In 2016 John Philip Newell began a teaching initiative that is now called The School of Earth & Soul (formerly The School of Celtic Consciousness.) Its purpose is to reawaken awareness of the sacred in all things through the recovery of Celtic wisdom for today and to help translate this awareness into compassionate action and justice. Click HERE to visit the Earth and Soul web page.

The School follows a three-year schedule of teaching in its annual retreats. Participants may join at any stage in the three years and attend Years 1, 2 and 3 at any of the Earth & Soul venues across the country.

Year 1: Celtic Wisdom for Today through the teachings of Pelagius, St Brigid, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. (register below)

Year 2: Celtic Wisdom for Today through the teachings of Eriugena, the Carmina Gadelica, and John Muir. (Click HERE to register)

Year 3: Celtic Wisdom for Today through the teachings of Alexander John Scott, George MacLeod, and Kenneth White.

The essential text for the three-year program is John Philip Newell’s Sacred Earth Sacred Soul. And the shared prayer book of the School is Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter.

About Shrine Mont

Shrine Mont is a full service conference and retreat center affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.  We are located on 1,200 acres of forest in the historic resort town of Orkney Springs, VA fifteen miles west of I81 and two hours west of Washington, DC. Part of our facility is a renovated former resort that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Accommodations vary from hotel style rooms to cottages for families or small groups.  Click HERE for more information about Shrine Mont.

School of Earth and Soul Year 1 information: