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Mystical England - a Journey to Avalon: September 2 - 11, 2009
offered by supplier M16806 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 10
day(s)
Group Size: 10
- 12
people
Destination(s):
England
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
Season: September
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 2895 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2895 US Dollar (USD)
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Free travel for you!
If you gather your own group together, we may be able to customize this tour for you according to your requirements - and you travel free!
Journey to Avalon with Mara Freeman, author of "Kindling the Celtic Spirit" and Director of the Avalon Mystery School, on an unforgettable journey to explore Southwest England’s most beautiful and evocative sacred landscapes. Especially designed for the spiritual pilgrim in search of inspiration and renewal, this unique ten-day experience will be centered in Glastonbury, the legendary Isle of Avalon itself, once called the “Holyest Erthe in England." Here we stay in the heart of Avalon at the historic Little St. Michael's, a 16th century house situated within the Chalice Well Gardens, where flows the sacred Red Spring, a place of healing where legend says the Holy Grail was hidden centuries ago.
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 a sunset ceremony to celebrate the harvest festival of Lammas.
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 2008, the key presenters will be authors Caitlin Matthews (tbc) and Nicholas Mann. 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.
Your Itinerary:
September 2nd - 11th, 2009
Day One Wednesday, September 2nd
We meet at London Heathrow Airport, where our private mini-bus will take us to the West Country. On the way, we will stop at the medieval village of Lacock, where we will take tea, stroll through the cobbled streets and visit the beautiful cloistered abbey. Then on to our Glastonbury retreat house, where, after a gourmet vegetarian dinner, we’ll gather for our opening circle in the Chalice Well Gardens.
Day Two Thursday, September 3rd
We begin our journey into the Mysteries of Glastonbury with a ceremony at the Chalice Well, or Red Spring, to attune to 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 by the ancient apple groves of Avalon.
Day Three Friday, September 4th
Today we explore the legends and lore of the Holy Grail, beginning with a visit to the magnificent ruins of Glastonbury Abbey with its fascinating Arthurian legends and lore. After lunch in town and a chance to explore the shops, there will be more optional visits to other sacred sites associated with the Grail, including a walk up Wearyall Hill with its holy thorn, legendary descendant of the one planted by Joseph of Arimathea. Mara will also lead meditations and attunements with the Holy Grail to deepen the experience.
Day Four Saturday, September 5th
An early start today to travel westwards down to glorious Cornwall where we visit Tintagel, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur spectacularly located on a cliff-top. Then a walk in the magical St. Nectan’s Glen where Bronze Age carvings of a labyrinth can be discovered in the rock-face. Through a lovely wooded gorge, passing an early Celtic church, and we arrive at an ancient chapel hidden in the trees above a dramatic waterfall where legends say Arthur's knights came to drink the healing waters.
Day Five Sunday, September 6th
Today we visit Wells, the smallest city in England, with its magnificent 12th century cathedral. We will tour the cathedral with its resplendent architecture, Gothic carvings and exquisite Mary chapel. Then free time for you to explore the Bishop’s Palace with its beautiful trees and sacred pools or wander through the old streets of the town. Later we drive over the Mendip Hills to Stanton Drew to attune to its remarkable little-known stone circles. Tonight, Nicholas Mann will join us to talk about the sacred astronomy of Avalon and will give a group reading from his tarot deck, “The Silver Branch.”
Day Six Monday, September 7th
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. Later, we visit the mysterious mound of Silbury Hill, associated with ancient harvest rituals, and enter into the womb of the Earth at West Kennet Long Barrow.
Day Seven Tuesday, September 8th
We spend this morning at the historical city of Bath, starting with a visit to the Roman Baths and, originally a spring dedicated to a Celtic goddess. After this you are free to explore the fine streets, parks and shops and have lunch at the world-famous 18th century Pump Room restaurant or another of Bath’s eclectic cafes.
This afternoon, we gather for an evening with Caitlin Matthews, one of England's most well-known Celtic scholars and authors.
Day Eight Wednesday, September 9th
We travel to the hillfort of Cadbury, the traditional location of King Arthur’s Camelot, and an intricate part of the sacred landscape of Avalon. Then we go for lunch at the beautiful stately home and gardens of Stourhead, designed according to esoteric principles by a prominent Freemason in the 18th century. Here we will be joined by Jo Cavopol, author and Western Mysteries teacher, who will guide us on an initiation walk through the extraordinary ritual landscape with its temples and grottos dedicated to classical gods and goddesses. In the early evening, we will drive to Stonehenge for our wonderful sunset ceremony, private and exclusive, in this most famous and majestic of megalithic temples.
Day Nine Thursday, September 10th
On our last full day in Glastonbury, there will be time for final visits to the Tor or shopping for last-minute gifts in town, before an initiatory meditation and closing ritual at the Chalice Well. In the evening, we celebrate our pilgrimage and our lives with a special 5-course candlelit dinner, accompanied by the music of the harp.
Day Ten Friday, September 11th
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.
www.celticspiritjourneys.com Ó Mara Freeman, 2008. All Rights Reserved
Included:
- 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, cooked for us by award-winning caterers, and dinner is a three-course meal. On the last night there will be a sumptuous 5-course farewell feast!
- 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.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
For customers in Europe and the U.K., the price is €1942 or £1547.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
England
Cultural Journey
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
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