About Kate Curtis & Danu Lodge

"It was during my original training as a general nurse and midwife in the 80s that I became interested in alternative methods of pain relief — for chronic and acute pain, and for the pain of labour. I trained in the 90s in Reflexology, Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal medicine, Reiki, and Qigong."

"I have always been fascinated with the concept of energy, and how when it is in the wrong place within the human body it may result in disharmony and illness on all connecting levels — physically, emotionally and spiritually. It became clear that the use of only one system was too narrow, and that healing needs to come from many sources — not excluding the most important one, which is from within."

During her acupuncture internship at one of the Nanjing University Hospitals, Kate witnessed how eastern medicine is honoured and used collaboratively alongside western medicine inside the hospital system in China — and that integrated, intuitive approach has shaped her work ever since. Over the past decade she has done postgraduate training with Jeffrey Yuan in Classical Acupuncture, herbal medicine systems and Qigong, which encompass the original teachings of the Oriental Medicine system in its psychological, spiritual, esoteric and shamanic dimensions. She has also trained for over 20 years in Taichi and various Qigong forms, which she teaches in classes and workshops.

Always with a deep enquiry into the nature of mind and spirit and into the origin of trauma, Kate went on to study transpersonal psychology. After several years of personal growth, meditative practice and Holotropic Breathwork retreats, she took part in the Grof Transpersonal Training with trainers and lecturers including Dr Stanislav Grof and Tav Sparks. She certified as a facilitator in 2012, and since 2007 has been offering personal-growth and Holotropic Breath-work workshops. In 2021 she joined the team of teachers and facilitators setting up the three-year training programme for Grof Legacy training (gltnordic.org) — Dr Stan Grof's last legacy. She now runs Grof® breathwork retreats alongside Claire Matthews, in Ireland and Romania.

Knowing there is no separation between us and nature, Kate has spent over 15 years in deep exploration of various shamanic traditions. She trained in Celtic Shamanism with Caitlín and John Matthews — both renowned writers and teachers in Celtic mythology and shamanism — and now offers shamanic healing from this tradition. She teaches alongside Margot Harrison on the "Foundation in Walkers Between the Worlds" shamanic training at Danu Lodge.

Over the past 25 years Kate has created and managed several holistic multidisciplinary healing centres, including Fairgreen Holistic Clinic in Naas, Co. Kildare, and Goldenspears Healing Centre in Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow. She has worked in women's health for more than 35 years, offering acupuncture and herbalism alongside reflexology at the Acorn Acupuncture clinics at Danu Lodge (Co. Wexford) and in Kilcoole (Co. Wicklow) — acorn-acupuncture.net.

In 2014 Kate created an acupuncture department within the Sims IVF Clinic in Dublin — still the only fertility centre in Ireland that openly honours the use of acupuncture alongside western medical fertility protocols (sims.ie). She continues to work in close association with Sims and with other fertility centres in Ireland, while also assisting people on a more natural fertility journey.

In March 2020 Kate created Danu Lodge with the idea of providing retreat and healing for those needing rest, sanctuary and peace. At Danu Lodge it is her honour, along with several others, to offer guidance and counsel to those going through major life changes and on the path of self-discovery and deep transformation at this time of great change for humanity.