Irish Ancestral Wisdom, Spirituality and the Creative Imagination
This week I had the privilege of speaking with Dr Ger Moane about her debut novel Keeper of Stones, a book rooted in Irish mythology, ancestral memory and the sacred landscapes of ancient Ireland. Our conversation invited a deeper reflection on how story, spirituality and psychology intertwine, and how ancestral wisdom continues to inform our personal journeys in the present.
Ger’s work bridges multiple worlds. As a former associate professor of psychology at University College Dublin, she specialised in human development, gender and sexuality. Today, as a writer and shamanic practitioner, she brings that academic depth together with mythic imagination, emotional intelligence and lived spiritual experience. Keeper of Stones has already resonated widely, earning a place on the Irish Times bestseller list and drawing readers into a story that feels both ancient and timely.
One of the themes that emerged during our conversation was the idea that ancestral knowledge is not merely historical or symbolic, it is embodied. It moves through our families, our choices, our identities and even through the creative imagination. Ger and I spoke about how change, transition and grief can become pathways into deeper awareness, and how the loss of loved ones can soften the heart enough to sense the unseen. Many people feel a longing to understand or feel the presence of those who have passed, to recognise that connection doesn’t end when a life does. It was beautiful to explore how psychology, spirituality and ancestral belief all meet here.
The landscapes surrounding Newgrange became another point of reflection. Ger described the land not as scenery, but as witness, holding memory, story and energy across thousands of years. Ancient sites, stone circles and earthworks are part of a continuity of wisdom that still speaks, if we take the time to listen. This way of seeing invites us back into relationship with the land itself, acknowledging that our ancestors understood this connection intuitively.
Our conversation also touched on how story becomes a form of activism, healing and social engagement. Ancestral wisdom becomes relevant when it guides the way we show up in the world. Speaking up for equality, dignity and human rights is not about being right, but about honouring the truth that our humanity is measured by how we treat one another. These are old teachings made new again.
What stayed with me long after we finished recording was the reminder that the worlds of story, spirit and psyche are far from separate. They braid together through lineage, imagination and lived experience. They accompany us through loss and growth, and they offer us a sense of belonging to ourselves, to our land, and to those who came before us.
Listen to the Full Episode
If you are drawn to Irish mythology, ancestral healing, spirituality, grief, psychology, this is a conversation that will nourish you.
Sharon Fitzmaurice
Holistic Wellness Coach, Author & Podcast Host