Myth, mystery and megaliths: Columcille

While a master mason from Scotland restores the Roebling Bridge’s stone retaining wall at Minisink Ford, NY (see front page), a mystical landscape called Columcille, near Stroudsburg, PA, welcomes voyagers to a place inspired by a tiny island of four-billion-year-old stone off Scotland’s west coast.

For centuries, the rugged Isle of Iona has been a source of spiritual guidance and awakening. A monastic community was established there by Saint Columba (Colum Cille) in 563 A.D. that influenced Celtic Christianity through its prayers, art, education and missionary work.

Closer to home is the Columcille Megalith Park and Celtic Art Center, born of visits to Iona and dreams experienced there by Columcille’s founder, William Cohea. Cohea began manifesting his dreams on the property’s 17 acres in 1976, and was joined by co-founder Fred Lindkvists. Today, the site features more than 80 megaliths (giant stones), a stone chapel honoring St. Columba and other stone structures.

Voyagers can experience the Fairie Ring Stones, protectors of the nature beings, or see the stones of Destiny, Regeneration and Remembrance. The largest megalith, Mannanan, rises 20 feet out of the ground and weighs approximately 45 tons, while others range from four to 15 tons.

The site is now maintained by the not-for-profit organization, Columcille Inc., “a welcoming community of light-hearted, hard-working earthsmiths, stonesmiths and lightsmiths.” The group experiments with programs focused on inner work and encourages the exploration of spiritual paths.

Columcille’s philosophy is that the land and stones are our teachers, mentors and “Spirit playmates.” Nearly 5,000 travelers from around the world visit annually.

Columcille has been preserved for future generations under a conservation easement with the Heritage Conservancy. Visit columcille.org or call 610/588-1174 for additional information.