Wellness Guru: John & Karen of Slí an Chroí Clinic
- Darryl Gibney
- Mar 9, 2017
- 4 min read
Our favourite festival of the annual calendar is just around the corner, the Mind Body Spirit Festival is at Dublins RDS this weekend. This jam-packed festival is full of exciting talks, workshops and exhibitors that are all dedicated to the same goal as our website, thats increasing your Wellness. So in the lead up to the festival we'll be bringing you a one-on-one weekly interview with one of the shows main stars.
Two of the big stars this year are John Cantwell and Karen Ward, two Shamans who together own and run the Slí an Chroí clinic in Smithfield. We love visiting their stand every year for treatments, so much so in fact that we sat down with them for a preview to get an insight into their lives. Keep reading for more ......
1. Tell us about yourself John & Karen , and how you got to be where you are today?
We met and fell in love at first sight at the Solar Eclipse in 1999 - an auspicious time indeed. At our Celtic Wedding in 2002 our Shaman told us that her Cuban American teacher, Alberto Villoldo of the Four Winds was coming to Ireland and we signed up for the 2 year Course. Karen was an Holistic Therapist (Yoga, Aromatherapy, Reiki, Counselling Psychotherapy, Holistic Dietician) and John ran his very successful Film Actors Studio. During this exciting training, we began to ‘remember’ our Celtic medicine ways and traditions and soon we were naturally being asked to teach others. Slí an Chroí, Gaelic for the Pathway of the Heart began in 2005 and has gone from strength to strength since then.
2. Tell us how you spend your average working day
We rise early. Karen does a 7am Vinyasa Yoga class locally and John does his own Searmanas (morning ritual) at home. Karen is a porridge with seeds and berries gal and John is an egg on gluten free bread with good coffee man.
We write for an hour then our Clinic starts at 10am – 7pm 4 days a week. We break for soup/salad/gluten free wrap or sandwich lunch about 1pm.
One day a week Karen goes to Dublin City University where she is researching her PhD. John is a keen amateur cyclist and goes for a 5 hour spin at least once a week. John is the fabulous cook and Karen is the cleaner-upper!
3. What inspires you?
Life, love, connection with all things. We are so inspired daily by the amazing clients we see who turn up for themselves in our Counselling Psychotherapy and Energy Therapy (Karen) and Shamanic Counselling and Therapy (John) Clinics.
4. What’s your goal in life?
To turn up fully, to be of service and to fulfil our destiny this lifetime as best we can.
5. What does Wellness mean to you?
Wellness is totally holistic to us – mind, body, spirit.
6.Tell us about your business?
Slightly unusually for a School of Shamanism we are based in Smithfield Village, Dublin City in an old lady of a house which was built in 1777. Our adage is that the Sky is always above us and the Earth below no matter where we are. We feel it important to be urban shaman and Dublin is such a gorgeous city where you can be at the sea or mountains within 20 minutes of the city. Readers can email us at johnandkaren@slianchroi.ie or phone (00 353 1) 6704905.
7. Tell us about what you'll be doing at the Mind Body Spirit Festival this year in the RDS?
Once again we are delighted to be asked to do the Opening Ceremony which will be a Samhain Celebration at 1pm on Saturday 29th October. We have a Slí an Chroí Shamanism Stand and with our colleagues and graduates of our Medicine and Healers Spiral trainings we will be offering Shamanic Cleanses to all for a €5 donation to Barnardos children’s charity. Then we will both offer Talks and Workshops over the weekend.
8. Tell us your Top 3 Tips for Wellness?
Love unconditionally, Love with all your Heart, Love yourself.
9. So what’s next in your career/life?
We are both writing a book each for launch at the Mind, Body Spirit Festival. Karen’s is a Moon Mná Journal for women to take a little bit of precious timeout each evening to connect with themselves under the exquisite guidance of old Grandmother Moon. Johns is a beautiful guide to the 8 Celtic Festivals with simple to do ceremony for each. We have been invited to present at the OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids) in Glastonbury for their Mid-Winter Gathering 9th December.
We are once again honoured to co-host the City of Dublin Winter Solstice Celebration on 21st December in Smithfield Square, Dublin 7.
For more visit, Karen Ward and John Cantwell, Slí an Chroí School of Shamanism and Clinic, Rhiannon, St. Paul’s Grounds, North King St., Smithfield, Dublin 7, Ireland.
More of the MIND BODY SPIRIT FESTIVAL
At the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Dublin you will find some of the world’s leading authors and presenters all experts in their field. This is a 3 day event featuring over 75 different workshops and lectures, including a dedicated Yoga and Wellbeing studio space, with FREE classes and taster sessions hosted by some of the Irish best loved Yoga and wellbeing teachers. The festival will also feature over 150 stalls and a live stage with over 45 performances over the three day festival.
Comments