Exploring the Sacred Sites of Anglesey
Anglesey has a rich collection of
ancient spiritual sites, which thanks to its isolation until the famous
Telford bridge in the early 1800's have survived hidden away in the rich
rural countryside. An island already well settled in the Bronze Age has a
number of well preserved Burial Chambers and other relics of Prehistory,
overlaid by the evidence of the Druid occupation which the Romans from their
fort at Segontium (Caernarfon) did their best to defeat regarding the island
as a nest of Celtic insurrection.
HISTORY
The early Celtic Christian church took hold here before England came
to be converted and they hid their places of worship away from Irish Raiders.
When the Romans left the Irish occupied the island before being driven out by
the Celtic Princes who established their Court at Aberfraw.
Later came the Viking raids and signs of Viking occupation can
also be found. As the early Celtic church came to be absorbed into
Catholicism so came the monks and friars who built the monasteries and
continued the tradition of dedicating springs and wells to local saints, and
many of these wells were regarded as sources of Healing and places of contemplation.
Local boy Henry Tudor who became
Henry 7th of England left
his mark with the integration of the administration and laws of England and Wales
and provided well for his supporters in Wales,
but his son made a deeper impression with the dissolution of the monasteries
ending a long tradition in Wales
for the contemplative life. Anglesey
remained broadly catholic until the C19th when the great Welsh preachers won
over the mass of people to the Chapel, but by and large the relics of earlier
faiths were abandoned rather than destroyed and so it is today. Many of the
sites on the island are well maintained and visited regularly but so many are
almost lost, hidden away, their importance and relevance to earlier
generations forgotten.
The
weekends are designed to visit some of these sites and recall some of the
history and religious beliefs attached to them. Some are more accessible than
others but the tours are gently paced to take in not only the sites but their
rural location. Numbers on each tour are limited, so as not to overwhelm a
site and give people time to explore each site comfortably. Research on each
of the sites has been provided by a qualified local archaeologist who has
spent many years in a study of these places.
The guided tours can be booked with
or without Accommodation. The Anglesey Healing Centre is a comfortable family
home set in lovely open countryside, only 10 minutes walk from the Sea. We
have open fires and a large library of Alternative books and tapes and the
centre provides a peaceful setting for small special interest weekends,
workshops and retreats. Accommodation is in the family bedrooms, Single and
Double rooms are available with an adjacent Bathroom. There is also a garden
chalet with separate toilet and shower room. We can only accommodate a small
number so please book early to reserve your place.
We provide delicious vegetarian food, some from our own garden, and we can
cater for special diets with sufficient notice.
Your host through the weekend is Vivien Candlish, a History graduate and
Reiki Master of Usui Shiki Rhoyo.
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