We will be able to wander in the peaceful gardens, drink from the sacred well and walk up Glastonbury Tor, the mysterious hill long held to be an entrance to the Celtic Otherworld. You will hear unforgettable myths and legends of King Arthur, Morgan le Fay, and Merlin; learn the esoteric lore of the Grail, the Faery Realm, and other Mysteries; and deepen our understanding through rituals and meditations that open a portal into the inner worlds. Staying within easy walking distance of Glastonbury Town gives us the freedom to stroll among its many eclectic shops and cafes, bookstores and healing centers, as well as visit other legendary landmarks including: Glastonbury Abbey, the lovely medieval ruin where King Arthur and Queen Guinevere are said to lie buried; Wearyall Hill, where the miraculous Holy Thorn of Joseph of Arimathea grows; The White Spring, gateway to the faery kingdom within the Tor. Glastonbury is perfectly situated within easy reach of other wonders of the sacred landscape. Journeys include the following destinations: Stonehenge, the extraordinary Neolithic Temple of the Sun, one of the marvels of the ancient world, where we will have private and exclusive access for an evening ceremony. Avebury, the largest stone circle complex in the world, set in the midst of a rich prehistoric landscape which includes West Kennet Long Barrow, the womb of the Earth Goddess, and the enigma of Silbury Hill. The City of Bath, with its unique Roman baths, medieval and Georgian architecture: once a sacred spring dedicated to a Celtic goddess, later a fashionable spa for Jane Austen and her contemporaries. Wells Cathedral, one of the most magnificent and spiritually alive cathedrals of the Gothic Age with its beautiful Bishop's Palace and gardens. Tintagel, legendary birthplace of King Arthur, spectacularly located on the North Cornwall seashore. Plus other sacred places of beauty, power and magic that you will never forget! Mara will be joined by other well-known authors and presenters, who are on the cutting-edge of Celtic spirituality and Earth Mysteries. In 2011, our presenters will include Paul Broadhurst and Sig Lonegren. For an intimate and friendly atmosphere, the pilgrimage is open to 11-12 people only, so we recommend that you reserve your place as soon as possible. Price includes: - Exclusive use of the Chalice Well Retreat House, which is tucked away in the Chalice Well Gardens with its beautiful holy well. It is an historic 16th century house partly constructed from the old stones of Glastonbury Abbey itself. The house is fully modernized, and there are six rooms available: 3 twins, one double and two single rooms. It also has a kitchen, a cozy sitting room and a large dining room. An extra suite at the adjacent Chalice Well Lodge is also available. The top floor of the house is dedicated to a peaceful meditation chapel. - Breakfast and dinner for 9 days are provided. All meals at the retreat centre are organic and vegetarian. - All ground transportation, including service from and to London Heathrow airport. - All presentations by Mara Freeman and guest speakers. - All entrance charges to sites and museums, and guide fees, including special private ceremony at Stonehenge. - Temporary free membership of The Chalice Well Trust, which gives all guests access to the Chalice Well Gardens and Holy Well at any time of day. - All applicable taxes and cover charges. Your Itinerary: September 1st - 10th, 2011 Day One: Thursday, Sept.1 We meet at London Heathrow Airport, where our private mini-bus will take us to lunch at a historical inn within Stourhead Gardens, a place of serene beauty designed according to esoteric principles by a prominent Freemason in the 18th century. We will take an initiation walk through the extraordinary ritual landscape with its temples and grottos dedicated to classical gods and goddesses. Then on to our Glastonbury retreat house, where, after a gourmet vegetarian dinner, we will gather for our opening circle in the Chalice Well Gardens. Day Two: Friday, Sept.2 We begin our journey into the Mysteries of Glastonbury with a ritual attunement at the Red Spring to experience the energies of the Deep Feminine. We will drink deeply of its healing waters and then pursue our own meditations in the gardens. After a picnic lunch, we walk over to the cave-like source of the neighboring White Spring and climb Glastonbury Tor, with its seven-spiraled labyrinth topped by a ruined tower. From here you can see for miles all over the ‘Summerlands.’ Afterwards, we take a walk to Gog and Magog, the ancient Druid trees, and walk back via the ancient apple groves of Avalon. Day Three: Saturday, Sept.3 Today we explore the legends and lore of the Holy Grail, beginning with a walk up Wearyall Hill to see the holy thorn, scion of the one said to have been planted by Joseph of Arimathea, when he brought the Grail to Glastonbury. Then on to the evocative ruins of Glastonbury Abbey with its fascinating Arthurian legends and lore. After lunch in town and time to explore the shops, we return to the Chalice Well for a meditation on an extraordinary icon - the Blue Bowl: Glastonbury's own Grail, which is charged with spiritual powers. Day Four: Sunday, Sept.4 Our pilgrimage leads us to Avebury, a village which sits right in the middle of a unique megalithic ritual landscape of giant stone circles and avenues. We will ritually enter the stones, then be free to wander among them and attune to their energies. A short way from the stone lies the mysterious pyramid-shaped Silbury Hill, associated with ancient harvest rituals, and the chambered mound of West Kennet Long Barrow, an entrance into the underworld. Day Five: Monday, Sept.5 Heading southwest through the county of Devon, we visit the tiny chapel of Brentor, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, on the edge of wild Dartmoor. Then on to the old Celtic kingdom of Cornwall and the romantic castle ruins of Tintagel, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, dramatically located atop an island. At low tide, we'll enter Merlin’s Cave, an extraordinary portal to the Otherworld. In the village, you may want to visit King Arthur’s Great Hall, once a Masonic temple dedicated to the Arthurian Mysteries. We spend the night in a hotel by the sea. Day Six: Tuesday, Sept.6 This morning we take a walk in Rocky Valley to view the Bronze Age labyrinth carvings. Then we wander through the magical St. Nectan’s Glen, with its faery-haunted woods and waterfall, visiting a lovely Celtic saint’s chapel and holy well en route. After lunch in the little harbour village of Boscastle, we gather at “The Otherworld,“ for a special presentation by Cornish Mysteries expert, author Paul Broadhurst, who will also take us to a beautiful local sacred site. After this very rich day, we head back once more to the Chalice Well at Glastonbury. Day Seven: Wednesday, Sept.7 Today our pilgrimage takes us to Wells, the smallest city in England, where we will see the oldest inhabited street in the country, and explore the magnificent 12th century cathedral, with its resplendent architecture, including an exquisite Mary chapel. After lunch at the elegant Bishop’s Palace, we view its medieval chapel and unique collection of Green Man carvings, and wander through the beautiful gardens and sacred pools. Time also to explore the fine old shops in the market-place and beyond. Day Eight: Thursday, Sept.8 Today our guest presenter, author and artist, Louise Hodgson, will lead a journey to fascinating pagan and goddess sites in the beautiful county of Dorset, including the famous Cerne Abbas Giant and the sacred spring known as Silver Well, the spectacular hill-fort of Maiden Castle and a Romano-British Temple Site dedicated to the Goddess Minerva. Lunch will be in historic Dorchester, and in the afternoon Louise will take you to the little-known magical sites of the Grey Mare and Her Colts and Kingston Russell Stone Circle. A scenic drive along the coast will follow on the return to Glastonbury. Day Nine: Friday, Sept.9 We journey to the World Heritage city of Bath, starting with a visit to the Roman Baths, originally a spring dedicated to a Celtic goddess. After this you are free to explore the elegant streets with their 18th century architecture, leafy Victorian parks and museums, or indulge in lunch at the Pump Rooms restaurant, made famous by Jane Austen. In the late afternoon, we wend our way to Salisbury Plain for a special dinner at a traditional country inn, followed by a private and exclusive visit to Stonehenge, where we gather for our sunset ceremony in this most famous and majestic of megalithic temples. Day Ten: Saturday, Sept.10 Breakfast, hugs, and fond farewells as we return to Heathrow Airport for our flights home. Please note: While we make every effort to keep to the above itinerary, it may be subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen conditions. Ó Mara Freeman, 2008. All Rights Reserved Notes: For customers in Europe and the U.K., the price is €2295 or £1790. 
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