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St. Kevin's DesertYet just shortly down the road from St. Kevin's bed on the upper lake, about a five minute walk, is St. Kevin's desert.
To take a virtual walk through this barren but beautiful landscape, view the quicklime slide show video below.
St. Kevin's struggle with his inner demons was a journey into the desert of the soul, where one is stripped of all illusion, and comes face to face with one's true self. In the desert of the soul, there is nothing but God and the self.. The many rocks here were left millions of years ago by glaciers, reminding one of the enormity of history, and of one's small place in it. The rocks prompt one to encounter not only one's rocky inner terrain, but to come face to face with the timelessness of one's own immortal soul. St. Kevin's desert reminds us that a deep inner journey in which one exposes one's inner monsters and learns to live with them may not provide us with a quick, easy solution, nor a life untroubled by the monsters. The rocks here have sharp and jagged edges, and have not been all worn smooth over time. It takes courage to undertake the inner journey, and courage to live in the darkness. This journey, though a painful one, can nevertheless provide one with great riches. At Glendalough, place is transformative, and very much a symbol of the inner journey. Place here represents a journey, just as the outward peregrinations of the Celtic saints were a symbol of place, the stability of the soul which, having found itself, is in harmony with God. Continue to the next page: Celtic Monasticism: Conclusion Return to the Index of Celtic Monasticism Links for further exploration:
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Here the terrain is barren
and rocky landscape. 