EnglandStonehenge2.jpg (19111 bytes) SACRED SITES JOURNEYS
Since 1994 ...Spiritual Pilgrimages
to the world's most important Sacred Sites
to enliven your Body, Mind and Spirit


ENGLAND

Sacred Journey of Initiation 
June 3 - 9, 2012


During the Auspicious Venus Transit on June 5th/6th,
which Will Focus More Energies of Love on Our Earth and Support You to More Fully Open Your Heart!


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Why Travel to Sacred Sites Now & Why With Sacred Sites Journeys

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TOUR DESCRIPTION

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Join us for this initiatory spiritual pilgrimage to Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Avebury
and more...some of the most powerful sacred sites on Earth!

Experience the powerful energies and understand the esoteric significance
of the mysterious stone circles and other power spots
that will come alive for you, as you walk the ancient pathways
and connect with the rich legacy of the Celtic Goddess Tradition and Avalonian Mysteries.

Our spiritual pilgrimage is during the Auspicious Venus Transit on June 5th/6th,
which Will Focus More Energies of Love on Our Earth and Support You to More Fully Open Your Heart!

Participate in meditations, sacred ceremonies and initiations!


SPECIAL OFFERINGS!


1) Private Entrance inside the circle at Stonehenge
for Sacred Ceremony and Meditation!


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2) Private Entrance into the Well House for the White Spring
next to the Chalice Well in Glastonbury for Meditation and Sacred Ceremony

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3) Sacred Ceremony at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple
with Koko Newport, Priestess of Avalon

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OTHER SACRED SITES YOU'LL EXPERIENCE:


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** At world-famous Stonehenge, Avebury and Silbury Hill in the Salisbury Plains,
you will experience the powerfully transformative and palpable energies
that have endured here for centuries…ready and waiting to assist you in your spiritual evolution.


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** In ancient Avalon, at Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Well,
you will transcend the veil of time and place and connect with the lingering energies from the past.



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** The Great Circle of Stanton Drew, the second largest English stone ring after the outer circle at Avebury.


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** Our journey is during the beginning of the crop circle season.
We'll explore the strange and puzzling mystery of these intricate symbols
that seem to appear out of nowhere in the local fields.
(Admission to fields is subject to permission of the owner, at the time of our request.)

** We'll stay in magical and peaceful Glastonbury.
You'll have plenty of free time to explore its secrets!

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This spiritual pilgrimage is open to the first 10 people who register!

The deadline to register is May 6, 2012.
This is one of our most popular pilgrimages, and is already half full!
We encourage you to reserve your space now in order to avoid disappointment.

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TOUR PERSONNEL


Tour Director/Featured Speaker: Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
Director of Sacred Sites Journeys

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Andrea Mikana-Pinkham is the Founder/Director of Sacred Sites Journeys. She is an avid practitioner of the Goddess Tradition.
And has been an intuitive channel since 1987, bringing through the energy of the Kumaras, teachers of the Divine Feminine. During a visit to Glastonbury Tor several years ago, Andrea received the message that part of her service to the upliftment of consciousness on the planet was to bring pilgrims to holy Avalon, which she has avidly been doing ever since!

In July 2008 Andrea received the auspicious initiation as a Sister of Avalon from Koko Newport, Priestess of Avalon during a private entrance and ceremony at the Chalice Well.

She is a Lady Knight Templar and the North American Grand Prioress of The International Order of Gnostic Templars, a modern-day spiritual Templar Order dedicated to the revival of the Goddess Tradition and Gnostic Wisdom. Andrea is also a trained shamanic practitioner, Reiki Grand Master of Ichi Sekai (One World) Reiki, and a spiritual counselor.

AndreaMikanaPinkham-PeterSterling-ChaliceWell-July2009.jpg (17855 bytes)A Message from Andrea: I invite you to join our smaller group of spiritual pilgrims as we explore mystical sacred sites in and around the sacred land of Avalon, today the area of Glastonbury.. I've traveled to and led groups to these power places several times during the last several years, and have always found them to be alive with the ancient wisdom and powerful energies! During our sacred  journey Michael, Koko and I will facilitate meditations and rituals to assist you to connect with the transformative energies of these sacred sites and the Celtic Gods and Goddesses. As well, I will also offer optional group Sharing Circles, which in the past we've found to be extremely supportive for integration and mutual support.
I'd be honored to support you to manifest your dream of traveling to England, and will assist  you to create the experience of a lifetime during this spiritual journey.
Andrea & Harpist Peter Sterling at the Chalice Well, July 2009.

For more information about Andrea, Click here

Spiritual Tour Guide: Michael Orchard

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Michael has lived and worked in Glastonbury, otherwise known as The Isle of Avalon, for over 30 years. He has always had a love for the ancient history of the place and all the myths and legends associated with it. Over the years Michael has visited many sacred and historical sites throughout the British Isles, and is fascinated by the cultures of the ancient people of these lands.

For many years, Michael together with his wife Lynne, was the Guardian of one of Britain’s most well known and sacred sites, the famous Chalice Well Gardens in Glastonbury, one of the legendary resting places of the Holy Grail. Here Michael personally welcomed thousands of pilgrims from around the globe, and helped them to understand and to feel the special energies and legends of the holy well and its healing waters.

Michael is a good communicator, and on his tours brings the history alive through a skilful combination of myth, history, and local folklore seasoned with some good West Country English humor.

Michael is also an accomplished ceremonialist and will be facilitating ceremonies during our spiritual pilgrimage at the sacred sites that he knows and loves. Michael’s philosophy of tour guiding is to give his groups some background information and then to allow folks to feel the energies and the spirit of the place themselves. There is always time to sit under a tree, to touch an ancient standing stone, to have a prayer or a wish, or to dowse some earth energies. And after all the excitement of a new place, there is usually time for a cup of tea or a spot of retail therapy as well! Michael looks forward to meeting you and guiding you through some of the wonders of ancient Britain!

Ceremonialist: Koko Newport
Priestess of Avalon

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Koko Newport is a Priestess of Avalon who lives in Glastonbury. She is also a mother, grandmother, teacher, healer, shaman and manifester of dreams, has studied with many spiritual teachers including Victor Sanchez, Sandra Ingerman and Kathy Jones… in search of balance and wholeness. She says: "When I first came to Glastonbury, many years ago, I had little idea of how transformative it would be for me. I came simply because my heart was often drawn to its mysteries and the unknown secrets of its energy and dynamic healing flows. I was drawn to live here and give to the world by providing a safe and homely place for travelers to experience it by. I opened a Bed and Breakfast. Once at home here, I then integrated into the energies and studied the teachings of the Goddess with inner reflections and outer journeys on the land.  So came many insights and the unfolding of the older ancient secrets and the sense of oneness with the land and the ancestors.  In so doing, I also became a priestess of Avalon and teacher. I am passionate about sharing with you the wonders of the major sites of Stonehenge and Avebury, as well as the secret gentle places of Avalon. As you walk through their transforming landscapes, following the ancestral footpaths, your life's journey may be made more whole and at ease."


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BRIEF TOUR ITINERARY
June 3 - 9, 2012
(For a more detailed itinerary, scroll down)

Day 1. Sunday, June 3. Arrive Heathrow International Airport, England
Noon Group Transfer to Glastonbury, Group Meeting, Welcome Dinner

Day 2. Monday, June 4.
Sharing Circle and Meditation; Visit to Glastonbury Tor, Chalice Well

Day 3. Tuesday, June 5. Private Entrance at the White Spring Well House;
Stanton Drew Stone Circle, Evening Ritual & Meditation in the Goddess Temple
Venus Transit Begins

Day 4. Wednesday, June 6. Venus Transit Ends; Tintagel Castle and Merlin's Cave

Day 5. Thursday, June 7. Silbury Hill, Avebury World Heritage Site, Crop Circles

Day 6. Friday, June 8. Stonehenge Private Entrance, Free Time, Sharing Circle & Closing Ceremony, Farewell Dinner

Day 7. Saturday, June 9. Group Transfer to Heathrow International Airport  for departure

For a complete itinerary, continue reading.

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TOUR ITINERARY
June 3 - 9, 2012
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 1. Sunday, June 3. Arrive England, Transfer to Glastonbury, Group Meeting, Welcome Dinner (D)
This Sacred Sites Journeys tour is LAND ONLY.
You are responsible to book your international flights to and from Heathrow International Airport, England. Please arrive  by 9:00AM in order to connect with our morning group transfer to Glastonbury. (Note: If you do not fly into Heathrow and/or do not meet the group for the transfer, then you are responsible to make your own arrangements for this transportation to the B and B in Glastonbury. SSJ can give you a quote for these extra services after you register if you would like for us to arrange this for you.)

Upon arrival at Heathrow clear Immigration, claim your bags and exit through Customs. Meet the group and Tour Director/Speaker Andrea Mikana-Pinkham in the Arrivals Hall (full details to be announced in the final tour itinerary).

England-Glastonbury.jpg (20250 bytes)We board our motor coach mid-morning for our drive through the English countryside. We'll stop along the way for lunch on your own with the group. Arrive mid-afternoon in mystical Glastonbury - fabled Avalon! For centuries it has been the gathering place for those following the ancient Druid and Celtic traditions honoring the Divine Feminine. The Goddess is definitely alive in Glastonbury! In the sacred landscape Her body is the soft rounded hills. Her love will whisper to your heart and be your source and inspiration as it enfolds you during your time here. The small town of Glastonbury still preserves its long history and rich traditions, along with a uniquely blended atmosphere of modern times. People are pulled here from all over the world by a special something...just like you have been.
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On our arrival we check in at our charming Bed and Breakfast, located a two-minute walk from the heart of downtown. We've  been using this B & B for our groups for the past few years. They operate a non-smoking, ’shoe-free’ house, so please feel free to bring your slippers to keep your toes warm. A sheltered smoking area is available in the garden. They have a ‘come and go as you BandB-Room.jpg (12137 bytes)please’ policy and provide front door keys for all the rooms. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the house and gardens.
All rooms are en-suite with their own shower. All rooms are warm and comfortable, with hairdryers and tea/coffee-making facilities, plus little extras which makes you feel at home. Facilities: The focal point of the house is the kitchen with its large dining table, where you can gather for tea, tarot readings, and great visits with others in the group. They also have a guest lounge with sofas, an open fireplace, TV and small library. For hungry pilgrims, a guest fridge with drinks and chocolate is always available in the hallway. Extensive local information is on hand and original artwork by notable localBandB-Garden.jpg (31676 bytes) artists is on display.
Gardens and ‘The Sanctuary": The beautiful gardens are always available for your use, with a rock pool and garden seats scattered around where you can sit and relax with friends old or new, or quietly meditate. Despite the proximity to Glastonbury center, the B & B is blessed with a quiet, tranquil location, making the gardens a wonderful place to just ‘be’. Tucked away is the secret garden, great to sit and meditate or to process all you have learnt on your pilgrimage in Glastonbury. The Sanctuary, a large Meditation Room within the gardens is available for individual or group meditation and is also used for individual and group therapy and healing sessions.

England-ElCaminoCenter-Czwerenczuk.jpg (19244 bytes)Take some time to get settled in your space and rest.
In the later afternoon we'll gather at the nearby Camino Center in downtown Glastonbury for our Introductory Group Meeting/ Sharing Circle with our Guide Michael Orchard, our Ceremonialst Koko Newport, and Featured Speaker/Tour Director Andrea Mikana-Pinkham and the group to get to know each other a bit by sharing our stories of how and why we've come to be here. Michael will offer a short introduction to Glastonbury and Her myths and legends, in preparation for our time here during the coming week. Koko will offer an introduction to Goddess Spirituality. Then Michael, Koko and Andrea will facilitate a Group meditation that will assist you to begin to connect with the powerful energies of Avalon!
Photo Credit: M. Czwerenczuk www.NeedAMassage.net.au

We enjoy our Welcome Dinner at the Camino Center, lovingly prepared by Koko and  her staff. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 2. Monday, June 4. Full Moon! Sharing Circle/Meditation; Glastonbury Tor, Chalice Well (B)
This morning you will enjoy your first daily English breakfast, lovingly prepared by Clare and Brian, the owners of your B and B. The breakfast menu gives you a choice of:
- A large range of herbal and caffeinated teas, coffee and fruit juices.
- Fresh fruit salad, cereal, yogurt, toast or bread alternatives (e.g. rice cakes, oatcakes).
- Individually cooked Full English breakfast or Vegetarian / Vegan alternatives.
- Fresh dairy and soy milk always available.
The owners appreciate that breakfast is an important part of your stay and will therefore happily try to accommodate any special dietary requests. (You will be able to give us this information on your registration form.)

BandB-Sanctuary.jpg (18062 bytes)After breakfast we will gather in the Sanctuary area of our B and B (or in the garden perhaps!) for a Sharing Circle and Meditation facilitated by our Featured Speaker Andrea Mikana-Pinkham in preparation for our afternoon visit to Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Well.

To listen to an Mp3 recording of Sacred Sites Journeys Radio program broacast of an interview with Nicholas Mann: The Sacred Mysteries of Stonehenge and Avalon, Click here  Nicholas is the author of Energy Secrets of Glastonbury Tor and The Isle of Avalon. During the interview he shares fascinating information about the "The Mysteries of Avalon" and his research in this powerful area.

EnglandGlastonburyTor2.jpg (12619 bytes)After our meditation we meet out guide Michael Orchard and take the short walk from downtown to Glastonbury Tor. Rich in legend and mythological associations, the Tor may have been a place of ancient ritual. Today, it is still a destination for spiritual seekers. The terracing on the slopes of the Tor may be the remains of an ancient observatory, a seven-tiered sacred mount, a great three-dimensional labyrinth, a ceremonial way to the Otherworld. At the top of the Tor stands the remains of the Medieval St. Michael's Church, dedicated to Archangel Michael. We take the footpath to the top to enjoy its sweeping view of the Somerset countryside. Take time to gaze at the landscape; you can see for miles. Though the Tor is a majestic hill rising enigmatically above the flat surrounding meadows, it's no ordinary hill!  Some say it's home to the King of the Fairies, Gwyn ap Nudd, a psychopomp who helps those who cross over to the Otherworld. Centuries of legends and folklore about the Tor all arrive at the same conclusion: it is a place where the veil between the worlds is thin. You will have time for individual meditation to connect to these powerful energies.

EnglandChaliceWell2.jpg (89427 bytes)We return walking to the foot of the Tor and stop in at the Chalice Well, a pilgrimage site for many thousands of years for those seeking physical and emotional healing from its iron-red waters, thought by some to represent the blood of the Goddess. During the Middle Ages and in the 18th Century Glastonbury gained a great reputation as
EnglandChaliceWell.jpg (24713 bytes) 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, we have time to meditate and reflect on our own Divine Union.

Here's a great YouTube video of a walk through the Chalice Well Gardens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co9Xml-gQic

Return walking to town. The afternoon is free for rest and integration and/or individual exploration. Here are some options:
EnglandGlastonburyAbbey.jpg (14640 bytes)1. Glastonbury Abbey. Set in 37 acres of beautifully peaceful parkland in the center of town. Built in the Middle Ages, it's described by some historians as "the holiest place in all of England". St Mary's Chapel marks the site where Joseph of Arimathea established the first above-ground church in all of Christendom. The Celts had a deity named Easus who died and was supposed to come back to life. When they heard about Jesus from Joseph of Arimathea, they saw the return of Easus in the story, and gave Ynys Witrin, or Glastonbury, to him as a site for a church. This was the birthplace of Celtic Christianity, and grew to be a powerful pilgrimage site. Many people believe that the Holy Thorn tree that can be seen in the grounds originated from Joseph of Arimathea's staff. Graves thought to be those of Arthur and Guinevere have been unearthed here. Take time to wander among these ancient ruins and powerful energies, exploring their mysteries through reflection and meditation.

2. Stop in at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple off of Hight Street and meditate at the Flame of Avalon.

England-GlastonburyStJohn'sChurch-JosephOfAirmathea.jpg (9582 bytes)3. Visit the St. Margaret's Chapel / Magdalene Almshouses and Garden in Magdalene Close in downtown, for a time of peaceful meditation, prayer and reflection. The original structure was built in the 1070's but burned down in the great Abbey fire of 1184. The present one was re-built in 1444. Today its a sacred space of prayer, sanctuary and spirituality.

4. Take a walk to visit Gog and Magog, two ancient oak trees in Wick Hollow thought by some of the locals to be the root chakra of the area. Others honor them as the last remains of a Druidical avenue leading up to the Tor.England-Glastonbury1-Czwerenczuk.jpg (20798 bytes)

5. Go into St. John's Church in the heart of town, dedicated to John the Baptist, one of the original teachers of the Goddess Tradition. Here you can view the beautiful stained glass window depicting Joseph of Arimathea holding two vials of "Holy Grail."


6. Or take in some Retail Therapy as you wander along High Street in the center of town, where shops full of new and used books on every topic you can imagine, Celtic jewelry, clothes, artwork, crystals and gemstone and many more treasures abound!                                                                                                                             
     Photo Credit: M. Czwerenczuk www.NeedAMassage.net.au

Lunch and dinner on your own. There are several excellent restaurants in the center of town, just a few minutes walk away, that offer varied ethnic cuisines. Overnight Glastonbury. 

Day 3. Tuesday, June 5. Chalice Well White Spring Private Entrance; Stanton Drew Stone Circle, Evening Ritual/Meditation at the Goddess Temple  (B)
This morning we gather after breakfast in the mediation room at our B and B for a Sharing Circle facilitated by Andrea Mikana-Pinkham.

England-ChaliceWell-Wellhouse-WhiteSpring-1.jpg (31321 bytes)Then we meet Michael Orchard for a short walk to the Well House for the White Spring near the Chalice Well, for a private entrance.For thousands of years seekers have been drawn to the mythical Isle of Avalon, which was once an island separated from the mundane world by an inland sea. From its heart under the Tor, the water still rises and falls in profusion, presenting one of the greatest mysteries of the Isle: two different springs, the Red Spring touched red from iron and the White Spring, which is actually several springs that arise from the Tor. They're mixed in a mixing chamber that is behind the cottage located above the spring. One of these springs contains chalybeate water, similar to Chalice Well water, which gives rise to some thoughts that the water from the Chalice Well may actually have its source within the Tor. Once the water leaves the White Spring building it flows underground in a completely separate plumbing system to the Chalice Well.

The building was initially constructed as a reservoir by the local water supply company. It was used as a reservoir for a number of years, England-ChaliceWell-Wellhouse-WhiteSpring-2.jpg (21504 bytes) supplying most of the town's water, until the pipes blocked up owing to high calcite deposits that built up within them. In the 1980s and 90s it was used as cafe and a shop, and was sold in 2003 to a benefactor who had no wish to commercialise it. He formed a local commitee to manage it on a non profit basis. For a while it was an empty space with the water flowing through a conduit in the floor. Then in 2009 the new pools were designed based on sacred geometry and the dimensions of the building. Behind the building is a tunnel (now sealed off) that leads into the Tor; how far is not known, but it's given rise to various legends about it possibly being an entrance to the underworld.

England-ChaliceWell-Wellhouse-WhiteSpring-3.jpg (19169 bytes)So the Well House could be referred to as a subterranean cavern within the Tor, lit only by one small skylight and the flickering of candles. Entering in represents a powerful symbolic jouney from and through the darkness into the light, with the healing waters of the White Spring flowing through it. The Celtic Goddess Brigid, the Lady of Avalon, is the guardian whose ancient presence pervades this sacred space. Inside there are three domed vaults, and beautiful bowed floors - like the hull of  a boat moored at the portal to the Otherworld. The constant temperature and the sound of the perpetually flowing water make this a unique sacred space. We'll have the opportunity to step into the pools, as well as time for meditation.

Return walking to town. Lunch on your own.
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In the afternoon we
visit to the huge megalithic complex of Stanton Drew. The Great Circle, the second largest English stone ring after the outer circle at Avebury, consists of three stone circles, two stone avenues, a cove of stones and an outlier. From the two visible circles there are two avenues running eastward towards the nearby river. As Professor Aubrey Burl writes: Midsummer processions and ceremonies may be imagined, rituals by moonlight celebrated by hundreds of people from the countryside, assembling for reasons long forgotten but preserved silently in the stones themselves.

October 15, 2011: News Flash! New evidence of archaeological features in and around the three prehistoric stone circles at Stanton Drew has been revealed. "The geophysical survey work at Stanton Drew continues to throw new light on these nationally important monuments" said Bath & North East Somerset Council's Archaeological Officer, Richard Sermon. "It tells us that what we see above ground today is only part of a complex that would have rivalled those at Avebury and Stonehenge."
For more information, click here.

After our time for exploration at the site, Michael and Andrea will facilitate our group ceremony and meditation. What will be your Gift of Spirit that you will receive as a farewell? Hold it close to your heart as you carry it home with you. We'll close our time here by sending out Prayers for Peace from the world's many spiritual traditions.

England-KokoNewport.jpg (17094 bytes)We gather in the evening at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple, probably Europe's first Goddess Temple for over a thousand years. We will be blessed to be with Koko Newport, Priestess of Avalon, who will offer our group a special initiation into the age-old Goddess Mysteries connected to this area. What special Gift of Spirit will the Goddess bestow upon you? Will She answer your questions about a certain circumstance in your life? What wisdom will She gently whisper to your Heart? Come in openness and humility...and receive!Venus.jpg (5593 bytes)

This is the evening of the auspicious Venus Transit. Astrologically Venus is the planet of Love, of the Divine Feminine, the Goddess. Venus rules over love and the emotions; its influence is felt in all our relationships. For more information, visit:  http://astrology.about.com/od/astrologyandrelationships/p/Venus.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planets_in_astrology.

NOTE: Co-Founder of Sacred Sites Journeys, Mark Amaru Pinkham is a professional Vedic and Western Astrologer with over 25 years experience. If you'd like for him to cast and interpret your birth chart and/or your yearly forecast before this auspicious Venus Transit, visit this link for more information: http://www.gnostictemplars.org/astrology.html

VenusTransit2012.jpg (5477 bytes)What is a transit of Venus? When Venus passes directly between Earth and the Sun, we see the distant planet as a small dot gliding slowly across the face of the sun. Historically, this rare alignment is how we measured the size of our solar system.  When is it? The next transit of Venus occurs June 5 or 6, 2012, depending on your location. The planetary transits start when the planet’s disk is externally tangent with the sun (ingress, exterior). From then, the planet may be discerened as a little black dent in the solar limb, gradually growing bigger until the entire planet is seen on the solar disk (ingress, interior). During the next five to six hours, the planet will traverse the sun’s disk until the planet’s disk will touch the opposite solar limb (egress, interior). The transit ends when the planet’s disk is externally tangent with the sun (egress, exterior).

The Venus Transit in Glastonbury:
ingress exterior: June 5 - 23:03:42
ingress interior: June 5 - 23:21:21
transit center: June 6 - 02:29:19
egress interior: June 6 - 05:37:23
egress exterior: June 6 - 05:54:55

This will be the last transit of Venus to occur in our lifetime. The next transits of Venus will be in December 2117 and December 2125.


What is the spiritual significance of the Venus Transit? This Transit of Venus heralds the Return of the Goddess. When Venus lies directly in front of the Sun and in line with Earth, the resonances of Venus are highly focused upon the Earth, inspiring a new level of "intuitive awareness" to permeate Earth, to spread in and through human consciousness. This specific transit supports the reintegration and emergence of the Divine Feminine principle in our world, which desperately awaits the guidance and balance of the Goddess. - We'll take some time this evening to reflect, discuss and meditate upon these powerful energies, as we come together as a group.

We return walking to town. Dinner on your own. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 4. Wednesday, June 6. Tintagel Castle and Merlin's Cave (B)
If you arise by 5:30AM this morning, you may be able to view the final stages of the auspicious Venus Transit. You can certainly sit quietly in meditation to connect with these energies, inviting the Divine Feminine principle into your heart and life. England-Tintagel2-Czwerenczuk.jpg (20681 bytes)

After an early breakfast, we're off for a full day journey to Cornwall, the fabled and enchanted land of King Arthur's birth. The poet Tennyson wrote about it as the place where Arthur fought his last terrible battle with his son Mordred. We arrive at 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. Since 1136 when Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote about it in the History of the Kings of Britain legend has held that this is the place where Uther Pendragon mated with Arthur's mother, Igraine, and conceived the future king.                  Photo Credit: M. Czwerenczuk www.NeedAMassage.net.au 

EnglandKingArthur.jpg (5948 bytes)Excavations in the 1930's uncovered 5th to 6th century Dark Age settlement and monastic remains. In the 1998 excavations by Glasgow University led to the discovery of an inscription on a piece of slate reading ARTOgNOV, which is a Latin form of the Celtic name Arthnou, derived from the Celtic word Arth, meaning bear. As you walk through these ancient ruins, keep your ThirdEngland-Cornwall-MerlinsCave-Czwerenczuk.jpg (20918 bytes) Eye open to see between the veils to those days long past. Perhaps you'll glimpse Arthur and receive a message from him.

Lunch on your own at the site. Tide allowing, we then descend to the beach to Merlin's Cave, located under the rocks close to Tintagel Castle. If not, we'll view it from above. Legend maintains that the spirit of the great Druid Merlin still inhabits this lonely place. If we're able to enter the cave, we'll take time to meditate and connect with the energies that reach out to us from the misty past.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Photo Credit: M. Czwerenczuk www.NeedAMassage.net.au
Return to Glastonbury in the later afternoon. Dinner on your own. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 5. Thursday, June 7. Silbury Hill, Avebury World Heritage Site, Crop Circles (B)
EnglandSilburyHill.jpg (18404 bytes)After breakfast we're off to begin to explore and experience the local sacred sites and ancient mysteries! We begin our exploration of the area at 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.
Andrea and Michael will lead a short meditation to connect with the Mother Goddess.EnglandAvebury.jpg (19017 bytes)

We then continue to Avebury World Heritage site, one of the world's largest and most complex monuments of the Megalithic Age, an ancient Druidic initiation site of immense standing stones. 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. As there are lunar and solar ley-lines that cross in this area, we will connect with these powerful energies through ritual facilitated by Andrea and Michael to balance our own masculine and feminine energies.
Lunch on your own at Avebury.

EnglandCropCircle.jpg (11807 bytes)Then we're off to explore Crop Circles. These geometric symbols of unknown origin form in fields of grain, and have appeared in this area over the past 20 years. The county of Wiltshire is one of the most active areas for crop circles in the world, particularly around the historical stones of Avebury and Silbury Hill. In this ancient landscape, the grassy whorls take over the fields of rape, barley and wheat like massive installation art. If we are fortunate we may be able to enter one or more of the formations and have private meditation time to connect with and experience the other-dimensional energies that many researchers believe form them. What is the general communication that is being given to us by these circles? What is the particular communication from each circle? Where do they come from? Who/what forms them? Why here? Why now? AND, why have we been lead here to experience them? What does all this mean for our personal and planetary transformation?

Later return to Glastonbury. Dinner on your own. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 6. Friday, June 8. Stonehenge Private Entrance, Free Time, Sharing Circle & Closing Ceremony, Farewell Dinner (B/D)
EnglandStonehengeSunset2.jpg (11755 bytes) We depart early morning to Stonehenge. There is much debate as to the age of Stonehenge, as well as who built it.  History says that the site was begun in the agricultural Neolithic Age and was completed in the Early Bronze Age by early Britons known as the Beaker Folk, so called because of beakers, drinking vessels, found in their grave goods. Around 1500 BCE some disaster or systems collapse progressivelyEngland-Stonehenge1-Czwerenczuk.jpg (59363 bytes) brought the impressive Megalithic Age to an end, not only here, but throughout the whole of Britain and Ireland. Although we can never know exactly who the architects were who planned Stonehenge, the face sculptured into the side of trilithon stone 54 does give us cause to wonder if he or she was so influential that his/her facial features were placed here to be preserved forever as a representation of the Divine Marriage, the concept of Sacred Marriage between an Earth Mother and Sky Father, that was universal in early or primitive agricultural and Goddess-oriented societies. Those who are sensitive to this massive temple claim that the megalithic blocks are constantly radiating tremendous amounts of energy. Some say it is because the ancient Druids turned themselves into the stones, while others assert that they hold the power of innumerable Druid ceremonies held there in the past.
                                                                                                                                                                                                Photo Credit: M. Czwerenczuk www.NeedAMassage.net.au
During our private entrance inside the circle Andrea, Michael and Lynne Orchard will facilitate an Initiation & Meditation among the magical stones and their powerful energies. What ancient secrets will be revealed to you? What will be your Gift of Spirit that you will receive? Open your heart, mind, and soul…and receive!                                                        

England-Glastonbury.jpg (20250 bytes)We return to Glastonbury later morning. You have the rest of the morning and early afternoon to explore more in Glastonbury. Lunch on your own. Perhaps visit some of the area's sacred sites and power spots you've not made it to yet. OR revisit those that have you have been particularly drawn to. More gifts of Spirit await you today as you take time to make your lasting connections in Avalon.

In the later afternoon we gather at the Camino Center for our final Sharing Circle, followed by our Closing Ceremony. Then it's time to celebrate and say our fond Good-byes at our Farewell Dinner at the Center.
Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 7. Saturday, June 9. Depart England (B)
After an early breakfast we transfer via motorcoach to London's Heathrow International Airport to connect with your international flight.
NOTE: Please book your flight to depart at noon or later. (Note: If you do not fly out of Heathrow, then you are responsible to make your own arrangements for the transportation from the B and B. SSJ can give you a quote for these extra services after you register if you would like for us to arrange this for you.)

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

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From the Archives
May 8, 2009  - ENGLAND: The Sacred Mysteries of Stonehenge and Avalon
Guest: Nicholas Mann, author of Energy Secrets of Glastonbury Tor and The Isle of Avalon
To listen to an Mp3 recording of this program,
Click here

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A Few Words from Sacred Sites Journeys Pilgrims to ENGLAND

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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

I truly enjoyed my trip. I found Jenny and the B&B with Claire and Brian warm, receptive and engaging. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Glastonbury. The places we visited were enthralling and meaningful to me. My two favorites were the Chalice Well and the Stanton Drew stone circle. There was something personal about these to me. I very much enjoyed meeting Koko and found that we have a lot in common. In fact, I am hoping to stay in touch with people who I have met on my journey to Glastonbury. Our group was small and although quite diverse, it worked well. - Sheri L., FL

The tour was fantastic!
- Mark C., Australia
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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

I absolutely loved the tour, had many powerful meditations, visions and I would most definitely do another of your tours. - Kathy S, CT

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 their establishment! Wonderful! - Anonymous by request

Koko was excellent. She was a very good manager of people and was also very knowledgeable and very willing to share what she knew with us. Clare and Brian were excellent and gracious innkeepers. The B&B was immaculate, and in a very convenient location so we could walk to the High Street easily. They also had a friendly cat and a lovely garden to sit in. I loved Cornwall! The Chalice Well had beautiful gardens, and was a nice meditation spot. Avebury was wonderful because I had never been there before. And Koko told us about some of the stones and their mystical meanings. I didn't mind the early morning visit to Stonehenge, in fact I thought the morning mist added to the experience. I was very grateful for the chance to get inside the ropes and actually see the stones up close. - Cheryl C, NH

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

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
England-ChaliceWell-Group-2008.jpg (14684 bytes) 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

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TOUR INCLUSIONS

Your Sacred Sites Journey to ENGLAND Includes:
- Roundtrip group transfers between Heathrow International Airport and Bed and Breakfast in Glastonbury (Note: If you do not fly into Heathrow and/or do not meet the group for the transfers, then you are responsible to make your own arrangements for this transportation to and from your B and B. SSJ can give you a quote for these extra services after you register if you would like for us to arrange this for you.)
- Accommodations in First Class Bed & Breakfast, including daily breakfast (vegetarian available)
- Welcome and Farewell Dinners (vegetarian available)
- Sightseeing tours as per itinerary, including entrance fees
- Escorted on arrival at London Heathrow Airport by Sacred Sites Journeys Director Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
- Pre-Paid Gratuities for driver, guide, waiters at group meals, etc.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Travel in a smaller group of other spirit-centered people
- Spiritual Tour Guide: Michael Orchard
- Ceremonialist: Koko Newport, Priestss of Avalon
- Ceremonies, initiations & meditations at sacred sites facilitated by Michael Orchard and Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
- Private group entrance at Stonehenge for sacred ceremony and meditation
- Private group entrance into the Well House at the White Spring at the Chalice Well
- Initiation into the Mysteries of Avalon facilitated by Koko Newport, Priestess of Avalon, at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple
- Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Well
- Avebury UNESCO World Heritage Site, including Avebury and Silbury Hill
- Tintagel Castle and Merlin's Cave (dependent on tides)
- Possible crop circle sightings
- Free time in Glastonbury to explore on your own
- Welcome and Farewell Dinners

NOT INCLUDED:
- Roundtrip international flight to England (Arrive/Depart London Heathrow Airport)
- Meals not included, as indicated in the itinerary
- Cost to obtain valid passport
- Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, internet access and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on the Sacred Sites Journeys website or final trip itinerary

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TOUR PRICING

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, June 3rd by 9:00AM  in order to connect with our later morning group transfer from the airport to Glastonbury.
DEPARTURE: For your departure back to Heathrow Airport on
Saturday, June 9th, please book your international flight to depart at Noon or later.

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DISCOUNT! Make ALL of your payments by check or money order and receive a 5% discount! This discount is INCLUDED in the price below listed for this payment option.

NOTE Regarding Credit Card Payments: We are only able to take credit cards for payment until 45 days before the tour begins, or until April 19, 2012. After that you can pay with a credit card check, bank cashier's check, or money order. Or wire funds to our bank account (additional $25.00 fee applies for wires originating from outside the U.S.).


Per Person, double occupancy, land only:
$1,699.00 for payments via check or money order
OR $1,788.00 for payments via credit card

Our 2012 Sacred Sites Journey to ENGLAND group participation is open to 10 people. At our Bed and Breakfast, there are three twin-bedded rooms, and one triple-bedded room available. Price is the same for both types of occupancy. (The one single room is already taken.) All rooms are ensuite; besides shower and toilet, they have tea/coffee making facilities and a hair-dryer.

ROOMMATES: Would you like to meet and make a new friend on your journey?
If you're not traveling on the journey with anyone you know, and would like for SSJ to try to match you up with a suitable roommate, we'll be happy to try to do so. Over the last 18 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!

Per our Terms and Conditions, we will hold the registration for the trip open until 30 days before the departure date (or later if possible) in order to try to match you with someone. If by that date we do not have 10 people in the group and have not been able to match you with a roommate, you will be responsible to pay the $125.00 single supplement. If you would like to be matched with a roommate, please register early.

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TOUR REGISTRATION

This spiritual pilgrimage is open to the first 10 people who register!

The deadline to register is May 6, 2012.
This is one of our most popular pilgrimages, and is already half full!
We encourage you to reserve your space now in order to avoid disappointment.

For a Registration Form and our complete Terms and Conditions, Click Here

Questions? Email info@SacredSitesJourneys.com
Or, call our office at 888 501-3853 (Toll free in the US) or 928 284-2384


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NOTE: All photos and text on this webpage are the Copyright of Sacred Sites Journeys/ Heartlight Fellowship.

Sacred Sites Journeys is NOT affiliated with any other sacred travel company.
Other sacred travel companies offering spiritual pilgrimages similar to ours
are using our text and photos. We did not give them permission to do so.
We believe that karma is very efficient, and that those who are not in integrity
will swiftly reap the negative benefits of such actions.

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