Sacred Sites Journeys A Women's Priestess Initiation Journey
November 3 - 15, 2012
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TOUR DESCRIPTION
These potent energy devices built using the principles of Sacred Geometry
Re-claim more of your Divine Feminine energy and power!
ASWAN Isis Initiation at the Temple of Isis on
ancient Agilika Island
Ma'at Initiation at our Opening Ceremony
LUXOR Mut Initiation and Sekhmet Initiation at Karnak Temple
ASWAN Elephantine Island - Satet and Anuket Initiation
TOUR PERSONNEL The November
2012 Sacred Sites Journeys group will be my 19th group to escort / lead to Egypt. For more information about Andrea Click here Vivian Zaky, PhD Andrea and Vivian have worked together with our Sacred Sites
Journeys groups for several years.
A Few Words from Andrea:
During some of our
meditations, I'll also use my unique Lapis
Crystal Bowl to facilitate sound activations
Day 1. Saturday, November 3. Depart USA For a detailed itinerary, please continue reading.
The group open to a maximum of 16 women, and is filling!
For those booking the land/international air sacred travel package: Our international flight to Cairo departs New York City’s JFK Airport in the early evening. Rest, relax, and snooze! During the overnight flight you can rest, relax, snooze, and perhaps dream about your upcoming Priestess Journey of Initiation. Day 2. Sunday, November 4. Arrive Egypt; Opening Meeting / Meditation / Ma'at Initiation; Welcome Dinner (D)For those booking the land/international air sacred travel package: Arrive at Cairo International Airport at noon, local time. Secure your  Egypt Tourist Visa (Cost currently $15.00 US. Details to be provided with your
final tour itinerary.) Clear Immigration and proceed to baggage claim. Meet
SSJ's local tour representative; he will assist you to
gather your luggage and escort you through Customs. Outside the terminal meet our local
transfer personnel and board our private air-conditioned motor coach for our private
transfer to our luxurious hotel near the Great Pyramid and Sphinx. Our local tour
representative will assist you to check into your room. Take time for a bit of rest. You
are really here in this ancient land of mystery!! It’s your dream come true!
For those booking the Land Only sacred travel package:
Arrive
in Cairo today on your own. Sacred Sites Journeys will be happy to help you
book your airfare at a discounted rate once you have registered for the journey. As well, we can arrange a
meet/greet upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport, and transfer in a private
air-conditioned car or van to the hotel. And the return to the airport at the end of the
journey. Once your international airfare is booked, we can give you a quote for these
additional services. Day 3. Monday, November 5. Giza Plateau:
Private Entrance between the paws of the Sphinx - Tefnut & Nut Initiations;
Valley Temple - Bastet Initiation; Great Pyramid; Aromatherapist (B/L)
Nut's title are Life-Giver and Mother of the Gods. She is the personification of the sky and the Milky Way, as well as Neter of night, reincarnation, and weather. Her sacred animals include boars, cows, eagles, peacocks, and sows, and her sacred stones are lapis lazuli and turquoise. Her sacred plant is the sycamore. Since She gives birth to the sun in the east and swallows it in the west, Nut became
connected with the underworld and resurrection. She was seen as a friend
to the dead, as a mother-like protector to those who journeyed through the land of the
dead. She was often painted on the inside lid of the sarcophagus, protecting the dead
until he or she, like Ra, could be reborn in their new life. Afterwards we will explore the Valley Temple of Khafre, located
next to the Sphinx. With its alabaster floor and gigantic block walls,
its
Bastet originally had the head of a lion or a desert sand-cat and it was not until the New Kingdom that she became exclusively associated with the domesticated cat. Even then she remained true to her origins and retained her war-like aspect. She personified the playfulness, grace, affection, and cunning of a cat, as well as the fierce power of a lioness. Her name implies that she is sweet and precious, but that under the surface lay the heart of a predator. She is often shown holding the Ankh, the breath of life or symbol of immortality, or the papyrus wand of Lower Egypt. She occasionally bears a was-scepter, which symbolizes power and strength. She's often accompanied by a litter of kittens. As the daughter of Ra She was one of the Neters known as the "Eye of Ra", a fierce protector who almost destroyed mankind, but was tricked with blood-colored beer which put Her to sleep and gave Her a hangover, stopping the carnage. As a result, She is linked to the other Goddesses who were known as the "eye of Ra", most notably Sekhmet, Hathor, Tefnut, Nut, Wadjet and Mut. Her link with Sekhmet was the closest. Not only did both of them take the form of a lioness, they were both considered to be the spouse of Ptah, the Divine Architect and the mother of Nefertum, the Neter of aromatherapy. Andrea will facilitate our Priestess Initiations to connect with the energies of Bastet.
Lunch with the group at local restaurant, with offerings of traditional Egyptian
cuisine. Return to
the hotel in the later afternoon. Rest, relax and integrate
the powerful energies you encountered and engaged today. Dinner on your own. Overnight Giza. Oasis Hotel. Day 4. Tuesday, November 6.
Sakkara: Nephthys Initiation (B/L) Time allowing, at the area referred to by some locals from the indigenous tradition as "the hospital" you'll have the opportunity to experience a sound healing meditation. Open your heart, open your mind, and especially your 5th chakra to receive the healing that comes through this change in your frequency, and send it out into the world for peace and healing for all!
In one of
the out-of-the-way areas of this sacred land Andrea will facilitate our Nephthys Initiation. Time allowing we'll also have a short visit to a local orphanage, where we'll meet the children and spend some time interacting with them. There are about 50 girls who live in this home, with their "Mothers" who lovingly take care of them. If you care to make a donation that will go toward their food, clothing, shelter and education, it will be warmly received. Afterwards we
return to the hotel. In the early evening we'll gather for a short SHARING
CIRCLE.
Afterwards, we explore the vast Temple of Karnak, the largest columned temple in the world.. Once connected to Luxor Temple, two miles away, by a long avenue of Sphinxes (which are still partially intact), Karnak is dedicated to the Neter Amun-Ra, the hidden Power of Creation, and his feminine counterpart, the Neter Mut. Her titles are the Eye of Ra, The Great Sorceress, Lady of Thebes, Mistress of Megeb. Mut is a creator Goddess, as well as the Neter of marriage, motherhood, and the sky. Her sacred animals include cats, eagles, lions, and vultures, and her sacred stones are agates, opals, pearls, and star sapphires. In art, Mut is usually shown as a woman with a vulture headdress, and carrying an Ankh and a scepter with a papyrus or lotus blossom on the top. She may also appear with a lion's head, lion claws, the feather of Ma'at at her feet, a man's head, or an erect phallus.
We then return to the hotel for a bit of rest, relaxation and
integration. Return
to the hotel. In the early evening we'll gather for a short SHARING
CIRCLE. In one of the out-of-the-way halls of the temple, among many thousand year-old columns and wall panels vibrating with color, Andrea will facilitate our Seshat Initiation to assist you to connect with the energies of Seshat, to receive Her blessing for the rebirth of your "New Self" as you use the energies of Sacred Geometry in your cellular level to construct a new you during this Great Awakening here on earth! Then we have time for a long and
thorough visit with our Egyptologist Vivian to the various rooms that are temples to the various
Neters. One of the highlights of our visit will be to the mysterious Osireion,
built with gigantic stones only found in one other place in Egypt - the Valley Temple of
the Sphinx. Built with no mortar between these gigantic stones, this powerful building
resembles many of the other ancient megalithic sites around the world, such as
Sacsayhuaman in Peru and Stonehenge in England. Could it be that a civilization more
technologically advanced that we are today existed in the world at the same time, many
thousands of years ago? On one of the pillars in the temple we will see the ancient symbol
of the Flower of Life. We'll explore the meaning of this symbol with,
according to Sacred Geometry, is the building block of all life! As well as who painted it
on the pillar here. Take some time to meditate and focus, and see what might be revealed
to you through psychic archaeology.
Here's a link to a YouTube Video of the Osireion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc3q5FUgaKM&NR=1
In the afternoon we return to Luxor. In the early evening we'll gather for a short SHARING CIRCLE. Then you have free time and dinner is on your own this evening. Overnight Luxor. El-Luxor Hotel. Day 7. Friday, November 9.
Hatshepsut's Temple: Nekhbet Initiation; Dendera: Hathor Initiation; Option: Luxor Temple
(B)
We return to the hotel. Lunch on your own. After a bit of rest, we're off to Dendera, the magnificent temple dedicated to the Neter Hathor, the wife of Horus. Dendera is a Greek transliteration of the Egyptian Enet-t-neter ("Home of the Goddess"). The temple is often referred to today as "the Lourdes of ancient Egypt" because in ancient times it was a healing center and sacred place of initiation into the mysteries of male/female balance and sensual love. Hathor's priestesses and priests offered miraculous cures, practicing all types of magical and psychological therapies.
Her oracular priests and priestesses predicted the fate of the newborn; as well,
they were also the midwives who delivered them. As the Here, among the powerful transformational energies of this sacred site, Andrea will facilitate your Initiation into the Greater Mysteries of Hathor and the Divine Feminine. In Her role as the great Goddess of Earthly Love and Healing, Hathor will bestow upon you the energies that will take you into the higher frequencies of Unconditional Love in your Cosmic Heart.
In one of the upper rooms of the temple we'll view the replica of the famous Dendera Zodiac, the only complete working Zodiac that survives from antiquity! (The original one resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris.) The zodiac is referred to by many researchers who have studied it for years as "intentional art", a work of sacred art deliberately encoded with information. It's one of the most well-known sacred calendric artifacts in the world, on the level of Stonehenge and the Aztec calendar. Showing the positions of the stars and planets as they would have been seen at 50BCE, it nevertheless projects its messages forward to 2216 CE! We return to Luxor late afternoon. In the early evening we'll gather for a short SHARING
CIRCLE. Then you have free time. Dinner
is on your own this evening. Overnight Luxor. El-Luxor
Hotel. After lunch on your own, we depart for our visit to Elephantine
Island, named for the Greek word meaning 'elephant'. The more common name for the
city by ancient Egyptians was Sehel, which also meant 'elephant'. The name
describes the city's function as a gate to the South, since elephants were basically
brought from the south towards Nubia. We explore the ancient Temple
of Khnum, the main cult center of the ram-headed creator
Anuket, the daughter of
Satet, was the Neter of the island of Sahal, near the First Cataract of
the Nile, a little further south of Elephantine Island. She was originally a water goddess
from Sudan.She was shown as a woman wearing a crown of ostrich feathers. Her name
meant, "to embrace", meaning that her embrace during the annual Nile floods
fertilized the fields.
In the evening we'll gather for group dinner and SHARING CIRCLE at the hotel. Her other epithets are the Neter of Abundance, Cultivated Land, Death, Dreams, the Earth, Enchantment, Magic, Marriage, Reincarnation, Rituals, and Success. Her sacred colors are Green, Light Blue, and Red, and her sacred plants are Dates, Figs, Heather, and Onions. Isis' sacred animals are apes, cats, cows, eagles, geese, hawks, kites, lions, owls, rams, scorpions, snakes, sphinxes, swallows, and vultures. Her sacred gems are amethyst, aquamarine, beryl, carnelian, coral, emerald, jasper, lapis lazuli, moonstone, pearl, peridot, ruby, sapphire, and turquoise. She represents the direction of North.  Isis
may be the oldest deity in Egypt, and certainly the oldest to survive in much the
same form as in the ancient times. She may also be the most important, as She was
worshipped almost universally by all Egyptians. As the major Goddess of the Egyptian
pantheon, with many of the same attributes of other Mother Goddesses found all over the
world, She was revered as the Great Protector, prayed to for guidance,
and beseeched for peace in the world. Her Egyptian name was Auset, which meant
"female of throne", i.e. Queen of the Throne. Teachings
about the pre-dynastic Egyptians, from the oral tradition passed down through the ages,
say that it was a matriarchal and matrilineal culture, and that the woman was the power
behind the throne. The mother or sister chose
the male who ruled. Thus the throne that is shown carved on Isis' head in hieroglyphs in
the temples. During the Greco-Roman period, this sacred island was the main cult center of Isis. Her worship lasted here until the 6th century CE, when it was outlawed by the Emperor Justinian. Though it died out here, Her influence spread to Greece and Rome and on throughout Europe. Some researchers believe that the Black Madonnas were representations of Isis and Her son Horus. We enter the Temple of Isis, where we'll welcome Her into Her shrine in the Holy of Holies. As Her priestesses and priests did in ancient times, we'll call in Her powerful magic! Then as the sun comes up, we'll offer our heartfelt requests for healing and transformation. She will bestow upon us a sacred Isis Initiation into Her Divine Feminine Mysteries, supporting you to develop your healing powers for any new projects that you're bringing into manifestation, as well as to connect with more Unconditional Love within yourself. You will be forever connected with Her!
OPTIONAL TOUR: Visit the Nubian Museum, which houses an excellent collection of artifacts, all very well displayed. This
afternoon we explore Aswan's ancient Nubian culture. We visit a
Nubian Home,where you'll enjoy the Just before sunset we board a felucca, a Nubian sailboat, to enjoy a peaceful and serene sail on the Nile. Bring your camera! Return to the hotel. In the evening we'll gather for group dinner and SHARING CIRCLE at the hotel. Overnight Aswan. Basma Hotel. Day 10. Monday, November 12. Aswan: Papyrus Factory & Marketplace; Free Time; Option: Kitchener Island (B/D)  This morning we visit a local papyrus institute, where you will enjoy a demonstration of how papyrus is made from the local plant that is fast disappearing, due to environmental pressures. You'll be able to purchase an art treasure of any of the Neters, your astrology symbol, a cartouche with your name in it, scenes of the sacred temples and daily life in ancient Egypt and more. Afterwards we visit the marketplace or souk, where you will be able to buy scarves, galabayahs, belly dance costumes and more from Vivian's friend, who is the local wholesaler to the vendors in the market! We'll also stop in at the spice market, where you can buy just about any kind of spice you can think of. They'll be expertly packaged so that you can easily take them home with you to enjoy using in your cooking. Return to the hotel. Lunch on your own. You then have free time this afternoon to rest and enjoy the pool and/or spa facilities at the hotel. Get a massage; go for a swim. Or just lie by the pool and soak up the healing rays!  Or take the Optional Tour: Kitchener Island; This oval-shaped island in the Nile at Aswan was given
to Lord Horatio Kitchener in the 1890s for his part in the Sudanese campaigns while he was
the Egyptian Consul. Kitchener, who was a keen gardener turned his island home into a
botanical garden, importing exotic plants and trees which flourished in the Aswan climate.
The botanical garden was constructed in 1899 under the supervision of the Ministry of
Irrigation and turned into an experimental station for plants from equatorial regions in
1928. Alongside the native trees and plants of Aswan such as the Sycamore Fig and the Date
Palm, many trees were brought from abroad and cultivated for use in the timber industry.
Experimental oil and fruit crops were also propagated on the island by the Ministry of
Agriculture. The island is now owned by the Egyptian government. There is a biological
research station at its southern end which is not open to visitors; it supplies rare
tropical plants and timber trees to many parts of the world. The island is a peaceful
paradise full of shady trees, beautiful flowers and unusual plants. It's also a
haven for rare exotic birds of many kinds; you can glimpse their colorful plumage in the
branches of most of the trees. It's the perfect place for an afternoon stroll or quiet
time for refection and meditation. In the evening we'll gather for group dinner and SHARING CIRCLE at the hotel. Overnight Aswan. Basma Hotel. Day 11. Tuesday, November 13. Return to Cairo; Cairo Museum; Free Time (B/L) After breakfast we check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for our return flight to Cairo. Upon our arrival we're off to downtown Cairo, where we have lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards we visit the world-famous Cairo Museum, where we view the vast collection of artifacts dating back to antiquity, including those  from the different periods of
ancient Egypt - pre, Old, Middle, & New Kingdoms. One of the highlights of the visit
for many people is the visit to the famous and priceless treasures of King
Tut-Ankh-Amon. You can see for example, the intricate workmanship and the tiniest
details of the contents of the articles packed for this boy Pharaoh to accompany him to
the next world. Maybe during your time at the museum you will feel that special energetic
pull to a former time and life as you gaze at some of the artifacts.  We transfer to the
world-famous luxurious Mena House Oberoi Hotel in Giza. This
is one of the most unique hotels in Cairo, with its own rich and colorful history.
Surrounded by 40 acres of verdant green gardens, this palatial hotel is located in
the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza. The royal history of the hotel is
reflected in luxurious interiors that are embellished with exquisite antiques,
handcrafted furniture, original work of arts and magnificent antiques that are
rarely found in luxury hotels. Mena House Oberoi has played host to kings and emperors,
Heads of State and celebrities. The unmatched views of the pyramids are
magnificent, especially at sunrise and sunset. Regarded as one of the leading luxury
hotels in Cairo. Our final stay in Egypt at this hotel is a treat, combining the magical
charm of a bygone era with unrivalled service fit for royalty. The evening is free and dinner is on your own. Overnight Giza. Mena House Oberoi Hotel. Day 12. Wednesday, November 14. Cairo: Church of the Virgin Mary; Giza: Private Entrance into the Great Pyramid, Farewell Dinner (B/D)  We depart
this morning to visit the Church of the Virgin Mary in El-Zeitun, where apparitions
of the Virgin were reported over the domes of the Virgin's Church during the
evening of April 2, 1968. These apparitions continued through 1971 and were characterized
by their full clarity. They also took many forms:1. The first was in full luminous stature. She was wearing a long robe extending to below Her feet. Sometimes She was surrounded by bright stars, and at other times She had a shawl about Her head, and Her hands were extended forward. 2. The Virgin used to walk over the church, especially over the middle dome, and to bow in front of the cross that shone, then, with a bright light. 3. She sometimes made Her apparition with a babe in Her arms. 4. She sometimes appeared like a luminous shape over the eastern dome. Her features were clear. 5. The apparition of the Virgin was accompanied with, or preceded by, the appearance of white pigeons that used to circle the church.  6.
Sometimes a lightning-like light appeared. It shone for a while and then
disappeared. Sometimes a luminous mist spread everywhere and it gave off
the strong pleasant scent of incense that pervaded the whole place.
Unusual Phenomena Taking Place At The Time Of The Apparition For more information, visit The Apparitions Of Virgin Mary At Zeitoun Church, Egypt - With Real Photos and Marian Apparitions at El-Zeitoun and Social Psi Time allowing we may also visit Mary’s Well and Mary’s Tree. We return to the hotel later morning. Lunch on your own.  Mid-afternoon we depart to the nearby Giza Plateau and enter the Great Pyramid (private entrance for our group ONLY!). As we climb up through the Ascending Passage and the Grand Gallery (left), watch out for Orbs - a sure sign that Light Beings are with us!  We enter the
King's Chamber for our Closing Meditation and Initiation in
the Higher Light Frequencies, a powerful ascension experience! In
our private space away from the crowds, you will experience the ancient spiritual energies
that are still palpable in this enigmatic edifice. Through meditation and sound
resonance, you will be able to connect with more of your higher frequencies and
open yourself to this final initiation experience during our event. Take this auspicious
opportunity to connect with the Spirit of the Indwelling Neters in your Soul. And
to focus on harnessing the incredibly powerful transformative energies that are innate in
the pyramid, to send peace, love and healing to all people on our planet.
The Stargate in the King's Chamber
Since the first time I set foot in the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid in 1999, I've had many spiritual and paranormal experiences that to my mind and heart prove to me that there is a Stargate, an interdimensional portal of epic proportions, in this enigmatic structure. And I'm not the only one! Many people who have traveled to Egypt with me over the last ten years have also had life-altering positive transformations there during and after our private entrances, which are replete with meditation, chanting, toning and prayer. My first time to spend private time in the King's Chamber
was during a site inspection that my husband Mark Amaru Pinkham and I made to Egypt in
1999, before leading our first tour there in 2000. We received the great blessing of a private
entrance into the Great Pyramid, compliments of our generous ground operator in
Cairo. We had almost two hours alone inside, just for the two of us. It was awesome, to
say the least!
David got into the resonance box and lay on his back, arms to his sides and legs stretched out. During his few minutes that he spent meditating, I was standing beside the box holding sacred space for him and could see that he never moved. When his time was over, as we helped him out of the box to return to his seat, I could see that he was deeply moved by his experience. Several days later I was honored when he asked me if he could share it with me. He said that during his meditation, he'd felt enormous amounts of energy surging through his body and that he'd rocked back and forth so hard from side to side that he was worried that he was going to crack his head on the side of the box. He'd felt his kundalini move through all his chakras. When I told him that he'd never moved a muscle, needless to say, he was astounded!
When we enter the King's Chamber, I invite our group members to place their sacred power objects on an altar cloth that I place on the floor in the middle of the room. There have been several very unusual occurrences to these object, mainly to crystals, that have taken place during our meditations. Taryn placed her very clear quartz crystal pendant on the altar at the beginning of our meditation. When she picked it up afterwards she was amazed to see it contained pyramid-shapes within it!
At a different time with a different group, Mattje had
placed a huge crystal point on the altar in the center of the chamber before our
meditation began. After almost two hours of our toning, she discovered it had broken
into two pieces! Return to the hotel for our Farewell Dinner. Tonight we have our last opportunity to share our unique experiences in the ancient and mystical land, and to say our Good-byes to it and each other. And, we can set our intention to return, to receive further initiations, wisdom and transformation! Overnight Giza. Oasis Hotel. Day 13. Thursday, November 15.
Depart Egypt (B) For those booking the land/international air sacred travel
package: After an early
breakfast we check out of hotel and transfer to airport, where we check in and board our
international flight to USA. Arrive New York City’s JFK Airport the afternoon of the
same day. For those booking the Land Only sacred travel package: Sacred Sites Journeys will be happy to arrange a private transfer in an air-conditioned car or van to the airport. Once you book your international airfare, we can give you a quote for these additional services. Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
http://www.SacredSitesJourneys.com/Egypt-PhotoGallery-1.htm
http://www.SacredSitesJourneys.com/Egypt-PhotoGallery-3.htm
http://www.SacredSitesJourneys.com/Egypt-PhotoGallery-4.htm
 I am
finally "back". It took me more than a week to become familiar with this new,
expanded self. I woke up every night at 1:30 am to have breakfast (starving!)
I feel very quiet inside and at peace. I want to thank Andrea for her gentle
guidance and wisdom, her beauty as a person and for her commitment to the work. Of
course, I am still integrating and learning from the energies we received in Egypt, but so
far as I can describe it, these energies are of an exquisite nature, very refined.
It is amazing that what was created in ancient times is today a calling for the
world to transform. How is this possible in the middle of such noise, dense
population, dirt, etc., for these energies to just BE and CREATE change? I love the
mysteries - I love life! People ask me "what was your favorite part?"
I stop to reflect, and all I can say is "everything!" Egypt
came in a package, and all of it was experiential. I can't wait to go back. Liz
K - MD
Egypt was the most magical and enlightening trip I have been on in the last several years. Andrea's expertise in calling in the energies of each site with sacred ceremony and chant made it very easy to accept the healing powers that were offered. The Grand Finale of being in the Great Pyramid for our private closing ceremony is an experience beyond words! Sandra P - NCI felt throughout our journey that everyone treated us as VIPs. I will use your service in the future. Andrea is the best! Nancy S - AK  The sacred journey to Egypt with Andrea was a beautiful experience,
capturing the wonders of this ancient country, the hospitality and kindness of its people,
and the essences of what one can only possibly perceive as ancient Egyptian spirituality
and esotericism. The journey was as much about the outer work as it was the inner work.
Andrea held space for all the tour participants to experience Egypt on many levels - from
visits to the temples and sites to a deeper appreciation of our own inner temples. Our
Egyptian guide/Egyptologist captured the beauty of ancient Egypt and remained
enthusiastically supportive of each of our individual journeys. She became the group's
Egyptian guardian. A lovely memory from Abydos reminds me of the unique blending of
cultures, religions, and spirituality, which transpired over the course of those magical
days together. Inside an exquisite antechamber, some of the group participants began
chanting. We moved from chants of the Goddess to Christian mysticism to other traditions.
We asked our guide to chant something from the Koran, which she did with kindness and
enthusiasm. The temple guards joined her and then asked why she chanted from the Koran.
She explained our request to them. In that moment, our beliefs were no different. All was
experienced as One. Again and again, this type of magic happened throughout Egypt. And
this magic brought wonder. And that magic also gave me a kick in the behind when needed.
The journey was transformative. My life continues to transform as a result of the many
gifts I received during that pilgrimage. Life cannot be the same after Egypt - thankfully
so. Steve S, MBA, MA - Dream Therapist - CAAndrea is an excellent tour director and our Egyptologist was an exceptional guide! Michael B - CA What a rejuvenating trip. Instead of coming home tired, I came home super charged with energy. Instead of being "done" after I got back, it lit a fire in me that I hope never goes out. The power of the pyramids is phenomenal. The temple sites speak to you in a language that only the soul can interpret. When a journey like this sparks a beginning rather than an ending, you know you've transcended the sands of time. There are no more barriers. Joanne D, MN  The trip to Egypt exceeded all my expectations. The November weather was perfect with hot sunny days and cool nights. Each site was a gem and worth a longer, repeat visit. The carvings, hieroglyphs and paintings went beyond sheer beauty to offer layer upon layer of meaning. I appreciated the way Andrea and our guides managed our visits so we could get some "private time" in these very special places. I felt like I was both healed by and contributed to the healing of these ancient holy places as we toned and meditated in them. Our Egyptian guides were fantastic, providing insights and inspiring a deeper curiosity. Andrea, Vivian, Yousef and Patricia created and held a sacred space where we could all learn. I enjoyed my "Journey Sisters" as much as the journey itself. Everyone brought a special gift for the group. - Lilith R, DC Our sacred tour to Egypt was the most exciting, exhilarating experience for spiritual growth & expansion. Egypt is definitely the place to go to bring back knowledge of your past. It's an experience that all humanity must experience. The metaphysical Egyptologist and Tour Escort accomplished everything they said they would and provided it with passion. We were treated like kings and queens. The accommodations were 5 * - providing us with great views, food, pleasant service. Visiting all the different sites was spellbinding. - Michael C - Canada I loved the Sacred Journey to Egypt! I had a great time! Andrea and her staff did a wonderful job! I want to go back! Dottie D - CA I'd love to write an eloquent commentary about my awesome trip to Egypt with Andrea and our group. Unfortunately, it is not possible for me to stuff my profound spiritual and emotional experiences into the limited confines of words. I'll simply say that healing and freedom that began there continues to unfold. I am deeply grateful for all my experiences and I am eager for my next journey to Egypt with Andrea! Patricia C, IL What a wonderful journey it was to Egypt. It was even more than what I expected. Andrea, you did a phenomenal job! Thank you again for the wonderful journey. It is truly one I will never forget. Dianne C - MO The Sacred Journey to Egypt was fabulous! Thanks to our Ceremonialist Andrea Pinkham and our Egyptologist for all the positive energy! Ginny C - CA
Great
trip! Wonderful way to see Egypt and its ancient wonders for a first-time explorer. Adding
to that, the spiritual practices and knowledge imported to us by Andrea and Vivian brought
the Gods and Goddesses to life. The energy in the temples must be experienced. It's beyond
anything one could possibly imagine. Life-changing for sure. Through this Sacred Sites
Journeys tour I've developed a love and connection with Egypt and its people that reaches
to the depths of my heart and soul. Truly a transforming and fulfilling journey. Every
now and then your life takes an amazing turn into unexpected enchantment. My trip to Egypt
with Sacred Sites Journeys was one of them. Thanks to Andrea, Vivian and all my new (or
perhaps old) Sisters who shared this fantastic journey. I will cherish the memory always. I
felt totally safe everywhere we went. Andrea is particular about the people who work for
her and they are all good people. The highlight of the trip for me was the spiritual
experiences. The many ceremonies Andrea led us through assisted me in feeling
vibrationally lighter, as did the energy spots, the sacred places here in Egypt. Thank you
Andrea for a well-planned trip to bring about the most sacred experiences. I am truly
grateful. Donna H. - Canada  TOUR INCLUSIONS Your Sacred Sites Journey to EGYPT Includes: - Roundtrip international airfare New York City/Cairo - Air taxes (Price included subject to change until ticket issued.) - Flights in Egypt: Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Cairo - 3 nights at 4**** Oasis Hotel in Giza; 3 nights at 4**** El-Luxor Hotel in Luxor; 3 nights at 5***** Basma Hotel in Aswan, 2 nights at 5***** Mena House Oberoi Hotel in Giza, including daily buffet breakfast, hotel taxes and service charges - Other meals included: 4 lunches, 5 dinners - Baggage handling at airport and hotels - Pre-paid gratuities SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS: - Travel with other spirit-centered women in a smaller group - Escorted by Andrea Mikana-Pinkham, Director of Sacred Sites Journeys - Egyptologist/ Tour Guide Dr. Vivian Zaky, PhD - PRIVATE ENTRANCES: Between the Paws of the Sphinx for Tefnut and Nut Initiation, the Temple of Isis in Aswan for Isis Initiation and the Great Pyramid for Divine Feminine Initiation - Special Priestess Meditations and Initiations at other pyramids and sacred temples: - Ma'at Initiation at our Opening Ceremony in Giza - Bast Initiation at the Valley Temple next to the Sphinx - Nephthys Initiation at Sakkara - Mut Initiation and Sekhmet Initiation at Karnak Temple in Luxor - Seshat Initiation at Abydos - Hathor Initiation at Dendera - Nekhbet Initiation at Hatshepsut's Temple in Luxor - Satet and Anuket Initiation on Elephantine Island at Aswan - Visit to Nubian Home in Aswan - Felucca sailboat ride on the Nile in Aswan - Visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo - Visit to the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitun, Mary’s Well and possibly Mary’s Tree in Cairo - Special Welcome and Farewell Dinners OPTIONAL:
TOUR PRICING  DISCOUNT!!
Make ALL of your payments by check or money order and receive a 5% discount! This discount is INCLUDED in the prices below listed for this payment option. Price Per Person, double occupancy, with roundtrip international air from New York City's JFK Airport $4,599.00 for payments via check or money order OR $4,841.00 for payments via credit card Price Per Person, double occupancy, Land Only (You book your own international air to/from Cairo) $3,799.00 for payments via check or money order OR $3,999.00 for payments via credit card Optional Single Room Supplement: NOTE: This is the additional amount you will pay if you choose to have your own private room throughout the journey. $419.00 for payments via check or money order $441.00 for payments via credit card ROOMMATES: Would you like to meet and make a new friend? If you're not traveling with anyone you know, and would like for Sacred Sites Journeys 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 open until 30 days before the 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, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. If you would like to be matched with a roommate, please register early. OPTIONAL TOURS Luxor: Hot Air Balloon Ride $160.00 for payments via check or money order $169.00 for payments via credit card Aswan: Sound & Light Show at the Temple of Isis $45.00 for payments via check or money order $47.00 for payments via credit card Aswan: Nubian Museum $25.00 for payments via check or money order $26.00 for payments via credit card Aswan: Kitchener Island $25.00 for payments via check or money order $26.00 for payments via credit card
TOUR REGISTRATION The group open to a maximum of 16 women, and is filling! NOTE: This is a pdf file. You must
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Nut was the Neter of
the heavens and the sky. Her name is pronounced 'Noot' and means
'night.' She was the daughter of Shu, the Neter of the Air and Tefnut,
the Neter of moisture. Her consort was Geb, Neter of the earth. She was
typically depicted as a woman with blue skin, with her body covered with stars, standing
on all fours leaning over Geb - representing the sky arched over the Earth. During the
day, Nut and Geb are separated, but each evening Nut comes down to meet Geb and this
causes darkness. Nut is the barrier separating the forces of chaos from the ordered cosmos
in this world. The sun god Ra was said to enter Her mouth after setting
in the evening and to travel through her body during the night to be reborn from Her vulva
each morning. Her arms and legs were imagined to be the pillars of the sky, and hands and
feet were thought to touch the four cardinal points at the horizon. 
unique
construction 
Then we're off for our afternoon visit a local Aromatherapist
to learn about the ancient Egyptian Priestess art of scent alchemy. In ancient Egypt, this secret knowledge was depicted with the
hieroglyph of a woman smelling a lotus. This powerful tool was used for balancing
the aura and working with the energies in the chakras. Temple
Priestesses were taught to use this wisdom to activate higher consciousness.
Aromatherapy recipes were inscribed as hieroglyphics on the walls of some of the temples.
Some of these
recipes were
also recorded on various papyrus. Essential oils were used in the embalming process,
spiritual / religious ceremonies, in the practice of medicine and for personal use,
including the blending of essential oils for perfume. Both men and women used fragrance;
they placed a solid cone of perfume on their heads, which would gradually melt and cover
them in fragrance. Essential oils were valued more than gold. When the
tomb of King Tut was opened in 1922, the explorers discovered more than 50 alabaster jars
that had been designed to hold a total of about 350 liters of oil. Some of them still
contained traces of essential oils and the aroma remained. The grave robbers had stolen
virtually all of the essential oils, but left behind the gold and jewelry!
This morning we're off to one of the most
important sacred areas in the Bank of Peace - Sakkara,
dedicated to the Neter Sokar and believed by traditional Egyptologists to be the
earliest necropolis, or burial place, for the Pharaohs and royalty of the Memphis area. We
enter the site by walking through the temple complex filled with rows of columns, where
the ancient priests and priestess used sound to perform healings. The most famous part of
the site is the Step Pyramid, traditionally believed to have been
constructed about 2630 BCE by Imhotep, architect to King Djoser (Dynasty III). We will
hear from our Egyptologist why some experts believe this to be the world's oldest
freestanding stone structure. Andrea will share theories that refute this, to give us a
different point of view of the history. Then, we will explore the historical and esoteric
aspects of this ancient site. 
After lunch with the group
at a nearby local restaurant, we stop at a nearby carpet school, where
you'll observe local children being taught the age-old trade of weaving by professional
artisans. This education not only gives them a trade skill, but also helps to support
their family. You'll be able to peruse the display of their excellent handiwork, as well
as that of their teaches, in the factory showroom. There are silk and wool carpets of all
sizes. Perhaps you'll find yourself a perfect meditation mat, altar piece or wall hanging.
You can also invest in a lovely silk or wool carpet that will grace your home for years to
come, as it increases in value. 
Afterwards, we explore the vast Temple
of Karnak, the largest columned temple in the world. In dynastic times it was
connected to Luxor Temple, two miles away, by a long avenue of Sphinxes (which are still
partially intact). We'll explore this vast temple complex, including the Holy of Holies, Hatshepsut's Obelisk, the sacred lake, the winged scarab, the broken
obelisk, and much much much more. 
After breakfast we depart on our full day journey to Abydos
and Dendera. Abydos is the cradle of the oldest dynasties. On the way
there we go through Nag Hammadi where the Nag Hammadi Scrolls or the Gnostic
Gospels as they're known today, hidden
in an earthenware jar for 1,600 years, were accidentally unearthed by a local shepherd boy in 1945. This immensely important discovery is a
collection of thirteen ancient codices containing over fifty texts, and includes a large
number of primary Gnostic scriptures, such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip,
The Gospel of Mary, and the Gospel of Truth. 
Seshat (Sashet,
Sesheta), means "female scribe". She was depicted as a woman wearing a
panther-skin dress, worn by the funerary priests and priestesses, and a headdress
that was also her hieroglyph - 
spouse, the moon god
of writing and knowledge, Thoth/Djehuti. Another theory is that it represents a surveying
device. She was associated with the pharaoh at the Stretching the Cord
foundation ritual, known as Pedjeshes (Pedj--"to
stretch," Shes--"a cord"). She assisted the pharaoh with the
measuring process. Here at Abydos, we'll see a well-preserved depiction of this on the
temple walls. The pharaoh and a priestess personifying Seshat, at the site where the
temple was to be erected, were each armed with a golden mallet and a peg connected by a
cord to another peg. Seshat having driven her peg home at the previously prepared spot,
the pharaoh directed his gaze to the constellation of the Bull's Foreleg
(Ursa Major, "Great Bear," and the "hoof" star is Benetnasch, Eta
Ursae majoris). Having aligned the cord to the "hoof" and Spica as seen through
the visor formed by Seshat's curious headdress, he raised his mallet and drove the peg
home, thus marking the position of the axis of the future temple. - Description of the
ceremony by Cyril Fagan in Zodiacs Old and New (1951)
After breakfast we're off to
the West Bank to visit Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut's magnificent
Temple to Amun at Der el Bahari. The 5th Pharaoh of the18th dynasty, Hatshepsut
or Maatkare ("Beloved of Maat") was one of the most famous of the few
handful of the female Pharaohs who ruled Egypt in dynastic times. Her mortuary temple, Djeser
Djeseru ("Splendor of Splendors"), is one of the most dramatically situated
in the world. 
Creatrix, responsible for Wild Birds, the Creator Of
Life, Death and Rebirth, She is represented as a vulture. She
was also a protector of royal children and during the New Kingdom She
seems to have extended her protection beyond the royal family to the common people.
References in the Pyramid Texts from the 5th Dynasty confirm that Nekhbet was also
considered to be a creator goddess with the epithet "Father of Fathers, Mother of
Mothers, who has existed from the beginning, and is Creator of this World".
She was occasionally depicted as the divine mother or wet-nurse of the pharaoh
and often appeared in vulture form hovering above the king holding the "shen"
(representing eternity) and the royal flail (representing pharaonic authority). 
Nekhbet was
thought to be the wife of Hapi, in his role as a patron of Upper Egypt,
but was also associated with Horus (who was also associated with Upper
Egypt). Because she often took the form of a griffon vulture and was associated with childbirth,
she was closely associated with the Neter Mut. She was also associated
with the bovine Neter Hathor and given the epithet "Great White Cow
of Nekhb". She was often called Hedjet (White Crown)
in reference to the crown of Upper Egypt. She was represented on the king´s Nemes
headdress as a vulture or a snake and from the 4th Dynasty as a vulture on the headdress
for great royal wife. There is evidence that she was already popular in predynastic Egypt
but was specifically associated with the town of Nekheb, located about 50
miles south of Luxor. (Her name actually means "she of Nekheb"). However, by the
Early Dynastic Period Nekheb and Nekhen, the cult center of Horus the Elder, had merged
and Nekhbet and Wadjet, the Cobra Neter of Lower Egypt were combined to
form the Nebty name of the pharaoh. This auspicious and powerful pair of neters
represented cycles of birth and death, beginning and ending. Nekhbet
was known as "pr wr", the Lady of the Great House - the Upper Egyptian
"state" temple. During the 18th Dynasty she and Wadjet offered their protection
to all of the women of the royal family. This was indicated by the addition of two uraei
(royal serpents) to their headdress. 
Hathor was also known as the Neter
of Motherhood, with titles such as "The Great Cow Who Protects Her
Child" and "Mistress of the Sanctuary of Women". Some
of Her other names are Eye of Ra, Golden One, House of Horus,
Lady of Malachite, Lady of the Sycamore, Mistress of Heaven, Queen of the West, The One
Who Takes Care of the Deprived 
Protectress of Music
and Dance, Hathor was associated with percussive music, in particular the
sistrum. Her traditional votive offering was two mirrors, the better with which to see
both Her beauty and your own. Her head was used to decorate sistrums and mirrors. She was
also the Neter of Joy who was deeply loved by the general population. She was very revered
by women, who aspired to embody her multifaceted role as wife, mother, and lover. Her
worship was so popular that more festivals were dedicated to her honor than any other
Egyptian deity, and more children were named after Her than any other.
Then we'll
visit the Crypt to explore some of the controversial theories about the
amazing panels on the walls. Do the light-bulb like objects (Crooke's Tubes) represent an
ancient technology of electricity, or some other form of energy known to and utilized by
the ancient Khemetians? Or, are they symbols esoteric teachings about spiritual evolution?
In ancient times entrance into these underground chambers was limited to only the highest
initiates, as the wall panels contain very esoteric information pertaining to alchemy,
prehistory, and ancient
wisdom. 
Or, take the optional
evening tour to .visit magnificent Luxor Temple under
the stars - a real treat! Walk the well-worn pathways of this amazing structure
dedicated to Amun-Ra and Mut and connect with its ancient energies. During your visit you
might capture orbs in your photos. What does this exciting light
phenomenon mean in this time in the evolution of consciousness? 
god and his family of
Neters. Khnum was the Neter of fertility, water and the Great Potter who
created children and their ka at their conception. The ka is the double
that lingered on in the tomb inhabiting the body or even statues of the deceased, but was
also independent of the body and could move, eat and drink at will.) Khnum is believed by
some experts to have been a pre-dynastic Neter. He was the guardian of
the source of the Nile, and was originally a Nile god who became a helper of Hapi, the
present-day Neter associated with the Nile. Then his role changed from the river god to
the one who made sure that the right amount of silt was released into the water during the
Nile's annual inundation. He worked with the silt, the soil that the ancient potters used,
and thus became the great potter who not only molded men and women, but who molded the
Neters themselves, and even the world. 
Afterwards we'll visit the site with our Guide Vivian, including the
remains of the Temple of Khnum and an overlook where you'll have a 360-degree view of the
entire area - breathtaking! We'll also see a huge granite shrine, an
amazing "smoking gun" that shows that the ancient pre-dynastic Egyptians could
have used advanced machining techniques in their construction of these types of
artifacts! What natural catastrophe in the distant past could have knocked this huge
box over on its side? We'll be able to explore in the area and get up close and personal
to even feel the energy of the ancient stone. 
In the later afternoon we
return to the hotel. 
inside
my heart. As it spun, golden sparks of pure energy flew out to all parts of me, and
beyond! It was a thrilling time. I felt overjoyed.
warm hospitality of the
kind and gracious people, as well as learn about some of the unique aspects of their
culture, which has been in this area since antiquity. The women offer henna tattoos. As
well you can buy a momento of your visit, all handcrafted by 
Upon meeting Andrea and discussing the
upcoming journey to Egypt I knew deeply in my soul that this was an experience of a
lifetime and Andrea was the person I was to be led through this sacred land with. I
fail completely with words in attempting to describe the profound and life changing
circumstances that occurred in Egypt and as an aftermath of Egypt. Three months later
I am still processing and feeling the healing energies of our journey. My life will
never be as it was, as this journey granted me clarity, courage, release of past wounds,
an ability to receive love with a heightened ease and grace, and an expansion of spirit
that can only be achieved via real experience. I have found that real change touches
on a much deeper level when I am away from all the "knowns" in life which keep
me defined. Andrea holds the space for genuine transformation to occur by creating a
"safe" environment for body, mind, and soul. She is a woman of great
strength, knowledge, intuition and patience. My heart is forever full and grateful
for this magnificent experience. From every part of me ~ Thank You. Lea M -
CA
t is so hard to put into words my
experience of this journey, yet I sum it up with - It was worth the 20+ years wait. From
my first inquiry via email to Andrea I had all my questions, concerns, requests and
guidance answered quickly. This tour was such an amazing experience. A top professional
company. Vivian, our tour guide extraordinaire is a loving, giving, strong and supportive
woman. She took care of us over and above her 'duties'. Andrea's assistants in Egypt were
all warm and professional. As for the 'journey', I had high expectations. And I leave the
tour with all and more than I could ever even expected. Andrea, Vivian and the group
connected as Sisters so quickly, which is acknowledgment of how spiritually sacred sites
operate. I have had so many amazing spiritual experiences. I have definitely flown!
Andrea, you are a loving and strong Light, like Sekhmet. My dear Sisters, you sit in my
heart. Thanks is too small a word for what I feel towards you all. I recommend Sacred
Sites Journeys. AWESOME!