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Beach, shore, strand

She sells sea shells on the seashore and the sea shells she sells on the seashore are seashore shells.

The beach, strand or shore is the margin between land and water, be it sea, lake or river. It might be rocky and dramatic or soft and sandy. Sometimes people use the shoreline to identify the space affected by the tides, covered with water at high tide but uncovered at low tide.

A place of transition, a threshold, a liminal space where there is an ebb and flow, moving from one state or realm to another, which can lead to feelings of being quite disorientated and uneasy.

Explore Your Shore - Irish Marine Biodiversity Citizen Science

Pebble Releasing

To really say goodbye, we can pick up a stone from the beach and throw it into the sea, throwing away that which no longer serves, ie, fear, office politics, feelings of (insert your own words here)

Select a pebble from the beach around you. Ask the pebble if it is willing to be used for your releasing intentions. Be mindful of how it looks and feels... its weight in your hand.

Thanking the pebble and the sea for holding these, release or throw the pebble into the water. Watching the ripples of your pebble disperse enjoy the moment.

There seemed to be plenty of black stones along the shoreline and we made good use of them, throwing them in to the water, with each throw, shouting what we wanted to let go of,

- fear, negativity, corruption, queues on the M50, direct provision centres, bad body image, viruses, etc etc,!

and as John said, the waves were crashing in uncovering the stones, but cleansing them too. 2020 - Goodbye Hello - Donabate

A walk in Bettystown

It was great way to reconnect and very relaxing. It was very healing to walk bare foot in the sand... the smell of fresh seaweed and the sound of the waves. It is a great way to get grounded and focused, no matter what time of year it is.

On a windy winter's day a walk can also be very effective for the body, mind and soul. The benefits of walking on the beach is very relaxing and peaceful. The sand is a natural exfoliate.

Inhale the salty air to clear the mind. The sound of the waves lifts the soul, not to mention the views.

It helps with sleep too. A good brisk 20 minute walk can do wonders. Bettystown Beach - Magic of the Land Blog

Sand

Sand paintings involve sacred religious ceremonies for many cultures, including Tibetan Buddhists, Native Australians, Japanese tray pictures and Native Americans. For the Navajo people the paintings take on an energy that means they are regarded as 'alive', sacred entities that can absorb an ailment, bringing relief and healing. Navajo Sandpainting

Sand ceremonies have become popular for weddings, particularly appropriate when held on a beach. Different coloured sands are mixed together by bride and groom, representing their differences coming together as one. Celebrant Directory - Sand Ceremonies

Donabate beach labyrinth

Making the labyrinth forms an act of moving meditation or spiritual reflection in itself. While creating the labyrinth, begin with the feelings of calm and reflection and begin to become more aware of your surroundings.

Notice all the things you're experiencing, the feel of the sun or breeze on your skin, the texture of the sand or soil beneath your feet and drawing stick,the sounds : bird song, the sound of water, wind & waves, distant voices, the smell of the sea, the incense,the salty taste on the breeze.

Mark out pathway after marking with stones people gathered on the way. Place the elements in their spots. Feathers – air, stones – earth, Shells- water, candle – fire, Incense – ether. Mark out the Centre space, then invite people to draw the next line and so on until it is finished.

Time to walk it. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to walk a labyrinth. When you walk it the mind is quietened, and you have the time to reflect, listen to inner guidance and let go. The entrance is an opportunity to stop, reflect, make prayer or intention for the spiritual walk you are about to take. The walk around the design to the centre can be a "letting go" - a quieting of the thoughts, a letting go of worries, lists of tasks to do, and just be with the experience of being present in the body. Arrival at the centre - here is a place and time to pause- to hear inner guidance and a place just to be.Then, when you are ready, you head back out, back to the world.

Port Beach near Clougherhead

Amazing what a man, a bucket and piece of string will inspire people to do!

Finally the triskele pattern was washed away into the sea leaving us with wonderful memories.

triscle pattern practice
spiral construction
spiral construction2

7 August 2009 - Pattern, Pilgrimage & Pleasure - Labyrinth

TC Lughnasadh archive

First glimpse of the rising full moon dressed in Pink....a magical moment Full moon shining as bright as day
lughnasadh labyrinth moon Moon and clogherhead
Full moon in an azure blue black sky Moon observes the washing away of our LUNAsa labyrinth
moon azure moon clogherhead2

Smell of the seaside

Dimethyl sulphide, along with the evaporation of salty sea spray, creates that sharp, tangy smell that's synonymous with the coastal experience. Usually free from pollutants and rich in oxygen, sea air clears our sinuses and lungs. Victorians identified the smell with ozone, modern scientists take a broader approach recognising a mix of chemical elements and negative ions.

Breathing Meditation: Either sit on a beach or imagine that you are standing on a warm sandy beach. Feel gentle sunshine, calm and relaxing. Hold your hands in front of you, facing down, finger tips facing each other. Move them towards your chest, turning to face your body, in the shape of a shallow wave rippling in on the sand (inhale). On the exhale move them back in front of you, the wave receding, going back out to the sea. Repeat three times.

Sights of the seaside

Beautiful scenery of land and sea inspires our thoughts, calms our emotions and satisfies our spiritual well-being. We can stretch our gaze out to the vast expanse of ocean, and know there is something beyond the horizon or close in on a limpet in a rock pool. Just the blue colour of the sea brings a sense of peace.

Watching Meditation: Observing our surroundings we watch without judgement or attachment. Sitting we see the constant change of the sea, the apparent solidity of the land, soft and hard surfaces. We witness and accept.

You can ground yourself by walking barefoot on the sand. You are connected to the land.

Sounds of the seaside

waves crashing on the shore... sand scrunching underfoot... feet splashing in the water... wind whistling over rocks and sand... seagulls...

The sound of waves on the shore have been likened to the heart beat of the earth.

Listening Meditation: Settle in a comfortable position and allow your mind to focus on the sound, actual, recorded, or an imagined one, open and relaxed. Be fully present and let go of your own thoughts and distractions.

White Horses

Waves breaking on the beach appear as white horses. The crest of the wave is likened to the mane and the booming of the sea crashing onto rocks and sand sounds like hooves dashing along the ground.

Poseidon, King of the Sea, is said to have created the Horse.

The Burrows of Tramore is said to be the residence of an enchanted gentleman called The Garanoogah. Generally before a storm he rides out across the strand on a white horse. Tramore history.com tells more of his stories.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website details the many different personalities that waves can express. Joides resolution.org - white horses and the beaufort scale explained The description for “Beaufort 3” nearly reads like a haiku: “Large wavelets. Crests begin to break. Foam of glassy appearance. Perhaps scattered white horses.”

The Water horse is seen on the Derrinligroe shore of Lough Allen on Pat McManus's land. Mrs Frances Carroll saw him one day. He came out of water ran on strand for a few minutes and into the water again. Duchas.ie - Each Uisce

Seaweed

Abundant on Ireland's west coast these photos are from Sligo and Galway. Duchas.ie - Seaweed collecting and storing

.... his mother used cut seaweed. She used go out to the rocks on the side of a horse, swimming. The seaweed was cut from the rocks and was brought to the strand on a horse or in a boat. It is left there for a few days and then it is drawn home. Duchas.ie

The people long ago used gather a lot of seaweed because they used it for mostly everything. They used it as manure for the land - and long ago the people used give it to their horses and cattle to eat. They used it as food for themselves also. Duchas.ie - Food for animals and people

A harvest of seaweed can be used to make soap: At Dowros bay which is about six miles from Ardara Co. Donegal the soap came in large blocks or squares. Each person who gathered seaweed got sufficient soap for his needs and whatever soap remained was sold to people who lived too far from the shore to get seaweed. Local Industries

Salt

This mineral is fundamental for our well being, both physical and spiritual. It is vital for food preservation as well as making a tastier dish and has either been mined or extracted from brine (salt water) from ancient times. There is an excellent article here about the methods used - Old European Culture Blogspot - fulacht fiadh salt extraction

Many cultures use salt for purification, spiritual protection, and releasing unwanted influences.

Horse Racing

Horse Racing on Termonfeckin Strand was a favourite sport and held annually. It was a good strand for horse racing but was discontinued owing to lack of funds. Duchas.ie - Traditions of Sports and Pastimes

For many years Omey Island, a tidal island on the western edge of Connemara, has held races at the low Spring tide or during August holidays. Originally for working horses, there are side shows, sometimes currach races and is a great day out for locals and tourists.

Ball Games

Rounders, Cricket, Hurling and Football are all popular beach games.

"In West Kerry we have over a year of Sundays put down playing hurling on the beach, a mix of backgrounds, capabilities and ages all coming together to share in the simple but essential pleasure of play." Diarmuid Lyng - Hurling on the Beach