SHEKINA SCULPTURE GARDEN

    
Modern Sacred Space. Over the past decade this garden has become more and more a modern sacred space. People have discovered it to be a place of tranquillity, inspiration and healing. Many have termed it the ‘peace garden’. It’s actual title ‘Shekina’ is a Hebrew word which signifies God’s intimate presence with his people as they journeyed as well as in the places they rested. The hope is that all who visit may have an experience of the peace, joy and adventure of this Shekina presence as they rest a while in this garden.     The Sculptures are of varying materials – granite, limestone, wood, bronze, metal, stainless steel, glass and enamel. All twelve sculptures have a strong symbolic content and were chosen not only for their beauty but also for their ability to facilitate reflection on the journey of life and its mysteries.


  Shekina Sculpture Garden is situated in the centre of Co. Wicklow, ‘The Garden of Ireland’. It lies in the peaceful Glenmalure Valley, close to the Avonbeg river and under the shadows of Fannierin mountain. This one acre garden includes a stream with a bridge, two ponds on different levels, a patio, gazebo, seating areas, shrub beds and undulating lawns. A unique feature is a collection of 15 modern sculptures by Irish artists –: Michael Casey, Fred Conlon, Cliodna Cussen, James Gannon, Leo Higgins, Anne Murphy, Paul Page, Noel Scullion, Alexander Sokolov, Imogen Stuart, Ken Thompson, Alexandra Wejchert, Elke Weston.  

Literature

'New Paths Toward the Sacred: Discovering the Awe Experience in Everyday Living' (Paulist Press, Nov. 2009. ISBN 978-0-8091-4551-5). See Daniel O'Leary's review of this work in The Tablet , Jan 17 th '09.

Shekina Sculpture Garden,
ed. Jim Larner from an original text by Catherine McCann and contributions from the various sculptors. (The Stationary Office, Government Publications 1997. ISBN 0-7-76-4974-9)
Time-out in Shekina, The Value of Symbols in our Search for Meaning,
by Catherine McCann (Eleona Books 1998. ISBN 0-9531302-2-3)
The Hidden Gardens of Ireland, where to find them
by Marianne Heron (Gill and Macmillan 1996. ISBN 0- 7171-2427-4)
O’Brien Guide to Irish Gardens  
by Shirley Lanigan (O’Brien Press 2001 ISBN 0-86278-632-0)
Exploring Personal Experiences in a Garden in the Light of the Sacred
by Ph.D. Thesis, Awarded by Dublin City University Catherine McCann

  

Time-Out Days provide an opportunity to be still in the beauty of Shekina. The space facilitates rest, relaxation, togetherness, celebration, reflection and prayer. On Time-out days a guided reflection on two or more of the sculptures is on offer for those who wish.

Shekina Garden is ideal for small and medium size groups to take-time out for personal and/or group reflection. The groups who have visited in the past have been many and varied – for example pastoral teams, scripture study groups, school confirmation classes, stress management workshops, the ramblers, religious groups of all kinds, and groups of no specific faith who are searchers after truth, beauty and love.

Time-Out days can be arranged for groups of 7+. Contact numbers are given below.

Open Days The garden is open to the public on specific dates. Picnics encouraged. Entrance by donation to St. Vincent de Paul. These open days are mentioned in the Count Wicklow Garden Festival Brochure.

  

Open Day Dates 2010:
May 16th, June 13th, July 18th, Aug22nd.  
Each day Noon – 6pm

Further Information
Contacts for further information regarding the garden or books:
Ph/fax: 353 1 2838711 or ph 353 404 46128  or  Email: cmccann@gofree.indigo.ie or Website:
www.shekinasculpturegarden.com

 

YOU ARE INVITED

TO

DISCOVER YOUR OWN SHEKINA
by
Stillness • Listening • Reaching Out

  

 

Stillness
Find a place where you can best come to stillness; for example a particular spot in your house, in the garden, your local park, the car, sitting at your office desk.

Having stilled yourself physically in your chosen space and taken a suitable posture: sitting, standing, lying, then gently try to discover a quiet space in your inner self

Give yourself some minutes to arrive at a level of outer and inner stillness. Some days this will happen more easily than others. We never come to stillness instantly and the level we arrive at always varies - and no one arrives at perfect stillness!

The process of attempting to still your body, mind, feelings and ultimately your deep inner self is really a very simple task. Ultimately it is about doing nothing - it is simply a question of being there, of being the self that you are in this particular place and in this now-moment of time.

 

 

Listening
To assist the above process – listen! Listen first to the sounds around you.

Then, when you feel it is appropriate, begin to listen to what is surfacing within yourself . Note what enters your awareness but do not analyse – simply let what is be!

Over time and through regular practice you will experience deeper stillness. Your listening may come to the stage where it is about listening to Silence and being enveloped by that Silence. Rest in that Silence. Such Silence tends to be an experience of fullness as opposed to an empty Silence . Whatever quality of stillness is experienced simply remain within it.

When listening to the mystery of your deeper self and to the silence you may come to an experience of  a Shekina-type Presence.


  

 

Reaching Out
At some stage you may be aware of being drawn away from yourself. Being a compassionate person you will be drawn to allowing those you love, those who suffer, or those who have other concerns enter your awareness. Allow that love, generated in you by the stillness and listening exercises, to reach out and empower others.

Do not force anything. From your place of stillness simply reach out towards whoever you feel drawn to and simply hold that person compassionately in your awareness. A particular situation or person might fleetingly attract your attention, or you may feel drawn to linger in your loving holding-of-the-other in your heart.

An appropriate was of finishing this Shekina experience would be gratitude – gratitude for the wonder of yourself, for the wonder of all that is created, for the wonder of the Divine in our midst.
 

Other sites to Visit:

www.sacredspace.ie

www.esatclear.ie/~anneharte