SacredSitesJourneys-Logo-Sm.jpg (15505 bytes) SACRED SITES JOURNEYS

Since 1994 ...Spiritual Pilgrimages
to the world's most important Sacred Sites
to enliven your Body, Mind and Spirit



ENGLAND

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Spiritual Journey to Sacred Sites
August 2 - 9, 2020

Due to the CoVid-19 Pandemic we've rescheduled to April 4 - 11, 2021.
A revised itinerary will be posted soon,
so please bookmark this page and check back.
Or, email Andrea Mikana-Pinkham at info@SacredSitesJourneys.com
to receive the information when it becomes available. Thank You!


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twinkle2.gif (912 bytes)Explore the history and power of the English countryside while visiting
the renowned megalithic power places
of Stonehenge, Avebury, Glastonbury, Cornwall and more.

twinkle2.gif (912 bytes)Bask in the timeless remains of the remarkable culture of ancient Britain
as we recount the mysteries, and walk the sacred paths,
as King Arthur and his Knights, the Druids,
the Celts, and the Priestesses of the Goddess’ Nature Religion did.

twinkle2.gif (912 bytes)Learn to connect with and receive your own messages from
the Spirit of the Land, the Ancient Ones and more!


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PRIVATE ENTRANCE AT STONEHENGE! twinkle2.gif (912 bytes)
  Our group will have a sunrise Special Access Visit Inside the Ancient Circle!

OTHER SACRED SITES YOU'LL EXPERIENCE:

World-famous Avebury, Silbury Hill and West Kennett Longbarrow,
all a part of the ancient temple landscape of the Salisbury Plain,
where you'll experience the powerfully transformative and palpable energies
that have endured at these ancient sites for centuries!

Avebury


Silbury Hill


West Kennett Longbarrow


GLASTONBURY

THE DRAGON LAIR OF AVALON
According to one legend, the Druid Pheryllts resided in the Dragon Lair of Glastonbury around 2000 BCE
when the region was still under water and composed of a group of islands.
This was the mythical era of Avalon, when Glastonbury Tor served as a monument to the Goddess
and a beacon for all Her devotees seeking sanctuary from the encroaching patriarchal traditions.
Read more about these legends in the itinerary below on Day 5 - Thursday, June 4th.

Glastonbury Tor  -
Transcend the veil of time and place
and connect with the lingering energies from ancient Avalon!

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Glastonbury Abbey
Are the graves of King Arthur and Guinevere here?

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BATH
Walking Tour of the older parts of the Georgian city center


The Roman Baths

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CORNWALL
Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur
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Arthur’s Hall of Chivalry
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Merlin’s Cave
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As soon as international travel starts again, we'll begin taking registrations
for this very auspicious opportunity to make a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage
with others of like mind to explore and experience England's ancient Sacred Sites!
We've been taking sacred travelers to these ancient power places annually for the last 10 years!

Participation is limited to 13 people!




This Sacred Sites Journey to ENGLAND will be followed by our
WALES: Earth Mysteries & Sacred Sites, April 11 - 18, 2021.
Link to be posted soon.

You can register for either or both.



PERSONNEL

 

SPEAKER/MEDITATION FACILITATOR/TOUR DIRECTOR:
Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
Independent Researcher of Megalithic Sites
and Practitioner/Teacher of the Goddess Tradition



Andrea at Stonehenge during one of our Private Entrances - feeling the energies!

Andrea Mikana-Pinkham is the Founder/Director of Sacred Sites Journeys.
She is an avid practitioner and teacher of the Goddess Tradition.
In July 2008 Andrea received the auspicious initiation as a Sister of Avalon from the late Koko Newport,
Priestess of Avalon during a private entrance and ceremony at the Chalice Well.

Andrea has led our spiritual pilgrimages to England since 2004.
During a visit to Glastonbury Tor many years ago,
she received the message that part of her service to the upliftment of consciousness
on the planet was to bring pilgrims to the sacred sites in holy England, which she has avidly been doing ever since!


Andrea has received intuitive messages/downloads from Spirit for many years.
During this sacred pilgrimage she will offer you optional opportunities to learn how
to connect with and receive your own messages from
the Ancient Land, Nature Spirits, the Ancient Ones and more!

Andrea is a trained shamanic practitioner, Reiki Grand Master of Ichi Sekai (One World) Reiki, and a spiritual counselor.
Andrea is a teacher in the
The Seven Ray Order and Mystery School.

Tour Guides & Ceremonialists in Bath, Avebury and Glastonbury:
Michael and Lynne Orchard
Teachers of Ancient Megalithic History & the Goddess Tradition


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 and his wife Lynne were the Guardians 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.
They 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 great communicator, and 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.
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 is a Priestess of Avalon who lives in Glastonbury. She has been a Priestess since 2002.
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 traveled 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.
   

ITINERARY
The Itinerary below for August 2 - 9, 2020 is being rescheduled.

A Revised Itinerary for April 4 - 11, 2021 will be posted below soon.
Bookmark this page and check back!
Or email Andrea Mikana-Pinkham at info@SacredSitesJourneys.com to receive the information when it becomes available. Thanks!

Day 1. Sunday, August 2. Arrive England; Transfer to Salisbury; Group Meeting; Welcome Dinner (D)

This Sacred Sites Journeys tour is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your international flights to and from London's Heathrow International Airport. IMPORTANT: Please book your flight to arrive by 8:00AM on Sunday, August 2, 2020, so that you will have time to clear Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs and transfer to Terminal 5 (if you do not arrive there) for our 11:00AM group meeting and transfer.
NOTE: If you’re not able to arrive by 8:00AM, we suggest that you fly in a day early, on Saturday, August 1, 2020. There are many airport hotels where you can spend the night. This will also assist you to overcome jet lag and be rested for the beginning of our journey.
Upon arrival at Heathrow clear Immigration, claim your bags and exit through Customs.

10:45AM -
Meet Tour Director Andrea Mikana-Pinkham and the group in the Arrivals Hall in Terminal 5 (Full details to be announced in the final tour itinerary, which will be emailed to the group 2 weeks to 10 days before the journey begins).

11:00AM -
We board our motor coach for our drive through the English countryside. We'll stop along the way for lunch on your own with the group.

We arrive mid to later afternoon at our hotel in Salisbury. Check in. Take some time to rest before our Group Meeting and Welcome Dinner.

6:00PM - Group Meeting


7:00PM – Group Welcome Dinner.
Overnight Salisbury. White Hart Hotel.


Day 2. Monday, August 3. Silbury Hill, West Kennett Long Barrow; Avebury (B/D)



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L to R: Silbury Hill, West Kennett Longbarrow, Entrance to West Kennett Longbarrow, Aerial view of Avebury

9:00AM - We depart after breakfast to visit Silbury Hill, a grass-covered 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 original purpose has never been explained. It has been estimated that it would have taken millions of man hours to construct using over 325,000 cubic meters of chalk dug from a wide ditch around the base. Many people believed that Silbury contained a rich burial or treasure and over the years there have been several attempts to excavate various parts of the hill, but there have been few finds.

Things changed after a partial collapse of the summit shaft in 2000 when it was decided that a program of archaeological survey and work to strengthen the fragile structure of the mound should be undertaken. Some interesting results came out of the survey. First, radiocarbon dating of the old land surface returned a date of 2400 BCE, which would put the initial phase of Silbury close to the end of the Neolithic. The final phases may not have occurred until the Bronze Age, sometime around 2000 BCE.

The structure started out as three low mounds of gravel and turf which were later covered with a mixture of chalk, small sarsen blocks and earth and surrounded by a series of chalk banks and an external ditch. The excavators hence suggest that the monument originally started as some form of enclosure site. Later further ditches were cut to provide the chalk used to create a series of higher and higher mounds and an unknown number of phases occurred where an ever widening circle of ditches were dug as the monument increased in both diameter and height until it reached its present form. What still remains unanswered however is why the prehistoric population of the area felt the need to invest so much time and effort in constructing Silbury at all. This mystery is still unsolved!

10:45AM - Afterwards we go across the road to West Kennett Longbarrow
, a Neolithic tomb or barrow that's one of the most impressive and well-preserved burial chambers in Britain. Archaeologists classify it as a chambered long barrow; It has two pairs of opposing transept chambers and a single terminal chamber used for burial. 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 BCE, which is some 400 years before the archaeologically-determined first stage of Stonehenge, and it was in use until around 2500 BCE. 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 1955-56 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. It's 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.

Space allowing due to other visitors, Andrea will lead a short
meditation to connect with the Ancestors, here in their ancient final resting place.

11:45AM
- Depart to nearby Avebury World Heritage site, which is also less than 20 miles from Stonehenge...all part of an ancient Landscape Temple.

12:00PM - Arrive Avebury. You have time for lunch on your own at the site's cafeteria.

1:15PM - We begin our visit to this ancient site with local guide Michael Orchard. Avebury is one of the world's largest and most complex monuments of the Megalithic Age, an ancient massive stone circle surrounded by a massive ditch and bank. This neolithic wonder is from around 3000BCE and is one of the finest prehistoric sites in Europe.Two avenues of about 100 megaliths run out from Avebury. Today its mysteries are still being explored and solved by multi-disciplinary scholars in archaeology, science and ancient religion.

Avebury is located near the center of the famous Michael and Mary ley lines which flow through the site. These
lunar and solar ley-lines cross in this area! We’ll connect with these powerful energies through a meditation facilitated by Michael and Andrea, to balance our own masculine and feminine energies, as well as to tap into the earth energies and the stones themselves!

4:00PM - Afterwards you have a bit of time for some Retail Therapy at the Henge Shop.

4:30PM - We depart Salisbury.
5:00PM Arrive Salisbury and our hotel. Take a bit of time to rest before our group dinner.
7:30PM
Group Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Salisbury. White Hart Hotel.


Day 3. Tuesday, August 4. Bath: Walking Tour and Roman Baths (B/Box Lunch/D)

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L to R: Bath Abbey, the Pump Room, the Circus

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L to R: The Roman Baths; Statue of Sulis/Minerva

7:30AM We depart after breakfast for Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The city has a variety of theaters, museums, and other cultural and sporting venues.

9:15AM - 12:45PM:
We arrive in Bath and meet our local guide Michael Orchard for a fascinating Walking Tour of the city, which may include some of the following:
1) The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican parish church and a former Benedictine monastery. Founded in the 7th century, Bath Abbey was reorganized in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries; major restoration work was carried out by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860s. It is one of the largest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the West Country. The church is cruciform in plan, and is able to seat 1200. An active place of worship, with hundreds of congregation members and hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, it is used for religious services, secular civic ceremonies, concerts and lectures. The choir performs in the abbey and elsewhere. There is a heritage museum in the vaults. The abbey is a Grade I listed building, particularly noted for its fan vaulting.

2) The heart of the Georgian city was the Grand Pump Room in the Abbey Church Yard. It's been designated as a Grade I listed historic building. The main block, built of Bath stone, was begun in 1789 by Thomas Baldwin. It was finally finished in 1799. The facade of the building features Corinthian half columns. The North Colonnade of 9 bays, with unfluted Ionic columns, was built by Baldwin in 1786. The South Colonnade is similar but had an upper floor added in the late 19th century. The colonnades and side wall of the Pump Room have a facade on Stall Street. Situated next to main street entrance to the Roman Baths, you can sample the waters from the warm spring which fills the Roman Baths. The building also houses a restaurant, where you could sample the afternoon tea.

3) The Circus consists of three long, curved terraces designed by the elder John Wood to form a circular space or theatre intended for civic functions and games. The games give a clue to the design, the inspiration behind which was the Colosseum in Rome.[153] Like the Colosseum, the three façades have a different order of architecture on each floor: Doric on the ground level, then Ionic on the piano nobile and finishing with Corinthian on the upper floor, the style of the building thus becoming progressively more ornate as it rises.

4) The most spectacular of Bath's terraces is the Royal Crescent, built between 1767 and 1774 and designed by the younger John Wood. But all is not what it seems; while Wood designed the great curved façade of what appears to be about 30 houses with Ionic columns on a rusticated ground floor, that was the extent of his input. Each purchaser bought a certain length of the façade, and then employed their own architect to build a house to their own specifications behind it; hence what appears to be two houses is sometimes one. This system of town planning is betrayed at the rear of the crescent: while the front is completely uniform and symmetrical, the rear is a mixture of differing roof heights, juxtapositions and fenestration.

12:45PM -
Enjoy your box lunch that is included today.

1:15PM -
Visit the Roman Baths complex, a well-preserved Roman site for public bathing. The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman Bath. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century.

History: The first shrine at the site of the hot springs was built by Celts, and was dedicated to the goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva. Geoffrey of Monmouth in his largely fictional Historia Regum Britanniae describes how in 836 BCE the spring was discovered by the British king Bladud who built the first baths. Early in the 18th century Geoffrey's obscure legend was given great prominence as a royal endorsement of the waters' qualities, with the embellishment that the spring had cured Bladud and his herd of pigs of leprosy through wallowing in the warm mud.

Roman use: The name Sulis continued to be used after the Roman invasion, leading to the town's Roman name of Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis"). The temple was constructed in 60-70 CE and the bathing complex was gradually built up over the next 300 years. During the Roman occupation of Britain, and possibly on the instructions of Emperor Claudius, engineers drove oak piles to provide a stable foundation into the mud and surrounded the spring with an irregular stone chamber lined with lead. In the 2nd century it was enclosed within a wooden barrel-vaulted building, and included the caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm bath), and frigidarium (cold bath). After the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the first decade of the 5th century, these fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up, and flooding. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle suggests the original Roman baths were destroyed in the 6th century.

Redevelopment: The baths have been modified on several occasions, including the 12th century when John of Tours built a curative bath over the King's Spring reservoir and the 16th century when the city corporation built a new bath (Queen's Bath) to the south of the Spring. The spring is now housed in 18th century buildings, designed by architects John Wood, the Elder and John Wood, the Younger, father and son. Victorian expansion of the baths complex followed the neo-classical tradition established by the Woods. In 1810 the Hot Springs failed and William Smith opened up the Hot Bath Spring to the bottom, where he found that the spring had not failed but had flowed into a new channel. Smith restored the water to its original course and the Baths filled in less time than formerly.

Conservation: The late 19th century carvings of Roman Emperors and Governors of Roman Britain on the terrace overlooking the Great Bath are particularly susceptible to the effect of acid rain and are being protected with a wash of a sacrificial shelter coat every few years. Exhibits within the temple precincts are susceptible to warm air which had the effect of drawing corrosive salts out of the Roman stonework. To help reduce this, a new ventilation system was installed in 2006. In 2009 a grant was made to Bath and North East Somerset Council to contribute towards the cost of re-developing displays and improving access to the Roman Baths, by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport/Wolfson Fund, which was established to promote improvements in Museums and Galleries in England.

Afterwards you have a bit of time to explore Bath on your own.

If you’d like to book a spa treatment at the Thermae Bath Spa, you can do so online at
www.thermaebathspa.com/ - Please book your appointment between 2:45 and 4:15PM.


4:30PM
Depart back to Salisbury.
6:00PM
Arrive Salisbury and our hotel.
 

7:00PM – Group Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Salisbury. White Hart Hotel.

Day 4. Wednesday, August 5. Stonehenge - PRIVATE ENTRANCE;
Silbury Hill & West Kennett Longbarrow;
Sa
lisbury: Salisbury Cathedral; Group Meeting (B/D)
 

 
L to R: Sunrise at Stonehenge (English Heritage)


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L to R: Silbury Hill, West Kennett Longbarrow, Entrance to West Kennett Longbarrow, Salisbury Cathedral

This morning we depart the hotel early for our private Special Access (only for our group!) inside the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge at sunrise! 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.

Those who are sensitive to this massive temple claim that the megalithic blocks are constantly radiating tremendous amounts of energy. During our private time in this most ancient of sacred sites Andrea will facilitate a special meditation among the magical stones and their powerful energies. Take time to tune into and perhaps feel/sense 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 spirit…and receive!

After our visit inside the stone circle, we’ll drive to visit the huge and mysterious Silbury Hill, a grass-covered 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.

Then we’ll walk across the highway to West Kennett Longbarrow, a Neolithic tomb or barrow, one of the most impressive and well-preserved burial chambers in Britain. Archaeologists classify it as a chambered long barrow; It has two pairs of opposing transept chambers and a single terminal chamber used for burial. 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 Kennett Long Barrow began about 3600 BCE, which is some 400 years before the archaeologically-determined first stage of Stonehenge, and it was in use until around 2500 BCE. 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.

Afterwards we'll head back to Stonehenge Visitor's Center (which will now be open!) to explore the museum. You'll also have some time for Retail Therapy in the gift shop. And you can grab a quick light lunch at the on-site cafeteria.

1:30PM - >We return to Salisbury for our visit to Salisbury Cathedral, with its magnificent Gothic architecture, the tallest early medieval spire in the world and the home of one of four original surviving copies of Magna Carta, the first document imposed upon a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their rights. For over 750 years pilgrims have come to Salisbury to seek inspiration in the glory and peace of the building and surrounding Cathedral Close. Like those who have come before us for hundreds of years, we'll be awed by the beauty and scale of the cathedral interior. We'll see a Black Madonna, holding Her place of the Divine Feminine.

Afterwards you have a bit of free time to explore Salisbury on your own and/or to rest and integrate the powerful energies you’ve encountered today.

7:30PM – Group Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Salisbury. White Hart Hotel.
 

Day 5. Thursday, August 6. Glastonbury: Glastonbury Abbey,
The Chalice Well; The Tor
(B/D)

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L to R: The Abbey, Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Well

8:00AM After an early breakfast we depart to Glastonbury.

9:00AM – We arrive mid-morning in mystical Glastonbury - fabled Avalon! THE DRAGON LAIR OF AVALON According to one legend, the Druid Pheryllts resided in the Dragon Lair of Glastonbury around 2000 BCE when the region was still under water and composed of a group of islands. This was the mythical era of Avalon, when Glastonbury Tor served as a monument to the Goddess and a beacon for all Her devotees seeking sanctuary from the encroaching patriarchal traditions. Perhaps it was the Pheryllt, the great servants of the Dragon Goddess Kerridwen, who built Glastonbury Tor in the shape of a female womb with a dragon-like seven levels. There are those who even today claim that Kerridwen lives inside the “Spiral Castle” of Glastonbury Tor, and that it is her Dragon Force that triggers inner alchemy within all those who climb to the summit of the towering mound.

Since the time of the Pheryllt Glastonbury has been a Mecca for alchemists from around Britain and continental Europe. Within the Tor the Michael and Mary lines repeatedly intersect to produce an androgynous Dragon Force that is additionally generated by the Red and White Springs that also come together as they bisect the inner recesses of the Tor.

There are other important alchemically enriched locales in Glastonbury. Right Next to the Tor is the prodigious energy field produced by Chalice Well, where legends state that Joseph of Arimathea may have hidden the Christ Chalice he brought with him from the Holy Land. Also within walking distance of the Tor is Glastonbury Abbey, which is situated on a Dragon Lair. produced by the intersection of the Mary and Michael Dragon Lines.
- Excerpted from: An Initiate's Guide to the Path of the Dragon by Mark Amaru Pinkham

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.

Upon arrival we enjoy a guided tour of Glastonbury Abbey with our
local guide Michael Orchard. Set in 37 acres of beautifully peaceful parkland in the center of town the Abbey was built in the Middle Age. 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. We'll wander the ancient grounds with Michael, exploring their mysteries. You'll also have some time for individual reflection and meditation.

11:30AM- Afterwards you have time to grab a light snack/lunch at one of the cafes near The Abbey.

12:30PM - Then we’re off to visit the Chalice Well with our Michael and Lynne Orchard. This sacred place was 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 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 iron-red 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, Michael and Lynne, a Priestess of Avalon will lead a meditation to reflect on Divine Union.

Afterwards we make the climb up Glastonbury Tor
, located next door to the Chalice Well. We take the footpath to the top to enjoy its sweeping view of the Somerset countryside. Rich in legend and mythological associations, the Tor may have been a place of ancient ritual. 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. At the top 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's a place where the veil between the worlds is thin. You'll have time for individual meditation to connect to these powerful energies.

5:00PM – We depart back to Salisbury. Upon arrival you have free time.

7:00PM – Group dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Salisbury. White Hart Hotel.


Day 6. Friday, August 7. To Tintagel: Arthur’s Hall of Chivalry;
Free Time; Group Meeting (B/L/D)
 

 

L to R: Arthur's Hall of Chivalry; Camelot Castle Hotel

7:30AM – After an early breakfast we check out of the hotel and depart to Cornwall, the fabled and enchanted land of King Arthur's birth.

11:00AM - Arrive and visit 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, 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 1930 – 33. 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.

1:00PM - Afterwards we’ll enjoy a group lunch at one of the famous regional pasty shops! Never had a Cornish Pasty You’re in for a treat, and a full meal all in one pasty.

Then you have free time for exploration on your own and/or shopping in some of the quaint and interesting local shops in this little village.

4:00PM - We check into the Camelot Castle Hotel, home for the last two nights of our journey. 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!


8:00PM –
Group Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Tintagel. Camelot Castle Hotel.

Day 7. Saturday, August 8. Tintagel: Tintagel Castle; Merlin’s Cave;
Farewell Dinner (B/D)


  

 
L to R: Tintagel Castle, Merlin's Cave

9:30AM - 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. 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!

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 a group meditation.
 
12.30PM - Return to the hotel or town for lunch on your own.

Time to Be Announced - After lunch, tide and time 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 for individual meditation and connect with the energies that reach out to us from the misty past.

We then return to the hotel. Did you write your letter to Merlin yet and drop it in the box on the Round Table? If not, this might be a great time to do so!

7:00PM - Group Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight Tintagel. Camelot Castle Hotel.

Day 8. Sunday, August 9. Group Transfer to London Heathrow Airport (B)
OR to WALES for those joining us there (see below)

Our In Search of the Holy Grail Journey ends after breakfast.


9:00AM
- Depart to Heathrow International Airport.
3:00PM Approximate arrival time at Heathrow. You will be dropped off at your departure terminal.
IMPORTANT! Please book your international flight to depart after 6:00PM.


OR For those in the group who are continuing on with us to WALES for our Earth Mysteries and Ancient Sites Journey, August 9 - 16, 2020
8:00AM - Depart to Betws-y-coed in northern Wales.


Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.



A Few Words from Sacred Sites Journeys Pilgrims to ENGLAND

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  England-Glastonbury-GoddessTempleGroup-Aug2014.jpg (17901 bytes)   England-GlastonburyTor-Group-July2015.jpg (15474 bytes)

Some of our recent Sacred Sites Journeys groups in ENGLAND
L to R: June 2012, June/July 2013, August 2014, July 2015, October 2017

I enjoyed the Sacred Journey to Avalon very much, and met some nice people. Michael and Lynne made it very easy going giving us a wealth of knowledge and support. I felt that the free time allowed us to really settle into and absorb Glastonbury. Clare and Brian's B & B was just perfect; they are lovely people. A great experience to remember and hope to plan another! - S. Rodriquez - Australia

What was truly amazing and magical were each and every moment with Michael and Lynne. I felt as if I was with long lost friends and intend to visit them again soon, even if just myself. He told so many marvelous stories that I hope to write them down. Kudos to Sacred Sites Journeys for having every thing so well planned. You did an amazing job! The private accesses and flow of areas visited flowed magically and each built on the previous. I felt completely loved and cared for and was able to just let go into the magic of the place. Thank you so much! - A. Ford - FL  www.AmbikasWisdom.com

Thank you, Andrea, for creating such a wonderful trip for us. Michael and Lynne were the perfect guides and ceremonialists and made so many things extra special. - R. Gonzalez - IL

England-WestKennett-Silbury-Group-July2015.jpg (15405 bytes) Michael Orchard is a national treasure! His knowledge of the history of the various sites we visited helped them to come alive for all of us! His supportive, compassionate and gentle manner he displayed with each person in the group assisted us all to create a group synergy that was both safe and dynamic. Michael and Lynne, our Priestess of Avalon, led profoundly spiritual rituals and meditations. We were all able to easily connect with the Ancestors, the various Gods & Goddesses, as well as those places within ourselves that were calling for transformation. Andrea Mikana-Pinkham is a seasoned and very able tour director who made sure that everything went very smoothly, so that we had time at each site to make our connections, as well as have free time to enjoy Glastonbury. Thanks so much to all of you for a lifetime spiritual adventure that I'll never forget! - Anonymous by request England-GlastonburyTor-Group-2006.jpg (11843 bytes)

Glastonbury/Avalon is a beautiful and magical place – a sacred site in and of itself, and near to so many other sacred sites in England. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is called to it. There is so much to explore and experience, from the ruins in Tintagel to the crop circles! The private entrances to the Chalice Well and Stonehenge were highlights of this tour for me. These are things that most people do not get to experience, and this is what makes Sacred Sites Journeys special. Koko Newport is a delightful and fascinating woman, and I thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted from time spent with her. It was also incredible to have Nicholas Mann as a speaker. His knowledge of the history and legends of Glastonbury/Avalon held us all in thrall during his lecture. I was privileged to have a reading with him. I hope to return to Glastonbury in the not too distant future, either as part of a tour or on my own, and I certainly will be interested in Sacred Sites Journeys to Ireland and Scotland, too! From there, who knows? The world has opened up to me!- Jeanne D., IL

England-SilburyHill-Group-July2009.jpg (10305 bytes)
Traveling to Glastonbury is an experience you will never forget. This sacred land will transform you and your life. You will quickly understand why so many people have made pilgrimage to this sacred land over the ages. These sacred sites are powerful and breathtaking. From Stonehenge to the Chalice Well each place is uniquely inspirational and transformational. And of course you are truly blessed to have Andrea serve as your guide. Helping others travel on these spiritual journeys is truly her love and it is reflected in all of her actions. It is her goal to help you have the most meaningful experience possible. Scared Site Journeys have helped me discover myself and created dreams I never thought possible. Thank you Andrea! - Michelle Z, MN

The meditation at Stanton Drew was very peaceful and profound, and I thought one of the more spiritual moments of the tour. I can’t say enough good things about Clare & Brian and Pilgrims Bed and Breakfast in Glastonbury! Wonderful! - Anonymous by request

England-Stonehenge-Group-2006.jpg (10630 bytes)
The spiritual pilgrimage to Glastonbury was excellent! My most meaningful experiences were at Stonehenge, the Chalice Well, and inside the crop circle. Andrea did an excellent job as our Tour Director, and facilitator of the meditations. AND, the food at the welcome dinner was really good! - Vicki K, OH

Glastonbury is an amazing place that touches everyone. The B&B was PERFECT. The hosts were very friendly and yet accommodating and professional. Weren't we lucky with the weather? Koko Newport was also wonderful. She was relaxed, well informed, and made us feel like family at her business site with meals and hospitality. She was also excellent in letting nature take its course ----friendly, while dropping little nuggets of wisdom when asked. - Beth G, WI

England-ChaliceWell-Group-2008.jpg (14684 bytes)
The sacred journey was a great introduction to Glastonbury and its many gifts. It had the right amount of scheduled time with ample free time. I found Andrea to be very conscientious of the individuals and the group, without trying to micromanage or force and experiences. The provided information left room for my own conclusions and perceptions to integrate in the way it was meant to. This was the perfect combination of introduction and detail to help one start the integration process into the Magick and mysteries of our foundations.   The experience was a beautiful and fulfilling experience that opened my eyes to new things. Humorous, fun and intellectual - my mind was fed  and I was left wanting more information, more experience and more time. I thoroughly enjoyed the Nicholas Mann's visit and discussion; his kind, compassionate and integrity of  manner inspired me to think, to feel and most importantly - to remember. - Jennie K, ME

This Goddess-oriented journey was all I could have dreamed of and more. It was a healing pilgrimage for myself and my soul. The visit to the Chalice Well and the ritual with Koko were very meaningful and moving for me. Stonehenge and the Tor were exceptional! I loved Andrea's perceptions, and also her channeling session. Made a lot of sense!  I felt she was very plugged into all of us and our issues. She was a ray of sunshine! - Raven M, ME



INCLUSIONS
To Be Updated

Your Sacred Sites Journey to ENGLAND Includes:
- Roundtrip group transfers between Heathrow International Airport and hotel in Salisbury on arrival and return transfer from hotel in Tintagel on departure (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. There is no refund for not taking the group transfers.)
- Transportation in air-conditioned motorcoach
- 7 Night's accommodations in First Class Hotels with daily breakfast (special diets accommodated)
- 1 lunch; 1 box lunch (special diets accommodated)
- 7 Dinners, including Welcome and Farewell Dinners (special diets accommodated)
- Sightseeing tours as per itinerary, including entrance fees
- Escorted on arrival at London Heathrow Airport by Sacred Sites Journeys' Director Andrea Mikana-Pinkham

SPECIAL FEATURES: 
- Travel in a smaller group of other spirit-centered people
- Tour Director/Speaker: Andrea Mikana, Sacred Sites Journeys' Director
- Spiritual Tour Guide in Avebury, Glastonbury and Bath: Michael Orchard
- Ceremonialists in Glastonbury: Michael Orchard and Lynne Orchard, Priestess of Avalon
- Ceremonies & meditations at sacred sites facilitated by Andrea Mikana-Pinkham and/or Michael Orchard and Lynne Orchard
- Special Access group entrance at Stonehenge


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

TOUR PRICING
All pricing listed is in U.S. Dollars.

This tour is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your international flights to and from London, England.
ARRIVAL: Please arrive in London at Heathrow International Airport on Sunday, April 4, 202a by 8:00AM in order to connect with our 11:00AM group transfer from the airport to Salisbury
DEPARTURE: For your departure at London's Heathrow Airport on Sunday, April 11, 2021, please book your international flight to depart after 1:00PM or later.

ENGLAND: Spiritual Journey to Sacred Sites (August 2 - 9, 2020): Per Person, double occupancy, land only
To be posted once the revised itinerary is posted
- for payments via check
OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS:
1) If you choose not to pay by check, you can wire funds directly to our bank account from your bank account. If you live outside the USA and are wiring the funds, please send them in US dollars and add $25.00 to the amount you’re sending to cover the wire fee.
2) You also have the option to send the funds from your bank account or using a credit card via websites such as www.TransferWise or www.xe.com (for those from outside the USA) or others you may choose to send funds from within the USA. Any fees that are applied for using these websites are your responsibility. Note: Please do not use Zelle, as the transfer from a personal account to a business account will not work; our business account cannot accept funds from that site.

ROOMATES: 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. Over the last 25 years we've been operating these spiritual pilgrimages we've seen many people become friends for life. (As well, we've had several marriages result from people meeting on our journeys.) Be open! Be flexible! It will be a rich and wonderful experience!

Single Room Supplement:
To be posted once the revised itinerary is posted - for payments via check
NOTE: There are four (4) single rooms available at this time. Once those are filled, an additional supplement may apply for any additional rooms that we may be able to reserve at the hotels. So, if you want your own room throughout the journey, please register EARLY to assure that you will have it, and at the price listed here.

TOUR REGISTRATION

A PDF of the Tour Registration Form will be posted here once the itinerary is revised and pricing is determined.

With your registration submission you will be required
to submit a deposit of $500.00 to reserve your place.


If you have any questions, please email Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
at info@SacredSitesJourneys.com or call 928 284-1429. Thanks!




IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
All Sacred Sites Journeys are smoke-free sacred travel experiences.
All forms of tobacco, as well as e-cigarettes are not allowed at any time.
Thank you for your cooperation.


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Sacred Sites Journeys is NOT affiliated with any other sacred travel company.
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Updated 6/01/2020
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