the last two weeks of May or the second and third weeks of June 2027. For now, this is an invitation to notice … whether something about ancient landscapes is calling to you.
Do you feel the call?
Fill out the info form to be considered as a participant.
Questions? Contact Florance
What People Are Saying
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This experience was transformative and very respectful. No need to be Picasso! The painting was an unfolding process… not the creation of a museum piece!
— Shannon C.
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I felt fully supported in my first exploration into expressing myself through painting. I would strongly encourage anyone with reservations to come to one of Florance’s classes.
— Breezy S.
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Every detail was thoughtfully executed. We're thrilled with the outcome, and have already recommended them to others.
— Tanya B.
“Not all pilgrimages lead to distant shrines. Some lead us back into relationship – with the Earth, with ourselves, and with the quiet wisdom that has always lived beneath the noise of everyday life.” - Florance O’Neal, Ancient Landscapes Guide