Itinerary


Day One		We meet at London Heathrow Airport, where our private bus will take us to Glastonbury. On the way, we will stop for a cream tea at the beautiful Stourhead Gardens and Manor House, where the peaceful atmosphere will help us prepare for the slower pace of the West Country. We will have plenty of time to settle into our Glastonbury retreat house, rest or take a walk before we meet for our opening circle in the Chalice Well Gardens.
Day Two		We will begin our journey into the Mysteries of Glastonbury with a ceremony at the Chalice Well to attune to the energy of the Deep Feminine. We will drink deeply of its healing waters before ascending the path to Glastonbury Tor, where we will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Summerlands. Ritual and meditation will help us contact the presence of the old gods who guard this gateway to the Celtic Otherworld, and there will be plenty of time for our own personal exploration.
Day Three		Today we will be joined by Nicholas Mann, long-time resident and author of “The Isle of Avalon.” Steeped for many years in the history and geomancy (earth energies) of Glastonbury, Nicholas will take us deeper into the Druidic and Avalonian mysteries as he reveals the secret teachings of the Red and White Springs, Glastonbury Abbey, where King Arthur and Queen Guinevere are said to lie buried, and other lesser-known places of beauty and power.
Day Four		We will journey to the White Horse of Uffington, a gigantic mythical beast carved out of the turf in prehistoric times. After lunch in a nearby pub, we take the old pilgrimage track known as The Ridgeway to the burial mound of Wayland's Smithy. Built in 3500 BCE, surrounded by a grove of beech trees, it breathes an atmosphere that reflects its use as a powerful ceremonial site for countless centuries. In the evening, we meet Philip Carr-Gomm, Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, who will lead us into the inner circle of Stonehenge for our private sunset ceremony in this most famous and majestic of megalithic temples.
Day Five		After a restful morning, we will visit the wonderful old pub, “The Druids” for lunch, where the gardens look over the mysterious stone circles of Stanton Drew. After spending time at the Stones, our pilgrimage takes us to nearby Wells, the smallest city in England, whose old-fashioned streets will lead us to its magnificent twelfth century cathedral, resplendent with Gothic carvings and stained glass, held to be one of the most beautiful examples of early architecture in Britain.
Day Six		A free day for personal renewal: Rest and relax, spend time in the Chalice Well Gardens, meditate in the beautiful chapels, get a massage from one of the healing centers in Glastonbury, go shopping, walk to favorite sites or simply just be.
Day Seven		Our pilgrimage leads us to Avebury, a village which sits right in the middle of an extraordinary megalithic ritual landscape. A great ring of stones encloses two smaller rings, with stone avenues winding away in both directions like a huge serpent. As Avebury has long been considered a center of Druidic initiation, we will perform a ceremony and then wander freely among the stones, and tour the village and museum at our leisure. After lunch, we will climb the sacred pyramid of Silbury Hill, believed to represent the belly of the Harvest Goddess, and enter Her womb at West Kennet Long Barrow, a Neolithic earth chamber guarded by towering standing stones.
Day Eight		After a leisurely morning, we will make the short drive to the City of Bath for lunch at a historic restaurant. This ancient city was once known as Aquae Sulis – the Waters of Sul, a Celtic goddess whose steamy waters still pour out into the Roman Baths today. We will take an archeological tour of the baths with its marvelous artifacts, including images of Romano-Celtic gods and goddesses. After our tour, you will be free to visit the 15^th century Abbey, stroll by the River Avon, or just wander through this bustling city, taking in the shops and world-famous Georgian architecture. We will all meet up again at the oldest refreshment house in Bath for a cream tea before our ride home.
Day Nine		Today we will be joined by Denni Clarke, who will lead us on a journey of discovery in crop circle country. Late July is the height of crop circle season, so we should be able to have first-hand experience of these breathtaking formations and maybe even have private meditation time within the vortex to connect with and experience the other-dimensional energies of the CircleMakers. Denni is well-known as a delightful and enthusiastic guide with an intimate knowledge of the circles, so this is sure to be a great adventure.
Day Ten		On our last full day in Glastonbury, there will be time for last-minute shopping in the morning, then after lunch, we will prepare for our final ritual: walking the labyrinth that encircles the Tor, thought to be a Neolithic processional way dedicated to the Earth Goddess. To walk a labyrinth is to trace the pilgrimage of the soul: we have journeyed from the periphery of our busy lives to the sacred center and now we are ready for rebirth in the world once again at a deeper level, so this will be a fitting ceremony for our last day. In the evening, we will celebrate our pilgrimage and our lives with a special candlelit dinner accompanied by the music of a local harper, followed by circle dancing in the gardens.
Day Eleven		Breakfast, hugs, and fond farewells as we return to Heathrow Airport for our flights home.