The Celtic Wisdom of Connection

The Celtic Wisdom of Connection is a spiritual retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, devoted to Irish poetry, song and spirituality. It is led by the brothers Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and Owen Ó Súilleabháin, and it suits anyone drawn to Celtic spirituality, traditional music and verse, or the question of how ancestral wisdom can speak to modern life.

The program centers on the life and mythology of St. Patrick, a story that has endured for more than 1,500 years. Over a weekend of sessions, yoga and shared meals, participants listen to traditional song and poetic recitation, then talk about what it means.

What to Expect

The retreat runs from a Friday arrival to a Monday departure. Friday begins with check-in at 2:00 pm, a Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00, dinner, and an evening program session from 7:30 to 9:00 that serves as arrival and welcome.

Saturday and Sunday follow a steady daily rhythm:

- Kripalu Yoga class, 6:30 to 7:45 am
- Silent breakfast, 7:30 to 9:00
- Program session, 9:00 to 11:30
- Lunch, 11:30 to 1:30
- Program session, 1:30 to 4:00
- Kripalu Yoga class, 4:45 to 6:00
- Dinner, 5:30 to 7:30
- Optional evening program session, 7:30 to 8:30

Monday opens with yoga and silent breakfast, followed by a final program session from 9:00 to 11:00 and lunch before departure. Times can shift, so the schedule given at check-in and the Guest Boards are the final word.

Within the sessions, you will hear song and poetry from the Ó Súilleabháin brothers, learn the history of Celtic and Christian spirituality in Ireland and how the two differ, and discuss the deeper themes of traditional verse. You will also explore St. Patrick's life and spirituality and how it relates to today. The material is rooted in stoic themes of loss, grief and the beauty of life. You are invited to return home with a clearer sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of how spiritual leadership can inspire positive change.

About Owen Ó Súilleabháin

Owen Ó Súilleabháin is a spiritual teacher who co-leads this program with his brother Mícheál. The two are described as virtuosic, and together they offer world-class song and poetic recitation alongside teaching on Ireland's indigenous, inherited wisdom.

About Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin leads the program with his brother Owen, bringing traditional Irish song and poetry together with reflection on Celtic spirituality and the story of St. Patrick.

The Setting

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health sits in Stockbridge, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Accommodations are intentionally simple, meant to help you unplug and feel grounded. You can choose a private single room for solitude, a semi-private or shared room for connection, or a community-style dorm. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, and a luggage room is available if you arrive earlier. Check-out on the last day is at 10:00 am, though you may stay on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm.

Three meals are served each day, with breakfast taken in silence.

Before You Go

No prior experience with Celtic traditions, poetry or Irish spirituality is needed. The program is offered in English and is open to all levels.

Your stay includes three nutritious meals a day, more than ten yoga classes daily across the campus, access to the Kripalu grounds and facilities, the program sessions with Mícheál and Owen Ó Súilleabháin, and lodging in the accommodation of your choice. Healing Arts sessions and purchases from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are extra. If the program is full, a waitlist is available.