Another very strange PGS incident…

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As many of you might know, after the Portuguese Camino my wife Jennifer and I went to Ireland.

I’d never been to Ireland before, and had always wanted to go. For some inexplicable reason, I was drawn to the place.

Green vale.2

About ten days before arriving, I set about booking our accommodation.

Our flight had us getting into Dublin about 5pm. I didn’t want to stay in Dublin though the first night – I wanted to stay somewhere out of town, in a small village, and get a real sense of the Irish countryside, and the people.

I looked at various options within about 90 minutes drive of Dublin, and finally settled on a little B&B in a tiny village called Avoca in County Wicklow, south of Dublin. The B&B in fact was situated just outside the village, at a place called The Meeting of the Waters. 

This place, for some reason, called to me.

I should explain that when I plan a trip, or when I organise accommodation, I always allow my PGS – my intuition – to guide me. I disengage my logical practical self, and use my intuitive processes.

That’s what I did in this instance. I don’t know why I chose Avoca, and The Meeting of the Waters – as I say, it just called to me. It just felt right to stay there on the first night in Ireland.

We flew into Dublin, picked up a rental car, and drove to Avoca. It turned out to be a picture postcard little village – famous for being the location for the tv show Ballykissangel, which I’ve never seen.

Avoca was just as I’d imagined an Irish village to be – beautiful.

We then drove a couple of kilometres out of the village, following a river through some of the most exquisite countryside I’d ever seen. The B&B was a restored farmhouse, and it lay at the confluence of two streams – hence its name, The Meeting of the Waters. 

The following morning Jennifer and I walked around to the junction of the two streams, and discovered that it was the place where the Irish poet and writer, Thomas Moore, wrote many of his famous works, including a poem called The Meeting of the Waters. 

I stood there, at this meeting of the two waters, and immediately felt comfortable there. Like I had a connection to this place which went back centuries. Like I belonged there.

It was a very strange feeling.

Meeting of the Waters

Some of you who read my blog posts from Ireland might recall me writing at the time that I felt like I had come home. In fact on April 27th I wrote:

I feel at home here.
For some reason, I feel like I have come home.
That I was always here.

Cut to:

Mothers Day. This past Sunday. I called my mum to wish her happy Mothers Day. She was out having lunch with my family in Brisbane. I spoke to her for a while, and then for some reason I had the urge to speak to my sister, Anne.

I hadn’t spoken to Anne for several months. In fact she didn’t even know that I’d been away, or that I’d been to Ireland.

Those of you who are followers of this blog might recall that prior to my first Camino, I’d been estranged from my sister Anne for decades. We’d always fought. The Camino in fact reunited us. Brought us back together. I regard it still as the single most beneficial gift the Camino gave me – my sister.

Anne has spent many many years researching our family tree and ancestry – our genealogy. She asked about Ireland and said: You know that’s where our family came from…

In fact I didn’t know that. For some reason I’d always thought we’d come from Wales, or Scotland. I’ve never really taken any interest in our family heritage. But Anne has. She’s been dogged in finding out where we came from.

And then she said: Yes, we come from a small village in County Wicklow. Avoca.

What? I said. Avoca? Are you kidding me? 

And then she told me about my forebear – Mary Fairfield, married to a man named Donovan. They were tenant farmers and had a small farm just outside of Avoca.

I was stunned.

Of all the myriad of places I could have chosen to stay that first night in Ireland, I’d chosen the place where I’d come from.

This was seriously spooky.

And then I began to wonder: could that B&B have been Mary Fairfield’s farmhouse? Could I have actually stayed in my ancestors’ home?

Out my window - horses

(a photo taken from my bedroom window of the B&B)

I’ve said before that I’m constantly surprised at how my PGS guides me. Some of you have said to me that I shouldn’t be surprised, that I should just accept it.

But incidents like this just knock me sideways.

Of all the places I could have chosen to spend the first night in Ireland, I was led to the place where I belonged. To my ancestral home…

headstones

Here is an excerpt from Thomas Moore’s poem, The Meeting of the Waters – 

There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet,
As the vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet;
Oh, the last rays of feeling and life must depart,
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart.

avoca river vignette

The vignetting is a little bit corny, I know – but hey, it visualises a very fruity poem so I figured sentimentality was okay in this instance…

28 thoughts on “Another very strange PGS incident…”

  1. Bill,
    That is so similar to my experience in Florence, Italy. I that never visited the city before but instinctively knew my way around. I was able to walk directly to the site I wanted to see without a map or guide.

    I was told by the medium I see (without ever mentioning to her I had been to Florence and the feelings I encountered while there) that in a past life I had been an artist during the Renaissance in Florence, Italy and it was not surprising that I knew my way around the city so well.

    So, yes I believe our PGS guides us to familiar places, places from our past.

    Arléne

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    • Yes, it does make sense but it is all a bit ethereal, isn’t it Bill?
      Strange how we are led to places of importance to us without even knowing we are being led there.
      As you are aware, I am a strong believer in what you call PGS, it never fails me either.
      Arléne

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      • Well, that’s what my film is going to be about – about how to tap into our intuitive powers. Because we all have them – some of us though shut them out. You don’t.

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  4. Bill, serious goosebumps, hair standing up, shivers… oh my lordy boy, just shows you, always follow your PGS. Light and Love Ingrid

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    • Hi Ingrid – yes this incident truly did leave me gobsmacked.

      A couple of things – I’d phoned to speak to my mum on mother’s day. Why did I suddenly feel compelled to speak to Anne? If she hadn’t told me I wouldn’t have known.

      And I remember making the booking at that B&B – it made no sense to book there, because it wasn’t on the coast, which is where I’d wanted to go – and it wasn’t near the big ancient tourist site Glendalough – we’d have to backtrack the next day to get there, and I hate backtracking on a trip – in fact there was no reason to book at that B&B at all, other than it felt right. So I’d acted against all my rational thought processes, and followed my PGS.

      Very spooky.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Clare –

      yes, you’re right. It just seemed so bizarre – when my sister told me. I must admit I was really taken aback.

      I sat under the tree where Thomas Moore was said to have done all his writing, and I transported myself back to that time, and wondered what it would have been like to sit there at the junction of the two rivers – no sounds except for the sound of the bubbling streams – and allow thoughts and words to come to you.

      If ever there was a place for a poet to write, it was that place. The Meeting of the Waters. I have since wondered whether my ancestors ever met him, or spoke to him. Fascinating…

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  11. Hi Bill,

    I don´t know what are your idea about reincarnation but I thought that you might have being also living there in a past life.

    Anyway it is an incredible story and emotional one,  thank you for sharing. Marie

    > Message du 12/05/14 22:51 > De : “PGS – The Way” > A : romarin64@orange.fr > Copie à : > Objet : [New post] Another very strange PGS incident… > >WordPress.com

    Bill Bennett posted: “As many of you might know, after the Portuguese Camino my wife Jennifer and I went to Ireland. I’d never been to Ireland before, and had always wanted to go. For some inexplicable reason, I was drawn to the place. About ten days before arriving,”

    Respond to this post by replying above this line

     

    New post on PGS – The Way

    Another very strange PGS incident… by Bill Bennett

    As many of you might know, after the Portuguese Camino my wife Jennifer and I went to Ireland.

    I’d never been to Ireland before, and had always wanted to go. For some inexplicable reason, I was drawn to the place.

    About ten days before arriving, I set about booking our accommodation.

    Our flight had us getting into Dublin about 5pm. I didn’t want to stay in Dublin though the first night – I wanted to stay somewhere out of town, in a small village, and get a real sense of the Irish countryside, and the people.

    I looked at various options within about 90 minutes drive of Dublin, and finally settled on a little B&B in a tiny village called Avoca in County Wicklow, south of Dublin. The B&B in fact was situated just outside the village, at a place called The Meeting of the Waters. 

    This place, for some reason, called to me.

    I should explain that when I plan a trip, or when I organise accommodation, I always allow my PGS – my intuition – to guide me. I disengage my logical practical self, and use my intuitive processes.

    That’s what I did in this instance. I don’t know why I chose Avoca, and The Meeting of the Waters – as I say, it just called to me. It just felt right to stay there on the first night in Ireland.

    We flew into Dublin, picked up a rental car, and drove to Avoca. It turned out to be a picture postcard little village – famous for being the location for the tv show Ballykissangel, which I’ve never seen.

    Avoca was just as I’d imagined an Irish village to be – beautiful.

    We then drove a couple of kilometres out of the village, following a river through some of the most exquisite countryside I’d ever seen. The B&B was a restored farmhouse, and it lay at the confluence of two streams – hence its name, The Meeting of the Waters. 

    The following morning Jennifer and I walked around to the junction of the two streams, and discovered that it was the place where the Irish poet and writer, Thomas Moore, wrote many of his famous works, including a poem called The Meeting of the Waters. 

    I stood there, at this meeting of the two waters, and immediately felt comfortable there. Like I had a connection to this place which went back centuries. Like I belonged there.

    It was a very strange feeling.

    Some of you who read my blog posts from Ireland might recall me writing

    Like

    • Dear Marie – sorry for the delay in replaying but I have been busy in preparation for this US trip. I am making what’s called a “sizzle reel,” which is a short promotional film designed to raise interest in the movie on PGS.

      But yes, I am a firm believer in reincarnation and past lives. I believe it absolutely. I’m pleased you found the story interesting, and emotional. It still has me reeling, when I think about it.

      I hope you are well, and that work is going well for you. I hope Jen and I see you again very soon!

      much love
      Bill

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  13. If you do organise a Pilgrim Walk in Ireland I’d love to join the group. I would relish seeing my own country afresh through others eyes.

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    • Hi Mike – thanks for letting me know. We will be organising a Celtic Tour – but have yet to lock in on a timing. Would it be just yourself, or with someone else too? Please contact me directly on: bill@gonetours.com

      thanks!
      Bill

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