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Tour departs September 20, 2010. The majestic The Goddess is now calling Her children back to the Languedoc to assist in Her restoration and to revel once again in Her glorious presence. Join two Knights Templar and life-long devotees of the Goddess Mysteries, Mark Amaru Pinkham and Nancy Safford, as they travel during the pivotal full moon and equinox periods of autumn to the Goddess’s sacred shrines, portals, and holy places of southern France and northern Spain to assist in the re-activation of Her kingdom and to retrieve some of Her most ancient wisdom and relics. The secrets that will lay the foundation of 2012 are coming to light now, in 2010! Be a part of this amazing journey!
TOUR PERSONNEL Mark Amaru Pinkham Featured Speaker & Tour Host 
Mark
Amaru Pinkham, KGCTpl is the North American Grand Prior of The International Order of
Gnostic Templars (IOGT), a modern day spiritual Order dedicated to the revival of
Gnostic Wisdom and the Return of the Divine Feminine.He is the Co-Director of The World Alliance for Planetary Enlightenment an affiliation of people and organizations who are dedicated to the creation of a new society and spirituality throughout the Earth. We are composed of Initiatic Societies, Religious Sects, Mystical Orders, Indigenous Cultures and many individuals who are currently answering the call to evolve humanity and unite all the divergent sects and nations into a one-world family. The author of five books on the world's esoteric mysteries and the Goddess Tradition, including Guardians of the Holy Grail: The Knights Templar, John the Baptist and the Water of Life, The Return of the Serpents of Wisdom Mark's newest book, World Gnosis: The Coming Gnostic Civilization, was released in July 2010.
For more information about Mark and his work, and the IOGT, visit http://www.GnosticTemplars.org
Nancy Safford Featured Speaker & Spiritual Tour Guide  Nancy Safford is a visionary, intuitive counselor, reader, and a Shamanic healing practitioner who facilitates men and women to awaken to their Priest/Priestess, God/Goddess selves to embrace a more conscious, authentic relationship within. She is a High Priestess of the Magdalene Mysteries and a founding member of the Sacred Order of the Venus Templars and is a member of the French Templar Order (OSMTH) in the Commanderie of Mary Magdalene, of the Languedoc, where Nancy lives much of the time. She was called there to explore this mystical area of southern France, to expand her own consciousness from the powerful magic hidden in the land. As our bilingual Spiritual Tour Guide, Nancy's many years of experience leading these spiritual pilgrimages and her dedication to supporting people to experience a greater sense of presence in their lives, will assist you to notice more of your outer experience of life, to observe your male-female relationship within, and thus to invite a more joyful, expanded expression of love and loving into your life! To listen to an interview with Nancy on Mark's Guardians of the Holy Grail radio show on BBS Radio, Click Here! Special Guest Speakers in Rennes-Le-Chateau Sir Toby Dobler Knight Templar in the French Templar Order (OSMTH) Commander of the Languedoc Commanderie of Mary Magdalene Henry Lincoln Author of Holy Blood, Holy Grail and other books about this mysterious area BRIEF PILGRIMAGE ITINERARY (For a more detailed itinerary, scroll down) Day 1. Monday, September 20. Arrive Toulouse, France; to
Rennes-le-Chateau area Day 5. Friday, September 24. Montsegur Castle Day 6. Saturday, September 25. Aigues-Mortes; to Les Saintes Maries de La Mer; the Black Madonna Day 7. Sunday, September 26. Les Saintes Maries de La
Mer; the Black Madonna Day 1. Monday, September 20. Arrive Toulouse, France; to
Rennes-le-Chateau area Meet your Tour Host
and Speaker Mark Pinkham and our group at the airport in Toulouse (details about where to
meet will be provided in your final itinerary.) We depart the airport, stopping enroute
for lunch on your own with the group, followed by a bit of shopping for personal food
items for your dinner on your own this evening. Day 2. Tuesday, September 21. Rennes Le Chateau; Welcome Dinner
(B/D)
Day 3. Wednesday, September 22. Magdalene Cave (B/D)
Afterwards you have free time to explore the little village. Dinner is on your own
tonight, but why not get together with your fellow pilgrims and share your experiences and
some lively conversation! Day 7. Sunday, September 26. Les Saintes Maries de La Mer (B) Day 8. Monday, September 27. To Collioure (B) Day 9. Tuesday, September 28. To Montserrat (B) Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
I
enjoyed the sacred journey to France. Everything was set up for us so well, making it very
easy to just relax and really enjoy the experience. I particularly liked the time we had
for meditation at sacred sites! - R. Bartley, NV TOUR INCLUSIONS Your Sacred Sites Journey to FRANCE & SPAIN Includes: - Roundtrip transfers between airport and hotels - Accommodations in First Class Bed & Breakfasts and hotels, including daily breakfast - Welcome and Farewell Dinners (vegetarian always available) - Sightseeing tours as per itinerary, including entrance fees - Escorted on arrival in Toulouse by Mark Amaru Pinkham - Pre-Paid Gratuities for driver and waiters at group meals Special Added Features - Travel with other spirit-centered people - Featured Speaker: author and Gnostic Knight Templar Mark Amaru Pinkham - Optional ceremonies, initiations & meditations at sacred sites - Visit to sacred sites in and around Rennes-le-Chateau - Visit the Black Madonna in Les Saintes Maries de La Mer - Visit the ancient Templar strongholds in Aigues-Mortes and Collioure - Visit the Black Madonna at Montserrat - Free time to explore on your own - Welcome and Farewell Dinners NOT INCLUDED: - International airfare (Arrive in Toulouse, France/ Depart from Barcelona, Spain - Meals not included, as indicated in the itinerary - Cost to obtain valid passport - Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, internet service and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on the SSJ website or the final trip itinerary
TOUR PRICING This tour is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your international flights to and from FRANCE and SPAIN. ARRIVAL: Please arrive in Toulouse, France by 11:00AM on Monday, September 20, 2010 in order to connect with the later morning group transfer booked by Sacred Sites Journeys. DEPARTURE: Please book your international return flight from Barcelona, Spain to depart after 11:00AM on Thursday, September 30. 
NOTE:
As of June 28, 2010, we are no longer able to take payment via credit cards. Payment must be made via bank cashier’s check,
money order, or bank wire.
Black Madonna, Mary Magdalene & Holy Grail Mysteries -
September 20 - 30, 2010Per Person, double occupancy, land only: $2,995.00 for payments via check or money order Plus Pre-paid Gratuities: $60.00 for payments via check or money order Single Room Supplement: $595.00 for payments via check or money order NOTE: This is the additional amount you will pay if you choose to have your own private room throughout the tour. The number of single rooms available is limited, so please register early if you would like to have this option. 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. 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 have not been able to do so, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. If you would like to be matched with a roommate, please register early. TOUR REGISTRATION Registration closed August 23, 2010. Tour departs September 20, 2010. If you'd like to receive our Monthly Sacred Sites Journeys E-Newsletters, please Sign Up Here! Newsletters are sent out about once a month. Occasionally you may also receive an e-news bulletin about a specific journey or event. We will not sell or share your information with any other company or individuals. You can easily un-subscribe at any time. To read copies of our current and past E-Newsletters, Click Here! |
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We arrive at our B and B,
located across from the hilltop mystic village of Rennes-le-Château,
situated in Cathar
Country at the foot of the
Pyrenees, in the Aude department within the Languedoc region of southern France. Check in
and take a bit of time to relax. This is the area we'll explore during the next few days -
the exquisite land here, set in the Valley of Colors, next to the River
of Colors. There are many mysteries associated with this special location. Some believe
that an ancient Mystery School was constructed on an old foundation of
the current building. Also, legend says that the Holy Family once lived nearby on the high
banks overlooking the meandering river. The Magdalene energy is very
present here, especially in her nearby Cave. This area is in a five-pointed natural
landscape temple that has been identified as a Venus Temple. 
After breakfast, we meet for a group sharing, meditation, and setting
of personal intentions. Our overall intention for the group on this journey is to
embrace the Gnostic Path of knowing one’s Self fully, an experience that will be
unique for each participant. We will experience the Goddess traditions as we journey into
the sacred places of the Priestess and Black Madonna, as well as explore many places of
the Holy Grail legends, to help you understand and assimilate the traditions of the East
and West here.
Then we will have a
presentation about the Mystery Traditions of the Languedoc and discuss
why it is known to be the homeland of Alchemy. 
with a great amount
of money, (still legend today), with which he built the Tour Magdala and renovated the
church. There has always been a quest for treasure here, (after Sauniere’s
discovery), both for hidden coins, elusive monies, as well as for the spiritual treasure
of the Holy Grail. Legend says that there is an ancient Temple of Isis hidden deep in the
earth beneath the tiny hilltop village of Rennes Le Chateau, which has also been
identified as one of the points of the natural landscape Temple pentagram. The other
points are visible from here, each one marked with a sacred mountain, including the famous
Templar Castle/Fortress, Bezu, which is one of them. 
Today is a full day in Rennes Les Bains,
where we'll experience the sacred healing thermal waters. Our journey
begins in a special place of the Priestess, who is guardian and initiator through the
doorway of this sacred Temple, in this place of surrender. With the full moon in Aries, it
may be time to identify and feel your truth, to identify your dream to live - with
courage. 
After breakfast, spend quiet time on the grounds.
Then we gather to catch up, center and discuss the Cathar beliefs and
practices before we depart for their famous Castle, Montsegur,
sometime referred to as the Grail Castle. This stronghold is where 200 Cathars made their
“last stand” and were burned rather than renounce their beliefs in exchange for
those of the Catholic church. The night before, however, legend says that four Cathars
escaped down the most dangerous ledge of the Castle with ropes, to safety, with their
sacred treasure. It has never been revealed, even today. People surmise that it was the
Grail Cup, while others feel it was a woman whose womb carried the bloodline of the Holy
Grail.
After breakfast we depart for Les Saintes Maries
de La Mer. Our first stop is at the Medieval walled town of Aigues-Mortes
(dead water), once located closer to the Mediterranean before it dried up and became a
marsh. It is an 
impressive fortification
with an atmosphere of the Middle Ages, with 20 towers and seven gateways or entrances.
This area was once part of land owned by the Counts of Toulouse, before it was annexed by
France to become the departure point of the 7th and 8th Crusade to the Holy Land, led by
King Louis IX. He built the town on an earlier Roman foundations dating to 102 BCE,
because he wanted a Mediterranean port of his own. The Knights Templar
are associated, historically, with this town as well. There is an impressive statue of
King Clovis in the medieval town square. 
Les Saintes Maries de la
Mer is a small fishing village located on the Mediterranean coast, near
Marseilles, where Mary Magdalene is said to have arrived by boat from the
Holy Land. She was with a small party of people and was greeted by the Gypsies. The group
included two other Marys, Joseph of Arimathea, perhaps Lazarus and Sara,
the patron Saint of the Gypsies, also thought to be the daughter of
Magdalene and Jesus.
This morning we will discuss
the history and meaning of the Black Madonna, who in all Mystery School
traditions was known to have “supernatural” powers. Then we go to the water to
ceremonially purify ourselves in the soothing healing waters of the Mediterranean.
This is a wonderful opportunity to release any limitation and blocks to living from the
heart.
settled by the Celtic tribes, then later used as
a port by the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans for trading, until the Visigoths took it
over in the 7th century. The town hosts a Royal Palace or Castle, and a
large fortress. Collioure was made famous by and closely associated with the Knights
Templar who passed through on their crusade routes to the Holy Land. They used
the ancient fortress here during the 12th century and there is still, even today, much
mystery about their illusive treasures. Collioure later became the home of the Fauvist
Painter Movement who were intrigued by the rare quality of the light. Among them
were Derain, Braque, Matisse, Picasso. 
in the Pyrenees, where we will spend our last two nights. Montserrat
means the place of the “jagged rocks”, and has always been identified
as a Sleeping Dragon. These famous rocks, amongst which the Basilica, the
Benedictine monastery (founded in the 11th century) and the Holy Grotto
are located, are said to be the most unusual in the entire Catalan region. It was here in
880 CE where a group of shepherd children first saw a bright light coming from a cave high
above them. They also reported hearing angels voices singing. So, when their parents
sought to discover the source, theytoo experienced the same light and angelic voices. A Black
Madonna was discovered inside the Grotto, but was so heavy, She was left in
place. Another was carved, exactly like Her and placed in the Basilica. Today pilgrims
come from all over the world to worship and honor Her. Many visions and miracles
have been reported, during or just after people’s visit here (similar to those of
Saint Sarah in Saintes Marie de la Mer).
Our Closing Ceremony
will be in a special location up in the rocks, surrounded by the ancient rock people, to
honor each other, the Holy Grail Mysteries (and how a deeper
understanding of them will influence our lives), the Earth, the Goddess
and the Great Black Madonna. You have an invitation to consciously step
out of one reality to embrace and proclaim a new one. What is your new dream? It will be
witnessed not only by your fellow pilgrims, but by the ancient rock people who are the
guardians and wisdom keepers of truth. What you proclaim will remain here with them, the
way others have done before us, as they are the record keepers and will always remember.