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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Sat, Oct 14:   Connect from your home city to New York/Depart New York

Day 3 - Mon, Oct 16:   Santiago de Compostela: Cathedral of St. James de Compostela (B/L)

Santiago de Compostela, in northwest Spain, emerged centuries ago as one of most important pilgrimage destinations in Europe, even rivaling Rome at times. Pilgrims who were unable to travel to the Holy Land to pay homage to their Christian faith often chose to go to Santiago instead. The story of Santiago de Compostela begins with the Apostle James, or St. James the Great, who undertook missionary activity in the Iberian Peninsula. James was the brother of John the Evangelist - the brothers were converted to Christianity by St. John the Baptist. After his martyrdom in Jerusalem, James’ body was believed to have been transported back to Spain in a stone boat for burial, but the site of his grave became lost in the following centuries. Then, in the 9th century, his remains were reputedly rediscovered in a field by a monk who had been guided by a star. A church was built to secure the sacred bones and the town that grew up around it was called Santiago de Compostela (St James of the Field of the Star). A small shrine was built here in his honor and he was raised to the status of patron saint of Spain.

In the morning we visit the Cathedral of St. James de Compostela, the Moon Oracle, associated with the color red and the 1^st Chakra (survival), the center of birth/death and the female generative energy, and the Degree of the Raven. The vast interior is preserved almost in the original condition, although the interior has been completely excavated and numerous pre-Christian burials, as well as the vestige of a Roman temple, were found under the south transept. As we gaze at figures of the great initiates Melchizedek, Abraham, David and Moses, we may feel the vibrant energy pouring forth from them. On the central column of finely carved marble we see the seated figure of the Apostle St. James. In the Chapel of Relics we view an artifact of overwhelming significance: a jeweled reliquary containing the head of St. James the Less, brother of Jesus, and considered only second in importance to the remains of St. James the Great. The skull is pierced in the area of the temple, in the same manner as that of the supposed skull of St. John the Baptist, which we will view later in Amiens Cathedral in France.

Louis VII of France, St. Francis of Assisi, King Robert the Bruce and Earl William Sinclair of Scotland all made the arduous pilgrimage to this Romanesque cathedral. The symbol of the pilgrim became the scallop shell, something that arose from the story of how a horse and rider plunged into the sea when the body of the apostle first arrived in Spain; miraculous intervention saved the rider's life and as he emerged from the sea he was seen to be covered in scallop shells which fell away as he rode off into the distance. The scallop design symbolizes a single point at the base of the shell, Santiago de Compostela, and the many routes that pilgrims come from or go to.

Like thousands of other seekers have done before us, during our first initiation ritual we begin our pilgrimage by placing our fingers in the five well-worn hollows on the Tree of Jesse, the centerpiece in one of the main porticos, remembering that Gnostics before us gathered here to experience the enlivening of their spiritual energy, Kundalini, at the base chakra in order to enable all the energy centers of the spiritual body to be able to synthesize the higher frequencies that were further awakened during the pilgrimage. 

Afterwards, we enjoy a group lunch at a local restaurant.  In the afternoon you have free time to rest and integrate and/or return to the cathedral on your own for meditation. Dinner on your own. Overnight Santiago de Compostela.

Day 5 - Wed, Oct 18:   To Toulouse: Cathedral of Notre Dame la Dalbade (B/D)

 After breakfast, we transfer to the train station and board the train to Toulouse, a city with a proud past and an intriguing present. With the passing centuries it has become home to a number of magnificent monuments, fine edifices and works of art. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Check in. Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon we visit Notre Dame la Dalbade, the Mercury Oracle, associated with the color orange and the 2^nd Chakra (sexual energies, regeneration), and the Degree of the Hidden One, the Occultist, symbolized by the Peacock. Medieval cathedrals are called in France "notre dame" -- literally, "our lady". They are venerations of the ancient Great Goddess's majesty. The Dalbade part of  the name of the cathedral is derived from the whitewash, or “albade” which was used to cover the first Romanesque church erected here in 541. After being destroyed in a fire in 1442, it was rebuilt and the red brick replaced the characteristic whitewash of the past. But it was dedicated to Our Lady in White, linking it to Mary Magdalene, Patroness of the Knights Templars. Each of the pillars in the colonnade is adorned with the distinctive eight-sided cross patte of the Templars. Historical documents offer evidence that between 1128 and 1132 Raymond Rater of Toulouse granted the land, houses, and the church to the Templar Order.

Our second initiation ritual will focus on enlivening the energies of the sacral chakra, which can cause increased activity in the dream state, as well as enhanced awareness of unconscious needs, heightened sensitivity and sharpening of the psychic senses. Afterwards, we return to our hotel. Group dinner. Overnight Toulouse.

We depart in the morning to Orleans via motor coach; arrive and transfer to our hotel in the heart of the city. Lunch on your own. Take some time to explore Orleans a bit on your own. The city, located on Loire River where it curves south towards the Massif Central, is famous as the place where Joan of Arc broke the long siege of the city by the English in 1429 and set forth freedom for France. The local Museum of Fine Arts houses a well-known gallery of paintings and sculptures. There are other museums and many buildings to admire with Renaissance architecture.

In the afternoon we visit the large Gothic Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, the Venus Oracle, and associated with the color yellow, 3^rd Chakra energies (self-expression), and the Warrior, symbolized by the Knight. Built on the site of the Venus oracle of the Druids, the cathedral has undergone great alterations since its original construction by Templar masons. There are pagan and Roman temple remains that have been excavated under the cathedral. On the Merovingian floor in the crypt is a font that was created from ancient stones that were carved in honor of Venus. A life-sized statue of St. John the Baptist, Patron of the Templars, is depicted in the baptizing position, holding a scallop shell in His hand, thus linking the pilgrimage route to the Johannite heresy that held Him in the highest regard. Mark will share more information about this mystery.

During our third initiation ritual we will focus on our self-expression as warrior Knights, using our inner strength and moral courage to represent the forces of good in the world, just as the Templars did during their heyday. We will harness the potent energies available in this sacred site to enliven the 3^rd chakra energies, the storehouse of universal life force, to face any difficult challenges that we may have in our lives at this time, to use the rightful sense of power and responsibility that will lead us to a growing sense of self and ability to overcome all obstacles. Later return to our hotel. Group dinner. Overnight Orleans.

After breakfast we depart by motor coach to Chartres, where we explore world-famous Chartres Cathedral. Said to be the capital of the ancient Druid world, the cathedral sits on the site of an important Druid mystery center, and has been dedicated to Alchemy and the Divine Feminine since Celtic times. One of the most famous Gothic cathedrals in all of Europe, it is located on a leyline linking Glastonbury, Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt.  Built using the principles of sacred geometry, this pilgrimage center was the Sun Oracle, the Male sulphur energy that balances the moon energies at St. James de Compostela, and is associated with the color green and the 4^th Chakra energies (heart center of love and devotion). For our fourth initiation ritual, we walk the famous Chartres Labyrinth, an ancient goddess tool for transformation. Unlike a maze, the labyrinth has only one path. Walking its winding course to the center quiets the mind. This process involves three stages: purgation – a letting go of distractions as you walk in; illumination - receiving what you came for upon reaching the center; and union - a joining with the sacred as you complete the experience and walk out. This original labyrinth is almost 40 feet in diameter, with 12 circles, 11 courses (or circuits), and 10 labyres. The axis mundi of the Cathedral passes over the Labyrinth, symbolizing the way to God/Goddess here on earth.

If time allows we may also have time to meditate with the Black Madonna of the Pillar in the main cathedral area, and/or visit the Black Madonna of the Crypt, who reflects the Hecate and Persephone archetypes. The crypt, a symphony of sacred geometry, is reputed to be an ancient temple of the Great Goddess. This present statue, a replica of the original one that was burned in a fire, carries the image of the Chartres tradition relating to the pre-Christian image of the Virgin Who Will Give Birth.

After lunch at local restaurant near the Cathedral, we depart via motor coach to Paris. Arrive later afternoon at our hotel in the heart of the city. Few properties in the heart of Paris can offer such tranquility, in an excellent location! Later afternoon Group Meeting. Free time to explore the City of Light on your own and have a typical French dinner at a local bistro. Overnight Paris.

After breakfast we depart in our private motor coach to Amiens, an hour north of Paris, where we visit the Cathedral of Amiens, the Jupiter Oracle, associated with the color indigo, the 6^th Chakra (clairvoyant abilities), and the Degree of the Eagle. Renowned as the most beautiful example of Romanesque Gothic architecture in the world, the cathedral was built to house the relic reputedly holding the head of St John the Baptist, which is on display in the ambulatory. As the Patron of the Order, this relic was of particular importance to the Knights Templars.

During our sixth initiation ritual we will further enliven our third eye and our pituitary gland to gain and/or enhance our clairvoyant abilities and bring balance and harmony to our energy system. As with the initiates who have been here before us, in this degree represented by the Eagle, we will have the “higher vision” and be more easily able to communicate with the unseen spiritual worlds.

After our group lunch in Amiens, we return to Paris. Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own this evening. Overnight Paris.

We transfer this morning to the airport for our flight to Edinburgh, capital of Bonnie Scotland, the land of heather, Templars, tartans, and kilts! Upon arrival we meet our local tour representative and transfer to our charming hotel in the heart of downtown, a part of an expansive terrace, overlooking the city. Designed by architect William H. Playfair, this Georgian hotel has retained much of its original charm and character. The spectacular views over the Firth of Forth, its outstanding cuisine, delightful surroundings and private, landscaped gardens make a truly enjoyable setting. Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon we enjoy a Sightseeing Tour of Edinburgh along the famous Royal Mile, a wide street that runs from Edinburgh Castle, perched high on a plug of volcanic rock, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, home for centuries to many of Scotland's ruling families. We visit the Castle and Palace, as well as 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. Late afternoon return to the hotel. Group dinner. Overnight Edinburgh.

We depart this morning for an exciting full day steeped in Templar lore and mysteries! Our first stop is Balantrodoch, the ancient Templar outpost, now known as Temple. Our local guide Jim Munro will meet us here. Jim is a Freemason and Templar, with a great wealth of information and a great heart to share with us. There are many Templar gravesites to explore. Mark and Andrea will offer a ceremony in the old chapel to connect with the past Templar Grand Masters. We then continue to the village of Roslin for a light lunch at a local hotel.

After lunch we visit world-famous Rosslyn Chapel, site of the Saturn Oracle, associated with the color violet, the energies of the 7^th or Crown Chakra (spiritual enlightenment), and the Degree of the Father. Rosslyn is the famous Templar stronghold founded in 1446 by Sir William Sinclair, third and last Sinclair Prince of Orkney. Many experts today believe it is possible that many Templar relics and documents, including the Holy Grail and Head of John the Baptist may have been hidden in the vaults below the chapel by Sir William. It is the belief of many Sinclairs that 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

There are many symbols that were built into the Chapel that are a key to the esoteric history of the Knights Templar and Freemasons, as well as the mystery of the Holy Grail. Mark will share cutting-edge information about these numerous hidden mysteries from his fourth book, Guardians of the Holy Grail. Niven Sinclair, one of the descendants of Sir William Sinclair, has shared with Mark and Andrea that Rosslyn Chapel was dedicated to the forces of Nature and to Mary Magdalene. Additionally, he believes that in the future it will become a center of world peace. During our time here, Mark and Andrea will lead the group in a special ceremony to pray for world peace.

As with the pilgrims who have ended their pilgrimage here before us, we gain insight into the spiritualization of death, recognizing ourselves as immortal spiritual beings. During our seventh and final initiation ritual we connect with the Seat of the Soul, through the pineal gland and the crown chakra. In the past, initiates who reached this level were known as “The Father” because they knew the workings of time and had gained a Gnostic understanding of the karmic patterns set forth by Father/God. As we have enlivened our Kundalini energies to help them move from the base of our spine, through all of the energy centers to the crown, we now experience our own unique “Awakening.” Later return to our hotel. Celebration and Farewell Dinner. Overnight Edinburgh.

Transfer to the airport for international flight to New York. Connect to your home city.

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

(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)

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Note: Pre-paid gratuities to cover guides, drivers, waiters, baggage handling, etc. Your Tour Escort will carry and disburse these funds so that you can relax and enjoy your trip, knowing that everyone assisting you is being taken care of properly.

Note: The single supplement is ONLY for those who would like to secure a private room throughout the tour, at the indicated additional price. If you are not traveling with anyone you know and would like to share a room, we will be happy to work to find you a suitable roommate. Per our Terms and Conditions, registration for the tour will be held open until two weeks before the departure date in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If by that date we have not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. An early registration will facilitate this process.