A Journey Inward | Healing the Self Abandonment Wound
Course Two
The Cailleach’s Descent to the Underworld
Crossing the Dark Seas of Loss into Strange Country
This course is the first course in the five-part A Journey Inward series.
It can be taken as part of the course series or standalone.
This is a self-paced, reflective online course
You are invited to move slowly, to pause when needed, and to return to the material in your own time.
The work is offered with care, spaciousness, and respect for each person’s pace and inner world.
An Invitation
This course will explore the grief we experience during transition periods. Grief is a constant companion with change. So, to change and heal the patterns that no longer serve us, we need to meet the grief inherent in that transition. We can acknowledge that those old patterns kept us safe when needed, but it is time to make space for a new way of life. Together, we will cross the thresholds of change and learn, through the wisdom of the ancient Crone - The Cailleach, how we can come to support ourselves in the liminal places.
Rooted in Irish Myth & Ancestral Memory
Samhain marks the beginning of the darkest part of the year, the beginning of Winter. In the Celtic tradition, at Samhain, the Cailleach, the old hag or the wise crone of winter, leaves the mountains and begins her walk across the lands, bringing the winter storms, snow, and darkness with her.
It is believed that the veil between the physical world and the otherworld is thin at Samhain. This means that the spirits, the Aois Si, the Tuatha de Danann, can cross between the realms. We will explore the ancient world of the Celts and our ancestors, their rituals and customs, to support ourselves today in life transitions and the natural rhythm of life, death, and rebirth.
Drawing on Irish mythology and the wisdom of the Cailleach, interwoven with story, symbol, poetry and depth psychology, this course explores how experiences of loss and transition can open a deeper relationship with the soul self. By entering the symbolic world of myth and imagination, we become more receptive to the inner movements of psyche and the archetypal patterns shaping our lives, allowing us to find new ground in the midst of uncertainty.
The Heart of This Course
At the heart of this course is the descent into the inner underworld — the psychological landscape we encounter in times of loss, grief, and profound change. In myth, journeys into the underworld are never simply about darkness; they are threshold crossings that invite transformation and renewal. Darkness is associated with new beginnings, with the seed's potential below the ground. These are liminal threshold times in the changing seasons of our lives. Every change comes with grief and loss, and we are asked to let something go even when we welcome positive changes. During these times of change and transition, we often feel bewildered and lost, frightened and overwhelmed, no longer sure of the path ahead. We think we have no anchor any more. We are standing in a strange country.
Join Eileen on a journey inward. Together, we will explore, through the work of Psychotherapy, Depth Psychology and Irish Mythology, how we can honour the grief of transitions and open ourselves up to transformation and change.
Themes We Explore Together
Themes explored include:
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The self-abandonment wound connects to self-worth, unmet needs, and the parts of your life you’ve had to leave behind.
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Recognize how this wound affects your ability to fully connect with yourself and others in meaningful, authentic ways.
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Make space for grief, and gently explore how fear of the unknown can hold you back from stepping into new chapters.
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Navigate life’s thresholds with more clarity, courage, and compassion—and begin to uncover the growth and transformation they can offer.
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Myth, Image, and the Living Psyche
Engaging with Irish mythology, folklore, and poetic imagery as symbolic mirrors and doorways into the psyche and soul. -
Ancestral Wisdom and Cultural Memory
Reconnecting with ancestral lineages, the Irish language, and the spiritual landscape of Ireland as sources of meaning, continuity, and soul nourishment.
You are invited to meet these themes gently, listening for what stirs in your own inner world.
This course is for you if…
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You sense that the self-abandonment wound has shaped your life in subtle ways, influencing your sense of self-worth, your ability to meet your own needs, or the parts of your life you may have had to leave behind.
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You notice patterns that make it difficult to feel fully connected to yourself or others, and you want to explore what more authentic and meaningful connection could look like.
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You are moving through a period of loss, change, or transition, and are seeking a reflective and supportive space to explore what this threshold may be asking of you.
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You want to learn how to support yourself emotionally and physically through grief, rather than pushing past it or feeling overwhelmed by it.
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You feel called to reconnect with your body as a place of presence, grounding, and support while navigating the complexity of inner change.
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You are drawn to exploring the deeper meaning within life’s in-between times, and are curious about how myth, ritual, and ancestral wisdom can illuminate the hidden gifts within these passages.
You will learn…
You will deepen your understanding of the self-abandonment wound and how it can shape the way you relate to your needs, your relationships, and the parts of yourself that may have been left behind. Through reflection, embodied awareness, and mythic exploration, you will learn to recognise the emotional and physical patterns that arise during times of grief, loss, and transition. Drawing on Irish myth, poetry, ancestral wisdom, and simple ritual practices, the course supports you in navigating life’s thresholds with greater compassion and clarity, reconnecting with the body as a place of grounding and support, and discovering the insight and transformation that can emerge when we honour the deeper journeys of the soul.
Photo Credit: Seán Mac an tSíthigh
What is included?
This course is educational and reflective in nature and is offered as a supportive complement to personal or therapeutic work.
A Self-Paced Online Course you can return to at any time
130+ Minutes of Immersive Video Content
30+ Page Companion E-Workbook for reflection and integration
Space for journaling, contemplation, and embodied listening
Instant access with unlimited lifetime availability
CPD Certification for Irish Professionals
A Depth Psychology Experience Rooted in the Irish Mythology
+ bonus gift | WINTER SOLSTICE Meditation (30 minutes) interwoven with the Irish language
The Cailleach’s Descent to the Underworld online course is an immersive, embodied journey of soul and psyche, weaving sweeping images of Irish Landscape, myth, folklore, music, poetry and ritual to support a return to your inner world and soul self.
Begin the Journey
What A Journey Inward Participants have said...
FAQ
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All workshops, courses, programs and products are designed to support your personal development. They are not designed to diagnose, prescribe or recommend any specific psychological, psychiatric or physical health interventions. Anyone engaging in this work agrees to take responsibility for their own personal wellbeing and should they need to consult an individual licensed, qualified healthcare professional, they will do so at their own discretion.
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I wanted to translate the live workshops into a more impactful video-infused format that creates a more immersive and enjoyable experience. You can go at your own pace and start whenever you feel called to step into the journey inward. The essence of the courses is the same as the live workshop versions and still draws on aspects closest to my heart, from mythology, poetry, and the ancient Gaelic Celtic world, connecting to the body and the deeper symbolic, soul self.
I have added extra sections for deeper reflection, videos that share the myths in a visual format, and journal invitations to help you directly apply the work to your daily life.
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New A Journey Inward courses may be added in the future; please join the mailing list to be the first to be notified.
About
Eileen Ní Shuilleabháin
BSocSc, MA Social Work, MA Psychotherapy, Dip Supervision, Dip Jungian Psychology, Certified Coach (WCI)
I am a Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapist, Supervisor, and Personal Development Coach with over 20 years of experience. I work internationally and am dual-located in the US and Ireland (in Northern Nevada and on the West Coast of Ireland, in Connemara). I work from a Jungian and depth-oriented perspective, integrating Jungian Psychology, Psychodynamic and somatic therapies.
I grew up in Connemara, a wild and rugged landscape on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. Oscar Wilde famously said of the region, “Connemara is a savage beauty”. I grew up in a small, rural Gaeilge (Irish) speaking community where Gaeilge is my first language, and is still spoken today in people's homes. This area was a major centre for the work of the Irish Folklore Commission, recording endangered folklore, mythology, sean-nós (old-style) songs, and oral literature. I have been greatly influenced by the wild physical landscape and immersed in those ancient songs, stories, customs, myths, legends, and music since childhood.
My work interweaves the Gaelic (Irish) World and Otherworld with Jungian Depth Psychology. The Gaelic world, with its symbols, language, myth, folklore, literature and heritage, becomes a doorway through which you can enter and explore your own inner landscape. I desire to share with you a felt sense of that ancient culture and spirit and, as a Psychotherapist, support how that connection can nourish and guide you on your personal development journey.
A Journey Inward Course Series
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Embodiment, Soul and the Celtic Spirit
Healing the Wounds of the Abandoning Self
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The Cailleach's Descent to the Underworld
Crossing the Dark Seas of Loss into Strange Country
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Resting Under Brigid’s Mantle
Cultivating Sanctuary and Self Compassion in Daily Life
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Awakening Bealtaine
Embracing Our Authentic Power
A Celebration of Granuaile -
Celebrating the Harvest at Lúnasa
Taking Your Seat at the Banquet of Life