SACRED SITES JOURNEYS
Since 1994 ...Spiritual Pilgrimages
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SCOTLAND
Bonnie Scotland! Ancient Land of Sacred Sites & Enduring Mysteries

July 10 - 18, 2010

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TOUR DESCRIPTION


            


Scotland is the land of the ancient Celts, whose living heritage and mysteries
endure even today in the loving hearts, inquisitive minds and indomitable spirit of the people,
as well as in the magic of the land!

Travel with a smaller group of spirit-centered people
to explore and discover ancient and modern Bonnie Scotland
at these sacred sites and power spots:
  
Edinburgh: World-famous Rosslyn Chapel,
Edinburgh Castle, & Holyrood Palace

Priory at Inchmahon at Lake of Menteith

Heritage village of Luss, on the banks of Loch Lomond,
with its 6th century church and graveyard
and the meadow and forest land of the glebe,
one of the most beautiful places in all of Scotland!

Kilmartin Glen, one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in all of Scotland
including Temple Wood Stone Circle

Haunted Stirling Castle, one of the grandest of all of Scotland's castles

Callander, the gateway to Rob Roy country, on the River Teith

Ancient spa village of Bridge of Allan

Dunfermline Abbey, once the seat of the throne in Scotland,
and St. Margaret's Secret Cave


SPECIAL OFFERINGS!
Meditations at the sacred sites & power spots
to connect with the sacred land
and the Celtic Gods and Goddess of Scotland

The Celtic Pantheon that the ancient Celts recognized held many female deities of primary importance ranging from war goddesses to mother goddesses to ruling goddesses. They also believed in three aspects of the Goddess and three aspects of a single god. The Druids taught the people to worship the gods and goddesses, as well as to be strong, courageous and to do no evil. Women were equal to men in the Druid circles, and held just as much power. The Priests and Priestesses were highly revered. They sang the dying to sleep, did charms, enchantments, prophecies, healing, etc.  As well, they knew the power of words, stones and herbs.  One of the central features of their Groves was a cauldron, bowl or pool.

The Great Father represented the male principle of creation. He was known as the Horned God or The Lord, and was the Lord of the winter, harvest, land of the dead, the sky, animals, mountains, lust, powers of destruction, regeneration. 

The Great Mother or The Lady represented the female principle of creation. She was known as the Goddess of fertility, the Moon, summer, flowers, love, healing, the seas, water.

In addition, there were other Gods and Goddesses in the Celtic Pantheon. Triduana was the Goddess of Edinburgh who plucked out her eyes to eradicate her own beauty rather than submit to the advances of Nechtan, King of the Picts. Caillech (pronounced COY-lck or CALL-y'ach) is the Great Goddess in her Destroyer aspect. She's also called the "Veiled One". Originally Scotland was called Caledonia, "the land given by Caillech". Another name for her is Scota, which is where the name Scotland comes from. In some areas she's known by her name of Carlin, the Goddess of Winter, the blue-faced hag and who was the spirit of the eve of Samhain (Halloween), the night the year turned to winter, and the ghosts of the dead roamed the world of the living. Caillech rules over disease, plague, cursing, wisdom, seasonal rites, weather magick.

Cerridwen was known as the Moon and Grain Goddess. She was believed to rule over death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magick, astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge, wisdom, past lives, divination. Her symbol was a white sow. In her magickal cauldron, she made a potion called greal (from which the word Grail most likely came from). The potion was made from six plants for inspiration and knowledge. She is also the goddess of dark prophetic powers, and the  keeper of the cauldron of the underworld, in which inspiration and divine knowledge are brewed. She is often equated with the famous Greek crone, Hecate, and to the Irish Badb.
Photo Credit: http://www.goddessmyths.com/


These and many other Gods and Goddesses are still recognized today in Scotland. During our spiritual pilgrimage we'll have opportunities to connect with their potent and palpable energies through meditations at the sacred sites and power spots.

TOUR PERSONNEL

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

Andrea Mikana-Pinkham, Director of Sacred Sites Journeys, has Scottish ancestry and a deep and abiding connection with the ancient Celtic energies of this spiritual land of tartans, kilts, and heather.Andrea has been leading spiritual pilgrimages around the world since 1994, including to Scotland.

Andrea is also the North American Grand Prioress of The International Order of Gnostic Templars, a contemporary division of the Scottish Knight Templars that is dedicated to the revival of the Goddess Tradition and Gnostic Wisdom on the planet.
For more information, visit The International Order of Gnostic Templars.

Sacred Sites Journeys Internet Radio
SCOTLAND: Ancient Land of Celts & Knight Templars
Guest Host: Mark Amaru Pinkham, author of World Gnosis: The Coming Gnostic Civilization,
Guardians of the Holy Grail, The Return of the Serpents of Wisdom, Conversations with the Goddess,
and The Truth Behind the Christ Myth
To listen to an Mp3 recording of this program, Click here

BRIEF TOUR ITINERARY
(For a more detailed itinerary, scroll down)

Day 1. Saturday, July 10. Arrive Edinburgh: Group Meeting; Welcome Dinner
Overnight Edinburgh.

Day 2. Sunday, July 11. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle & Holyrood Palace; Free Time
Overnight Edinburgh.

Day 3. Monday, July 12. To Lake of Menteith; to Luss on Loch Lomond
Overnight near Loch Lomond.

Day 4. Tuesday, July 13.  Kilmartin Glen & Temple Wood Stone Circle; to Oban
Overnight Oban.

Day 5. Wednesday, July 14. Full Day Visit to Island of Iona
Overnight Oban.

Day 6. Thursday, July 15. Callander; Stirling Castle; To Bridge of Allan
Overnight Bridge of Allen.

Day 7. Friday, July 16. Dunfermline: Dunfermline Abbey: St. Margaret's Cave; To Edinburgh
Overnight Edinburgh.

Day 8. Saturday, July 17. Edinburgh: Rosslyn Chapel; Free Time; Farewell Dinner
Overnight Edinburgh.

Day 9. Sunday, July 18. Depart Edinburgh



TOUR ITINERARY
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 1. Saturday, July 10. Arrive Edinburgh: Group Meeting; Farewell Dinner (D)
This Sacred Sites Journey is Land Only. You are responsible to arrange your roundtrip international air to Edinburgh. Please arrive at Edinburgh International Airport by Noon today, so that you will have time to transfer to the hotel and rest before our afternoon activities.
After clearing Immigration, claim your luggage in the baggage claim area. Then exit through Customs. Transfer on your own via an airport taxi to our hotel, located in the heart of Edinburgh, and check in. Lunch on your own. Free time in the early/mid afternoon to rest.

In the later afternoon we'll gather in the hotel for our Introductory Group Meeting and Opening Meditation, followed by our Welcome Dinner at the hotel.  Overnight Edinburgh.

Day 2. Sunday, July 11.  Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace; Free Time (B)
After our hearty Scottish breakfast, we're off for a morning visit to two of Edinburgh's most famous landmarks: Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Castle, perched high on a plug of volcanic rock, has been a fortress since long before recorded history. The castle has been at the center of Scottish history for over 800 years, and was captured and recaptured many times during the centuries of wars between Scotland and England. Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James VI in the castle in 1566. It withstood attack in both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite Uprisings. Legend says there is the ghost of a headless drummer that has been sighted, as well as a piper playing on the battlements - and not just during the Edinburgh Military Tattoo! As we enjoy the heart of this world-famous mighty Scottish icon, you'll be able to explore the following areas and more:
1) The Great Hall: Completed in 1511, the Great Hall was the nation’s chief place of ceremony and state assembly. An original hammerbeam roof dating from 1511 is just one fascinating feature of this impressive hall.

2) The Honors of Scotland: The Honors of Scotland, the nation’s crown jewels, the crown, scepter and sword of state are the oldest royal regalia in the United Kingdom

3) The Stone of Destiny: The is an important symbol of Scottish nationhood, and still plays a central role in all British coronations. It was the coronation seat of ancient Scottish kings. Thought by medieval scholars to have biblical origins, some considered it to be the pillow on which Jacob dreamed of his ladder. Others believed it had been taken out of Egypt by the daughter of a pharaoh. It has been used in coronation ceremonies for many years, originally at Scone, near Perth. Lulach – stepson of Macbeth – sat on it when he was proclaimed King of Scots in 1057. From then until 1292, it was used at the inaugurations of all Scottish monarchs.

Then, in 1296, Edward I of England invaded Scotland and took the Stone from Scone to London. He installed the Stone in a magnificent golden coronation chair. Since then, all English monarchs and – since the Unions of the Parliaments of Scotland and England in 1707 – all British sovereigns have been enthroned on this seat. (The only exceptions are Edward V and Edward VIII.) In 1950, four students removed the Stone from Westminster Abbey in London. It soon turned up at Arbroath Abbey, north-east of Edinburgh. The abbey is famous for the Declaration of Arbroath, a robust statement of Scotland’s independence from England. The stone was returned to Westminster Abbey. In 1996, Her Majesty The Queen allowed the stone to be returned to Scotland, after 700 years. (Note: Rent The Stone of Destiny, a great movie about the students and their courageous act to watch before your journey!)
Photo Credit: Stone of Destiny John B Brent

4) St Margaret's Chapel: Take a quiet moment in St Margaret’s Chapel, built by David I around 1130, it is considered to be the oldest building in Edinburgh. Margaret was born around 1045, into the royal family of England. After the Norman invasion of 1066, she fled to the court of Malcolm III of Scotland. They soon fell in love and were married at Dunfermline. We'll be visiting the cave where she is said to have meditated and prayed regularly on Day 7.
Malcolm was a warrior who relished fighting the Norman conquerors of England; while Margaret was deeply religious. Disaster struck in 1093, when Malcolm and his eldest son, Edward, were killed in an ambush. On hearing the news, Margaret took to her bed in Edinburgh Castle and died from a broken heart. The chapel was built by her youngest son, King David I. It has not always been used for worship.  From the 16th to the 18th century it was a gunpowder store. In 1250, Margaret was canonized as St Margaret of Scotland, for her many acts of piety and charity in her adopted country.

5) The Royal Palace: This building is where Scotland’s kings and queens lived when they were in Edinburgh. Its fine rooms were the home of Scotland’s royalty for centuries, where Queen Marie de Guise died in 1560 and her daughter Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI in 1566. Since its accommodations were not very comfortable, the royal family preferred Holyrood Abbey, at the other end of the Royal Mile, which we will visit this morning. However, the castle was more secure.  It was here that Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her only child, James, in June 1566. Prince James was born in a cramped closet next to Mary’s bedchamber. It was a difficult birth. Afterwards, the baby was wrapped in fine robes and presented to his mother and father, Lord Darnley. James became King James VI of Scotland soon after his first birthday in 1567; and King James I of England in 1603. In 1617 King James VI & I made an emotional return to his birthplace in the castle to celebrate his 50th anniversary as king of Scots.  His birthchamber was specially redecorated for the occasion.

We continue to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, home for centuries to many of Scotland's ruling families, and still a royal residence of the Queen; it's full of hundreds of years of Scottish history. Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, is situated at the end of the Royal Mile. The Palace is closely associated with Scotland's turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived here between 1561 and 1567. Successive kings and queens have made the Palace of Holyroodhouse the premier royal residence in Scotland. Today, the Palace is the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining. During The Queen's Holyrood week, usually from the end of June to the beginning of July, Her Majesty carries out a wide range of official engagements in Scotland. The Investiture held in the Great Gallery is for Scottish residents whose achievements have been recognized in the twice-yearly Honors List which appears at New Year and on The Queen's Official Birthday in June. Each year, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh entertain around 8,000 guests from all walks of Scottish life during a garden party in the palace grounds.

After our full and enjoyable morning we return to the hotel. You have the afternoon for lunch on your own, and free time to rest or explore more of the capital city. Perhaps you'd like to visit St. Giles Cathedral, the most romantic church in Scotland, dating from the 12th century, with a visit to the Thistle Chapel, built in 1911 for Scotland's order of the chivalry, the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. Or how about some retail therapy along Princes Street or the Royal Mile? If you have Scottish ancestry, perhaps you'd like to purchase a scarf of your clan tartan. OR, if not, then go for it anyway! Anyone can wear the Stewart tartan!

Dinner on your own this evening. There are many excellent restaurants in the city, and lively pubs as well if you'd like to enjoy a typical night out on the town. Overnight Edinburgh.

Day 3. Monday, July 12. To Lake of Menteith; to Luss on Loch Lomond (B)
This morning after breakfast we board our motorcoach to travel to the Lake of Menteith, where we enjoy a 10 minute motor boat ride to the small peaceful island where the Priory of Inchmahome is situated. The monastery was built in 1238 by Walter Comyn for a group of Augustinian friars, and was home to Mary Queen of Scots for a short time, when her mother brought her here at 4 years of age to be protected after the heavy Scottish defeat at the Battle of Pinkie.  Robert the Bruce also visited here on at least 3 occasions. Will these Scottish monarchs call out to us with messages from the mists of time? What will the energies of the land bring to our meditative experience?

We return from the island to travel to Loch Lomond stopping along the way for lunch on your own in Aberfoyle, a small but important village located at the southern edge of the West Highland Fault, in the Lomond & Trossachs National Park.

We then continue to Luss for a special energetic experience. The quaint little heritage village of Luss, often described as "the jewel in the crown" of Scotland's first National Park is situated in one of Scotland's most-loved settings, at the foot of Glen Luss, where the River Luss runs into world-famous Loch Lomond. The buildings in this little hamlet have been preserved; structural changes to the outside are prohibited. We're here to see and connect with the land which has been cared for and protected for over hundreds of years, and to experience the enduring benefits of this sturdy Scottish stewardship.

The village is a traditional place of pilgrimage. Many people believe that it's protected by the Celtic Saint, MacKessog (a nick-name which means "little spear"). who  brought Christianity here from Ireland in the 6th century. Legend says he chose to come here because it was where three ancient kingdoms met and thus was a gathering place. Pilgrims would mark their stay here by picking the famed “Blue Lilly of Luss” to wear in their hats, so all would know where they had been.

We take time to explore the Loch, the church, and the graveyard and their ancient and enduring energies. There has been a Church on this site since 510 CE, the year of the founding by St. Kessog, with a Christian presence here continually for fifteen hundred years. The present Luss Parish Church building was constructed in 1875 by Sir James Colquhoun of Luss in memory of his father, who was drowned in the loch. It underwent a major restoration program in 2001, with major contributions from Historic Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and other contributors. Inside the church there are relics from the Colquhouns' private chapel in Rossdhu. In the churchyard we find an old stone font and a hog-backed stone sarcophagus. Is this the 10th century effigy of St Kessog? Meditate there and see if you receive a message from him. Also buried in the graveyard are the Clan chiefs of the MacFarlanes of Arrochar. There are 15 listed ancient monuments to explore in this ancient graveyard. Here's an epitaph from one of the graves to ponder:
Could he disclose, who rests below
The things beyond the grave that lie,
We more should learn than now we know,
But know no better how to die.

Next we visit Luss Glebe, one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. Almost twenty-five acres in size, it sits on the banks of Loch Lomond across the Luss Water from the Church. Because there was no access to the glebe after the bridge was washed away in 1993 until 2006, the land has returned to its natural state. There is meadowland and oak forest, as well as a wet land and river bank and, of course, the loch shore. This is a real treat to be able to visit the glebe, as so much of the land on the banks of Loch Lomond is no longer open to the public. Here, we have both a welcome and an invitation to explore. We cross the bridge to the Pilgrimage Walk, which circumnavigates the meadow. Alongside the walkway are poems and sculptures that have been left or commissioned by people from all over the world who have labored on building the pathway.  In addition, there are smaller pathways branching off from the main path, some leading to the loch-side, others along the river bank or meandering through the trees. Each of these walks has a theme - love, loss, faith and challenge - which gives us an opportunity to meditate and reflect on these qualities in our lives, and in a place that provides peace and the quiet. Early in 2008 a Remembrance Garden was created as part of the Glebe project. People can plant a tree as a way of remembering someone or something which is special to them. As well they can have a small pottery plaque created on-site to accompany the tree and mark the commemoration.

We then continue to our hotel near Loch Lomond and check in. You have free time and dinner is on your own at the hotel tonight.
Overnight at hotel near Loch Lomond.

Day 4. Tuesday, July 13. Kilmartin Glen & Temple Wood Stone Circle; to Oban (B/D)
We check out of the hotel and we're off to Kilmartin Glen, an area in Argyll, which has one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in all of Scotland. There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six mile radius of the village of Kilmartin, which is closest to the Glen. Of these, 150 of them are considered to be prehistoric. There is a linear arrangement of cairns that runs over three miles south-by-south-west from the village, with five remaining ones that we may be able to see. Bronze age burial cairns and a Stone Age structure at Nether Largie South cairn which was rebuilt in the Bronze Age make up part of the amazing landscape from the past that has survived into the present day. In the Glen we may also find some of its awesome concentrations of some of the most impressive cup and ring decorated rock surfaces. These consist of a concave depression, no more than a few inches across, pecked into a rock surface and often surrounded by concentric circles also etched into the stone. Sometimes a linear channel called a gutter leads out from the middle.

We also explore Temple Wood, also known locally as Half Moon Wood, an ancient stone circle in the Glen. The site was named in the 19th century, when the local folks planted many trees around the circles. There are actually two circles at the site. One contains a ring of 13 standing stones, about 40 ft. in diameter, with a small stone-built coffin-like box used to hold the bodies of the dead in the center, surrounded by a circle of stones about 10 ft. in diameter. Research shows that the circle may have been constructed around 3000 BCE, and to have had some orientation towards solar events such as solstices and equinoxes. The northern circle is smaller and consists rounded river stones, with a single stone in its center, and is believed to have been constructed to align with the mid-day sun on the winter solstice. At both of these ancient sacred power spots we take time to "tune in" through meditation and ask for any messages that the stones and/or their ancient Celtic builders may have for us today.

Lunch on your own with the group. Then we're on our way to Oban, known as the Gateway to the Isles, and the capital of North Argyll. A busy ferry and railway terminal and a popular tourist destination, it has a wide range of shops and supermarkets, banks etc, many excellent restaurants, and more. It will be our home for two nights, our jumping off point for our visit to the sacred Isle of Iona. Check in at our hotel.  Group dinner in the hotel.
Overnight Oban.

Day 5. Wednesday, July 14. Ferry to Mull and Iona (B/D)
After an early breakfast we'll walk to the nearby terminal and board the ferry to Mull, an island of magic and peace. On arrival, we'll take a bus for a one hour drive through the lovely Scottish countryside to Fionnphort. During our ride we'll be bewitched with the island's amazing geology, and the energies and remnants of its Celtic and Viking past. Every turn in the road may present us with yet another dazzlingly beautiful seascape. Relax and prepare for our visit to Iona. Once we reach Fionnphort, we walk onto the small ferry that will take us a short distance across the waters. (No cars are allowed on the island). After only  few minutes we arrive on Iona for a full day of exploration to experience the peaceful ambience of this special little island, with its heritage center, famous abbey and its burial ground of Scottish monarchs and political leaders.

Our ferry lands at Baile Mór, Iona's main village, which is little more than a row of cottages facing the sea. There's also a post office, a very good craft shop and general store in the village. And a small restaurant where you can have lunch on your own today. You can easily get around on foot, or if you want to explore a bit further, you can hire a mountain bike. And, if you decide to venture beyond the main village, Baile Mór, you can find a quiet spot on one of the sparkling silver beaches washed by turquoise sea. 

A small island, barely three miles long and a little over a mile wide, Iona's place in religious history was guaranteed when St Columba arrived with his 12 disciples and founded a monastery there in 563 BCE. The Irish monk then set about converting practically all of pagan Scotland and much of northern England. Iona went on to become the most sacred religious site in Europe and has been a place of pilgrimage for several centuries. Iona is known as the 'Cradle of Christianity in Scotland', and was a center of the arts. The monks produced elaborate carvings, manuscripts, ornate gravestones and Celtic crosses. Their greatest work was the beautiful Book of Kells, which dates from 800 CE, and which is now on display in Dublin's Trinity College.

The first of the Viking raids began in 806 CE, when many monks were slaughtered at Martyrs' Bay, followed by another in 986 which destroyed the work of many years. The relentless pressure from the established church ended with the suppression of the Celtic Church by King David in 1144. In 1203 Iona became part of the mainstream church with the establishment of a nunnery for the Order of the Black Nuns, as well as a Benedictine Abbey by Reginald of the MacDonalds of the Isles. Iona became overshadowed by the royal city of Dunfermline, and its final demise came with the Reformation when buildings were demolished and all but three of the 360 carved crosses destroyed. The abbey lay in ruins until in 1899 the island's owner, the eighth Duke of Argyll, donated the buildings to the Church of Scotland on condition that the abbey church was restored for worship. Then in 1938 the Reverend George Macleod founded the Iona Community as an evangelical Church of Scotland brotherhood, with the abbey buildings as its headquarters, and by 1965 had succeeded in rebuilding the remainder of the monastic buildings. Now the abbey complex has been completely restored and the island of Iona, apart from the abbey buildings, is owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

The present abbey dates from around 1200, though it has been rebuilt over the centuries and completely restored in the 20th century. The oldest part is the restored St Oran's Chapel, to the south of the abbey on the right, which is plain and unadorned save for its splendid 11th-century Norman doorway. It is said that Columba was prevented from completing the building of the original chapel until a living person had been buried in the foundations. His friend Oran volunteered and was duly buried. Columba later asked for the face to be uncovered so that he could bid a final farewell to his friend, but Oran was found to be alive and claimed he had seen Heaven and Hell, describing them in such blasphemous terms that Columba ordered he be covered up immediately!

Surrounding the chapel is the Reilig Odhrain, the sacred burial ground, which is said to contain the graves of 48 Scottish kings, including Macbeth's victim, Duncan, as well as four Irish and eight Norwegian kings. The stones you see today are not the graves of kings but of various important people from around the West Highlands and Islands.

Beside the Road of the Dead, which leads from the abbey church to St Oran's Chapel, stands the 8th-century St Martin's Cross. This is the finest of Iona's Celtic high crosses and is remarkably complete, with the Pictish serpent-and-boss decoration on one side and holy figures on the other. Standing in front of the abbey entrance is a replica of St John's Cross, the other great eighth-century monument. The restored original is in the Infirmary Museum, at the rear of the abbey, along with a fine collection of medieval gravestones.

No part of St Columba's original buildings survives, but to the left of the main entrance is St Columba's Shrine, the small, steep-roofed chamber which almost certainly marks the site of the saint's tomb. You get a good view of the whole complex from the top of the small grassy knoll opposite the abbey entrance. This is Torr an Aba, where Columba's cell is said to have been.

Just outside the village, on the way to the abbey, are the ruins of the Augustinian nunnery. Just to the north, housed in the parish church manse, built by Thomas Telford, is the Iona Heritage Center, which features displays on the island's social history.

Lunch on your own today. In the later afternoon we return on the short ferry ride to Mull, catch the bus to the ferry terminal and return across the water to Oban. Group dinner at hotel. Overnight Oban.

Day 6. Thursday, July 15. Callander; Stirling Castle; Bridge of Allan (B/D)
We check out of the hotel this morning and board our motorcoach in route to Stirling Castle. During our drive we stop for some R and R just outside of Callander, where you'll have the chance for some fun. You can meet Hamish the Highland Cow (really a bull). Callander, known locally as the gateway to Rob Roy country, is a beautiful little town, with some interesting shops, and a wonderful park along the River Teith. It was a Victorian spa town which became popular due to the proximity of The Trossach's and Sir Walter Scott's works including Lady of the Lake. Time allowing, we'll take time for meditation at some quiet spot along the river.

We then continue on to Stirling Castle, an icon of Scottish and Stirling heritage, and one of the grandest of all of Scotland's castles. Built 250 ft. above the surrounding plain on the great basalt rock of an extinct volcano, the first record of Stirling Castle dates from around 1110, when King  Alexander I dedicated a chapel there. Though it appears to have already been an established royal center at that time. Stirling Castle became the strategic military key to the kingdom during the 13th and 14th Century Wars of Independence, and was the favorite royal residence of many of the Stuart Monarchs. Alexander died there in 1124. During the reign of his successor David I Stirling became a royal burgh, and the castle was an important administrative center. King William I established a deer park to the southwest of the castle, but after his capture by the English in 1174 he was forced to surrender several castles, including Stirling and Edinburgh. There is no evidence that the English actually occupied the castle, and it was formally handed back by Richard I of England in 1189. Stirling continued to be a favored royal residence, with William himself dying there in 1214, and Alexander III laying out the New Park, for deer hunting, in the 1260s.

Stirling Castle is also famous for its ghosts! We may catch a glimpse of a beautiful woman in a pink silk gown known as The Pink Lady while there. Some say the apparition is Mary Queen of Scots; she was crowned in the old chapel in 1533. Others say she is the ghost of a woman searching for her husband who had been killed when Edward I captured the castle in 1304. A Grey Lady who has also been known to appear is assumed to be an attendant to Mary Stuart; legend says she saved her from death when the draperies on the royal bed caught fire.

We continue to the Bridge of Allan, charming little village by the Allan Water. Home to Stirling University, it's also overlooked by the nearby National Wallace Monument, a towering tribute to Scotland’s, Sir William Wallace. There are shops and cafes, restaurants and bars as well as a wide range of Victorian architecture that was built when the village developed into a spa town during the Victorian era. In the 18th century mineralized water draining from a nearby copper mine attracted large numbers of people who came to "take the waters" due to its alleged healing powers. Samples of the water were analyzed and shown to be rich in dissolved minerals. This eventually led to the development of the Spa.

We check into our hotel. Lunch on your own. Then you have time to explore this quaint little town on your own. Maybe you'd like to take a stroll in Pullar Park, a formally laid out Victorian park and garden with a war memorial circled by tree lined gravel paths. Or, there's a charming riverside pathway called the Darn Walk, thought to have been in use since Roman Times. Both are excellent opportunities to take some quiet time for meditation and reflection.

Group dinner at the hotel. Overnight Bridge of Allen.

Day 7. Friday, July 16. Dunfermline: Dunfermline Abbey: St. Margaret's Cave; To Edinburgh (B)
We check out of the hotel after breakfast and board our motorcoach for the drive to Dunfermline where we will experience St. Margaret's cave and Dunfermline Abbey. The abbey was built in 1072 by King David I in honor of his mother Queen Margaret. Previously it had been the site of a Church built by the Celtic community around 800 AD. Dunfermline was originally the seat of the throne in Scotland, before it was moved to its present location in Edinburgh. Here is where the body (minus his heart) of Robert the Bruce is buried, as well as many other famous historical figures and "royals", including the mother of William Wallace.  St. Margaret's grave is also found here.

We will be able to descend the 87 gentle steps to the secret cave of St. Margaret. As the 11th Century Queen of Scotland she would follow what was then a wooded path to this special spot to pray in solitude for the safety of her husband King Malcolm Canmore.  After her death she was made a Saint for all the wonderful charitable works she performed, and St. Margaret's day is still honored each year on November 16th.  Many miracles were attributed to her even after her death.

After lunch on your own in Dunfermline, we continue to Edinburgh and check in at hotel. Free time. Dinner on your own. Overnight Edinburgh.

Day 8. Saturday. July 17. Edinburgh: Rosslyn Chapel; Free Time; Farewell Dinner (B/D)
We drive out of the city this morning to the village of Roslin, to visit one of the most famous little chapels in the world - Rosslyn Chapel, founded in 1446 by Earl William Sinclair, third and last Sinclair Prince of Orkney. Dan Brown highlighted this tiny Midlothian church in his blockbuster novel The Da Vinci Code, proposing that the Holy Grail in the form of Mary Magdalene was once hidden there. This put Rosslyn on the map, and its enduring secrets became world-famous. Thousands and thousands of people have journeyed here hoping to connect with these mysterious energies. Today, we make our connection! 

Various authors, including Andrea's husband Mark Amaru Pinkham, Grand Prior of the International Order of Gnostic Templars, have claimed that Rosslyn is the resting place for various esoteric artifacts. In his fourth book, Guardians of the Holy Grail, Mark explores these theories in-depth. Perhaps the Chapel was not built as a place of worship, but as a sacred repository for secrets that were brought back from the Holy Land by Hugh de Payens, the first Grand Master of the Knights Templars? Are there Templar relics and documents that might be hidden in the crypt? Could it be the Holy Grail, the Head of John the Baptist, the marriage certificate of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the Ark of the Covenant, the lost Scrolls of the Temple of Solomon, or even the real version of Scotland's own Stone of Destiny. The list goes on and on!

During our guided tour of the chapel we'll see Rosslyn’s famous stone carvings. Some of them are the best examples of their kind in Europe. Many Templars and Freemasons believe that they were built into the Chapel as keys to the esoteric history of their organizations. Many of them depict symbols relating to Old Testament text and characters. Some carvings depict plants from the New World, such as corn and aloe vera. Since they were carved into the chapel walls a good 50 years before Columbus’ voyages to America, how did the builders know about them? Some researchers believe they are proof of Prince Henry Sinclair's voyage to America well before Columbus.

After our guided tour, we'll explore these intriguing questions. Then take some time to sit quietly in the chapel and meditate on them. You might receive answers that will surprise you!

Rosslyn Chapel - Interior

         





                    



Rosslyn Chapel - Exterior

                                   




All photos above of the interior and exterior of Rosslyn Chapel are copyright Sacred Sites Journeys

NEWS FLASH! April 3, 2010: Of the enigmas hidden within the walls of Rosslyn Chapel, builders have recently discovered yet another one that is creating quite a buzz.  What is the meaning behind the strange stone bee hives that were hidden in the Chapel's roof?  With the public's interest in Da Vinci Code style mysteries at an all time high, experts are pressured to answer the questions surrounding what is fast becoming an ever deepening mystery.

Our take is that these stone homes for the buzzing bees were purposefully built  into the Chapel as the ancient symbol of the Goddess, who was often depicted in the form of a bee! Even though the tomb of Mary Magdalene is NOT at Rosslyn Chapel, it seems that this find is a message that the Divine Feminine is still alive and well there!

Perhaps the bees will return; this is a very old sign that the Great Mother Goddess had a blessed place. In ancient times, bees were almost always kept by women. In the late 19th century in England, female beekeepers had certain powers, including the ability to foretell the future. It's said that the bees saw the secrets of the community on their busy rounds of collecting pollen from flowers each day,  and that they would confide their secrets to their beekeeper as they returned to the hive each evening.

After our visit we'll walk to one of the nearby pubs in Roslin for lunch on your own with the group. Then we return to Edinburgh and our hotel, where you have a bit of free time for your final explorations of this quaint and cosmopolitan city.

In the evening we enjoy our Farewell Dinner at the hotel, taking time to share our experiences in Bonnie Scotland, say our fond Good-byes to each other, sharing hugs and laughter. Overnight Edinburgh .

Day 9. Sunday, July 18. Depart Scotland (B)
Tour ends after breakfast. Transfer on your own via taxi to the airport for your international flight.

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

A Few Words from Sacred Sites Journeys Pilgrimages to Scotland

Rosslyn Chapel is one of the most powerful places I've ever visited on this earth, and I've visited many! The esoteric symbols that are carved into the walls and ceiling have many many layers of meaning, and are worth meditating on very carefully. Andrea told us that many people believe it will become one of the main centers for world peace upon our planet. I'd say it's already well on its way! - D. Harkins, AZ

Thank you, Andrea, for manifesting soul and spirit through the vehicle of this sacred journey to Scotland. - S. Volk, CA

The visit to Rosslyn Chapel was more than awesome! Andrea took care of all the details in a professional and extremely capable manner, so that we could just enjoy and soak up the energies. - E. Matheson, RI

Scotland is much more than "Bonnie"! It's heavenly....and then some! I experienced this everyday during my sacred journey with Andrea. The ancient connection with the land is so strong, that you only have to be on Her and breathe to feel the gentle yet powerful energies. And you'll be transported back in time to places that still exist. I've been to Scotland with Andrea twice, and plan to return. The combination of the two is a winner! - D. Balch, CA

The tour to Scotland with Andrea is my all-time favorite trip. We are still talking about it! It could not possibly have been better.
- L. Gufstafson, NY

There were no problems on my trip to Scotland with Andrea. Everything went perfectly! Edinburgh and Rosslyn Chapel were excellent!
- A. Leaf, AZ

Our day spent on the Isle of Iona was enchanting! Everywhere I went I felt ancient presences. And received many messages about the things that had occurred there in the past. I could have spent a full week there I'm sure and then would still not wanted to leave.
- C. Roberts, IA

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Your Sacred Sites Journey to SCOTLAND Includes:
- Accommodations in charming 3-star Scottish B and B's and hotels, including daily breakfast, taxes & service charges
- 5 dinners
- Motorcoach transportation
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary, including entrance fees
- Pre-paid gratuities for motorcoach driver, waiters at group meals, and other tour-related activities

Special Added Features
- Travel in a smaller group with other spirit-centered people
- Fully escorted by SSJ's Director, Andrea Mikana-Pinkham  
- Meditations facilitated by Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
- Edinburgh: Visit to world-famous Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburgh Castle, & Holyrood Palace
- Priory at Inchmahon at Lake of Menteith
- Heritage village of Luss
- Kilmartin Glen and Temple Wood Stone Circle
- Full Day visit to the Isle of Iona
- Stirling Castle
- Callandar & Bridge of Allan
- Dunfermline Abbey and nearby St. Margaret's Cave
- Welcome and Farewell Dinner

TOUR PRICING
IMPORTANT: Pricing for this pilgrimage has been reduced by $200.00!
The prices below reflect this reduction.

This Sacred Sites Journey is Land Only. You are responsible to arrange your roundtrip international air to Edinburgh.
ARRIVAL: Please arrive at Edinburgh International Airport by Noon on Saturday, July 10.
DEPARTURE: Sunday, July 18. Please book your international return flight from Edinburgh to depart at any time that is convenient for you.

DISCOUNT! Make ALL of your payments by check or money order and receive a 4% discount! This discount is INCLUDED in the prices below listed for this payment option.
NOTE: We are only able to take credit cards until June 2, 2010. 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 $50.00 bank wire fee applies for wires originating from countries outside the US).

Bonnie Scotland (July 10 - 18, 2010)
Per Person, double occupancy, LAND ONLY
Per Person, double occupancy, land only:
$2,395.00 for payments via check or money order
OR $2,495.00 for payments via credit card

Single Room Supplement:
$450.00 for payments via check or money order
OR $469.00 for payments via credit card
NOTE:  This is the additional amount you will pay if you choose to have your own private room throughout the tour.

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 June 12, 2010. Departs July 10th.

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

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