Journey to Meet Áine: Celtic Summer Goddess Ceremony
A Journey Into the Light of Summer
There is a goddess in the Celtic tradition who carries the warmth of the sun in her hands and the fire of midsummer in her heart. Her name is Áine — goddess of summer, of sovereignty, of joy and abundance. When I guide a shamanic journey to meet her, something shifts in the room. People arrive carrying the heaviness of ordinary life, and they leave lighter, lit from within, as though the summer sun has found them from the inside out.
This ceremony is a guided shamanic journey to meet the spirit of Áine. You do not need to be doing this on the summer solstice, or during any particular season — the spirit of summer is available to us whenever we choose to call her in. Whether you are moving through a period of growth and expansion, navigating a crossroads, or simply wanting to connect more deeply with the fire element within you, Áine has something to offer.
In this ceremony, we work with cacao as a heart-opening plant medicine ally — though cacao is entirely optional. The gong soundscapes I play guide you into a gentle trance state, and from there, I lead you into a shamanic journey through the lower realm to meet Áine directly. You can ask her a question, request healing, or simply feel into her energy and allow whatever wants to come through.
I have been working with the sacred directions, plant spirit allies, and the healing traditions of the Celtic, Mayan, Andean and Lakota paths for over 27 years, and every time I journey to meet Áine, she teaches me something new. Come and discover what she has for you.
Who Is Áine, the Celtic Goddess of Summer?
Áine (pronounced 'Aw-nya' or 'Ee-nya' depending on your tradition) is one of the most beloved figures in Irish Celtic mythology. She is a goddess of sovereignty, summer, sun, love, and abundance — and she is deeply connected to the fire element, to the land, and to the full blossoming of life.
In the Celtic seasonal wheel, the energy of Áine is most strongly felt at Litha (the summer solstice) and through the height of summer, when nature is in her fullest expression — wildflowers in bloom, days stretching long and golden, everything growing towards the light. Áine governs this moment of peak expansion. She reminds us that summer is not just a season; it is a state of being, an inner landscape of confidence, creative fire, and joyful presence.
In shamanic work, she lives in the lower realm — the realm of earth, of the feminine, of the seasons and the land spirits. When we journey to meet her, we journey inward as much as we journey anywhere else. She is the summer within us: the part of us that knows how to blossom, how to stand in our full power, and how to receive the warmth of life with open hands.
Working with the Five Elements as we do in this ceremony, Áine aligns most powerfully with fire — and also with the element of wood in some traditions, representing the phase of growth, expansion and flowering into our fullest self. She is not the gentle spark of spring; she is the full, glorious blaze of summer noon.
How the Shamanic Journey Works
If you have never done a shamanic journey before, let me explain what to expect. Shamanism divides reality into three realms: the middle world (ordinary, everyday reality), the upper realm (where we connect with guides, ancestors and higher selves), and the lower realm (where we connect with the earth, the seasons, the plant and animal spirits, and our own subconscious).
In this ceremony, we journey into the lower realm to meet Áine. I guide you there through a visualisation — starting with a place in nature that feels sacred or powerful to you — and from that place, you look for a portal: a hole in the ground, a cave, a gap in the roots of a tree. You move through that portal and descend into the lower realm landscape.
Once there, you call for a power animal or spirit animal to serve as your guide. Your power animal knows this landscape and will help you navigate it. When you have connected with your guide, you ask to be taken to meet Áine — the spirit of summer — and the encounter unfolds from there.
As I always say to participants, visualising does not mean having a cinema-quality movie playing in your mind. Most people receive information in more subtle ways — a felt sense in the body, a knowing, words that arise like hearing the radio, flashes of colour or image. Whatever comes through is valid. There is no wrong way to journey.
The gong soundscapes I play during the journey are not just atmosphere. The symphonic gongs work on the brain directly — occupying the analytical left-brain hemisphere with their complex, layered sounds while the right brain relaxes into a receptive, trance-like state. It is in that liminal space — the threshold between waking and dreaming — that the deeper wisdom becomes available.
Cacao, the Mayan Medicine Wheel, and the Sacred Directions
This ceremony opens with the calling of the seven sacred directions — East, South, West, North, Earth, Sky and Great Spirit — using the Mayan medicine wheel as our framework, because we are working with cacao as our plant ally and cacao is a Mayan medicine.
In the Mayan tradition, the directions are welcomed as honoured guests — and just as you would offer a guest a drink before serving yourself, we offer our cacao to each direction as we call them in. East brings fire and the rising sun; South brings water and the warmth of noon; West brings earth and the protection of Jaguar; North brings air, moonlight and the wisdom of our ancestors.
The directions hold the space for the ceremony. They are the witnesses, the protectors, the allies. At the close of the journey, we formally release each direction with gratitude — and this closing of sacred space is an important act of integration, signalling to the nervous system and to spirit that the ceremonial work is complete.
You do not need to be drinking cacao to participate in this ceremony. The plant medicine is optional. What matters is your intention, your willingness to go inward, and your openness to whatever Áine wishes to show you.
Setting Your Intention Before the Journey
Before any shamanic journey, it helps to arrive with an intention. Think of it like writing a shopping list before you go to the market — you are far more likely to come home with what you actually need.
Your intention does not have to be complex. Here are some examples:
How can I bring more joy into my life right now?
What is my next step in my work or creative life?
What does Áine want to show me about the season I am moving through?
I am at a crossroads — please help me find clarity.
I simply want to connect with the spirit of summer and receive whatever healing is available.
The spirit of Áine — and the energy of summer medicine more broadly — is particularly good at helping us see where we are holding ourselves back from our own full blossoming. She is direct, warm, and generous. She meets you exactly where you are.
After the journey, I always encourage participants to journal immediately — even just a few words, images or feelings. The information that comes through in a shamanic journey can be delicate, like a dream, and writing it down helps to anchor it in conscious awareness before it fades.
How to Prepare for This Ceremony
Choose a time when you will not be interrupted — turn off notifications and let anyone in your home know you need a quiet space.
Set up a comfortable seat or lie down on something supportive. If you tend to fall asleep lying down, sit upright with your back supported.
Darken the room if possible, or use an eye pillow, scarf or hat to cover your eyes and reduce visual distraction.
If you are working with cacao, prepare your ceremonial-grade cacao before the video begins so it is warm and ready to share with the directions. You will be guided on when to drink.
Have a journal and pen nearby so you can write immediately after the journey while the experience is fresh.
Set your intention. Know why you are coming to this ceremony and what you are hoping to receive.
Ground yourself before you press play — step outside, place your feet on the earth, take three slow breaths, and arrive.
Continue Your Journey with Plant Spirit Medicine
If this ceremony has opened something in you and you would like to go deeper, I offer in-person and online cacao ceremonies and shamanic healing sessions throughout the year.
If you are drawn to learn the tools of shamanic practice for yourself, explore The Shaman's Way — my online training in plant spirit medicine and shamanic healing.
You can also explore my free resources, including a ceremonial cacao recipe, or browse all my therapies and offerings.
Experience the healing power of the gongs in a live gong sound healing session.
