Sacred Sites Journeys

Transcription

1 Sacred Sites Journeys A Division of Heartlight Fellowship Andrea Mikana-Pinkham, Director P.O. Box 3591; Sedona, AZ (toll free in the US) or info@sacredsitesjourneys.com ENGLAND: Sacred Sites, Crop Circles & The Paranormal June 23 July 6, 2013 Join us for this spiritual pilgrimage to Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Avebury, Crop Circles, Cornwall, Land s End and more... some of the most powerful sacred sites on Earth! Experience the powerful energies and understand the esoteric significance of the mysterious stone circles and other power spots that will come alive for you, as you walk the ancient pathways and connect with the rich legacy of the Celtic Goddess Tradition and its Avalonian Mysteries. Participate in meditations, sacred ceremonies and initiations! Explore paranormal phenomena with long-time local investigators.

2 SPECIAL OFFERINGS! Private Entrances for our Group for Sacred Ceremony and Meditation Inside the circle at Stonehenge The Well House for the White Spring in Glastonbury Glastonbury Goddess Temple with Lynne Orchard, Priestess of Avalon OTHER SACRED SITES YOU'LL EXPERIENCE: SALISBURY PLAINS in WILTSHIRE World-famous Avebury, Silbury Hill and West Kennet Longbarrow, where you will experience the powerfully transformative and palpable energies that have endured at these ancient sites for centuries ready and waiting to assist you in your spiritual evolution.

3 Salisbury Cathedral GLASTONBURY AREA Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Well, you will transcend the veil of time and place and connect with the lingering energies from ancient Avalon. The Great Circle of Stanton Drew, the second largest English stone ring after the outer circle at Avebury Wells Cathedral & Bishop s Palace

4 CORNWALL: Tintagel Area Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur Arthur s Hall of Chivalry Merlin s Cave St. Nectan s Glen

5 Boscastle: Witchcraft Museum Penwith Peninsula Area Mên-an-Tol Standing Stones Merry Maiden s Stone Circle St Michael s Mount Madron and Sancreed Sacred Wells Iron Age Village of Carn Euny

6 Dartmoor Possible Visits Prehistoric Enchanted Wistmans Wood CROP CIRCLES & Other PARANORMAL PHENOMENON Our journey is during the crop circle season. We'll explore the strange and puzzling mystery of these intricate symbols that seem to appear out of nowhere in the local fields. (Admission to fields is subject to permission of the owner, at the time of our request.) We'll have the unique opportunity to take advantage of the years of experience that our paranormal investigators have in this mysterious field. They ll take us to areas where they have viewed and photographed various phenomena, such as the haunted Red Lion Inn at Avebury and other more out-of-the-way places.

7 TOUR PERSONNEL Andrea Mikana-Pinkham Director of Sacred Sites Journeys Tour Director/Featured Speaker Andrea Mikana-Pinkham, the Founder/Director of Sacred Sites Journeys, is an avid practitioner of the Goddess Tradition. In July 2008 Andrea received the auspicious initiation as a Sister of Avalon from the late Priestess of Avalon Koko Newport during a private entrance at the Chalice Well. Andrea has been an intuitive channel since 1987, bringing through the energy of the Kumaras, teachers of the Divine Feminine. During a visit to Glastonbury Tor several years ago, Andrea received the message that part of her service to the upliftment of consciousness on the planet was to bring pilgrims to holy Avalon, which she has avidly been doing ever since! A Lady Knight Templar, Andrea is the North American Grand Prioress of The International Order of Gnostic Templars ( a modern-day spiritual Knights Templar Order dedicated to the revival of the Goddess Tradition and Gnostic Wisdom. She is also a trained shamanic practitioner, Reiki Grand Master of Ichi Sekai (One World) Reiki, and a spiritual counselor. A Message from Andrea: I invite you to join our smaller group of spiritual pilgrims as we explore mystical sacred sites in and around the sacred land of Avalon, today the area of Glastonbury, as well as in the ancient land of Cornwall. I've traveled to and led groups to these power places several times during the last several years, and have always found them to be alive with the ancient wisdom and powerful energies! During our sacred journey Michael, Lynne and I will facilitate meditations and rituals to assist you to connect with the transformative energies of these sacred sites and the Celtic Gods and Goddesses. As well, I will also offer optional group Sharing Circles, which in the past we've found to be extremely supportive for integration and mutual support. I'd be honored to support you to manifest your dream of traveling to England, and will assist you to create the experience of a lifetime during this spiritual journey. Photo: Andrea & Harpist Peter Sterling at the Chalice Well, July For more information about Andrea, visit

8 Michael Orchard Spiritual Tour Guide Michael Orchard has lived and worked in Glastonbury, otherwise known as The Isle of Avalon, for over 30 years. He has always had a love for the ancient history of the place and all the myths and legends associated with it. Over the years Michael has visited many sacred and historical sites throughout the British Isles, and is fascinated by the cultures of the ancient people of these lands. For many years, Michael together with his wife Lynne, was the Guardian of one of Britain s most well known and sacred sites, the famous Chalice Well Gardens in Glastonbury, one of the legendary resting places of the Holy Grail. Here Michael personally welcomed thousands of pilgrims from around the globe, and helped them to understand and to feel the special energies and legends of the holy well and its healing waters. Michael is a good communicator, and on his tours brings the history alive through a skillful combination of myth, history, and local folklore seasoned with some good West Country English humor. Michael is also an accomplished ceremonialist and will be facilitating ceremonies during our spiritual pilgrimage at the sacred sites that he knows and loves. Michael s philosophy of tour guiding is to give his groups some background information and then to allow folks to feel the energies and the spirit of the place themselves. There is always time to sit under a tree, to touch an ancient standing stone, to have a prayer or a wish, or to dowse some earth energies. And after all the excitement of a new place, there is usually time for a cup of tea or a spot of retail therapy as well! Michael looks forward to meeting you and guiding you through some of the wonders of ancient Britain! Lynne Orchard Priestess of Avalon Ceremonialist

9 Lynne Orchard has been a Priestess of Avalon since She became an honorary Priestess after being the Guardian of the sacred Chalice Well in Glastonbury for many years. In her time as Guardian of the Well, Lynne, together with her husband Michael conducted many sacred ceremonies, celebrating the wheel of the year, handfastings, blessings, rites of passage, naming ceremonies, and initiations. Since leaving the Well in 2005 Lynne has continued to do ceremonial work and to deepen her connection with the Isle of Avalon and to honor the presence of the Goddess and divine feminine within the landscape. Lynne also works deeply with people as a therapist, helping her clients find their wholeness and integrity through a spiritual approach to grounded bodywork. She works primarily with essential oils and massage, and with craniosacral therapy. Lynne has travelled to many sacred places in the world and her core belief is to honor the earth and all living beings as a manifestation of the divine play. Lynne uses ritual and ceremony to invite you to join her in entering the world of the Goddess and to embark on a journey of deep transformation. BRIEF TOUR ITINERARY June 23 July 6, 2013 (For a more detailed itinerary, scroll down) Day 1. Sunday, June 23. Arrive on your own in England (Heathrow Airport): Transfer to Glastonbury; Welcome Dinner (D) Overnight Glastonbury Day 2. Monday, June 24. Glastonbury: The Tor, Chalice Well & Free Time (B) Overnight Glastonbury Day 3. Tuesday, June 25. Glastonbury: White Spring Well House; Free Time; Ceremony at the Goddess Temple (B) Overnight Glastonbury Day 4. Wednesday, June 26. Stanton Drew Stone Circle; Wells: Cathedral & Bishop s Palace (B) Overnight Glastonbury Day 5. Thursday, June 27. Silbury Hill, West Kennett Longbarrow, Avebury and Paranormal Activity Investigation (B) Overnight Glastonbury Day 6. Friday, June 28. Free Time; Crop Circles (B) Overnight Glastonbury Day 7. Saturday, June 29. Free Time; Paranormal Activity Investigation (B) Overnight Glastonbury Day 8. Sunday, June 30. To Tintagel: Arthur s Hall of Chivalry, Tintagel Castle & Merlin s Cave (B/D) Overnight Tintagel Day 9. Monday, July 1. Tintagel: St Nectan s Glen; Boscastle Witchcraft Museum; Minster Church (B/D) Overnight Tintagel Day 10. Tuesday, July 2. St. Michael s Mount; Chyauster Ancient Village; Madron Holy Well (B) Overnight Penzance

10 Day 11. Wednesday, July 3. Merry Maidens Stone Circle; The Pipers Menhirs; Mousehole Village; Boscawen Un Stone Circle; Carn Euny Prehistoric Village; Sancreed Holy Well, Ballowall Barrow Chamber & Cairn (B) Overnight Penzance Day 12. Thursday, July 4. Lanyon Quoit Dolmen; Mên-an-Tol Standing Stones; St. Ives; Wistmans Wood; Dartmoor; To Glastonbury (B) Overnight Glastonbury Day 13. Friday, July 5. Stonehenge (Private Entrance); Salisbury Cathedral; Farewell Dinner (B/D) Overnight Glastonbury Day 14. Saturday, July 6. Group Transfer to Heathrow Airport. (B) For a complete itinerary, continue reading. TOUR ITINERARY (Meals Included: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner) Day 1. Sunday, June 23. Arrive England; Transfer to Glastonbury; Welcome Dinner (D) This Sacred Sites Journey is a Land Only sacred travel package. You are responsible to book your roundtrip airfare to London Heathrow International Airport. (Please book your flight to arrive by 9:00AM, so that you will have time to clear Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs and transfer to Terminal 3 if you do not arrive there, for our 11:00AM group meeting and transfer. NOTE: If you re not able to arrive by 9:00AM, we suggest that you fly in a day early. There are several airport hotels where you can spend the night. This will also assist you to overcome jet lag and be more ready for the tour beginning on Sunday.) Upon arrival at Heathrow clear Immigration, claim your bags and exit through Customs. Meet the group and Tour Director/Speaker Andrea Mikana-Pinkham in the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 3 (full details to be announced in the final tour itinerary). We board our motor coach mid-morning for our drive through the

11 English countryside. We'll stop along the way for lunch on your own with the group. Arrive midafternoon in mystical Glastonbury - fabled Avalon! For centuries it has been the gathering place for those following the ancient Druid and Celtic traditions honoring the Divine Feminine. The Goddess is definitely alive in Glastonbury! In the sacred landscape Her body is the soft rounded hills. Her love will whisper to your heart and be your source and inspiration as it enfolds you during your time here. The small town of Glastonbury still preserves its long history and rich traditions, along with a uniquely blended atmosphere of modern times. People are pulled here from all over the world by a special something...just like you have been. On our arrival we check in at our charming Bed and Breakfasts, located a two-minute walk from the heart of downtown Glastonbury, in a quiet neighborhood. 1) Pilgrim s B and B - We've been using this B & B for our groups for several years. Owners Clare and Brian have gotten to be our dear friends over the years. They operate a non-smoking, shoe-free house, so please feel free to bring your slippers to keep your toes warm. A sheltered smoking area is available in the garden. They have a come and go as you please policy and provide front door keys for all the rooms. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the house and gardens. All rooms are en-suite with their own shower. All rooms are warm and comfortable, with hairdryers and tea/coffee-making facilities, plus little extras which makes you feel at home. Facilities: The focal point of the house is the kitchen with its large dining table, where you can gather for tea, tarot readings, and great visits with others in the group. They also have a guest lounge with sofas, an open fireplace, TV and small library. For hungry pilgrims, a guest fridge with drinks and chocolate is always available in the hallway. Extensive local information is on hand and original artwork by notable local artists is on display. Gardens and The Sanctuary": The beautiful gardens are always available for your use, with a rock pool and garden seats scattered around where you can sit and relax with friends old or new, or quietly meditate. Despite the proximity to Glastonbury center, the B & B is blessed with a quiet, tranquil location, making the gardens a wonderful place to just be. Tucked away is the secret garden, great to sit and meditate or to process all you have learnt on your pilgrimage in Glastonbury. The Sanctuary, a large Meditation Room within the gardens is available for individual or group meditation and is also used for individual and group therapy and healing sessions. Your daily English breakfast, lovingly prepared by Clare and Brian, gives you a choice of: - A large range of herbal and caffeinated teas, coffee and fruit juices. - Fresh fruit salad, cereal, yogurt, toast or bread alternatives (e.g. rice cakes, oatcakes). - Individually cooked Full English breakfast or Vegetarian / Vegan alternatives. - Fresh dairy and soy milk always available. The owners appreciate that breakfast is an important part of your stay and will therefore happily try to accommodate any special dietary requests. (You will be able to give us this information on your registration form.) 2) Jasmine Cottage B and B Those in the group who opt for the single room will stay at this lovely B and B right around the corner from Pilgrims. Former SSJ travelers who have stayed here

12 have given it rave reviews! (NOTE: There are only 2 single rooms, so an early registration will assure you of this choice.) Jasmin Cottage is lovingly and tastefully decorated, with luxurious beds & bedding. There are tea and coffee facilities in all rooms. Bathrooms are well-equipped and fitted with power showers & baths. The cozy communal lounge area is decorated in warm terracotta tones and has a small altar with candles and incense that sets the meditational mood. Jasmin cottage is a TV free house but staying here you will be surrounded by abundance of wonderful books and music. Breakfast choices are Fruit Salad, Cereals, Yoghurt, toast, eggs and tea or coffee. You can have your eggs scrambled, poached, boiled or you can go for the now famous Justine s Eggy Bread! Justine will accommodate special dietary requests if possible. (You will be able to give us this information on your registration form.) Weather depending breakfast can also be served in the garden. The garden boasts an old apple tree, an art installation (known as a cosmogram on marble,) and a small pond brimming with fish. There are tables and chairs for you to use in the garden and therefore a space where you can relax and while away the hours. Smoking is permitted outside in the garden. Owner Justine offers Swedish, Thai, Hawaiian and Rejuvenating Facial Massage. Take some time to get settled in your space and rest. In the later afternoon we'll gather at Pilgrims for our Introductory Group Meeting to get to know each other a bit by sharing our stories of how and why we've come to be here. Andrea will facilitate a Meditation that will assist you to begin to connect with the powerful energies of Avalon! Afterwards we walk to a nearby local restaurant for our Welcome Dinner. Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B & B or Jasmine Cottage. Day 2. Monday, June 24. Glastonbury: Tor and Chalice Well; Free Time; (B) After breakfast we depart from Pilgrim s taking a short walk from downtown to Glastonbury Tor. Rich in legend and mythological associations, the Tor may have been a place of ancient ritual. Today, it is still a destination for spiritual seekers. The terracing on the slopes of the Tor may be the remains of an ancient observatory, a seven-tiered sacred mount, a great three-dimensional labyrinth, a ceremonial way to the Otherworld. At the top of the Tor stands the remains of the Medieval St. Michael's Church, dedicated to Archangel Michael. We take the footpath to the top to enjoy its sweeping view of the Somerset countryside. Take time to gaze at the landscape; you can see for miles. Though the Tor is a majestic hill rising enigmatically above the flat surrounding meadows, it's no ordinary hill! Some say it's home to the King of the Fairies, Gwyn ap Nudd, a psychopomp who helps those who cross over to the Otherworld. Centuries of legends and folklore about the Tor all arrive at the same conclusion: it is a place where the veil between the worlds is thin. You will have time for individual meditation to connect to these powerful energies. We return walking to the foot of the Tor and stop in at the Chalice Well, a pilgrimage site for many thousands of years for those seeking physical and emotional healing from its iron-red waters, thought by some to represent the blood of the Goddess. During the Middle Ages and in the 18th Century Glastonbury gained a great reputation as a place of healing, and the Well was one of the centers where pilgrims came to

13 take advantage of its curative powers. Today the waters of both the Red Spring and the adjoining White Spring still have a reputation for their cleansing, healing and transformative qualities. Like pilgrims who have come here since ancient times seeking physical and emotional healing from its ironred waters blessed by the Goddess, we too may receive our healings! At the bottom of the garden we stop at the pool that has water flowing into it through a series of flowing steps from the body of the Goddess Herself. We then continue to the main well, with its cover in the shape of the Vesica Pisces, one of the most fundamental symbols of sacred geometry, symbolizing the Sacred Marriage, the divine union of the male and female energies. Here at this ancient sacred place, we have time to meditate and reflect on our own Divine Union. You ll then have some free time to walk through the gardens and the meadow. Perhaps you d like to stop at a special tree where the ashes of Marion Zimmer Bradley, the author of The Mists of Avalon were scattered, to pay homage to her and her compelling novel that has brought so many people and perhaps yourself to Glastonbury. Here's a great YouTube video of a walk through the Chalice Well Gardens: Return walking to town. The afternoon is free for rest and integration and/or individual exploration. Here are some options: 1. Glastonbury Abbey. Set in 37 acres of beautifully peaceful parkland in the center of town. Built in the Middle Ages, it's described by some historians as "the holiest place in all of England". St Mary's Chapel marks the site where Joseph of Arimathea established the first above-ground church in all of Christendom. The Celts had a deity named Easus who died and was supposed to come back to life. When they heard about Jesus from Joseph of Arimathea, they saw the return of Easus in the story, and gave Ynys Witrin, or Glastonbury, to him as a site for a church. This was the birthplace of Celtic Christianity, and grew to be a powerful pilgrimage site. Many people believe that the Holy Thorn tree that can be seen in the grounds originated from Joseph of Arimathea's staff. Graves thought to be those of Arthur and Guinevere have been unearthed here. Take time to wander among these ancient ruins and powerful energies, exploring their mysteries through reflection and meditation. 2. Stop in at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple off of Hight Street and meditate at the Flame of Avalon. 3. Visit the St. Margaret's Chapel / Magdalene Almshouses and Garden in Magdalene Close in downtown, for a time of peaceful meditation, prayer and reflection. The original structure was built in the 1070's but burned down in the great Abbey fire of The present one was re-built in Today its a sacred space of prayer, sanctuary and spirituality. 4. Take a walk to visit Gog and Magog, two ancient oak trees in Wick Hollow thought by some of the locals to be the root chakra of the area. Others honor them as the last remains of a Druidical avenue leading up to the Tor. 5. Go into St. John's Church in the heart of town, dedicated to John the Baptist, one of the original teachers of the Goddess Tradition. Here you can view the beautiful stained glass window depicting Joseph of Arimathea holding two vials of "Holy Grail."

14 6. Or take in some Retail Therapy as you wander along High Street in the center of town, where shops full of new and used books on every topic you can imagine, Celtic jewelry, clothes, artwork, crystals and gemstone and many more treasures abound! Lunch and dinner on your own. There are several excellent restaurants in the center of town, just a few minutes walk away, that offer varied ethnic cuisines. Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B and B or Jasmine Cottage. Day 3. Tuesday, June 25. Glastonbury: Well House for the White Spring Private Entrance; Free Time; Goddess Ritual/Meditation (B) This morning after breakfast we gather in the meditation room at Pilgrims for a Sharing Circle facilitated by Andrea. Then we walk to the Well House for the White Spring near the Chalice Well, for a private entrance, facilitated by Michael and Lynne Orchard. For thousands of years seekers have been drawn to the mythical Isle of Avalon, which was once an island separated from the mundane world by an inland sea. From its heart under the Tor, the water still rises and falls in profusion, presenting one of the greatest mysteries of the Isle: two different springs, the Red Spring touched red from iron and the White Spring, which is actually several springs that arise from the Tor. They're mixed in a mixing chamber that is behind the cottage located above the spring. One of these springs contains chalybeate water, similar to Chalice Well water, which gives rise to some thoughts that the water from the Chalice Well may actually have its source within the Tor. Once the water leaves the White Spring building it flows underground in a completely separate plumbing system to the Chalice Well. The building was initially constructed as a reservoir by the local water supply company. It was used as a reservoir for a number of years, supplying most of the town's water, until the pipes blocked up owing to high calcite deposits that built up within them. In the 1980s and 90s it was used as cafe and a shop, and was sold in 2003 to a benefactor who had no wish to commercialize it. He formed a local committee to manage it on a non profit basis. For a while it was an empty space with the water flowing through a conduit in the floor. Then in 2009 the new pools were designed based on sacred geometry and the dimensions of the building. Behind the building is a tunnel (now sealed off) that leads into the Tor; how far is not known, but it's given rise to various legends about it possibly being an entrance to the underworld. So the Well House could be referred to as a subterranean cavern within the Tor, lit only by one small skylight and the flickering of candles. Entering in represents a powerful symbolic journey from and through the darkness into the light, with the healing waters of the White Spring flowing through it. The Celtic Goddess Brigid, the Lady of Avalon, is the guardian whose ancient presence pervades this sacred space. Inside there are three domed vaults, and beautiful bowed floors - like the hull of a boat moored at the portal to the Otherworld. The constant temperature and the sound of the perpetually flowing water make this a unique sacred space. We'll have the opportunity to step into the pools, as well as time for a ritual led by Michael and Lynne Orchard. And time for individual meditation.

15 Return walking to town. You have free time again this afternoon to explore more of Glastonbury. Lunch and Dinner on your own. This evening we gather in the evening at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple for a Goddess Ritual and Meditation with Lynne Orchard, Priestess of Avalon. She will offer our group a special initiation into the age-old Goddess Mysteries that are connected to this area of ancient Avalon. What special Gift of Spirit will The Lady bestow upon you? What wisdom will She gently whisper to your Heart? Come in openness and humility...and receive! Return walking to our B and Bs. Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B and B or Jasmine Cottage. Day 4. Wednesday, June 26. Stanton Drew and Wells: Cathedral and Bishop s Palace (B) This morning we visit the huge megalithic complex of Stanton Drew. The Great Circle, the second largest English stone ring after the outer circle at Avebury, consists of three stone circles, two stone avenues, a cove of stones and an outlier. From the two visible circles there are two avenues running eastward towards the nearby river. As Professor Aubrey Burl writes: Midsummer processions and ceremonies may be imagined, rituals by moonlight celebrated by hundreds of people from the countryside, assembling for reasons long forgotten but preserved silently in the stones themselves. You have time for exploration at the site. Then Michael and Andrea will facilitate a ceremony and meditation to connect with the Ancestors of this sacred site, as well as your own personal ancestors. What Gift of Spirit will receive from them? Hold it close to your heart as you carry it home with you! We drive to a local pub for lunch on your own with the group. After lunch we drive to the city of Wells, England's second smallest city. The name Wells derives from the three wells dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace and cathedral. There was a small Roman settlement around the wells, but its importance grew under the Saxons when King Ine of Wessex founded a minster church in 704CE, around which the settlement grew. Wells became a trading center and involved in cloth making before its involvement in both the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion during the 17th century. Our first stop here is at the Cathedral of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is situated next to natural wells where springs of water rise up from beneath the Mendip Hills. This site has been a holy place for nearly 2000 years. The foundations of the building you see today were laid in 1185CE. The Cathedral stands adjacent to the medieval Bishop s Palace and Vicars Close, the oldest continuously inhabited street in Europe. A major project completed in 2009 provided new facilities for

16 choirs and education, a dedicated interpretation area, a new entrance with shop and restaurant, and has enabled the medieval cloister to be reopened to the public. Enjoy the wonderful display of medieval statues on the West Front, and inside the graceful scissor arches, the humorous carvings on the pillars, and the deep colors of the stained glass. In this place hallowed by the prayer of centuries pause for a moment and give thanks for the gift of life Return to Glastonbury and our B and Bs. Free time. Dinner on your own. Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B and B or Jasmine Cottage. Day 5. Thursday, June 27. Wiltshire: Silbury Hill; West Kennet Longbarrow; Avebury and Paranormal Activity Investigation (B) After breakfast we meet at Pilgrims for a short Sharing Circle. Then take some time for rest, relaxation and integration. Lunch on your own We depart early afternoon to explore and experience the local sacred sites and ancient mysteries in the Wiltshire area. We begin our exploration of the area at the huge and mysterious Silbury Hill, a grasscovered man-made chalk mound that is the biggest prehistoric artificial mound in Europe. Evidence from radiocarbon dating indicates that Silbury was constructed about 4,400 years ago in the Neolithic period. Its construction is estimated to have involved roughly 4 million hours of work using 500,000 tons of material, mostly chalk that was quarried and cleared from the surrounding terraces and ditches. Some people see the Hill as a symbolic effigy of the ancient Mother Goddess that was associated with fertility rituals which marked the course of the year. The festival of Lammas in August, when it is thought Silbury was founded, celebrates the first fruits of the harvest. Andrea and Michael will lead a short meditation to connect with the Mother Goddess. We then continue to West Kennet Longbarrow, a Neolithic tomb or barrow, situated on a prominent chalk ridge, near Silbury Hill, one-anda-half miles south of Avebury. It's one of the most impressive and wellpreserved burial chambers in Britain, as well as being one of the most visited. The site was recorded by John Aubrey in the 17th century and by William Stukeley in the 18th century. Archaeologists classify it as a chambered long barrow and one of the Severn-Cotswold tombs. It has two pairs of opposing transept chambers and a single terminal chamber used for burial. The stone burial chambers are located at one end of one of the longest barrows in Britain. It s estimated that it took 15,700 man-hours for its construction. The entrance consists of a concave forecourt with a facade made from large slabs of sarsen stones which were placed to seal entry. The construction of the West Kennet Long Barrow began about 3600 BC, which is some 400 years before the archaeologically-determined first stage of Stonehenge, and it was in use until around 2500 BC. This was at the same time as the great stone circle at Avebury was begun, and may signify a change in the focus of belief and religion. The mound has been damaged by indiscriminate digging, but archaeological excavations in 1859 and found at least 46 burials, ranging from babies to elderly persons. The bones were disarticulated with some of the skulls and long bones missing. It has been suggested that the bones were removed periodically for display or transported elsewhere with the blocking facade being removed and replaced each time. These excavations also revealed that the side chambers occur

17 inside an exact isosceles triangle, whose height is twice the length of its base. Artifacts associated with the burials include Neolithic Grooved ware similar to that found at nearby Windmill Hill. It is thought that this tomb was in use for as long as 1,000 years and at the end of this period the passage and chamber were filled to the roof by the Beaker people with earth and stones, among which were found pieces of Grooved ware, Peterborough ware and Beaker pottery, charcoal, bone tools, and beads. Stuart Piggott, who excavated this mixture of secondary material, suggested that it had been collected from a nearby 'mortuary enclosure' showing that the site had been used for ritual activity long after it was used for burial. Folklore & Legend: The mound is traditionally visited by a white spectral figure accompanied by a white red-eared hound at sunrise on Midsummer's day. There is a slim possibility that this tradition is a folk memory of a ritual event or at least a time thought to have been significant in the use of the barrow. There is no doubt that some traditions can become convoluted into folklore, and be passed down over the centuries, whether this is the case with West Kennet Long Barrow has never been explored. However, some people do notice a strange atmosphere in the darkened chamber. And photographs taken inside the long barrow have revealed interesting phenomena like the mist seen in the photograph here. We ll have time for a meditation to connect with the Ancestors, here in their ancient final resting place. Time for dinner on your own with the group at the Red Lion Inn s pub, a local haunted one! Apparitions served at the Red Lion include a woman named Florrie who pays particular attention to bearded customers. Dating back to the English Civil War she was thrown down a well, by her husband who was a soldier at the time, when he caught her in bed with another man. Several reports have been received of Florie being dressed in black walking around the pub looking for a man with a beard. One report was that of a bearded man sitting under a spinning chandelier. Customers have also seen Florie in the ladies toilets and one of the past owners reported seeing, Florie throw salt and pepper across the tables and chairs in the restaurant area. Another report is that of spooky looking horse drawn carriages pulling up outside the pub in the dead of night; this can both be seen and heard but never both. Ghostly children have also been seen and visitors have often reported orbs of light, weird shadows and cold spots within the 400 year-old inn, which is never short of visitors looking to test their nerves with an overnight stay. Will Florrie reveal herself to any of us? Or will we see the children or other ghosts who are caught in this dimension? Perhaps we can help them move on to The Light if they are ready. After dinner we explore Avebury UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the world's largest and most complex monuments of the Megalithic Age, an ancient neolithic and bronze age initiation site of immense standing stones. The Avenues used to run out from the main circle. One avenue is now almost completely gone but a part of the other still remains, having been restored in the 1930 s. Today its mysteries are still being explored and solved by multidisciplinary scholars in archaeology, science and ancient religion. As there are lunar and solar ley-lines that cross in this area, we will connect with these powerful energies through ritual and meditation facilitated by Andrea and Michael. In the later evening Phil and Steve, local longtime guides for paranormal investigation, will lead us to some places in the area where they ve observed paranormal activity over the years. Not to worry;

18 your participation is optional; but if you do choose to participate bring an open mind and heart and we ll ask for only energies of The Light to reveal themselves to us. Return to Glastonbury and our B and Bs. Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B and B or Jasmine Cottage. Day 6. Friday, June 28. Free Time; Crop Circles (B) After breakfast we ll gather at Pilgrims for a short Sharing Circle. Then you have free time the rest of the morning. Lunch on your own. This afternoon we head back to the Wiltshire area to explore the enigmatic phenomenon of Crop Circles. These geometric symbols of unknown origin form in fields of grain, and have appeared in this area over the past 20 years. Wiltshire is one of the most active areas for crop circles in the world, particularly around the historical stones of Avebury and Silbury Hill. In this ancient landscape, the grassy whorls take over the fields of rape, barley and wheat like massive installation art. If we are fortunate we may be able to enter one or more of the formations and have private meditation time to connect with and experience the other-dimensional energies that many researchers believe form them. What is the general communication that is being given to us by these circles? What is the particular communication from each circle? Where do they come from? Who/what forms them? Why here? Why now? AND, why have we been lead here to experience them? What does all this mean for our personal and planetary transformation? Michael and Andrea will facilitate meditation(s) in any of the circles we re able to visit. After dinner on your own with the group at a local pub we return to Glastonbury and our B & Bs. Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B and B or Jasmine Cottage. Day 7. Saturday, June 29. Free Time; Paranormal Activity (B) After breakfast the day is free for rest, relaxation and integration. Lunch on your own. Lunch and dinner on your own. We re off this evening with Phil and Steve again for more paranormal investigation. They will guide us to places where they ve encountered various phenomenon in the past. Will we see ghosts? Will we hear voices from other realms? Will we feel a strange presence? Again, keep your mind and heart open as we invite in energies of The Light to reveal themselves to us. Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B and B or Jasmine Cottage. Day 8. Sunday, June 30. To Cornwall: Tintagel Village; Arthur s Hall of Chivalry; Tintagel Castle; Merlin s Cave (B/D) We check out of our B and Bs this morning and depart Glastonbury for Cornwall, the fabled and enchanted land of King Arthur's birth. We arrive later morning in the little Village of Tintagel. Our first stop is Arthur s Hall of Chivalry, an atmospheric and historic building built in the 1930s by Frederick Thomas Glasscock as the home of the Order of the Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur. Everything in these halls is based upon the Arthurian Romances; all of the art and symbols are directly associated with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. We enter The Halls through the gift shop and continue through to the Small Hall to view a brief audio visual presentation of the story of Arthur. We leave and pass along a corridor into the Hall of Chivalry. Here we see 125 shields of granite,

19 set along its full length, representing the passage from darkness into light. Granite is also used in the huge canopy over the throne, weighing six tons and supported by nine massive granite pillars. There is also a granite Round Table, along with two wooden ones. The Halls contain seventy three beautiful stained glass windows designed and crafted by Veronica Whall during The galleries of The Hall of Chivalry contain The Windows of the Knights. Each Knight of the Round Table is illustrated by his unique shield depicted in the windows. By each window, the Knight s story is told in words. The Hall of Chivalry holds eighteen windows portraying the principal virtues which the Knights of the Round Table agreed to observe. In the Hall of Chivalry, these virtues are graded in quality, starting with the less spiritual ones such as Strength, Perseverance and Obedience, through to those considered more spiritual such as Purity, Faith and Love. Lunch on your own in Tintagel at one of the ancient inns or the famous Pengenna's Cornish Pasty Restaurant Yum! After lunch we re off to explore Tintagel Castle, on a rocky windswept headland above the sea, surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean. The name Tintagel derives from Din Taggel, meaning fortress of the narrow entrance. Historically it would appear that Tintagel was an important trading post from late Roman times until it was abandoned at the end of the 7th century. Around 1230, a castle was built at Tintagel by Richard, Earl of Cornwall and son of King Henry III. When Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote about it in the History of the Kings of Britain in 1136, the 1230 Tintagel Castle would not have been there and legend would have been his main source of what had happened on the island stronghold. Legend has held that this is the place where Uther Pendragon mated with Arthur's mother, Igraine, and conceived the future king. Arthur is reputed to have been born here. Excavations in the 1930's uncovered 5th to 6th century Dark Age settlement and monastic remains. In 998 excavations by Glasgow University led to the discovery of an inscription on a piece of slate reading ARTOgNOV, which is a Latin form of the Celtic name Arthnou, derived from the Celtic word Arth, meaning bear. Whether King Arthur was born there or not is impossible to tell, but archaeological evidence does make Tintagel a plausible site for such a kingdom at the supposed time of King Arthur. The unique artifacts at Tintagel emphasize its dominance as a royal citadel and Mediterranean contact during the 5th and 6th centuries. An archeological find was made there in July 1998 when a team from Glasgow University uncovered a sixth-century slab with this inscription: PATER COLI AVI FECIT ARTOGNOV. This has been translated to mean "Artognou, father of a descendant of Coll, has had this [building] made". The name "Artognou" was probably pronounced "Arthnou." Art and Arth were fairly common prefixes to the names of Dark Age rulers. Some researchers believe that the stone is probably just another piece of evidence that Tintagel was a wealthy Dark Age stronghold. It confirms that there was a relatively well-educated and wealthy person there in the sixth century with a name that may have sounded like Arthur. It does not prove that King Arthur himself lived at Tintagel. But the mystery lives on!

20 As we walk through these ancient ruins, keep your Third Eye open to see between the veils to those days long past. Perhaps you'll glimpse Arthur and receive a message from him. We ll find a quiet and peaceful area of the site for our group meditation facilitated by Michael and Andrea. Tide allowing, we then descend to the beach to Merlin's Cave, located under the rocks close to Tintagel Castle. If not, we'll view it from above. Legend maintains that the spirit of the great Druid Merlin still inhabits this lonely place. It s very atmospheric; you might imagine Merlin approaching, with his staff held up to light up the darkness of the cave. If we're able to enter, we'll take time to meditate and connect with the energies that reach out to us from the misty past. In the later afternoon we check into our hotel, home for two nights, the Camelot Castle Hotel. Sitting proudly in Tintagel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Tintagel Castle, the stunning hotel offers rooms with magnificent panoramic views over the rugged Cornish coastline from Hartland Point in the North, to Trevose Head in the South. Our traditional castle rooms in a classical Victorian style with en-suite shower facilities overlooking the Atlantic. The Hotel, which is fully licensed, offers excellent cuisine. Enjoy superb freshly-cooked food made using local produce in the restaurant while also enjoying the equally superb panoramic views. Weather permitting, you can also eat & drink al-fresco on the terrace. There is a grand piano for any musician who would like to entertain. In the Arthurian-style bar you can relax for a quiet drink and look out over the Atlantic ocean. Or enjoy music for your comfort and entertainment in the dance hall. You can sit and talk with friends at King Arthur's Round Table. You can also write a letter to Merlin and drop it in the box on the table. At our group dinner tonight we take time to share our experiences of the day. Overnight Tintagel. Camelot Castle Hotel.

21 Day 9. Monday, July 1. Tintagel: St Nectan s Glen; Boscastle Witchcraft Museum; Minster Church (B/D) This morning we re off to visit St Nectan s Glen, an area of woodland in Trethevy near Tintagel, which is held sacred by many people who visit it. Stretching for around one mile along both banks of the Trevillet River, the glen's most prominent feature is St Nectan's Kieve, a spectacular 60 ft. waterfall. The walk through woodland takes us alongside a stream with many places to stop and take in the calming beauty of the water. At the amazing and powerful waterfall, we may be blessed to experience its legendary healing qualities. Who Was St Nectan? Around 500CE St Nectan built his small sanctuary beside the Trevillitt River, just above the waterfall and the kieve (Cornish for 'basin'). Tradition has it that behind the chapel was a tower where he hug a silver bell that he rang to warn sailors of submerged rocks on the treacherous Cornish coast, or to summon help from the Celtic monastery near Tintagel castle for vessels in distress. From his vantage point he would have been able to see both coast and castle from the top of his tower. Or, perhaps he rang it just to assure sailors that he was praying for their safety. As the end of his life approached, the area was split apart by bitter differences between the older Celtic and the newer Roman faiths. St. Nectan prophesied the return of the older, simpler faith, vowing that his bell should never ring for unbelievers; he carried it to the bank above the kieve and dropped it into the basin. It's said that his bell still tolls today. When he died, two strange ladies who are believed to have been his sisters came and, acting upon his wishes, they placed his body, the sacramental vessels and other treasures into an oak chest. They diverted the waters of the fall, dug a grave in the river bed below the Kieve and buried the chest. The river turned back to its natural course and now flows over the saint's grave. We ll take time here for individual meditation. Afterwards enjoy lunch on your own with the group in one of the harbor-side cafes in the little village and fishing port of Boscastle, a few miles northeast of Tintagel. The village with its picturesque harbor is a very popular tourist destination. Much of the land in and around Boscastle is owned by the National Trust, including both sides of the harbor. The Forrabury Stitches, high above the village are ancient "stitchmeal" cultivation plots. Large areas of the Valency Valley are known for its connections to the novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. The National Trust runs a shop at the harbor, and a visitor center in the Old Smithy. We ll visit the Museum of Witchcraft, which houses the world's largest collection of witchcraft related artifacts and regalia dating from prehistory to today. This very unique privately-owned museum has been in existence since 1951 when it first opened on The Isle of Man. It's been in Boscastle since 1961 and is amongst Cornwall's most popular museums. It also houses a large library with around 5,000 books which is used by researchers from the UK and around the world. After the Witchcraft Museum we move on to the nearby Minster Church. The atmospheric Minster church stands on a superb viewpoint above a wooded river valley near Boscastle. Surrounded by tombstones overgrown with bracken and wildflowers, its graveyard precinct is set in National Trustowned woodlands, and encompasses the site of a pagan/early Christian healing well. A few years ago it also hosted the reinterment of the bones of a woman unjustly condemned as a witch in the 18th century. There are no other houses or settlements nearby, and the way that the Victorian graveyard merges into the ancient woodland, combined with the superb

22 coastal scenery and the air of mystery (why is there a solitary church here in the middle of nowhere?) make this obscure place one of the spookiest locations in England. The church is dedicated to St Materiana, a very early Celtic Christian saint who set up a hermitage around the holy spring below the present church in the time of King Arthur, over 1500 years ago. In the later afternoon we return to Tintagel and our hotel. This evening we ll enjoy our group dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight Tintagel. Camelot Castle Hotel. Day 10. Tuesday, July 2. St. Michael s Mount; Chyauster Ancient Village; Madron Holy Well (B) This morning our visit is to famous St Michael s Mount, a tidal island located 400 yards off the Mount's Bay coast of Cornwall. It's united with the town of Marazion by a man-made causeway of granite setts, passable between mid-tide and low water. Its Cornish language name means "the grey rock in the wood" and may represent a folk memory of a time before Mount's Bay was flooded. Certainly, the Cornish name would be an accurate description of the Mount set in woodland. Remains of trees have been seen at low tides following storms on the beach at Perranuthnoe, but radiocarbon dating established the submerging of the hazel wood at about 1700 BCE. The chronicler John of Worcester relates that in 1099CE that St. Michael's Mount was located five or six miles from the sea, enclosed in a thick wood, but that on the third day of the nones of November the sea overflowed the land, destroying many towns and drowning many people as well as innumerable oxen and sheep. The Cornish legend of Lyonesse, an ancient kingdom said to have extended from Penwith toward the Isles of Scilly, also talks of land being inundated by the sea. In prehistoric times, St Michael's Mount may have been a port for the tin trade. Gavin de Beer made a case for it to be identified with the "tin port" Ictis/Ictin mentioned by Posidonius. Historically, St Michael's Mount was a Cornish counterpart of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, which shares the same tidal island characteristics and the same conical shape. It was given to the Benedictines, a religious order of Mont Saint-Michel, by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century. St Michael's Mount is known colloquially by locals as simply the Mount. Legend says that a mythical giant named Cormoran once lived on the Mount, and he used to wade ashore and steal cows and sheep from the villagers to feed his gargantuan appetite. One night, a local boy called Jack rowed out to the island and dug a deep pit while the giant was asleep. As the sun rose, Jack blew a horn to wake the angry giant who staggered down from the summit and blinded by the sunlight fell into the pit and died. During our time here we ll follow in the footsteps of pilgrims over the ages who have looked out over the rocky ledge on the western side of the island. It was here where an ancient stone chair stands at the entrance to the castle that according to legend, a vision of the Archangel St Michael appeared to some fishermen in the year 495CE. A place drenched in spiritual energy and religious roots, St Michael s Mount has been an important pilgrimage destination throughout the ages. We ll have time for a meditation facilitated by Michael and Andrea. After lunch on your own with the group at St Michaels Mount café or restaurant we depart to visit Chyauster Ancient village. This Romano- British settlement was originally occupied more than 200 years ago. The village consists of stone-walled homesteads known as courtyard houses, found only in this area of England. The houses line a village street and each

23 had an open central courtyard surrounded by a number of thatched rooms. There are also the remains of an enigmatic fogou, or underground passage. From here we drive to Penzance, a town, civil parish and port, the most westerly major town in Cornwall. A typical bustling harbor town with many interesting gift shops, pubs, craft-markets and galleries, the whole place is alive with plenty of things to see and do. Situated in the shelter of Mount's Bay, the town faces south-east onto the English Channel. Its location gives it a temperate climate, milder than most of the rest of Britain. The name Penzance (Pensans), means "holy headland" in the Cornish language and is a reference to the location of a chapel that is today called St Anthony's. It's said to have stood over a thousand years ago on the headland to the west of what became Penzance Harbor. The only remaining object from this chapel is a carved figure, now largely eroded, known as "St Raffidy" which can be found in the churchyard of the parish church of St Mary's near the original site of the chapel. Until the 1930's this history was also reflected in the choice of symbol for the town, the severed "holy head" of St John the Baptist, which can still be seen on the civic regalia of the Mayor of Penzance and on several important landmarks in the town. Before dinner we ll make a early evening trip to nearby Madron Holy Well. We ll walk down a little path lined with blackthorn and hawthorn just north of the village of Madron to the well, which has long been revered for its magical and healing powers as well as its supply of water to the local community. Even today strips of cloth, or clouties, can be seen tied to surrounding branches and stand testament to its continued use. The well head is defined by a rough circle of granite slabs (re-laid in the 1980s). Nearby lie the remains of a simple 12th century chapel, with a doorway to the north, which is unusual in churches as it is sometimes considered the Devil s Door. There is an altar to the east and a simple stone font in the southwest corner, originally fed by the same source as the well. Despite its altar and dedication to St Madern, this tiny and beautiful place is believed to be originally rooted in pre-christian Pagan worship. St Madern is oft considered a Christianized corruption, with a change of gender, of the Celtic mother goddess Modron. In terms of healing, the infirm and crippled would come here, often in May to coincide with Beltane fertility festival. The sufferer would enter the water naked three times, circumnavigate the well clockwise and then rest on a nearby hillock named St Maderne s Bed. A piece of cloth would be torn from their clothing (specifically from the afflicted area) and it was believed that as the rag deteriorated, so the ailment would improve. Some deem the well s unusually high radiation levels as connected to its restorative powers. Another ritual that took place at Madron Well was the enquiring by local maidens as to how long they would have to wait to be married. In May near Beltane, they would come and make a cross with straw attached by a pin. Once placed on the water, the number of bubbles arising would signify the years left to wait. This, along with offerings of straw crosses and pins for all manner of wishes, continued well into the 20th century. We head back to Penzance where we ll gather at a local restaurant for dinner on your own with the group and a time for sharing our day s experiences. Overnight Penzance. The Lugger Hotel.

24 The Lugger Hotel is located on the only promenade in Cornwall, occupying an ideal position overlooking the beautiful Mounts Bay. It s a comfortable centrally-located family run hotel with 20 plus en-suite rooms. The restaurant and both bar have views over the bay. The Wheelhouse Restaurant is proud of its reputation for excellent cuisine. The busy restaurant and terrace make a worthy setting for enjoying good home-cooked English food, prepared and served with care and imagination. And they cater for individuals with specific dietary needs. Day 11. Wednesday, July 3. Merry Maidens Stone Circle; The Pipers Menhirs; Mousehole Village; Boscawen Un Stone Circle; Carn Euny Prehistoric Village; Sancreed Holy Well, Ballowall Barrow Chamber & Cairn (B) We depart the hotel after breakfast, stopping to buy pasties or sandwiches for our picnic lunch. Our fist stop this morning is the Merry Maiden s Stone Circle, also known as Dawn's Men (a corruption of the Cornish Dans Maen or "Stone Dance"), a late neolithic stone circle. This complete circle is comprised of nineteen granite megaliths. Restored in the 1860s, this 78-foot perfect circle is Cornwall's pride and joy. Each of the nineteen stones is about 4 feet high, and evenly spaced at about 12 ft. intervals. There is a 20 ft. gap located at the east, which may indicate an astronomically-related entrance to the circle. To the south is another stone, giving the system a north-south orientation. The local myth about the creation of the stones is that nineteen maidens were turned into stone as punishment for dancing on a Sunday. The pipers, two megaliths some distance north-east of the circle, are said to be the petrified remains of the musicians who played for the dancers. A more detailed story explains why the Pipers are so far from the Maidens: Apparently the two pipers heard the church clock in St Buryan strike midnight, realized they were breaking the sabbath, and started to run up the hill away from the maidens who carried on dancing without accompaniment. These petrifaction legends are often associated with stone circles, and is reflected in the folk names of some of the nearby sites, for example, the Tregeseal Dancing Stones, the Nine Maidens of Boskednan, as well as the more distant Hurlers and Pipers on Bodmin Moor. We ll also take time here for a group meditation facilitated by Michael and Andrea.

25 We then drive to the fishing village of Mousehole for a short stop for tea or coffee. Then we visit Boscawen-Un stone circle. The name is Cornish, containing the syllables bod (farmstead) and scawen (old tree). The suffix Un denotes an adjacent pasture. Therefore the name translates as the pasture of the farmstead at the old tree. The stone circle, which is elliptical, consists of a central standing stone encircled by 19 other stones, including 18 made of gray granite and one of bright quartz. The position of the quartz stone in the southwest may indicate the likely direction of the full moon during the solstice. At the northeastern edge of the stone circle are two stones in the ground, one of which has an axe petroglyph, engravings are unique in the United Kingdom. There is a wide gap in the west of the circle, which suggests the loss of stones. However this gap may represent, as with the nearby Merry Maidens, an entrance. The central stone has a strong inclination to the north-east; the tip is only slightly above the ground. Some researchers believe that the central stone embodies the phallic male principle and the quartz stone represents the female powers of the ring. We ll take some time for individual meditation to commune with the ancient energies which are still very palpable here. Our next stop is the well-preserved Iron Age village of Carn Euny, among the best preserved in the south west, occupied from the Iron Age until late Roman times. Here we enjoy our picnic lunch before visiting the site. It includes the foundations of stone houses, and an intriguing 'fogou' underground passage. The first traces of settlement on the site date from the 5th century BC. For some 500 years, the village was formed of relatively simple Iron Age 'round houses'. These have now completely disappeared - with only the circular drainage gullies and postholes surviving, to be excavated by archaeologists in the 1960s. As part of this early settlement, a remarkable underground stone chamber with an entrance passage was built. This distinct type of monument, found only in the far west of Cornwall, is known as a 'fogou', deriving from the Cornish word 'ogo' meaning cave. What is a Fogou? The original function of the fogou is unclear. It may have been used as a place of refuge, or perhaps as a cellar for cold storage. Alternatively the presence of certain features, such as the niche at the back of the chamber, point to some kind of ritual significance. The Fogou was extended and rebuilt in three different phases during the Iron Age and Romano-British Period. It s important to note that when the first part of the fogou was built, it was the only stone structure at the site. This suggests that whatever the purpose of the fogou, it must have been of overwhelming importance to the community for them to expend so much of their resources on its construction. These enigmatic underground chambers, thousands of years old, have a powerful atmosphere even today. Here, in the silent interior, take some time to meditate; maybe its secrets will ever be revealed to you. Then we re off to visit Sancreed Holy Well. As with Madron Well, this water source in the village of Sancreed pre-dates Christianity, though traditional rituals and reverence did not diminish in the Christian world; visits for sacred ritual and healing passed from association with pagan spirits to saints, which in this case is St Credan. The well lay forgotten and obscured by thicket for a long time until rediscovered by the vicar of Sancreed in the late 19 th century. Located a one minute walk west of the Church, the water now normally surfaces below ground level and is accessed by descending several granite steps into a magical fern and moss lined cavern, some of the moss being phosphorescent. However, it does sometime surge and overflow down a surface

26 stone channel. Again similarly to Madron, Sancreed Well has a neighboring baptistry or chapel. A simple rectangular ruin, it contains a 15 th century carved stone amongst its verdant undergrowth. A Celtic cross was also erected on the site in Pilgrims seeking healing would come here, perform bathing rituals and, like at Madron Well, they would tie a rag torn from their clothing to nearby trees, awaiting the same results and healing. Inside the grotto-like entrance a variety of offerings can also often be found, such as flowers. The entrance to the granite passage faces south and so, at certain points in the calendar, the sun shines directly onto the water. Paul Devereux explored Sancreed Well regarding energy and radiation and in his 1990 book recorded levels 200% higher than the surrounding area, suggesting that could have some bearing on visionary activity here. Here Michael and Andrea will facilitate a sacred ceremony. We make a stop in St. Just for afternoon refreshment. Then we re on to the nearby Ballowall Barrow Chamber and Cairn on the West Penwith coastline overlooking Cape Cornwall. In a spectacular cliff-edge position, this unique Bronze Age tomb had a long and complex history as a sacred site. One of the largest and most complex of the prehistoric funerary monuments in this area, it was likely built to provide striking shrines or tombs for the dead. Also known as Carn Gluze Barrow, it was first excavated in 1878 by William Copeland Borlase, when it was discovered under mining debris. We ll take time to wander through this ancient site making our individual connections with the Ancient Ones. In the later afternoon we return to Penzance and our hotel. Take some time to rest before we gather for our dinner on your own with the group tonight. More time for sharing our day s experiences. Or, there s the possibility of taking in a performance at the nearby famous cliff-top open air Minack Theater. Although the plays themselves are not exactly Broadway or West end standard the setting and atmosphere, if you get a nice evening are totally amazing. An evening trip there to see a play can be a memorable experience! (We would have to book in advance, a few weeks ahead. The June 2013 schedule won t be out until later this year. Once you register, if you re interested in this opportunity, let us know and we ll give you the information once it becomes available. We could take a picnic supper to enjoy before the show. Overnight Penzance. The Lugger Hotel. Day 12. Thursday, July 4. Lanyon Quoit Dolmen; Mên-an-Tol Standing Stones; St. Ives; Wistmans Wood; Dartmoor; To Glastonbury (B) We check out of our hotel and leave this morning to return to Glastonbury. We make a brief stop at Lanyon Quoit dolmen, one of the best-known of Cornwall's ancient monuments, dating from the Neolithic period ( BCE). In the 18th century, the structure was tall enough for a person on horseback to stand under. The capstone rested at 7 ft. high with dimensions of 9 ft. by 17.5 ft., weighing 13.5 tons. The monument is thought to be a burial chamber; perhaps a mausoleum. On October 19, 1815, the dolmen was torn down by a storm. Nine years later enough money was raised by local inhabitants to re-erect the structure. During the storm one of the

27 uprights was broken in half. Thus, there are only three uprights today and the structure does not stand as high as it once did. Before the collapse of the structure, it was said to be aligned with the cardinal directions, which gives historians and archaeologists reason to believe that Lanyon and other quoits in the area were used as ritual funeral sites. It's possible that bodies were laid on top of the capstone to be eaten by carrion birds. Similar sites show evidence of bones from several individuals, and it's thought that bones were moved to sites such as Lanyon and used in rituals, perhaps involving attempts to communicate with ancestors and the spirit world. Will the Ancestors speak to you here? We continue to nearby Mên-an-Tol Standing Stones. One translation of the Cornish name is stone with a hole ; another is the devil s eye. Its age in uncertain but it is usually assigned to the Bronze Age, between years ago. There are actually four stones here: one fallen, two uprights, and between these a circular one, about 4 ft. in diameter that s pierced by a hole about half its size. An old plan of Mên-an-Tol shows that originally the three main stones stood in a triangle. They could be the remains of a Neolithic tomb; holed stones have served as entrances to burial chambers. It's also possible that they were part of some ancient calendar. The circular stone aligns exactly with the center stone at Boscawen-Un, another nearby Bronze age stone circle, as well as the church at nearby St Buryan. While this may conceivably be coincidental, the precision of the alignment suggests an intentional positioning of the structures in relation to each other. Holed stones are found in many parts of British Isles as well as in other countries of the world; together with holy wells they have retained the ideas and customs associated with them more tenaciously than any other type of ancient sites. Beliefs connected with them are remarkably similar from the Orkneys to the far west of Cornwall. Traditional rituals at Mên-an-Tol involved passing naked children three times through the holed stone and then drawing them along the grass three times in an easterly direction. This was thought to cure a form of tuberculosis, as well as rickets. Adults seeking relief from rheumatism, spine troubles or ague were advised to crawl through the hole nine times against the sun. According to nineteenth-century folklorist Robert Hunt the holed stone also had prophetic qualities. It was believed that if two brass pins are carefully laid across each other on the top edge of the stone, any question put to the rock would be answered by the pins acquiring, through some unknown agency, a peculiar motion. Another local legend claims that if at full moon a woman passes through the holed stone seven times backwards, she will soon become pregnant. Michael and Andrea and will facilitate a meditation here to connect with the energies of this ancient sacred site. We depart to the artists town of St Ives for lunch on your own with the group and a bit of free time for individual exploration of some of the many art galleries. St Ives is well known from the nursery rhyme and riddle "As I was going to St Ives", although it is not clear whether the rhyme refers to the Cornish town or one of several other places called St Ives. Tate St Ives, part of the Tate Gallery in London, is a stunning building with a varying exhibition of local and national works, well worth a visit.

28 Then we re off to the prehistoric enchanted Wistmans Wood on Dartmoor, which is an area of moorland in south Devon that is a National Park covering 368 square miles. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for wildlife. The highest point is High Willhays, 2,037 ft above sea level. The entire area is rich in antiquities and archaeology. Wistman's Wood is one of three remote copses of stunted oaks on Dartmoor. A rare relict example of the ancient high-level woodlands of Dartmoor, and because of this it has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1964, as well as a Nature Conservation site. Its name probably derives from Wisht-man's wood, the vernacular word wisht meaning pixie-led or haunted. The wood consists mainly of stunted English oak trees that grow from between moss-covered boulders and are festooned with epiphytic mosses, lichens and ferns. There are also some rowan, holly and willow trees. Legend has it that Wistman's Wood was a sacred grove of the Druid's and it was here that they held there pagan rituals. The huge boulder in the title picture above has become known as 'The Druid's Stone', otherwise called the 'Buller Stone'. Sometimes the small ghost of a dog called 'Jumbo' can be seen scurrying around the rocks and boulders in search of rabbits. At nights, the plaintive cries of the little terrier can be heard echoing down through the valley below. History has it that the poor dog died in the wood, from what nobody is sure but there is a strong possibility that it was from an adder bite. Some people say that the small oak trees never produce acorns but on the other hand people also say that if you carry an acorn from the Druid's Grove it will protect from rheumatism. Near to the northern edge of the wood is the ancient Lych Way or 'Way of the Dead'. It was along this track that the corpses were carried for burial at Lydford. There have been reports of a ghostly procession of monastic looking men dressed in white habits slowly walking by the oak wood in sombre silence. For centuries Wistman's Wood has been the inspiration for numerous artists and poets and a whole plethora of paintings, etchings and poems have been produced. We arrive Glastonbury in the early evening and check into our B and B s. You have free time. If you re not too tired, maybe you d like to climb The Tor this evening for one last visit. Dinner on your own. Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B and B or Jasmine Cottage.

29 Day 13. Friday, July 5. Stonehenge Private Entrance; Salisbury Cathedral (B/D) We depart early morning to Stonehenge. (Bagged breakfast provided.) There is much debate as to the age of Stonehenge, as well as who built it. History says that the site was begun in the agricultural Neolithic Age and was completed in the Early Bronze Age by early Britons known as the Beaker Folk, so called because of beakers, drinking vessels, found in their grave goods. Around 1500 BCE some disaster or systems collapse progressively brought the impressive Megalithic Age to an end, not only here, but throughout the whole of Britain and Ireland. Although we can never know exactly who the architects were who planned Stonehenge, the face sculptured into the side of trilithon stone 54 does give us cause to wonder if he or she was so influential that his/her facial features were placed here to be preserved forever as a representation of the Divine Marriage, the concept of Sacred Marriage between an Earth Mother and Sky Father, that was universal in early or primitive agricultural and Goddess-oriented societies. Those who are sensitive to this massive temple claim that the megalithic blocks are constantly radiating tremendous amounts of energy. Some say it is because the ancient Druids turned themselves into the stones, while others assert that they hold the power of innumerable Druid ceremonies held there in the past. Afterwards we drive to Salisbury for a second breakfast on your own with the group at a wonderful medieval café located right in the heart of the city. Then we'll have visit Salisbury Cathedral. For over 750 years pilgrims have come to Salisbury to seek inspiration in the glory and peace of the building and surrounding Cathedral Close. Take a guided tour, wander about on your own to be awed by the beauty and scale of the cathedral interior or climb up to Britain's tallest spire. There s also a Black Madonna here. And don't forget to view the original Magna Carta in the Chapter House! We enter for our private entrance inside the circle. Andrea, Michael and Lynne will facilitate a ritual and meditation among the magical stones and their powerful energies. What ancient secrets will be revealed to you? What will be your Gift of Spirit that you will receive? Open your heart, mind, and soul and receive! We return to Glastonbury later morning. You have free time for the rest of the morning and early afternoon to explore more on your own. Lunch on your own. Perhaps visit some of the area's sacred sites and power spots you've not made it to yet. OR revisit those that have you have been particularly drawn to. More gifts of Spirit await you today as you take time to make your lasting connections in Avalon. In the later afternoon we gather at Pilgrim s B and B for our final Sharing Circle. Afterwards we walk to a nearby restaurant for our Farewell Dinner, where we Overnight Glastonbury. Pilgrims B and B or Jasmine Cottage. Day 14. Saturday, July 6. Return to Heathrow; Depart England (B) AM: Morning group transfer to airport. (Please do not book your flight to depart before noon. Thank you.) NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.

30 TOUR INCLUSIONS Your Sacred Sites Journey to ENGLAND Includes: - Roundtrip group transfers between Heathrow International Airport and Bed and Breakfasts in Glastonbury (Note: If you do not fly into Heathrow and/or do not meet the group for the transfers, then you are responsible to make your own arrangements for this transportation to and from your B and B. SSJ can give you a quote for these extra services after you register if you would like for us to arrange this for you.) - Accommodations in First Class Bed & Breakfasts, including daily breakfast (vegetarian available) - Welcome and Farewell Dinners (vegetarian available) - Sightseeing tours as per itinerary, including entrance fees - Escorted on arrival at London Heathrow Airport by Sacred Sites Journeys Director Andrea Mikana- Pinkham - Pre-Paid Gratuities for driver, guide, waiters at group meals, etc. SPECIAL FEATURES: - Travel in a smaller group of other spirit-centered people - Spiritual Tour Guide: Michael Orchard - Ceremonialist: Lynne Orchard, Priestess of Avalon - Ceremonies, initiations & meditations at sacred sites facilitated by Michael & Lynne Orchard and Andrea Mikana-Pinkham - Private group entrance at Stonehenge for sacred ceremony and meditation - Private group entrance into the Well House at the White Spring at the Chalice Well - Initiation into the Mysteries of Avalon facilitated by Lynne Orchard, Priestess of Avalon, at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple - Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Well - Avebury UNESCO World Heritage Site, including Avebury and Silbury Hill - Possible crop circle sightings - Paranormal activity investigation with long-time local researchers - Tintagel Area: Arthur s Hall of Chivalry; Tintagel Castle; Merlin's Cave (dependent on tides); St Nectan s Glen; Boscastle Witchcraft Museum; Minster Church - Land s End Area: St. Michael s Mount; Chyauster Ancient Village; Madron Holy Well Merry Maidens Stone Circle; The Pipers Menhirs; Mousehole Village; Boscawen Un Stone Circle; Carn Euny Prehistoric Village; Sancreed Holy Well, Ballowall Barrow Chamber & Cairn; Lanyon Quoit Dolmen; Mên-an-Tol Standing Stones - St. Ives - Dartmoor Area: Wistmans Wood - - Free time in Glastonbury to explore on your own - Welcome and Farewell Dinners NOT INCLUDED: - Roundtrip international flight to England (Arrive/Depart London Heathrow Airport) - Meals not included, as indicated in the itinerary - Cost to obtain valid passport - Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, internet access and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on the Sacred Sites Journeys website or final trip itinerary

31 Sacred Sites Journeys A Division of Heartlight Fellowship Andrea Mikana-Pinkham, Director P.O. Box 3591; Sedona, AZ (toll free in the US) or info@sacredsitesjourneys.com ENGLAND: Sacred Sites, Crop Circles and The Paranormal June 23 July 6, 2013 TOUR PRICING This tour is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your international flights to and from London, England. Please see the information in the itinerary regarding the requested times to arrive and depart from Heathrow International Airport. DISCOUNT! Make ALL of your payments by check or money order and receive a 5% discount! This discount is INCLUDED in the price below listed for this payment option. Per Person, double occupancy, land only: TO BE POSTED SOON Single Room Supplement: TO BE POSTED SOON NOTE Regarding Credit Cards: We are able to take credit cards for payment until 45 days before the tour begins, or before May 9, After that you can pay with a credit card check, bank cashier's check, or money order. Or wire funds to our bank account (additional $25.00 fee applies for wires originating from outside the U.S.). Our 2013 Sacred Sites Journey to ENGLAND group participation is open to 12 people. At Pilgrims B and B there are four twin-bedded rooms and one triple-bedded room. We have two single rooms available at Jasmine Cottage B and B; these will be assigned to the first two people to register for them. All rooms at Pilgrims are ensuite; one room at Jasmine Cottage is en-suite and the other is with a bath shared by one other room. ROOMMATES: Would you like to meet and make a new friend on your journey? If you're not traveling on the journey with anyone you know, and would like for SSJ to try to match you up with a suitable roommate, we'll be happy to try to do so. Per our Terms and Conditions, we will hold the registration for the trip open until 30 days before the departure date (or later if possible) in order to try to match you with someone. If by that date we have not been able to do so, and there is no one to share your room, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. If you would like to be matched with a roommate, please register early. TO REGISTER, please use the form below. We suggest you keep a copy of the Registration Form and the Terms/Conditions for your records.