NEWLY RELEASED! "Walking Awake on the Isle of Iona, Scotland: An Inspirational Card Deck and Book Set"!
Hello Walking Awake Friends!
I'd love to share some exciting news! As many of you know, the Isle of Iona, Scotland is very dear to my heart and has played an important role in the evolution of my personal and professional life. While I have been traveling to Iona on and off since 2003, I first heard of this remote Hebridean isle after encountering the standing stones of Columcille Megalith Park, in rural Bangor, Pennsylvania, U.S.A, and upon meeting its founders in the late '90's. As I often lovingly share, I even met my husband Nick on the ferry on the way to Iona. There is no doubt in my mind that making that first journey to to the Isle of Iona in 2003 forever changed my life.
Over the past 19 years, I have enjoyed enduring friendships with Iona's residents, walking its shores,
exploring its wild and sacred spaces, and leading groups of pilgrims and tourists to its many beloved sites. During this time, I have accumulated a treasure trove of Iona myths, mysteries, and historical facts, and have taken thousands of photographs. Over the past 3 years I began to pull together a collection of my photos and stories with the vision of creating an Isle of Iona inspirational card deck accompanied by an informative and reflective book. This past winter, I spent two months on Iona during which time this project began to come into physical form. I am beyond thrilled to announce that it is now complete and the sets are beginning to slowly make their way out into the world.
The "Walking Awake on the Isle of Iona, Scotland: An Inspirational Card Deck and Book Set" is packaged in a beautifully presented box. I have received lovely comments from several who have received them sharing that upon opening the lid, one feels as though they are unwrapping a box filled with gifts!
Included inside each box:
- A deck of 36 cards (along with a blue velvet bag to place them in). Each card features a photo of one of the many sites on Iona, along with a one-word message/prompt
- An informative book featuring full page color photos of each card accompanied by descriptions
- Each card description includes the following:
- Photo location
- Interpretations of the word featured on the card
- A Trails and Tales section in which I share further about the image and site
- A Musings and Meditations section within which reflective prompts are posed to the reader
- A wisdom quote, as an additional reflective prompt
- Each card description includes the following:
- An Iona Stone (tucked inside a small blue velvet bag) which you you may wish to hold during the meditations and reflections
Here's my "Message from the Author" printed on the back of each box:
"It is often said that the veil between the spiritual and material worlds is exceptionally thin on Iona. Whether you are someone who has visited Iona once, numerous times, are a year-round resident, or perhaps have never set foot on this mysterious and beloved isle, this deck and book has been created to serve as a portal through that veil. They are offered with the intention of connecting you to Iona, as well as transporting the energies and blessings of Iona throughout the world.
As you select a card and turn to its page within this book, it is my hope that you will read it as if we were sitting by the fire, sharing a 'cuppa' or 'wee dram' while on Iona. May the energy and love placed within each card and each page invoke and bring forth your inner wisdom and truth, encourage you to listen to Nature a bit more intently, open a door to creativity and deepen your curiousity and love of the sacred Isle of Iona.
May Iona's blessings always reach you, wherever you may be!"
TO ORDER YOUR COPY:
Cost:
£40.00 with free shipping within the U.K.
£50.00 with free shipping to the U.S.A.
To place your order:
Click here to visit my etsy shop
Or, drop me an email at
Iona Blessings!
Denise
About Denise's First Book “Walking Awake: The Faces in Nature
The book “Walking Awake: The Faces in Nature” was sparked, birthed, and flowed into its first form within one week early in the year 2012. It was later edited, reshaped and published into how it appears today. I had no idea I was going to create a book prior to that week. As in the Charles de Lint quote above, it was a magical encounter with a “whispered voice” a “hidden presence” that brought it forth. Here is how it all unfolded…
In early 2012 my personal-life, career, friendships, community associations, and even my health was in full throttle transition. While on the outside I was doing my best to hold it all together, inside my mind was a whirlpool of scenarios and mantras, my heart was grieving for what was, what could’ve been, and what wouldn’t be, and my spirit was just plain exhausted. I felt very alone. Spiraling back to my roots, I could feel Nature calling me home. I listened to that calling and went deep into the woods to a hidden spot where no other human was present (nor likely to even know about). I went with the intention of asking Nature to help me reclaim inner peace and balance, to help me center into my true path. When I look back on that day I realize that I was also in need of a safe place to release my frustrations, my disappointments, and my fear. It was very quiet there, just me and the trees. It wasn’t long before the silence was broken with me bellowing out the words “I feel so alone!” achingly into the depths of the forest. It wasn’t a conscious yell. I didn’t plan on doing it! In fact, I was very surprised when I heard my voice echoing amongst the trees! 
After I was finished keening, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes and the forest was once again quiet. Then, I heard a voice… “Look over here!”. When I sheepishly looked in the direction of the voice I expected to see another human being however, there was no-one there. What I did see was a very clear, beautiful, peaceful face in a tree! I froze in place and starred in silent wonder. Suddenly, I heard another voice close behind me… “You are not alone!” and again, expecting to see a person standing there, I turned around. Instead of a person I saw another clear, comforting, face in a tree! I have revisited that moment time and time again over the years since, and whether I attempt to assign those voices to my subconscious, or a universal consciousness, or to my guides, ancestors, faeries, guardian angels, or my various images of God - in the end - for me - all that really matters is that I heard the voices and that I allowed myself to be fully present in that moment. In what I initially perceived as one of my darkest moments, Nature shined a spotlight on what would (later) become my ministry. I began to “Walk Awake”!
After I sat in awe with these Nature Beings for quite some time, I took a photograph of each tree. I went home and while mentally beginning to process my encounter, I began to upload the photos on my computer. Out of curiosity I took a look back through my many folders of Nature photos. It was then that I discovered that I had been capturing photos of faces, and hearts and hidden presences in Nature for years! However, I was never really “awake” enough in the past to actually see them! Nature had ALWAYS been communicating with me, I just wasn’t listening until that moment! I soon began gathering my photos together and coupling them with age old wisdom quotes and the first edition of “Walking Awake: The Faces in Nature” was born.
Today, my relationship with Nature and my ministry continues to unfold, and I am loving the adventure! I share my ministry through my weekly email Nature meditations, and with those who choose to join me on my guided walks, workshops, and pilgrimages. I no longer feel alone with Nature at my side, and I remain forever open to the everyday sort of magic that exists when we remember to “Walk Awake”.
In Gratitude,
Denise
*CLICK HERE for reviews of “Walking Awake: The Faces in Nature”
Book purchases - To purchase a copy, please go to Amazon.
To purchase a signed copy, or a deck of Denise’s Walking Awake in Nature Inspirational cards, contact Denise.
Denise Crawn: Owner of Walking Awake, author of "Walking Awake: The Faces in Nature", and the NEWLY RELEASED! "Walking Awake on the Isle of Iona, Scotland: An Inspirational Card Deck and Book Set". 
isterial rites of passages such as weddings, blessings, and memorials. With experience in the performing arts, hospitality and Celtic Shamanism combined with a love of myth, history, poetry and music, her ministry has evolved to focus mostly on guiding and mentoring others on their individual journey to become more aware, awake and fully present to their innate connection with Nature through her workshops, pilgrimages, private mentoring, and writing. As a facilitator, Denise has been leading Celtic and Nature focused workshops since 2005 and group pilgrimages to the Isle of Iona since 2009. 
Once upon a time (not so long ago) Denise encountered a Circle of Standing Stones at Columcille Megalith Park in her former home state of Pennsylvania which called her to visit the small Hebridean Island of Iona, Scotland. Ten years later, on one of her many returns to Iona she met her husband, Nick Prance on a ferry and so began their “Ferry Tale” come true. Denise and Nick now reside in Scotland together and enjoy leading and co-leading workshops on both sides of the pond, pilgrimages to Iona and other sacred sites throughout the U.K.
