Palo santo has been used for centuries to clear negative energy and invite in the sacred. *(paid link)*
Irish mythology might hold some of the secrets of Newgrange. Legend has it that the Tuatha Dé Danann, Gaelic for “People of the Goddess Danu,” are a supernatural race within whose ranks exist a pantheon of pre-Christian deities. Having lost a monumental battle to the righteous ancestors of today’s Irish, these otherworldly spirits became elusive, which is why they are now known as the “Aos Sí” or “fairies.” These light beings are fierce guardians of their homes. They are still accessible, helpful, and relied-upon today. Known to the ancients as “Síd in Broga” and “Brug Mac ind Óc,” Newgrange is Ireland’s most impressive and famous prehistoric monument.Who Built Newgrange?
Gaelic mythology tells us that the original Irish race (the “Milesians”) traveled to Ireland from Hispania. Hispania included Andorra, Portugal and Spain, and the British Crown colony of Gibraltar. When they arrived, they set their sites on defeating the powerful Tuatha Dé Danann. In the final throws of battle, the two warring parties agreed to divide Ireland between them. The Milesians took the physical world atop the earth’s crust, and the Tuatha Dé Danann were awarded the worlds and realms below, also known as, “The Underworld.” As time unfolded, the Tuath Dé became the worshiped, pagan gods of Ireland, still adored today. Years ago, I stood inside a similar ancient stone structure during a silent retreat, the air thick with stillness and something electric beneath my skin. As the cold stone walls pressed in, my body naturally started to tremble—not from fear, but as if the nervous system was waking up, shaking loose years of tension and old grief. That shaking wasn’t just physical release; it was a visceral reminder that these places are not just stones stacked by humans but vessels that bring the body into conversation with time itself. I remember a woman in one of my Denver workshops who’d carried deep trauma for decades. As we worked with breath and subtle movement, she suddenly burst into tears—not just emotional but something seismic in her system shifting. That moment, raw and unfiltered, felt like stepping into an unseen passage much like Newgrange’s inner chamber—dark, wide open, holding the potential for both unearthing pain and igniting something beyond words.A beautiful altar cloth transforms any surface into sacred ground. *(paid link)*
This suggests that the Tuatha Dé were the builders of Newgrange. They were known to be inventive farmers and passionate astronomers. They built a mound that’s 93 yards in diameter, 15 yards high, and covering an area of about 1 acre. Newgrange houses a passage that measures 21 yards which leads into a chamber consisting of 3 alcoves, all of which are perfectly aligned with the rising sun. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is surrounded by 97 massive kerbstones, some of which are decorated with enchanted engravings. Some say that the Newgrange stones can be used for healing and connecting with other realms. Newgrange is part of a massive collection of sites that includes the Knowth (largest) and Dowth monuments, along with 35 smaller mounds. Visitors can access this ancient multiplex, known as “Brug na Bóinne,” via the visitor’s center of the same name.What was the purpose of the megalithic tombs at Newgrange?
Archeologists classify Newgrange Ireland as a tomb with passageways. Meanwhile, many intuitives, spiritual seekers, and researchers believe the site to be an ancient temple, one filled with mystery. Not only was Newgrange of ceremonial importance, but it was also a portal built with energetic and astrological principles in mind. The site was a place a worship, prominence, and authority, akin to a mother church or cathedral. It accommodated many influential political and religious leaders would seek out light, magic, and blessings, and declare the spot for their final resting place.Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now remains one of the most important spiritual books of our time. *(paid link)*
Excavations of the site have revealed remnants of burned, human bones, indicating that at least a few human beings were first cremated and then buried here. While burial may have been one of the general uses of the site, it seems more likely that the predominant activity at Newgrange was the practicing of an astronomy-based faith. Some maintain that the Newgrange community were members of a cult focused on the deceased.Winter Solstice and Newgrange
The architects of Newgrange understood astronomy, as demonstrated during the Winter Solstice. This is when the rising sun illuminates the temple’s long passageway, into the primary, central chamber. The top box or roof box that rests above the main entrance is the lens through which the sun pours. Also notable is the presence of the Aurora Borealis, which hovered above Newgrange on Dec. 20th, 2015. Whether or not you’re a believer, most visitors to Newgrange beliefe that the site provides a divine connection to pagan royalty and deities. Even the original monks who farmed the grange in its early history believed the site’s mythologies to be equal in truth and power to the tenets of their Christian faith. If you’d like to tour Newgrange, you can visit the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre and hop on a 24-person shuttle bus. To experience the site’s Winter Solstice phenomenon, you can enter their annual lottery. Every year between December 18 and 23rd, 12 people are permitted to enter the temple’s holy chambers. Every year, local school children draw the 50 lucky names by hand. A reserve list is also drawn. Visitors who are not on these lists are welcome to stand outside the monument during the immersion of the Winter Solstice morning light.I always keep sage nearby for clearing stagnant energy. *(paid link)*
You can enter the lottery by filling out an application on the Brú na Bóinne website. Over 30,000 people applied in 2019. These magic seats are not transferable for any reason.