Gothic Image
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Gothic Image 6-15 June 2017 An Otherworld journey featuring encounters with From Avalon to Camelot Pamela Colman Smith, Merlin and Arthur A Tarot magic quest through the mists of time with Call in the spirit of Pamela Colman-Smith in Mary K. Greer rituals in stone circles in her beloved Cornwall. With more than ten Sense how she felt as she created the iconic books and 48 years images in the Waite-Smith deck and open to experience in Tarot, messages she may have for us today. Mary K. Greer Experience the energy of sacred sites and pioneered many of landscapes by following in the footsteps of the Tarot reading Merlin, Morgan La Fey and King Arthur. methods used today, Listen for whispered messages in Merlin’s including reading Cave at Tintagel, at Stonehenge, on the Tarot for yourself and methods that are ancient Isle of Avalon (Glastonbury) and at interactive, transformational and Avebury. empowering. She has a deep knowledge of the origins of the Waite-Smith deck and a On the giant hill fort of Cadbury/Camelot, imagine standing particular interest in ‘Pixie’, the artist, under the light of the full moon, waiting to hear the thunder of Pamela Colman-Smith who lived for 30 hooves as Arthur’s knights ride forth on their next years in Cornwall. adventure. Take part in a Druid dawn ceremony inside the circle of the Linda Marson prehistoric temple of Stonehenge. Professional Tarot Through Tarot readings in sacred sites, gain insight into your reader, teacher, author own spiritual journey...readings whose messages will continue and founder of Global to unfold for years to come. Spiritual Studies, Linda Marson facilitates a process for using Itinerary Tarot to explore the Tuesday 6 June messages sacred sites Rendezvous at London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4, Arrivals and landscapes have Building, 'The Meeting Point' - at NOON. Transfer to coach. Lunch for us. She believes readings we do on the at the Mayfly Inn, Wherwell, en route to Glastonbury. Check into tour will shine a light on what sustains us our hotel. Dinner and orientation. spiritually and how we connect with it. Wednesday 7 June Jamie George A mystical tour of Glastonbury - the Ancient Isle of Avalon with its intriguing blend of Christianity, Druidry and Arthurian legend. Director of Gothic Im- According to tradition, age Tours, Jamie Joseph of Arimathea arrived George, has been tak- with his 12 companions in ing people to the same AD37, bringing the Chalice sacred sites, fairy glens of the Last Supper or the and other enchanted Holy Grail. We visit the places for 30 years, but beautiful gardens of Chalice each time, and each Well and drink of the well’s group is different. ‘Some healing waters. Here is the of the most memorable times are those legendary burial place of the Holy Grail. We visit Glastonbury when we’re just having fun. You find your- Abbey and climb the magnificent Tor hill with its three dimensional self laughing and joking because you’re labyrinth or Cretan maze. In this landscape, the veil between the opening up, you’re becoming much more at worlds is thin and we tune into its special energy through Tarot and one with yourself and the land.’ meditation. Overnight in Glastonbury. Enquiries: [email protected] Thursday 8 June Today we visit the spectacular hill fort known as Cadbury/Camelot - the likely site of King Arthur's citadel. Here we can see the enormous stone ramparts that surround the hill and walk the perimeter of the 21 hilltop acres that constitute the fort. This became an important defensive site over thousands of years, but its charm lies in its links to the myth and legends of the Arthurian period. After lunch we return to Glastonbury to visit the ancient Druid oaks of Avalon, Gog and Magog, reputed to be part of a processional path leading to the Tor. Free time until dinner. Overnight in Glastonbury. Friday 9 June Today we travel to North Cornwall, to the legendary birthplace of King Arthur - Tintagel. En route we visit the holy well and chapel of the Celtic St Clether, set in a beautiful valley with a bubbling stream and rocky outcrops. A place of rare peace and sanctity. After lunch we explore the ruins of Tintagel Castle, set on an island peninsula amid the rugged Cornish coastline. We descend to the awesome Merlin's Cave, said to be haunted by the spirit of the great sage. We visit the fogou (iron-age underground ceremonial cave) and the King's Inauguration Footprint, set in stone at the highest point of the island. We check in to the Camelot Castle Hotel. Overnight in Tintagel. Saturday 10 June Today we visit the nearby enchanted fairy glen of St Nectan with its wonderful waterfall, keive (initiation bowl), saint's hermitage and chapel. Here is a precious nature site of outstanding beauty. According to legend, King Arthur and his knights found refreshment here. We take lunch at the Cobweb Inn in the lovely little fishing village of Boscastle, home to the Witchcraft Museum which we visit in the afternoon. Tarot displays feature the Waite-Smith deck, and the Golden Dawn, so this is a wonderful place to tune into the energy of Pamela Colman-Smith. Overnight in Tintagel. Sunday 11 June Onwards through the Cornish countryside to Penzance - the last city in England. On the way to our hotel we view the impressive St Michael's Mount across from Mount's Bay, where we take in the sea air and relax by the shore. Overnight in Penzance area. Monday 12 June This is a day for crossing over into the otherworld through Tarot, ritual and meditation. We visit the stone circles, wayside shrines and holy wells of the little district of West Penwith - the Land's End. First, the evocative stone circle of Boscowen-un ('house of the elder tree'), secluded amongst bracken, with a central leaning pillar stone and an enigmatic quartz stone in the south-west of the circle. Here we have a ritual to call in the spirit of Pamela Colman-Smith. Then the Merry Maidens stone circle, named after a group of girls caught dancing on the Sabbath by the Devil, who turned them to stone. Nearby are two monoliths known as the Pipers, who met the same fate. We visit the lovely valley of Lamorna, where we take lunch at the Lamorna Wink Inn. In the afternoon we visit the holy wells of Madron and Sancreed, where stands a church with ancient crosses. Overnight in Penzance area. Tuesday 13 June We journey northeast across the great Bodmin Moor, stopping at Jamaica Inn, made famous by Daphne Du Maurier. We have lunch at a unique 12th century hostelry on the edge of Dartmoor. This inn has been built within what remains of a stone circle! We travel up- country to the pretty market town of Marlborough. Overnight in Marlborough. 2 Wednesday 14 June We rise early for a pilgrimage to the great temple of Stonehenge where we participate in a ritual to celebrate the coming summer solstice, the time when the power of the Sun is at its peak. This will be led by a member of a modern Order of Druids. After a short break for breakfast, we visit the World Heritage Site and sacred landscape of Avebury. The henge, the largest stone circle in the world, has an imposing bank and ditch, and inner stone circles. We visit the largest burial mound in Europe - West Kennet long barrow - and the largest artificial structure in Europe - the enigmatic Silbury Hill. At these sites, we are joined by Steve Marshall, whose book, Exploring Avebury, reveals, for the first time, the importance of water, light and sound in these ancient sites. The afternoon is free to rest, stroll round the town of Marlborough and prepare for our farewell dinner. Overnight in Marlborough. Thursday 15 June After breakfast we depart for London Heathrow Airport for international, domestic flights and transfers. We arrive by 10am in time for flight departures from 1pm onwards. The Gothic Image approach We always spend a good amount of time at each site so that you benefit fully from the ambience and subtle magic of the experience. Ours are not 'now you see it - now you don't' tours. Our focus is on experiencing the 'spirit of place' and the peculiar enchantment that each site offers, and learning something from it. We visit inspiring locations where the ancient spirits of each place still reside. In addition, some of you will be returning to the homes of your ancestors. This can raise spiritual and emotional issues. On our tours we seek to build a supportive atmosphere, and your fellow travellers tend to be of a supportive and understanding disposition. At different sites that we visit, you will be given opportunity for reflection and peace. This inner dimension is what makes our tours especially memorable - a pilgrimage and nourishment for the soul. The pace is not rushed. There are some areas where we climb steps or hills, but otherwise each site is easily accessible and within walking distance from the coach. Nevertheless, you will get some physical exercise! We reserve the right to vary the itinerary as necessary, to provide the best possible experience under the circumstances prevailing at the time. Cost Payment options Earlybird: £2,150 per person twin share Payment is in UK pounds sterling only. We regret (approx. $US 2,724). To qualify for this price, you must that we cannot accept US or Australian dollar book and pay your deposit by 31 January 2017.