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2019 - Emergence - Bective

Saturday 23rd March noon - Bective Mill.

Memories from Anne, Bernadette and Pat who recorded the day. All joined together by a description from Pat....

13 of us (14 if you include the resident dog, Jake!) met at Bective Mill on a beautiful day to celebrate the Spring Equinox 2019. 13 was a great turnout considering there were a few absent regulars.

From our community in Ireland there was an Italian woman from Belfast, an Asian woman from Navan, a Lithuanian woman from Dublin, some returning folk, some "newbies" - ALL WOMEN - and ONE handsome dude from Dublin (guess who?) made for a dynamic, vibrant day. I genuinely don't think anyone noticed I was the only guy there until I pointed it out - which is kinda cool.

After initial introductions and chat, we formed a circle by the banks of the River Boyne and enjoyed a meditation led by Bernadette. To the music of the river, the breeze and the birds of Spring, we were led on a wonderful journey which stayed true to the theme of our day, "Emergence".

Enjoy the sounds of the River Boyne in this video shared by Anne.....

After this, we went indoors to the Mill itself where we regularly meet on Monday nights for our meditation / healing circle. There, we held an "OpenHeart" session where we discussed many issues which each felt were important to them on this day.

We then broke for lunch
- and some great chats, of course -

before resuming our Celebration by all present making something to contribute to our Equinox Altar.
Finally, we went back outside and planted some Ash trees on the grounds of the Mill to symbolise "new beginnings".

A Healing Circle followed, then we said our 'goodbyes' before heading our separate ways - united in "Emergence", Healing and Love.

It was great to feel the new energy of different folk there, some regulars, some attending their first Celebration with us and some welcome old friends who we hadn't seen in a while. All contributed in their own way and it is hoped all got something out of the day.

Of course Mother Nature didn't let us down making a magnificent appearance as she always does at this time of year. From the rushing River, to the budding trees, the newly-emerged flowers to the newly-cut grass, we were surrounded by reminders of what Spring Equinox is all about in nature.

We were also reminded what it is about for us personally too - planting seeds of ideas, getting rid of the Negative and welcoming in the Positive.

Some commented about the day that they "really needed that", while others will surely discover that we ALL "really need" to spend time in Nature among friends from time to time.

A magical day.

Until Bealtaine... Blessings to all and may the seeds of your dreams planted now bear fruit in the coming year.

Bective - B and B now closed

BBQ Area

We held Monday meditations in the Mill building until a fire destroyed the inside rooms in 2019. The Bed and Breakfast building was untouched and operated for a few more years as an enjoyable place to rest up beside the River Boyne, dependent on current government restrictions due to Covid-19.

Lughnasadh Reunion on 17th August 2020 was a happy return, with the Monday meditation re-starting on 24th August, albeit outdoors in the BBQ area and limited numbers due to the Covid-19 pandemic. When stricter rules came in these were abandoned, starting again on Monday 5th July 2021.

Bective meditation Sept 2021.


This time we were at the Mill in a marquee.

Finally, meditations moved back to their original venue at An Tobar. However Covid restrictions meant that was not viable and we reverted to online connection.

Bective Abbey

There are records of a Mill being in the area since the heyday of the Abbey, but the history is a bit clouded in mystery. Bective Abbey, sited on a gentle rise above the River Boyne, was established by the Cistercians in 1147. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary it's walls are mainly intact, with beautiful cloisters and other rooms to explore. Recent archaeological excavations have revealed extensive monastic gardens and further buildings probably used by the monks and lay brothers.

The Cistercians owned many granges (farms) and were commercially successful in managing the landscape. Based in France they searched for noble patrons and prime farmland. At Bective they found rich lush pastureland and Murchadh O Melaghlin, King of Meath, and at his invitation they moved into the area and took over the local farms, then employing the owners in the service of the monastery. Austere and requiring strict conformance to the Rules of St. Benedict, their observance included manual work and agricultural labour in the fields of the Abbey. In 1536 Bective was dissolved on the orders of Henry VIII and the community dispersed to live with the locals.

Despite having been restrained in the energy of this powerful management by Christian monks many find a peaceful atmosphere and calmness in the semi- ruined buildings.

There is a small car park and information boards at the Abbey site.

Hidden Treasure - as related in Duchas.ie Schools Project

People say there is gold buried in Bective Abbey. A man named Downes from Cannistown, Navan, who went to America dreamt of gold being buried in an old ruin. He returned home to dig for it and brought three other men along with him. He was digging in Bective Abbey. He never returned and was never heard of again after the first night he went there. People say there is a Bishop buried in a gold coffin in Bective Abbey. This was never dug for.