PRINGLE BAY SACRED EARTH
WEEKEND RETREATS 2008
EMPOWER YOUR HEART
Weekends:
29-31 August 2008,5-7 September 2008,12-14 September 2008
19-21 September 2008
THE EARTH’S ANCIENT LEY LINES conduct powerful consciousness and are fundamental in healing ourselves and the environments where we live.
THE CAPE TOWN AREA HAS AN ABUNDANCE of these ancient ley lines and they are WAKING UP at the moment!
These ancient and sacred ley lines are rising again to awaken us to NEW POSSIBILITIES THAT HAVE NOT EXISTED BEFORE.
By tapping into their consciousness, we can become RENEWED, and also more AWAKENED TO OUR TRUE PATH.
But it is ONLY THROUGH FINDING THE SACREDNESS OF OUR HEARTS that we can access the power of these ley lines and we are now being asked to RAISE OUR VIBRATION and work with the crushed part of our hearts that has no hope, enthusiasm, ambition, or energy for exploring and developing life.
During this weekend retreat you will learn how to:
Raise the height of your Heart thought meditation
Tune into ancient ley lines and “sacred alignments” by becoming more aware of your psychic abilities
Do sacred earth work with crystals that will benefit you and also the Earth and elementals and those around you
Learn more about the ancient INCA WAY OF WORKING WITH NATURE and the environment
Have some fun!
COST: R1 070 (all inclusive of meals and accommodation and tuition) - please speak to Elizabeth if you would like to pay this by instalments
DURATION: Friday 6pm – Sunday 4pm
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF MEDITATION OR WORKING WITH CRYSTALS OR LEY LINES IS REQUIRED - AS LONG AS YOU COME WITH A POSITIVE INTENTION AND AN OPEN HEART!
PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THESE RETREATS OF WORKING WITH ANCIENT LEY LINES IN THIS PARTICULAR WAY ARE THE FIRST BEING TAUGHT IN SOUTH AFRICA. IT IS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE LIVING NEAR CAPE TOWN AND EACH PARTICPANT WILL RECEIVE A SACRED EARTH CERTIFICATE FROM THE SCHOOL.
Please contact Elizabeth Bardin to book/for more information
Tel 028 –273 8277 Cell 078 371 6343
Email: elizabethbardin@yahoo.co.uk
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
OCTOBER PERU ITINERARY SOUTH AFRICAN PARTICIPANTS
THE ARTHURIAN SCHOOL 2008
SACRED EARTH RETREATS
Tel 028 273 8277/cell 0783716343
Visiting Sacred Sites, Beautiful Lands and Mystical Places
For Spiritual Evolution and Greater Self-Awareness
OCTOBER 2008 PERU RETREAT TRIP
‘FOLLOWING THE FLIGHT OF
THE INCA CONDOR’
mysticism - nature – energy - Condor initiation
1-12 OCTOBER
"The Inca prophecies say that now, in this age, when the Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South fly together, the Earth will awaken. The Eagles of the North cannot be free without the Condors of the South. Now it's happening, now is the time. We are Children of the Sun." - Willaru
There is incredible wonder in watching a soaring Condor fly.
As the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan of 3.5m (11.5 feet), it is impossible for this immense and heavy bird of prey to simply lift off from the ground as other birds do. And so it takes flight from cliff perches - gliding and climbing with the air currents first, before it finally heads off in search of its prey.
To witness the majestic flight of a Condor is a memorable and mesmerizing sight that is capable of producing goose bumps on even the most jaded traveller.
The October 2008 retreat In Peru follows the theme of the mystical fight of the Condor with a special ceremony at the Temple of the Condor of Machu Picchu. The Temple has the image of a Condor created in rock on the floor of the temple with the wings (also in rock) hanging over the body of the Condor. It is an incredible place that reminds one of soaring off into space and a dimension that can only be accessed from within the confines of Machu Picchu and its very special energies.
Being able to connect with the Andean Condor (the mystical ruler of the Third or Upper Inca World called Hanaq Pacha) during this trip, will be an incredible privilege with many, many empowering and positive effects on your life as a participant. You will be able to view your life and your world from a totally new - and more evolved - point of view!
The trip format allows you to explore two of the most scenic regions in Peru that are specifically connected to the Condor - to make this a trip of a lifetime:
LAKE TITICACA
To visit and witness the world’s highest navigable lake at an elevation of 3,800 m (12 460 feet) that is 176 km (109 miles) long and 50 km (31 miles) wide and where the sun is extraordinarily intense.
THE SACRED VALLEY OF MACHU PICCHU
A fertile valley considered to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the world with magnificent ruins and terracing and the revered Urubamba River whose flow the Incas believed was tied to the star constellations and the mountain peaks, and to be the earthbound counterpart of the MILKY WAY.
And so you will be able to experience:
Access to one of the most powerful energy vortexes on the planet
Participate in Inca meditations
Meet like minded people
Safely experience a part of the world that few ever get a chance to see
Rapid personal and spiritual growth
SACRED EARTH ITINERARY
1 October (Wed) ARRIVAL LIMA
Late evening arrival Lima (capital of Peru)
Transfer hotel
Overnight in Lima
2 October (Thurs) PUNO DAY 01
Breakfast
Group meeting and free morning to get over jet lag
Afternoon flight to Juliaca airport
Transfer to hotel in Puno
Arrival at Lake Titicaca
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
3 October (Fri) PUNO DAY 02
Breakfast
Pick up guided tour to the floating Uros Islands made since Inca times by hand from totora reed that grow in abundance in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca.
Guided tour to Taquile Island, a stunningly beautiful and natural island in Lake Titicaca that still remains starkly traditional with no electricity and vehicles. Their unique dress code is equally famous with some of the finest embroidery in Peru.
Return to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
4 October (Sat) CUSCO DAY 03
Early breakfast
Breakfast
Pick up to catch tourist bus from Puno to Cusco (traditional Peruvian lunch included)
Guided visits to cathedral and various Inca ruins on the way
Arrive Cusco and transfer to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
5 October (Sun) PISAQ MARKET DAY 04
Breakfast
Transfer to hotel in Pisaq, a small village in the Sacred Valley
Visiting famous Pisaq Sunday artisan market for local produce and some of the finest crafts in Peru
Dinner
Overnight in Pisaq
6 October (Mon) OLLANTAYTAMBO FORTRESS DAY 05
Breakfast
Transfer to Ollantaytambo
Visit to Ollantaytambo Fortress and meditation
Free afternoon to explore village and resting
Dinner
Overnight in Ollantaytambo
7 October (Tues) AGUAS CALIENTES DAY 06
Breakfast
Transfer to train station
Train through Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, the village below Machu Picchu where we stay for 3 days
Exploring Aguas Calientes, its markets and beautiful landscape
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
8 October (Wed) MACHU PICCHU DAY 07
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Meditation and Condor Initiations at the Temple of the Condor
Visit and meditation at famous energetic star portal, the INTIHUANTANA Stone
Visit to the Sun Temple, Temple of the Wind and other main sites
Return to hotel to rest
Early dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
9 October (Thurs) MACHU PICCHU DAY 08
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Climbing Huayna Picchu (Sacred Mountain of the Divine Feminine Trilogy: Mother Nature, Mother Earth and Mother Moon) for meditation, AND/OR
Visit to the Main Temple and Temple of the Three Windows, OR
Visit to the Mandor Waterfall and Machu Picchu Museum
Resting
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
10 October (Fri) CUSCO DAY 09
Breakfast
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Transfer to train station
Train back to Cusco, capital of the INCAS
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
11 October (Sat) CUSCO/RETURN DEPARTURE LIMA DAY 10
Breakfast
Transfer to Cusco airport for flight back to LIMA airport (to catch connecting international flight on the early Sunday morning)
Transfer to hotel in Lima
Overnight in LIMA
Early transfer to Lima airport on Sunday morning
12 October (Sun) LIMA
Early transfer LIMA airport to catch connecting international flight
13 October (Mon) ARRIVAL SOUTH AFRICA
Arrival in South Africa
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON RETREAT: 6 people
Please note the Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, festivities, etc.
GENERAL PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The meditations during this retreat trip require no previous experience, but please note that although the trip is aimed at giving you the experience of visiting interesting tourist places, the focus is on the inner effect that Peru and its historical heritage can have on you personally, and for you to use it for self awareness and inner growth. It is therefore not the ordinary tourist trip that you could do just as well (and with much less hassle and cost!) by watching it on the travel channel. Please refer to the School’s literature on how the trips are meant to help you become an explorer and adventurer of ancient places, and if you have any more questions about this aspect, email or phone me to explain the fundamental difference in approach to you in greater detail.
The trips to Peru started because I was very strongly moved to share my incredible positive and unique experiences there with others, so that they can also benefit and grow from it. These trips are not created by me, they often seem to create themselves with me helping them to unfold. I strive to keep the groups small to make sure that it is a unique personal experience, and that each person receive very close personal attention and support so as to get the maximum benefit from visiting Peru.
As a further note, I have decided to start all future Peru trips from Lima (the capital of Peru where all the international flights come in) and not from Cusco (that is about an hour and a half inland from Lima) as I normally do, because flying in South America can be tricky and it is much easier for everyone to fly together and for me to arrange the internal flight to Cusco. I am able to get the better flight prices via my contacts in Peru.
We will therefore all meet in Lima, the capital of Peru. As to dates we can make the necessary adjustments for you. Please let me know so that we can discuss your requirements in detail.
Please also note that although we will not be camping or trekking as they do on the Inca Trail, the high altitude and also steep gradient of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley require you to be reasonably fit. Often we will also be getting up early to catch the special atmosphere of a site, or to get an early plane/bus/taxi so as to fit in with the travelling schedules of Peru. It is therefore advisable for you to focus on acquiring a reasonable level of physical fitness before the retreat. The energies of Peru are incredibly powerful and the more fit and healthy you are in your body, the easier it will be to adjust and integrate the changes that will be happening to you. If you are a smoker, please consider cutting down or if you possibly can, giving up (hypnotherapy can be very effective) before the trip as in my experience smoking makes it more difficult for the body to adjust. Don’t feel discouraged if you are a smoker, just bear this advice in mind. Many smokers have successfully done the trip, but forewarned is fore-armed!
Please also note that the way that the Incas worked with the concept of energy and nature will also be the fundamental way in which I approach the sites and places we visit. Therefore be open to work with your more intuitive and less rational self on the trip, and to become more aware of energy!
Many people that visit Peru become ill because of the altitude and also different sanitary and water conditions. This does not necessarily need to happen, and there are certain easy safeguards that can be put in place to ensure that it is an enjoyable and productive journey. More information on this will follow closer to the time of the retreat.
The hotels in Peru are of a much lower standard than in South Africa, but all places on the retreat where we will stay are clean, have hot water (often quite rare in Peru!) and comfortable. Do remember that Peru is a third world country and that some of its public amenities are not the same as you would have in your home- however, its people are friendly, kind and very warm hearted and will offer you one of the most unique, interesting and enjoyable experiences that you will ever have in your life!
Finally, this is a trip where there will be a conscious exchange and connection with Machu Picchu and Peru on a physical and also energetic level. When you speak to previous participants of the School, you will hear that they all left with more than they came with, having gained some sort of personal gift by being able to make contact with the mystic beauty and magic of the land of Peru.
It is therefore designed to provide a deep and meaningful experience of mystical Peru and especially Machu Picchu, having the benefit of individual support and personal attention of a facilitator -
“A facilitator is not just a "tour guide". A facilitator must perform all the functions of a "tour guide", (from making sure everyone's luggage is ready to making sure no one is missing when the taxi or bus or train leaves) plus he/she needs to have specialized training or skills. These skills and training include being adept at sensing and directing the energy of the group, years of studying a specific practice such as psychic ability, teaching various spiritual practices or being available to journeyers when "things come up" (as they frequently do during a visit to a powerful place). A good facilitator will play the energy of the group dynamic like a conductor leads an orchestra, and this adds to an individual journeyer's experience immensely. A good and experienced facilitator is a big part of what makes a successful retreat and journey.”
Most trips to Peru including the Inca Trail are focused on spending only half a day or at the most overnight at Machu Picchu with local tourist guides providing limited factual information about the site. The School’s aim is quite different, and you will have the rare opportunity of experiencing Machu Picchu’s mystical heritage over a proper period of time. That is quite a unique thing to find if you look at tours offered to Peru.
Here are some comments about the inspiration of PERU:
“After years of being stuck in old habits along
came Peru! I had not left the country since 1962.
Thanks to many revelations during my visit I no
longer view the world in the same old way. I
gained an appreciation for the richness of another
culture. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
Peru gave me a gift I will never forget.” Alice N.
“I journeyed to Peru last year. It was
not only a life changing experience—it was life
saving! Truly transformation of the physical,
mental and most importantly, the spiritual self.” I. Rae
COSTS
With an adjustment to the standard of hotels (still clean and with hot showers and certainly above Inca trail standard of camping!) and also the class of train transport (lowest of the tourist classes but still very comfortable), and the budget for dinners at $10 per person per dinner, it works out at an all-inclusive cost of R8 144 (or the £ or $ equivalent at the date of payment) (this price is based on 6 people sharing). This includes: all hotel accommodation for 11 nights, 10 breakfasts and 9 dinners, as stated, all bus, taxi and train transportation, all transfers, all entry and excursion fees to all the ruins including at Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, guides, retreat fees.
ADD Lima/Juliaca FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 (R840) depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD Cusco/Lima FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 (R804) depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD international air travel of approx R13 000 (see below) plus departure airport tax of $30.25 at Lima airport, lunches, tipping of guides and porters, any personal expenditure, miscellaneous expenses. Please note that the local Peruvian airfares to Juliaca and from Cusco are subject to price fluctuation until paid.
TOTAL BUDGET FOR TRIP:
TRIP COST 8 144
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT 13 000 (approx)
INTERNAL FLIGHTS 1 680 (approx)
R22800 plus whatever you want to spend on presents and goods purchased.
You will receive a packing list and pre-departure information upon receipt of your registration and payment. Please make sure that your passport is up-to-date and valid for at least 6 months after your trip. If it is not, or you don't have one I suggest that you get it updated or apply for one now. Please note you do not need a visa if you are a South African citizen, but you do need to have a yellow fever inoculation for re- entry into South Africa (it lasts for 10 years). Please also consider whatever other inoculations you may need even though it may not be legally required.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
The cheapest way to get to Lima Peru from South Africa is to fly Malaysian Airlines that stop over at Johannesburg and Cape Town (an hour and half stopover in Cape Town) and then on to Buenos Aires Argentina (approximately 6 hour flight). At Buenos Aires there is typically about a 2/3 hour wait and then a connecting flight by a Peruvian airlines (such as TACA or LAN PERU) to Lima (flight approximately 6 hours). The journey therefore starts in South Africa in the morning and you arrive in Lima Peru at 10.45 pm the same night. The time difference between South Africa and Argentina is 5 hours, and Peru 7 hours.
Coming back the flight leaves early Sunday morning and there is a slightly longer wait in Argentina of about 5 hours and you then fly Malaysian Airlines overnight to arrive in South Africa on the Monday morning (because of the time difference).
The flights are relatively easy but you need to be very early at the South American check in desks because of long lines and having to pay airport taxes etc and security checks. It is very easy to miss flights believe me!!
The airfare is around R12/13 000. Here are some examples of fares for the above dates from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban:
MALAYSIAN AIRLINES Cape Town - Buenos Aires - Lima return
MH 201 Y 08OCT CPTEZE HS1 1045 1535 O WE TA 24 Z 08OCT EZELIM HS1 1755 2045 O WE TA 25 A 19OCT / 26OCT LIMEZE HS1 1025 1730 O SU MH 202 Y 19OCT / 26OCT EZECPT HS1 2120 #0900 O SU
FARE TAXES TOTAL
6600+3710* 2422+397 R13 129
MALAYSIAN AIRLINES Johannesburg (with stopover in Cape Town) - Buenos Aires - Lima return
MH 201 Y 08OCT JNBEZE HS1 0715 1535 O WE TA 24 Y 08OCT EZELIM HS1 1755 2045 O WE TA 25 Y 19OCT / 26OCT LIMEZE HS1 1025 1730 O SU MH 202 Y 19OCT / 26OCT EZEJNB HS1 2145 #1240 O SU
FARE TAXES TOTAL
6730+3710* 2422+397 R13 259
MALAYSIAN AIRLINES Durban - Cape Town - Buenos Aires - Lima return
SA 601 Y 08OCT DURCPT HS1 0610 0820 O WE MH 201 Y 08OCT CPTEZE HS1 1045 1535 O WE TA 24 Z 08OCT EZELIM HS1 1755 2045 O WE TA 25 A 19OCT / 26OCT LIMEZE HS1 1025 1730 O SU
MH 202 Y 19OCT / 26OCT EZECPT HS1 2145 #0930 O SU SA 612 Y 20 OCT / 27OCT CPTDUR HS1 1135 1335 O MO
FARE TAXES TOTAL
7880+3710* 3069+397 R15 056
OR OWN ARRANGEMENTS from Durban - Cape Town
* Excludes 8% TASF
Source: Louise at Gypsy Spirit Travel tel. 028 271 5726 cell 083 940 1517 email gypsyspirit@telkomsa.net.
Flexible dates calendar
Flights from UK- www.opodo.co.uk
Come with us...Explore the World. Explore your Self.
THE ARTHURIAN SCHOOL 2008
An ethical South African business that promotes Sacred Earth Retreats
SACRED EARTH RETREATS
Tel 028 273 8277/cell 0783716343
Visiting Sacred Sites, Beautiful Lands and Mystical Places
For Spiritual Evolution and Greater Self-Awareness
OCTOBER 2008 PERU RETREAT TRIP
‘FOLLOWING THE FLIGHT OF
THE INCA CONDOR’
mysticism - nature – energy - Condor initiation
1-12 OCTOBER
"The Inca prophecies say that now, in this age, when the Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South fly together, the Earth will awaken. The Eagles of the North cannot be free without the Condors of the South. Now it's happening, now is the time. We are Children of the Sun." - Willaru
There is incredible wonder in watching a soaring Condor fly.
As the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan of 3.5m (11.5 feet), it is impossible for this immense and heavy bird of prey to simply lift off from the ground as other birds do. And so it takes flight from cliff perches - gliding and climbing with the air currents first, before it finally heads off in search of its prey.
To witness the majestic flight of a Condor is a memorable and mesmerizing sight that is capable of producing goose bumps on even the most jaded traveller.
The October 2008 retreat In Peru follows the theme of the mystical fight of the Condor with a special ceremony at the Temple of the Condor of Machu Picchu. The Temple has the image of a Condor created in rock on the floor of the temple with the wings (also in rock) hanging over the body of the Condor. It is an incredible place that reminds one of soaring off into space and a dimension that can only be accessed from within the confines of Machu Picchu and its very special energies.
Being able to connect with the Andean Condor (the mystical ruler of the Third or Upper Inca World called Hanaq Pacha) during this trip, will be an incredible privilege with many, many empowering and positive effects on your life as a participant. You will be able to view your life and your world from a totally new - and more evolved - point of view!
The trip format allows you to explore two of the most scenic regions in Peru that are specifically connected to the Condor - to make this a trip of a lifetime:
LAKE TITICACA
To visit and witness the world’s highest navigable lake at an elevation of 3,800 m (12 460 feet) that is 176 km (109 miles) long and 50 km (31 miles) wide and where the sun is extraordinarily intense.
THE SACRED VALLEY OF MACHU PICCHU
A fertile valley considered to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the world with magnificent ruins and terracing and the revered Urubamba River whose flow the Incas believed was tied to the star constellations and the mountain peaks, and to be the earthbound counterpart of the MILKY WAY.
And so you will be able to experience:
Access to one of the most powerful energy vortexes on the planet
Participate in Inca meditations
Meet like minded people
Safely experience a part of the world that few ever get a chance to see
Rapid personal and spiritual growth
SACRED EARTH ITINERARY
1 October (Wed) ARRIVAL LIMA
Late evening arrival Lima (capital of Peru)
Transfer hotel
Overnight in Lima
2 October (Thurs) PUNO DAY 01
Breakfast
Group meeting and free morning to get over jet lag
Afternoon flight to Juliaca airport
Transfer to hotel in Puno
Arrival at Lake Titicaca
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
3 October (Fri) PUNO DAY 02
Breakfast
Pick up guided tour to the floating Uros Islands made since Inca times by hand from totora reed that grow in abundance in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca.
Guided tour to Taquile Island, a stunningly beautiful and natural island in Lake Titicaca that still remains starkly traditional with no electricity and vehicles. Their unique dress code is equally famous with some of the finest embroidery in Peru.
Return to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
4 October (Sat) CUSCO DAY 03
Early breakfast
Breakfast
Pick up to catch tourist bus from Puno to Cusco (traditional Peruvian lunch included)
Guided visits to cathedral and various Inca ruins on the way
Arrive Cusco and transfer to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
5 October (Sun) PISAQ MARKET DAY 04
Breakfast
Transfer to hotel in Pisaq, a small village in the Sacred Valley
Visiting famous Pisaq Sunday artisan market for local produce and some of the finest crafts in Peru
Dinner
Overnight in Pisaq
6 October (Mon) OLLANTAYTAMBO FORTRESS DAY 05
Breakfast
Transfer to Ollantaytambo
Visit to Ollantaytambo Fortress and meditation
Free afternoon to explore village and resting
Dinner
Overnight in Ollantaytambo
7 October (Tues) AGUAS CALIENTES DAY 06
Breakfast
Transfer to train station
Train through Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, the village below Machu Picchu where we stay for 3 days
Exploring Aguas Calientes, its markets and beautiful landscape
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
8 October (Wed) MACHU PICCHU DAY 07
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Meditation and Condor Initiations at the Temple of the Condor
Visit and meditation at famous energetic star portal, the INTIHUANTANA Stone
Visit to the Sun Temple, Temple of the Wind and other main sites
Return to hotel to rest
Early dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
9 October (Thurs) MACHU PICCHU DAY 08
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Climbing Huayna Picchu (Sacred Mountain of the Divine Feminine Trilogy: Mother Nature, Mother Earth and Mother Moon) for meditation, AND/OR
Visit to the Main Temple and Temple of the Three Windows, OR
Visit to the Mandor Waterfall and Machu Picchu Museum
Resting
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
10 October (Fri) CUSCO DAY 09
Breakfast
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Transfer to train station
Train back to Cusco, capital of the INCAS
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
11 October (Sat) CUSCO/RETURN DEPARTURE LIMA DAY 10
Breakfast
Transfer to Cusco airport for flight back to LIMA airport (to catch connecting international flight on the early Sunday morning)
Transfer to hotel in Lima
Overnight in LIMA
Early transfer to Lima airport on Sunday morning
12 October (Sun) LIMA
Early transfer LIMA airport to catch connecting international flight
13 October (Mon) ARRIVAL SOUTH AFRICA
Arrival in South Africa
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON RETREAT: 6 people
Please note the Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, festivities, etc.
GENERAL PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The meditations during this retreat trip require no previous experience, but please note that although the trip is aimed at giving you the experience of visiting interesting tourist places, the focus is on the inner effect that Peru and its historical heritage can have on you personally, and for you to use it for self awareness and inner growth. It is therefore not the ordinary tourist trip that you could do just as well (and with much less hassle and cost!) by watching it on the travel channel. Please refer to the School’s literature on how the trips are meant to help you become an explorer and adventurer of ancient places, and if you have any more questions about this aspect, email or phone me to explain the fundamental difference in approach to you in greater detail.
The trips to Peru started because I was very strongly moved to share my incredible positive and unique experiences there with others, so that they can also benefit and grow from it. These trips are not created by me, they often seem to create themselves with me helping them to unfold. I strive to keep the groups small to make sure that it is a unique personal experience, and that each person receive very close personal attention and support so as to get the maximum benefit from visiting Peru.
As a further note, I have decided to start all future Peru trips from Lima (the capital of Peru where all the international flights come in) and not from Cusco (that is about an hour and a half inland from Lima) as I normally do, because flying in South America can be tricky and it is much easier for everyone to fly together and for me to arrange the internal flight to Cusco. I am able to get the better flight prices via my contacts in Peru.
We will therefore all meet in Lima, the capital of Peru. As to dates we can make the necessary adjustments for you. Please let me know so that we can discuss your requirements in detail.
Please also note that although we will not be camping or trekking as they do on the Inca Trail, the high altitude and also steep gradient of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley require you to be reasonably fit. Often we will also be getting up early to catch the special atmosphere of a site, or to get an early plane/bus/taxi so as to fit in with the travelling schedules of Peru. It is therefore advisable for you to focus on acquiring a reasonable level of physical fitness before the retreat. The energies of Peru are incredibly powerful and the more fit and healthy you are in your body, the easier it will be to adjust and integrate the changes that will be happening to you. If you are a smoker, please consider cutting down or if you possibly can, giving up (hypnotherapy can be very effective) before the trip as in my experience smoking makes it more difficult for the body to adjust. Don’t feel discouraged if you are a smoker, just bear this advice in mind. Many smokers have successfully done the trip, but forewarned is fore-armed!
Please also note that the way that the Incas worked with the concept of energy and nature will also be the fundamental way in which I approach the sites and places we visit. Therefore be open to work with your more intuitive and less rational self on the trip, and to become more aware of energy!
Many people that visit Peru become ill because of the altitude and also different sanitary and water conditions. This does not necessarily need to happen, and there are certain easy safeguards that can be put in place to ensure that it is an enjoyable and productive journey. More information on this will follow closer to the time of the retreat.
The hotels in Peru are of a much lower standard than in South Africa, but all places on the retreat where we will stay are clean, have hot water (often quite rare in Peru!) and comfortable. Do remember that Peru is a third world country and that some of its public amenities are not the same as you would have in your home- however, its people are friendly, kind and very warm hearted and will offer you one of the most unique, interesting and enjoyable experiences that you will ever have in your life!
Finally, this is a trip where there will be a conscious exchange and connection with Machu Picchu and Peru on a physical and also energetic level. When you speak to previous participants of the School, you will hear that they all left with more than they came with, having gained some sort of personal gift by being able to make contact with the mystic beauty and magic of the land of Peru.
It is therefore designed to provide a deep and meaningful experience of mystical Peru and especially Machu Picchu, having the benefit of individual support and personal attention of a facilitator -
“A facilitator is not just a "tour guide". A facilitator must perform all the functions of a "tour guide", (from making sure everyone's luggage is ready to making sure no one is missing when the taxi or bus or train leaves) plus he/she needs to have specialized training or skills. These skills and training include being adept at sensing and directing the energy of the group, years of studying a specific practice such as psychic ability, teaching various spiritual practices or being available to journeyers when "things come up" (as they frequently do during a visit to a powerful place). A good facilitator will play the energy of the group dynamic like a conductor leads an orchestra, and this adds to an individual journeyer's experience immensely. A good and experienced facilitator is a big part of what makes a successful retreat and journey.”
Most trips to Peru including the Inca Trail are focused on spending only half a day or at the most overnight at Machu Picchu with local tourist guides providing limited factual information about the site. The School’s aim is quite different, and you will have the rare opportunity of experiencing Machu Picchu’s mystical heritage over a proper period of time. That is quite a unique thing to find if you look at tours offered to Peru.
Here are some comments about the inspiration of PERU:
“After years of being stuck in old habits along
came Peru! I had not left the country since 1962.
Thanks to many revelations during my visit I no
longer view the world in the same old way. I
gained an appreciation for the richness of another
culture. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
Peru gave me a gift I will never forget.” Alice N.
“I journeyed to Peru last year. It was
not only a life changing experience—it was life
saving! Truly transformation of the physical,
mental and most importantly, the spiritual self.” I. Rae
COSTS
With an adjustment to the standard of hotels (still clean and with hot showers and certainly above Inca trail standard of camping!) and also the class of train transport (lowest of the tourist classes but still very comfortable), and the budget for dinners at $10 per person per dinner, it works out at an all-inclusive cost of R8 144 (or the £ or $ equivalent at the date of payment) (this price is based on 6 people sharing). This includes: all hotel accommodation for 11 nights, 10 breakfasts and 9 dinners, as stated, all bus, taxi and train transportation, all transfers, all entry and excursion fees to all the ruins including at Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, guides, retreat fees.
ADD Lima/Juliaca FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 (R840) depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD Cusco/Lima FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 (R804) depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD international air travel of approx R13 000 (see below) plus departure airport tax of $30.25 at Lima airport, lunches, tipping of guides and porters, any personal expenditure, miscellaneous expenses. Please note that the local Peruvian airfares to Juliaca and from Cusco are subject to price fluctuation until paid.
TOTAL BUDGET FOR TRIP:
TRIP COST 8 144
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT 13 000 (approx)
INTERNAL FLIGHTS 1 680 (approx)
R22800 plus whatever you want to spend on presents and goods purchased.
You will receive a packing list and pre-departure information upon receipt of your registration and payment. Please make sure that your passport is up-to-date and valid for at least 6 months after your trip. If it is not, or you don't have one I suggest that you get it updated or apply for one now. Please note you do not need a visa if you are a South African citizen, but you do need to have a yellow fever inoculation for re- entry into South Africa (it lasts for 10 years). Please also consider whatever other inoculations you may need even though it may not be legally required.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
The cheapest way to get to Lima Peru from South Africa is to fly Malaysian Airlines that stop over at Johannesburg and Cape Town (an hour and half stopover in Cape Town) and then on to Buenos Aires Argentina (approximately 6 hour flight). At Buenos Aires there is typically about a 2/3 hour wait and then a connecting flight by a Peruvian airlines (such as TACA or LAN PERU) to Lima (flight approximately 6 hours). The journey therefore starts in South Africa in the morning and you arrive in Lima Peru at 10.45 pm the same night. The time difference between South Africa and Argentina is 5 hours, and Peru 7 hours.
Coming back the flight leaves early Sunday morning and there is a slightly longer wait in Argentina of about 5 hours and you then fly Malaysian Airlines overnight to arrive in South Africa on the Monday morning (because of the time difference).
The flights are relatively easy but you need to be very early at the South American check in desks because of long lines and having to pay airport taxes etc and security checks. It is very easy to miss flights believe me!!
The airfare is around R12/13 000. Here are some examples of fares for the above dates from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban:
MALAYSIAN AIRLINES Cape Town - Buenos Aires - Lima return
MH 201 Y 08OCT CPTEZE HS1 1045 1535 O WE TA 24 Z 08OCT EZELIM HS1 1755 2045 O WE TA 25 A 19OCT / 26OCT LIMEZE HS1 1025 1730 O SU MH 202 Y 19OCT / 26OCT EZECPT HS1 2120 #0900 O SU
FARE TAXES TOTAL
6600+3710* 2422+397 R13 129
MALAYSIAN AIRLINES Johannesburg (with stopover in Cape Town) - Buenos Aires - Lima return
MH 201 Y 08OCT JNBEZE HS1 0715 1535 O WE TA 24 Y 08OCT EZELIM HS1 1755 2045 O WE TA 25 Y 19OCT / 26OCT LIMEZE HS1 1025 1730 O SU MH 202 Y 19OCT / 26OCT EZEJNB HS1 2145 #1240 O SU
FARE TAXES TOTAL
6730+3710* 2422+397 R13 259
MALAYSIAN AIRLINES Durban - Cape Town - Buenos Aires - Lima return
SA 601 Y 08OCT DURCPT HS1 0610 0820 O WE MH 201 Y 08OCT CPTEZE HS1 1045 1535 O WE TA 24 Z 08OCT EZELIM HS1 1755 2045 O WE TA 25 A 19OCT / 26OCT LIMEZE HS1 1025 1730 O SU
MH 202 Y 19OCT / 26OCT EZECPT HS1 2145 #0930 O SU SA 612 Y 20 OCT / 27OCT CPTDUR HS1 1135 1335 O MO
FARE TAXES TOTAL
7880+3710* 3069+397 R15 056
OR OWN ARRANGEMENTS from Durban - Cape Town
* Excludes 8% TASF
Source: Louise at Gypsy Spirit Travel tel. 028 271 5726 cell 083 940 1517 email gypsyspirit@telkomsa.net.
Flexible dates calendar
Flights from UK- www.opodo.co.uk
Come with us...Explore the World. Explore your Self.
THE ARTHURIAN SCHOOL 2008
An ethical South African business that promotes Sacred Earth Retreats
OCTOBER PERU ITINERARY UK PARTICIPANTS
THE ARTHURIAN SCHOOL 2008
www.arthurianschool.co.uk
SACRED EARTH RETREATS
Visiting Sacred Sites, Beautiful Lands and Mystical Places
For Spiritual Evolution and Greater Self-Awareness
OCTOBER 2008 PERU RETREAT TRIP
‘FOLLOWING THE FLIGHT OF
THE INCA CONDOR’
mysticism - nature – energy - Condor initiation
1-12 OCTOBER
"The Inca prophecies say that now, in this age, when the Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South fly together, the Earth will awaken. The Eagles of the North cannot be free without the Condors of the South. Now it's happening, now is the time. We are Children of the Sun." - Willaru
There is incredible wonder in watching a soaring Condor fly.
As the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan of 3.5m (11.5 feet), it is impossible for this immense and heavy bird of prey to simply lift off from the ground as other birds do. And so it takes flight from cliff perches - gliding and climbing with the air currents first, before it finally heads off in search of its prey.
To witness the majestic flight of a Condor is a memorable and mesmerizing sight that is capable of producing goose bumps on even the most jaded traveller.
The October 2008 retreat In Peru follows the theme of the mystical fight of the Condor with a special ceremony at the Temple of the Condor of Machu Picchu. The Temple has the image of a Condor created in rock on the floor of the temple with the wings (also in rock) hanging over the body of the Condor. It is an incredible place that reminds one of soaring off into space and a dimension that can only be accessed from within the confines of Machu Picchu and its very special energies.
Being able to connect with the Andean Condor (the mystical ruler of the Third or Upper Inca World called Hanaq Pacha) during this trip, will be an incredible privilege with many, many empowering and positive effects on your life as a participant. You will be able to view your life and your world from a totally new - and more evolved - point of view!
The trip format allows you to explore two of the most scenic regions in Peru that are specifically connected to the Condor - to make this a trip of a lifetime:
LAKE TITICACA
To visit and witness the world’s highest navigable lake at an elevation of 3,800 m (12 460 feet) that is 176 km (109 miles) long and 50 km (31 miles) wide and where the sun is extraordinarily intense.
THE SACRED VALLEY OF MACHU PICCHU
A fertile valley considered to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the world with magnificent ruins and terracing and the revered Urubamba River whose flow the Incas believed was tied to the star constellations and the mountain peaks, and to be the earthbound counterpart of the MILKY WAY.
And so you will be able to experience:
Access to one of the most powerful energy vortexes on the planet
Participate in Inca meditations
Meet like minded people
Safely experience a part of the world that few ever get a chance to see
Rapid personal and spiritual growth
CONTACT DETAILS:
http://www.arthurianschool.co.uk/
info@arthurianschool.co.uk or elizabethbardin@yahoo.co.uk
telephone: (0027) 28 273 8277 international 028 273 8277 local
mobile: (0027) 783716343 international 0783716343 local
SACRED EARTH ITINERARY
1 October (Wed) ARRIVAL LIMA
Late evening arrival Lima (capital of Peru)
Transfer hotel
Overnight in Lima
2 October (Thurs) PUNO DAY 01
Breakfast
Group meeting and free morning to get over jet lag
Afternoon flight to Juliaca airport
Transfer to hotel in Puno
Arrival at Lake Titicaca
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
3 October (Fri) PUNO DAY 02
Breakfast
Pick up guided tour to the floating Uros Islands made since Inca times by hand from totora reed that grow in abundance in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca.
Guided tour to Taquile Island, a stunningly beautiful and natural island in Lake Titicaca that still remains starkly traditional with no electricity and vehicles. Their unique dress code is equally famous with some of the finest embroidery in Peru.
Return to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
4 October (Sat) CUSCO DAY 03
Early breakfast
Breakfast
Pick up to catch tourist bus from Puno to Cusco (traditional Peruvian lunch included)
Guided visits to cathedral and various Inca ruins on the way
Arrive Cusco and transfer to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
5 October (Sun) PISAQ MARKET DAY 04
Breakfast
Transfer to hotel in Pisaq, a small village in the Sacred Valley
Visiting famous Pisaq Sunday artisan market for local produce and some of the finest crafts in Peru
Dinner
Overnight in Pisaq
6 October (Mon) OLLANTAYTAMBO FORTRESS DAY 05
Breakfast
Transfer to Ollantaytambo
Visit to Ollantaytambo Fortress and meditation
Free afternoon to explore village and resting
Dinner
Overnight in Ollantaytambo
7 October (Tues) AGUAS CALIENTES DAY 06
Breakfast
Transfer to train station
Train through Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, the village below Machu Picchu where we stay for 3 days
Exploring Aguas Calientes, its markets and beautiful landscape
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
8 October (Wed) MACHU PICCHU DAY 07
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Meditation and Condor Initiations at the Temple of the Condor
Visit and meditation at famous energetic star portal, the INTIHUANTANA Stone
Visit to the Sun Temple, Temple of the Wind and other main sites
Return to hotel to rest
Early dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
9 October (Thurs) MACHU PICCHU DAY 08
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Climbing Huayna Picchu (Sacred Mountain of the Divine Feminine Trilogy: Mother Nature, Mother Earth and Mother Moon) for meditation, AND/OR
Visit to the Main Temple and Temple of the Three Windows, OR
Visit to the Mandor Waterfall and Machu Picchu Museum
Resting
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
10 October (Fri) CUSCO DAY 09
Breakfast
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Transfer to train station
Train back to Cusco, capital of the INCAS
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
11 October (Sat) CUSCO/RETURN DEPARTURE LIMA DAY 10
Breakfast
Transfer to Cusco airport for flight back to LIMA airport (to catch connecting international flight on the early Sunday morning)
Transfer to hotel in Lima
Overnight in LIMA
Early transfer to Lima airport on Sunday morning
12 October (Sun) LIMA
Early transfer LIMA airport to catch connecting international flight
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON RETREAT: 6 people
Please note the Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, festivities, etc.
GENERAL PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The meditations during this retreat trip require no previous experience, but please note that although the trip is aimed at giving you the experience of visiting interesting tourist places, the focus is on the inner effect that Peru and its historical heritage can have on you personally, and for you to use it for self awareness and inner growth. It is therefore not the ordinary tourist trip that you could do just as well (and with much less hassle and cost!) by watching it on the travel channel. Please refer to the School’s literature on how the trips are meant to help you become an explorer and adventurer of ancient places, and if you have any more questions about this aspect, email or phone me to explain the fundamental difference in approach to you in greater detail.
The trips to Peru started because I was very strongly moved to share my incredible positive and unique experiences there with others, so that they can also benefit and grow from it. These trips are not created by me, they often seem to create themselves with me helping them to unfold. I strive to keep the groups small to make sure that it is a unique personal experience, and that each person receive very close personal attention and support so as to get the maximum benefit from visiting Peru.
As a further note, I have decided to start all future Peru trips from Lima (the capital of Peru where all the international flights come in) and not from Cusco (that is about an hour and a half inland from Lima) as I normally do, because flying in South America can be tricky and it is much easier for everyone to fly together and for me to arrange the internal flight to Cusco. I am able to get the better flight prices via my contacts in Peru.
We will therefore all meet in Lima, the capital of Peru. As to dates we can make the necessary adjustments for you. Please let me know so that we can discuss your requirements in detail.
Please also note that although we will not be camping or trekking as they do on the Inca Trail, the high altitude and also steep gradient of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley require you to be reasonably fit. Often we will also be getting up early to catch the special atmosphere of a site, or to get an early plane/bus/taxi so as to fit in with the travelling schedules of Peru. It is therefore advisable for you to focus on acquiring a reasonable level of physical fitness before the retreat. The energies of Peru are incredibly powerful and the more fit and healthy you are in your body, the easier it will be to adjust and integrate the changes that will be happening to you. If you are a smoker, please consider cutting down or if you possibly can, giving up (hypnotherapy can be very effective) before the trip as in my experience smoking makes it more difficult for the body to adjust. Don’t feel discouraged if you are a smoker, just bear this advice in mind. Many smokers have successfully done the trip, but forewarned is fore-armed!
Please also note that the way that the Incas worked with the concept of energy and nature will also be the fundamental way in which I approach the sites and places we visit. Therefore be open to work with your more intuitive and less rational self on the trip, and to become more aware of energy!
Many people that visit Peru become ill because of the altitude and also different sanitary and water conditions. This does not necessarily need to happen, and there are certain easy safeguards that can be put in place to ensure that it is an enjoyable and productive journey. More information on this will follow closer to the time of the retreat.
The hotels in Peru are of a much lower standard than in the UK, but all places on the retreat where we will stay are clean, have hot water (often quite rare in Peru!) and comfortable. Do remember that Peru is a third world country and that some of its public amenities are not the same as you would have in your home- however, its people are friendly, kind and very warm hearted and will offer you one of the most unique, interesting and enjoyable experiences that you will ever have in your life!
Finally, this is a trip where there will be a conscious exchange and connection with Machu Picchu and Peru on a physical and also energetic level. When you speak to previous participants of the School, you will hear that they all left with more than they came with, having gained some sort of personal gift by being able to make contact with the mystic beauty and magic of the land of Peru.
It is therefore designed to provide a deep and meaningful experience of mystical Peru and especially Machu Picchu, having the benefit of individual support and personal attention of a facilitator -
“A facilitator is not just a "tour guide". A facilitator must perform all the functions of a "tour guide", (from making sure everyone's luggage is ready to making sure no one is missing when the taxi or bus or train leaves) plus he/she needs to have specialized training or skills. These skills and training include being adept at sensing and directing the energy of the group, years of studying a specific practice such as psychic ability, teaching various spiritual practices or being available to journeyers when "things come up" (as they frequently do during a visit to a powerful place). A good facilitator will play the energy of the group dynamic like a conductor leads an orchestra, and this adds to an individual journeyer's experience immensely. A good and experienced facilitator is a big part of what makes a successful retreat and journey.”
Most trips to Peru including the Inca Trail are focused on spending only half a day or at the most overnight at Machu Picchu with local tourist guides providing limited factual information about the site. The School’s aim is quite different, and you will have the rare opportunity of experiencing Machu Picchu’s mystical heritage over a proper period of time. That is quite a unique thing to find if you look at tours offered to Peru.
Here are some comments about the inspiration of PERU:
“After years of being stuck in old habits along
came Peru! I had not left the country since 1962.
Thanks to many revelations during my visit I no
longer view the world in the same old way. I
gained an appreciation for the richness of another
culture. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
Peru gave me a gift I will never forget.” Alice N.
“I journeyed to Peru last year. It was
not only a life changing experience—it was life
saving! Truly transformation of the physical,
mental and most importantly, the spiritual self.” I. Rae
COSTS
An all-inclusive cost of £626 (this price is based on 6 people sharing). This includes: all hotel accommodation for 11 nights, 10 breakfasts and 9 dinners, as stated, all bus, taxi and train transportation, all transfers, all entry and excursion fees to all the ruins including at Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, guides, retreat fees.
ADD Lima/Juliaca FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD Cusco/Lima FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD international air travel of approx £650 -700 (see below) plus departure airport tax of $30.25 at Lima airport, lunches, tipping of guides and porters, any personal expenditure, miscellaneous expenses. Please note that the local Peruvian airfares to Juliaca and from Cusco are subject to price fluctuation until paid.
You will receive a packing list and pre-departure information upon receipt of your registration and payment. Please make sure that your passport is up-to-date and valid for at least 6 months after your trip. If it is not, or you don't have one I suggest that you get it updated or apply for one now. Please note you do not need a visa if you are a British national, please consider whatever yellow fever or other inoculations you may need even though it may not be legally required.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
The cheapest way normally to get to Lima Peru from the United Kingdom is to fly from Gatwick via New York and then on to Lima. If you are not keen on flying via America then go via Spain.
The flights are relatively easy but you need to be very early at the South American check in desks because of long lines and having to pay airport taxes etc and security checks. It is very easy to miss flights believe me. Come with us...Explore the World. Explore your Self…
CONTACT DETAILS:
http://www.arthurianschool.co.uk/
info@arthurianschool.co.uk or elizabethbardin@yahoo.co.uk
telephone: (0027) 28 273 8277 international 028 273 8277 local
mobile: (0027) 783716343 international 0783716343 local
www.arthurianschool.co.uk
SACRED EARTH RETREATS
Visiting Sacred Sites, Beautiful Lands and Mystical Places
For Spiritual Evolution and Greater Self-Awareness
OCTOBER 2008 PERU RETREAT TRIP
‘FOLLOWING THE FLIGHT OF
THE INCA CONDOR’
mysticism - nature – energy - Condor initiation
1-12 OCTOBER
"The Inca prophecies say that now, in this age, when the Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South fly together, the Earth will awaken. The Eagles of the North cannot be free without the Condors of the South. Now it's happening, now is the time. We are Children of the Sun." - Willaru
There is incredible wonder in watching a soaring Condor fly.
As the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan of 3.5m (11.5 feet), it is impossible for this immense and heavy bird of prey to simply lift off from the ground as other birds do. And so it takes flight from cliff perches - gliding and climbing with the air currents first, before it finally heads off in search of its prey.
To witness the majestic flight of a Condor is a memorable and mesmerizing sight that is capable of producing goose bumps on even the most jaded traveller.
The October 2008 retreat In Peru follows the theme of the mystical fight of the Condor with a special ceremony at the Temple of the Condor of Machu Picchu. The Temple has the image of a Condor created in rock on the floor of the temple with the wings (also in rock) hanging over the body of the Condor. It is an incredible place that reminds one of soaring off into space and a dimension that can only be accessed from within the confines of Machu Picchu and its very special energies.
Being able to connect with the Andean Condor (the mystical ruler of the Third or Upper Inca World called Hanaq Pacha) during this trip, will be an incredible privilege with many, many empowering and positive effects on your life as a participant. You will be able to view your life and your world from a totally new - and more evolved - point of view!
The trip format allows you to explore two of the most scenic regions in Peru that are specifically connected to the Condor - to make this a trip of a lifetime:
LAKE TITICACA
To visit and witness the world’s highest navigable lake at an elevation of 3,800 m (12 460 feet) that is 176 km (109 miles) long and 50 km (31 miles) wide and where the sun is extraordinarily intense.
THE SACRED VALLEY OF MACHU PICCHU
A fertile valley considered to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the world with magnificent ruins and terracing and the revered Urubamba River whose flow the Incas believed was tied to the star constellations and the mountain peaks, and to be the earthbound counterpart of the MILKY WAY.
And so you will be able to experience:
Access to one of the most powerful energy vortexes on the planet
Participate in Inca meditations
Meet like minded people
Safely experience a part of the world that few ever get a chance to see
Rapid personal and spiritual growth
CONTACT DETAILS:
http://www.arthurianschool.co.uk/
info@arthurianschool.co.uk or elizabethbardin@yahoo.co.uk
telephone: (0027) 28 273 8277 international 028 273 8277 local
mobile: (0027) 783716343 international 0783716343 local
SACRED EARTH ITINERARY
1 October (Wed) ARRIVAL LIMA
Late evening arrival Lima (capital of Peru)
Transfer hotel
Overnight in Lima
2 October (Thurs) PUNO DAY 01
Breakfast
Group meeting and free morning to get over jet lag
Afternoon flight to Juliaca airport
Transfer to hotel in Puno
Arrival at Lake Titicaca
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
3 October (Fri) PUNO DAY 02
Breakfast
Pick up guided tour to the floating Uros Islands made since Inca times by hand from totora reed that grow in abundance in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca.
Guided tour to Taquile Island, a stunningly beautiful and natural island in Lake Titicaca that still remains starkly traditional with no electricity and vehicles. Their unique dress code is equally famous with some of the finest embroidery in Peru.
Return to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
4 October (Sat) CUSCO DAY 03
Early breakfast
Breakfast
Pick up to catch tourist bus from Puno to Cusco (traditional Peruvian lunch included)
Guided visits to cathedral and various Inca ruins on the way
Arrive Cusco and transfer to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
5 October (Sun) PISAQ MARKET DAY 04
Breakfast
Transfer to hotel in Pisaq, a small village in the Sacred Valley
Visiting famous Pisaq Sunday artisan market for local produce and some of the finest crafts in Peru
Dinner
Overnight in Pisaq
6 October (Mon) OLLANTAYTAMBO FORTRESS DAY 05
Breakfast
Transfer to Ollantaytambo
Visit to Ollantaytambo Fortress and meditation
Free afternoon to explore village and resting
Dinner
Overnight in Ollantaytambo
7 October (Tues) AGUAS CALIENTES DAY 06
Breakfast
Transfer to train station
Train through Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, the village below Machu Picchu where we stay for 3 days
Exploring Aguas Calientes, its markets and beautiful landscape
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
8 October (Wed) MACHU PICCHU DAY 07
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Meditation and Condor Initiations at the Temple of the Condor
Visit and meditation at famous energetic star portal, the INTIHUANTANA Stone
Visit to the Sun Temple, Temple of the Wind and other main sites
Return to hotel to rest
Early dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
9 October (Thurs) MACHU PICCHU DAY 08
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Climbing Huayna Picchu (Sacred Mountain of the Divine Feminine Trilogy: Mother Nature, Mother Earth and Mother Moon) for meditation, AND/OR
Visit to the Main Temple and Temple of the Three Windows, OR
Visit to the Mandor Waterfall and Machu Picchu Museum
Resting
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
10 October (Fri) CUSCO DAY 09
Breakfast
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Transfer to train station
Train back to Cusco, capital of the INCAS
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
11 October (Sat) CUSCO/RETURN DEPARTURE LIMA DAY 10
Breakfast
Transfer to Cusco airport for flight back to LIMA airport (to catch connecting international flight on the early Sunday morning)
Transfer to hotel in Lima
Overnight in LIMA
Early transfer to Lima airport on Sunday morning
12 October (Sun) LIMA
Early transfer LIMA airport to catch connecting international flight
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON RETREAT: 6 people
Please note the Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, festivities, etc.
GENERAL PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The meditations during this retreat trip require no previous experience, but please note that although the trip is aimed at giving you the experience of visiting interesting tourist places, the focus is on the inner effect that Peru and its historical heritage can have on you personally, and for you to use it for self awareness and inner growth. It is therefore not the ordinary tourist trip that you could do just as well (and with much less hassle and cost!) by watching it on the travel channel. Please refer to the School’s literature on how the trips are meant to help you become an explorer and adventurer of ancient places, and if you have any more questions about this aspect, email or phone me to explain the fundamental difference in approach to you in greater detail.
The trips to Peru started because I was very strongly moved to share my incredible positive and unique experiences there with others, so that they can also benefit and grow from it. These trips are not created by me, they often seem to create themselves with me helping them to unfold. I strive to keep the groups small to make sure that it is a unique personal experience, and that each person receive very close personal attention and support so as to get the maximum benefit from visiting Peru.
As a further note, I have decided to start all future Peru trips from Lima (the capital of Peru where all the international flights come in) and not from Cusco (that is about an hour and a half inland from Lima) as I normally do, because flying in South America can be tricky and it is much easier for everyone to fly together and for me to arrange the internal flight to Cusco. I am able to get the better flight prices via my contacts in Peru.
We will therefore all meet in Lima, the capital of Peru. As to dates we can make the necessary adjustments for you. Please let me know so that we can discuss your requirements in detail.
Please also note that although we will not be camping or trekking as they do on the Inca Trail, the high altitude and also steep gradient of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley require you to be reasonably fit. Often we will also be getting up early to catch the special atmosphere of a site, or to get an early plane/bus/taxi so as to fit in with the travelling schedules of Peru. It is therefore advisable for you to focus on acquiring a reasonable level of physical fitness before the retreat. The energies of Peru are incredibly powerful and the more fit and healthy you are in your body, the easier it will be to adjust and integrate the changes that will be happening to you. If you are a smoker, please consider cutting down or if you possibly can, giving up (hypnotherapy can be very effective) before the trip as in my experience smoking makes it more difficult for the body to adjust. Don’t feel discouraged if you are a smoker, just bear this advice in mind. Many smokers have successfully done the trip, but forewarned is fore-armed!
Please also note that the way that the Incas worked with the concept of energy and nature will also be the fundamental way in which I approach the sites and places we visit. Therefore be open to work with your more intuitive and less rational self on the trip, and to become more aware of energy!
Many people that visit Peru become ill because of the altitude and also different sanitary and water conditions. This does not necessarily need to happen, and there are certain easy safeguards that can be put in place to ensure that it is an enjoyable and productive journey. More information on this will follow closer to the time of the retreat.
The hotels in Peru are of a much lower standard than in the UK, but all places on the retreat where we will stay are clean, have hot water (often quite rare in Peru!) and comfortable. Do remember that Peru is a third world country and that some of its public amenities are not the same as you would have in your home- however, its people are friendly, kind and very warm hearted and will offer you one of the most unique, interesting and enjoyable experiences that you will ever have in your life!
Finally, this is a trip where there will be a conscious exchange and connection with Machu Picchu and Peru on a physical and also energetic level. When you speak to previous participants of the School, you will hear that they all left with more than they came with, having gained some sort of personal gift by being able to make contact with the mystic beauty and magic of the land of Peru.
It is therefore designed to provide a deep and meaningful experience of mystical Peru and especially Machu Picchu, having the benefit of individual support and personal attention of a facilitator -
“A facilitator is not just a "tour guide". A facilitator must perform all the functions of a "tour guide", (from making sure everyone's luggage is ready to making sure no one is missing when the taxi or bus or train leaves) plus he/she needs to have specialized training or skills. These skills and training include being adept at sensing and directing the energy of the group, years of studying a specific practice such as psychic ability, teaching various spiritual practices or being available to journeyers when "things come up" (as they frequently do during a visit to a powerful place). A good facilitator will play the energy of the group dynamic like a conductor leads an orchestra, and this adds to an individual journeyer's experience immensely. A good and experienced facilitator is a big part of what makes a successful retreat and journey.”
Most trips to Peru including the Inca Trail are focused on spending only half a day or at the most overnight at Machu Picchu with local tourist guides providing limited factual information about the site. The School’s aim is quite different, and you will have the rare opportunity of experiencing Machu Picchu’s mystical heritage over a proper period of time. That is quite a unique thing to find if you look at tours offered to Peru.
Here are some comments about the inspiration of PERU:
“After years of being stuck in old habits along
came Peru! I had not left the country since 1962.
Thanks to many revelations during my visit I no
longer view the world in the same old way. I
gained an appreciation for the richness of another
culture. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
Peru gave me a gift I will never forget.” Alice N.
“I journeyed to Peru last year. It was
not only a life changing experience—it was life
saving! Truly transformation of the physical,
mental and most importantly, the spiritual self.” I. Rae
COSTS
An all-inclusive cost of £626 (this price is based on 6 people sharing). This includes: all hotel accommodation for 11 nights, 10 breakfasts and 9 dinners, as stated, all bus, taxi and train transportation, all transfers, all entry and excursion fees to all the ruins including at Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, guides, retreat fees.
ADD Lima/Juliaca FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD Cusco/Lima FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD international air travel of approx £650 -700 (see below) plus departure airport tax of $30.25 at Lima airport, lunches, tipping of guides and porters, any personal expenditure, miscellaneous expenses. Please note that the local Peruvian airfares to Juliaca and from Cusco are subject to price fluctuation until paid.
You will receive a packing list and pre-departure information upon receipt of your registration and payment. Please make sure that your passport is up-to-date and valid for at least 6 months after your trip. If it is not, or you don't have one I suggest that you get it updated or apply for one now. Please note you do not need a visa if you are a British national, please consider whatever yellow fever or other inoculations you may need even though it may not be legally required.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
The cheapest way normally to get to Lima Peru from the United Kingdom is to fly from Gatwick via New York and then on to Lima. If you are not keen on flying via America then go via Spain.
The flights are relatively easy but you need to be very early at the South American check in desks because of long lines and having to pay airport taxes etc and security checks. It is very easy to miss flights believe me. Come with us...Explore the World. Explore your Self…
CONTACT DETAILS:
http://www.arthurianschool.co.uk/
info@arthurianschool.co.uk or elizabethbardin@yahoo.co.uk
telephone: (0027) 28 273 8277 international 028 273 8277 local
mobile: (0027) 783716343 international 0783716343 local
AUGUST NEW MOON MAGAZINE
NEW MOON MAGAZINE
AUGUST 2008
© The Arthurian School
Note: This magazine is intended to share information, so please feel free to pass it on, or if you want to be removed from the circulation list, just send an email reply to info@arthurianschool.co.uk with the word “unsubscribe” in the heading.
Hi everyone!
This magazine is really late, but I have only recently come back from my last trip to Peru, so I apologise!
Hopefully there is still a lot you can do to work with the new Moon cycle of this month and I hope you enjoy the information in the magazine.
PERU AND THE ECLIPSE
Peru was really awesome and in many ways seemed to be connected with the air element and flying.
In Lima, the capital of Peru, I did a paraglide (in tandem!) over the Pacific Ocean that will remain one of the most memorable things I have even done. Then a Peruvian shaman gave me a very precious condor feather and one in the group had a really extraordinary experience at the Temple of the Condor of Machu Picchu. We also managed to see the condors take off early morning in Colca Canyon which is amazing because they have to take off from cliff perches to get into flight- they are too big to take off in the usual way! I was in the air again when I flew in a small plane over the famous Nazca lines that still remain a mystery as to their exact meaning and how they were created.
The energy of all of it was somehow connecting me to the sun and when I did the paraglide I heard in the ethers “welcome- children of the sun!”
Leading up to the eclipse on the 1st August for me was certainly about connecting to the sun and even the full moon seemed to be more than usually connected to sun’s presence in the sky.
Being in the sign of Leo is obviously very important at the moment and interestingly enough the new moon for this month is also in the sign of Leo- so in a way the moon and the sun are both carrying this sun energy at the moment.
When we were driving toward Nazca very late one the evening we saw the waning moon and it was quite extraordinary because the light part of it was like a cradle at the bottom and it is seldom if ever that I remember seeing the moon like that- normally it is on the right or left side of the moon instead of the bottom bit. Did any of you notice that as well?
I am told there is an old farmer’s tale that says when the moon appears like that, it is holding water like a cradle and that is because it means the earth is very dry.
The day of the eclipse I felt a lot of sorrow and emotion releasing and I was also very aware of China and the pyramids there. It felt that China needed a lot of support for change and that the eclipse was giving them an opportunity to move forward. If any of you watched the opening of the handing over of the Olympic flame, it was incredible to see the last athlete being hoisted up to the sky and running at the top of the stadium – very much in tune with the idea of the planets and stars and so appropriate!
I hope that all is well with all of you, and remember that there is ample opportunity for everyone to shine and to be the star of your own performance.
That is really the message of this month of August and also the Olympics for me.
With blessings of Love
Elizabeth
THE ARTHURIAN SCHOOL
PRINGLE BAY
www.arthurianschool.co.uk
ps. The above website has been updated and so when you go onto the website you first need to press control + F5 on your keyboard to clear the browser and refresh the page to read the new updated website pages
“Revitalise and Enlighten your Life with the Moon”
THE NEW MOON CYCLE OF AUGUST
called the Hazel Moon, the Still Green Moon, the Harvest Moon or Claim Moon
During this month you will be able to see all five bright planets in the evening sky: Jupiter shines brightly in the east, and Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn are low down in the western sky, soon after sunset. On the evening of the 2nd August the new crescent moon was very close to Venus, and on the 3rd near Saturn and Mars. On the 13th August the Moon is near Jupiter and on the 23rd it passes near the star cluster of Pleiades and if you are watching from western Europe/UK you may well be able to see the Moon among the cluster of stars as it rises.
There is a partial eclipse of the Moon at Full Moon that is visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. The partial eclipse starts at 20h36 UK time on 16th August and at its peak at 22h10 with it ending at 23h44. During this time of the full moon, the planet Neptune (4.3 billion km away from the Earth) will be opposite the Sun. Also look out for the Perseid meteors around the 12th August.
Full Moon will be in Aquarius yet again this month (it was in Aquarius also last month) and so this is about bringing in more evolved consciousness and energies that remind us that we are all brothers and sisters and need to work together and let go of all old petty differences. If we have a common goal and can work together we can succeed, because the alternative is Armageddon or the end of times, that so many people are at the moment talking about.
The Earth is going through some major changes and we can only do our own bit to rectify things that are not right in our lives to help soften the process and create hope for the future.
What is also interesting is that on the 15th August- the day before the full Moon- it is the Chinese Ghost Festival. This is the time when the Chinese people believe the Gates of Hell open and hungry spirits wander the Earth unable to find peace and rest because of past sins. Prayers for ancestors are said, lanterns are lit and food is put outside. It can be said that this festival shows us how everything is connected: that what is done by individuals in life, affects their life after death, but also how others can help to alleviate their suffering. On the 6th August it was the anniversary of Hiroshima day when the first atom bomb of modern times was dropped with devastating effects to the Earth and the Earth’s atmosphere. We are all still energetically suffering from this- not to say about all the lost souls that are still in the ethers because of the blast- and so it will be a good idea to connect with loving thoughts during this full Moon so as to help heal this enormous wound we still are carrying and now needs to be corrected. The Aquarius mindset is strong and we can unite to overcome these things as a collective humanity. In some ways this is what the Olympic Games are doing with it happening exactly at this precise time and so even though you may not be particularly interested in sport, try to also tune into and see the more hidden meaning behind it happening at the moment- that through sport- the energy of the Leo or sun energy- we are able to be together and be different but also compete and participate together as one humanity.
I have been guided to share a heart meditation with you for the full Moon so you can also do that if you feel drawn to help with the healing of the Earth and for ugly ghostlike past of humanity. It is a very important opportunity!
HIGHER HEART MEDITATION WITH THE
FULL MOON AUGUST 2008
The 6th of August remembered Hiroshima Day and I thank my friend Alexis for reminding me of this date and a beautiful meditation shared by a Japanese shaman.
Here is the Heart Meditation that I have been guided to give to you and also connects to the work we did at Machu Picchu.
By raising the height of our heart, we can restore a heart that has been crushed and so lacks enthusiasm, ambition, or energy for exploring and developing life. It can help to overcome depression and instead restore the Heart to its natural state of optimism and joy. When there is no energy in the heart, the heart collapses.
This can be reversed by introducing energy into the heart through breathing in a way that is full, deep and rich.
We need to breathe in deeply, because we need the energy of the inhalation to change our consciousness- to become aware of what we cannot normally be aware of, to stay alert and to restore our optimism and idealism.
We need to breathe out fully, because any unexpelled air represents that part of us that we do not allow to change. Our breath is our fundamental interaction with the world, sending out the contents of our lungs and taking in the environment around us into our very cells.
To be fully involved with life, we need to have a full breath, but that takes effort because it is counter to our normal habit of breathing shallowly.
RAISING THE HEIGHT OF THE HEART MEDITATION
Sit upright and comfortable.
Breath in and out through your mouth with your lips slightly parted, sipping the breath (it makes you feel free from all constraints when you do this)
Find your pulse or heart beat.
Listen to your heart beat and start to count the heart beats in rounds of 6 using it as a counting rhythm.
If you cant find your heart beat straight away, just count mentally and you will find it eventually.
Now count 6 heart beats while breathing out, and again 6 heart beats while breathing in.
If that is too fast, make it 8 heart beats.
Don’t hold your breath at all. Using your pulse or heart beat as a rhythm links your breath rate to your heart rate, and makes the inhale and the exhale the same length.
Make an effort to use your abdominal muscles to finish the exhalation, the diaphragm alone is not enough. Your stomach area should cave in as you breathe out. Then immediately go into the inhalation without pausing- simply relax your muscles and the new breath will rush in. You will get at least twice as much breath per cycle by breathing this way.
On your exhalation, think of your breath as taking you deep into your heart.
As you breathe in, think of your breath as rising with an emotion leaping out of the depth of your heart and carrying you into the heights of joy- like lifting you above the fog into the clear light.
As you practise this, you will find that your breath is moving you, rather than you are moving your breath.
Now connect to the Full Moon in Aquarius and feel the combined energy of your heart, your breath and the Full Moon. Imagine that you are sending out this light to everyone around you- in the house where you stay, in the city or town where you live, to the country where you live and finally to the whole world.
Stay with this feeling for quite a long time.
Thank the Moon and also imagine rays of golden sunlight streaming into you.
Rest and drink some water to ground.
Note: During this meditation you can also send some light to all the lost souls/ghosts that are willing to move on. Ghosts are really not there to terrorise or frighten us, they are just not fully aware that they are dead, or somehow are still attached to the earth plane. By sending them light with your intention you will help to access the psychic and astral realms and so give them an opportunity to also move on.
NEXT OCTOBER 2008 PERU RETREAT
I am attaching the relevant information – do let me know by email or phone if you would like to join in this very amazing journey!
SACRED EARTH RETREATS
Tel 028 273 8277/cell 0783716343
Visiting Sacred Sites, Beautiful Lands and Mystical Places
For Spiritual Evolution and Greater Self-Awareness
OCTOBER 2008 PERU RETREAT TRIP
‘FOLLOWING THE FLIGHT OF
THE INCA CONDOR’
mysticism - nature – energy - Condor initiation
1-12 OCTOBER
"The Inca prophecies say that now, in this age, when the Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South fly together, the Earth will awaken. The Eagles of the North cannot be free without the Condors of the South. Now it's happening, now is the time. We are Children of the Sun." - Willaru
There is incredible wonder in watching a soaring Condor fly.
As the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan of 3.5m (11.5 feet), it is impossible for this immense and heavy bird of prey to simply lift off from the ground as other birds do. And so it takes flight from cliff perches - gliding and climbing with the air currents first, before it finally heads off in search of its prey.
To witness the majestic flight of a Condor is a memorable and mesmerizing sight that is capable of producing goose bumps on even the most jaded traveller.
The October 2008 retreat In Peru follows the theme of the mystical fight of the Condor with a special ceremony at the Temple of the Condor of Machu Picchu. The Temple has the image of a Condor created in rock on the floor of the temple with the wings (also in rock) hanging over the body of the Condor. It is an incredible place that reminds one of soaring off into space and a dimension that can only be accessed from within the confines of Machu Picchu and its very special energies.
Being able to connect with the Andean Condor (the mystical ruler of the Third or Upper Inca World called Hanaq Pacha) during this trip, will be an incredible privilege with many, many empowering and positive effects on your life as a participant. You will be able to view your life and your world from a totally new - and more evolved - point of view!
The trip format allows you to explore two of the most scenic regions in Peru that are specifically connected to the Condor - to make this a trip of a lifetime:
LAKE TITICACA
To visit and witness the world’s highest navigable lake at an elevation of 3,800 m (12 460 feet) that is 176 km (109 miles) long and 50 km (31 miles) wide and where the sun is extraordinarily intense.
THE SACRED VALLEY OF MACHU PICCHU
A fertile valley considered to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the world with magnificent ruins and terracing and the revered Urubamba River whose flow the Incas believed was tied to the star constellations and the mountain peaks, and to be the earthbound counterpart of the MILKY WAY.
And so you will be able to experience:
Access to one of the most powerful energy vortexes on the planet
Participate in Inca meditations
Meet like minded people
Safely experience a part of the world that few ever get a chance to see
Rapid personal and spiritual growth
SACRED EARTH ITINERARY
1 October (Wed) ARRIVAL LIMA
Late evening arrival Lima (capital of Peru)
Transfer hotel
Overnight in Lima
2 October (Thurs) PUNO DAY 01
Breakfast
Group meeting and free morning to get over jet lag
Afternoon flight to Juliaca airport
Transfer to hotel in Puno
Arrival at Lake Titicaca
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
3 October (Fri) PUNO DAY 02
Breakfast
Pick up guided tour to the floating Uros Islands made since Inca times by hand from totora reed that grow in abundance in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca.
Guided tour to Taquile Island, a stunningly beautiful and natural island in Lake Titicaca that still remains starkly traditional with no electricity and vehicles. Their unique dress code is equally famous with some of the finest embroidery in Peru.
Return to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
4 October (Sat) CUSCO DAY 03
Early breakfast
Breakfast
Pick up to catch tourist bus from Puno to Cusco (traditional Peruvian lunch included)
Guided visits to cathedral and various Inca ruins on the way
Arrive Cusco and transfer to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
5 October (Sun) PISAQ MARKET DAY 04
Breakfast
Transfer to hotel in Pisaq, a small village in the Sacred Valley
Visiting famous Pisaq Sunday artisan market for local produce and some of the finest crafts in Peru
Dinner
Overnight in Pisaq
6 October (Mon) OLLANTAYTAMBO FORTRESS DAY 05
Breakfast
Transfer to Ollantaytambo
Visit to Ollantaytambo Fortress and meditation
Free afternoon to explore village and resting
Dinner
Overnight in Ollantaytambo
7 October (Tues) AGUAS CALIENTES DAY 06
Breakfast
Transfer to train station
Train through Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, the village below Machu Picchu where we stay for 3 days
Exploring Aguas Calientes, its markets and beautiful landscape
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
8 October (Wed) MACHU PICCHU DAY 07
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Meditation and Condor Initiations at the Temple of the Condor
Visit and meditation at famous energetic star portal, the INTIHUANTANA Stone
Visit to the Sun Temple, Temple of the Wind and other main sites
Return to hotel to rest
Early dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
9 October (Thurs) MACHU PICCHU DAY 08
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Climbing Huayna Picchu (Sacred Mountain of the Divine Feminine Trilogy: Mother Nature, Mother Earth and Mother Moon) for meditation, AND/OR
Visit to the Main Temple and Temple of the Three Windows, OR
Visit to the Mandor Waterfall and Machu Picchu Museum
Resting
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
10 October (Fri) CUSCO DAY 09
Breakfast
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Transfer to train station
Train back to Cusco, capital of the INCAS
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
11 October (Sat) CUSCO/RETURN DEPARTURE LIMA DAY 10
Breakfast
Transfer to Cusco airport for flight back to LIMA airport (to catch connecting international flight on the early Sunday morning)
Transfer to hotel in Lima
Overnight in LIMA
Early transfer to Lima airport on Sunday morning
12 October (Sun) LIMA
Early transfer LIMA airport to catch connecting international flight
13 October (Mon) ARRIVAL SOUTH AFRICA
Arrival in South Africa
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON RETREAT: 6 people
Please note the Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, festivities, etc.
GENERAL PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The meditations during this retreat trip require no previous experience, but please note that although the trip is aimed at giving you the experience of visiting interesting tourist places, the focus is on the inner effect that Peru and its historical heritage can have on you personally, and for you to use it for self awareness and inner growth. It is therefore not the ordinary tourist trip that you could do just as well (and with much less hassle and cost!) by watching it on the travel channel. Please refer to the School’s literature on how the trips are meant to help you become an explorer and adventurer of ancient places, and if you have any more questions about this aspect, email or phone me to explain the fundamental difference in approach to you in greater detail.
The trips to Peru started because I was very strongly moved to share my incredible positive and unique experiences there with others, so that they can also benefit and grow from it. These trips are not created by me, they often seem to create themselves with me helping them to unfold. I strive to keep the groups small to make sure that it is a unique personal experience, and that each person receive very close personal attention and support so as to get the maximum benefit from visiting Peru.
As a further note, I have decided to start all future Peru trips from Lima (the capital of Peru where all the international flights come in) and not from Cusco (that is about an hour and a half inland from Lima) as I normally do, because flying in South America can be tricky and it is much easier for everyone to fly together and for me to arrange the internal flight to Cusco. I am able to get the better flight prices via my contacts in Peru.
We will therefore all meet in Lima, the capital of Peru. As to dates we can make the necessary adjustments for you. Please let me know so that we can discuss your requirements in detail.
Please also note that although we will not be camping or trekking as they do on the Inca Trail, the high altitude and also steep gradient of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley require you to be reasonably fit. Often we will also be getting up early to catch the special atmosphere of a site, or to get an early plane/bus/taxi so as to fit in with the travelling schedules of Peru. It is therefore advisable for you to focus on acquiring a reasonable level of physical fitness before the retreat. The energies of Peru are incredibly powerful and the more fit and healthy you are in your body, the easier it will be to adjust and integrate the changes that will be happening to you. If you are a smoker, please consider cutting down or if you possibly can, giving up (hypnotherapy can be very effective) before the trip as in my experience smoking makes it more difficult for the body to adjust. Don’t feel discouraged if you are a smoker, just bear this advice in mind. Many smokers have successfully done the trip, but forewarned is fore-armed!
Please also note that the way that the Incas worked with the concept of energy and nature will also be the fundamental way in which I approach the sites and places we visit. Therefore be open to work with your more intuitive and less rational self on the trip, and to become more aware of energy!
Many people that visit Peru become ill because of the altitude and also different sanitary and water conditions. This does not necessarily need to happen, and there are certain easy safeguards that can be put in place to ensure that it is an enjoyable and productive journey. More information on this will follow closer to the time of the retreat.
The hotels in Peru are of a much lower standard than in South Africa, but all places on the retreat where we will stay are clean, have hot water (often quite rare in Peru!) and comfortable. Do remember that Peru is a third world country and that some of its public amenities are not the same as you would have in your home- however, its people are friendly, kind and very warm hearted and will offer you one of the most unique, interesting and enjoyable experiences that you will ever have in your life!
Finally, this is a trip where there will be a conscious exchange and connection with Machu Picchu and Peru on a physical and also energetic level. When you speak to previous participants of the School, you will hear that they all left with more than they came with, having gained some sort of personal gift by being able to make contact with the mystic beauty and magic of the land of Peru.
It is therefore designed to provide a deep and meaningful experience of mystical Peru and especially Machu Picchu, having the benefit of individual support and personal attention of a facilitator -
“A facilitator is not just a "tour guide". A facilitator must perform all the functions of a "tour guide", (from making sure everyone's luggage is ready to making sure no one is missing when the taxi or bus or train leaves) plus he/she needs to have specialized training or skills. These skills and training include being adept at sensing and directing the energy of the group, years of studying a specific practice such as psychic ability, teaching various spiritual practices or being available to journeyers when "things come up" (as they frequently do during a visit to a powerful place). A good facilitator will play the energy of the group dynamic like a conductor leads an orchestra, and this adds to an individual journeyer's experience immensely. A good and experienced facilitator is a big part of what makes a successful retreat and journey.”
Most trips to Peru including the Inca Trail are focused on spending only half a day or at the most overnight at Machu Picchu with local tourist guides providing limited factual information about the site. The School’s aim is quite different, and you will have the rare opportunity of experiencing Machu Picchu’s mystical heritage over a proper period of time. That is quite a unique thing to find if you look at tours offered to Peru.
Here are some comments about the inspiration of PERU:
“After years of being stuck in old habits along
came Peru! I had not left the country since 1962.
Thanks to many revelations during my visit I no
longer view the world in the same old way. I
gained an appreciation for the richness of another
culture. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
Peru gave me a gift I will never forget.” Alice N.
“I journeyed to Peru last year. It was
not only a life changing experience—it was life
saving! Truly transformation of the physical,
mental and most importantly, the spiritual self.” I. Rae
COSTS
All-inclusive cost of R8 144 (or the £ or $ equivalent at the date of payment) (this price is based on 6 people sharing). This includes: all hotel accommodation for 11 nights, 10 breakfasts and 9 dinners, as stated, all bus, taxi and train transportation, all transfers, all entry and excursion fees to all the ruins including at Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, guides, retreat fees.
ADD Lima/Juliaca FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 (R840) depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD Cusco/Lima FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 (R804) depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD international air travel of approx R13 000 or £700 (see below) plus departure airport tax of $30.25 at Lima airport, lunches, tipping of guides and porters, any personal expenditure, miscellaneous expenses. Please note that the local Peruvian airfares to Juliaca and from Cusco are subject to price fluctuation until paid.
TOTAL BUDGET FOR TRIP IN SOUTH AFRICAN RANDS:
TRIP COST 8 144
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT 13 000 (approx)
INTERNAL FLIGHTS 1 680 (approx)
R22800 (or the £ or $ equivalent at date of payment)
plus whatever you want to spend on presents and goods purchased.
You will receive a packing list and pre-departure information upon receipt of your registration and payment. Please make sure that your passport is up-to-date and valid for at least 6 months after your trip. If it is not, or you don't have one I suggest that you get it updated or apply for one now. Please note you do not need a visa if you are a South African citizen, but you do need to have a yellow fever inoculation for re- entry into South Africa (it lasts for 10 years). Please also consider whatever other inoculations you may need even though it may not be legally required.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
The cheapest way to get to Lima Peru from South Africa is to fly Malaysian Airlines that stop over at Johannesburg and Cape Town (an hour and half stopover in Cape Town) and then on to Buenos Aires Argentina (approximately 6 hour flight). At Buenos Aires there is typically about a 2/3 hour wait and then a connecting flight by a Peruvian airlines (such as TACA or LAN PERU) to Lima (flight approximately 6 hours). The journey therefore starts in South Africa in the morning and you arrive in Lima Peru at 10.45 pm the same night. The time difference between South Africa and Argentina is 5 hours, and Peru 7 hours.
Coming back the flight leaves early Sunday morning and there is a slightly longer wait in Argentina of about 5 hours and you then fly Malaysian Airlines overnight to arrive in South Africa on the Monday morning (because of the time difference).
The flights are relatively easy but you need to be very early at the South American check in desks because of long lines and having to pay airport taxes etc and security checks. It is very easy to miss flights believe me!!
The airfare is around R12/13 000 from South Africa.
See for UK flights www.opodo.co.uk around £646/771
Come with us...Explore the World. Explore your Self.
CONTACT DETAILS:
www.arthurianschool.co.uk
info@arthurianschool.co.uk
telephone: (0027) 28 273 8277 international 028 273 8277 local
mobile: (0027) 783716343 international 0783716343 local
“Revitalise and Enlighten your Life with the Moon”
______________________________________________________________________
AUGUST 2008
© The Arthurian School
Note: This magazine is intended to share information, so please feel free to pass it on, or if you want to be removed from the circulation list, just send an email reply to info@arthurianschool.co.uk with the word “unsubscribe” in the heading.
Hi everyone!
This magazine is really late, but I have only recently come back from my last trip to Peru, so I apologise!
Hopefully there is still a lot you can do to work with the new Moon cycle of this month and I hope you enjoy the information in the magazine.
PERU AND THE ECLIPSE
Peru was really awesome and in many ways seemed to be connected with the air element and flying.
In Lima, the capital of Peru, I did a paraglide (in tandem!) over the Pacific Ocean that will remain one of the most memorable things I have even done. Then a Peruvian shaman gave me a very precious condor feather and one in the group had a really extraordinary experience at the Temple of the Condor of Machu Picchu. We also managed to see the condors take off early morning in Colca Canyon which is amazing because they have to take off from cliff perches to get into flight- they are too big to take off in the usual way! I was in the air again when I flew in a small plane over the famous Nazca lines that still remain a mystery as to their exact meaning and how they were created.
The energy of all of it was somehow connecting me to the sun and when I did the paraglide I heard in the ethers “welcome- children of the sun!”
Leading up to the eclipse on the 1st August for me was certainly about connecting to the sun and even the full moon seemed to be more than usually connected to sun’s presence in the sky.
Being in the sign of Leo is obviously very important at the moment and interestingly enough the new moon for this month is also in the sign of Leo- so in a way the moon and the sun are both carrying this sun energy at the moment.
When we were driving toward Nazca very late one the evening we saw the waning moon and it was quite extraordinary because the light part of it was like a cradle at the bottom and it is seldom if ever that I remember seeing the moon like that- normally it is on the right or left side of the moon instead of the bottom bit. Did any of you notice that as well?
I am told there is an old farmer’s tale that says when the moon appears like that, it is holding water like a cradle and that is because it means the earth is very dry.
The day of the eclipse I felt a lot of sorrow and emotion releasing and I was also very aware of China and the pyramids there. It felt that China needed a lot of support for change and that the eclipse was giving them an opportunity to move forward. If any of you watched the opening of the handing over of the Olympic flame, it was incredible to see the last athlete being hoisted up to the sky and running at the top of the stadium – very much in tune with the idea of the planets and stars and so appropriate!
I hope that all is well with all of you, and remember that there is ample opportunity for everyone to shine and to be the star of your own performance.
That is really the message of this month of August and also the Olympics for me.
With blessings of Love
Elizabeth
THE ARTHURIAN SCHOOL
PRINGLE BAY
www.arthurianschool.co.uk
ps. The above website has been updated and so when you go onto the website you first need to press control + F5 on your keyboard to clear the browser and refresh the page to read the new updated website pages
“Revitalise and Enlighten your Life with the Moon”
THE NEW MOON CYCLE OF AUGUST
called the Hazel Moon, the Still Green Moon, the Harvest Moon or Claim Moon
During this month you will be able to see all five bright planets in the evening sky: Jupiter shines brightly in the east, and Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn are low down in the western sky, soon after sunset. On the evening of the 2nd August the new crescent moon was very close to Venus, and on the 3rd near Saturn and Mars. On the 13th August the Moon is near Jupiter and on the 23rd it passes near the star cluster of Pleiades and if you are watching from western Europe/UK you may well be able to see the Moon among the cluster of stars as it rises.
There is a partial eclipse of the Moon at Full Moon that is visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. The partial eclipse starts at 20h36 UK time on 16th August and at its peak at 22h10 with it ending at 23h44. During this time of the full moon, the planet Neptune (4.3 billion km away from the Earth) will be opposite the Sun. Also look out for the Perseid meteors around the 12th August.
Full Moon will be in Aquarius yet again this month (it was in Aquarius also last month) and so this is about bringing in more evolved consciousness and energies that remind us that we are all brothers and sisters and need to work together and let go of all old petty differences. If we have a common goal and can work together we can succeed, because the alternative is Armageddon or the end of times, that so many people are at the moment talking about.
The Earth is going through some major changes and we can only do our own bit to rectify things that are not right in our lives to help soften the process and create hope for the future.
What is also interesting is that on the 15th August- the day before the full Moon- it is the Chinese Ghost Festival. This is the time when the Chinese people believe the Gates of Hell open and hungry spirits wander the Earth unable to find peace and rest because of past sins. Prayers for ancestors are said, lanterns are lit and food is put outside. It can be said that this festival shows us how everything is connected: that what is done by individuals in life, affects their life after death, but also how others can help to alleviate their suffering. On the 6th August it was the anniversary of Hiroshima day when the first atom bomb of modern times was dropped with devastating effects to the Earth and the Earth’s atmosphere. We are all still energetically suffering from this- not to say about all the lost souls that are still in the ethers because of the blast- and so it will be a good idea to connect with loving thoughts during this full Moon so as to help heal this enormous wound we still are carrying and now needs to be corrected. The Aquarius mindset is strong and we can unite to overcome these things as a collective humanity. In some ways this is what the Olympic Games are doing with it happening exactly at this precise time and so even though you may not be particularly interested in sport, try to also tune into and see the more hidden meaning behind it happening at the moment- that through sport- the energy of the Leo or sun energy- we are able to be together and be different but also compete and participate together as one humanity.
I have been guided to share a heart meditation with you for the full Moon so you can also do that if you feel drawn to help with the healing of the Earth and for ugly ghostlike past of humanity. It is a very important opportunity!
HIGHER HEART MEDITATION WITH THE
FULL MOON AUGUST 2008
The 6th of August remembered Hiroshima Day and I thank my friend Alexis for reminding me of this date and a beautiful meditation shared by a Japanese shaman.
Here is the Heart Meditation that I have been guided to give to you and also connects to the work we did at Machu Picchu.
By raising the height of our heart, we can restore a heart that has been crushed and so lacks enthusiasm, ambition, or energy for exploring and developing life. It can help to overcome depression and instead restore the Heart to its natural state of optimism and joy. When there is no energy in the heart, the heart collapses.
This can be reversed by introducing energy into the heart through breathing in a way that is full, deep and rich.
We need to breathe in deeply, because we need the energy of the inhalation to change our consciousness- to become aware of what we cannot normally be aware of, to stay alert and to restore our optimism and idealism.
We need to breathe out fully, because any unexpelled air represents that part of us that we do not allow to change. Our breath is our fundamental interaction with the world, sending out the contents of our lungs and taking in the environment around us into our very cells.
To be fully involved with life, we need to have a full breath, but that takes effort because it is counter to our normal habit of breathing shallowly.
RAISING THE HEIGHT OF THE HEART MEDITATION
Sit upright and comfortable.
Breath in and out through your mouth with your lips slightly parted, sipping the breath (it makes you feel free from all constraints when you do this)
Find your pulse or heart beat.
Listen to your heart beat and start to count the heart beats in rounds of 6 using it as a counting rhythm.
If you cant find your heart beat straight away, just count mentally and you will find it eventually.
Now count 6 heart beats while breathing out, and again 6 heart beats while breathing in.
If that is too fast, make it 8 heart beats.
Don’t hold your breath at all. Using your pulse or heart beat as a rhythm links your breath rate to your heart rate, and makes the inhale and the exhale the same length.
Make an effort to use your abdominal muscles to finish the exhalation, the diaphragm alone is not enough. Your stomach area should cave in as you breathe out. Then immediately go into the inhalation without pausing- simply relax your muscles and the new breath will rush in. You will get at least twice as much breath per cycle by breathing this way.
On your exhalation, think of your breath as taking you deep into your heart.
As you breathe in, think of your breath as rising with an emotion leaping out of the depth of your heart and carrying you into the heights of joy- like lifting you above the fog into the clear light.
As you practise this, you will find that your breath is moving you, rather than you are moving your breath.
Now connect to the Full Moon in Aquarius and feel the combined energy of your heart, your breath and the Full Moon. Imagine that you are sending out this light to everyone around you- in the house where you stay, in the city or town where you live, to the country where you live and finally to the whole world.
Stay with this feeling for quite a long time.
Thank the Moon and also imagine rays of golden sunlight streaming into you.
Rest and drink some water to ground.
Note: During this meditation you can also send some light to all the lost souls/ghosts that are willing to move on. Ghosts are really not there to terrorise or frighten us, they are just not fully aware that they are dead, or somehow are still attached to the earth plane. By sending them light with your intention you will help to access the psychic and astral realms and so give them an opportunity to also move on.
NEXT OCTOBER 2008 PERU RETREAT
I am attaching the relevant information – do let me know by email or phone if you would like to join in this very amazing journey!
SACRED EARTH RETREATS
Tel 028 273 8277/cell 0783716343
Visiting Sacred Sites, Beautiful Lands and Mystical Places
For Spiritual Evolution and Greater Self-Awareness
OCTOBER 2008 PERU RETREAT TRIP
‘FOLLOWING THE FLIGHT OF
THE INCA CONDOR’
mysticism - nature – energy - Condor initiation
1-12 OCTOBER
"The Inca prophecies say that now, in this age, when the Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South fly together, the Earth will awaken. The Eagles of the North cannot be free without the Condors of the South. Now it's happening, now is the time. We are Children of the Sun." - Willaru
There is incredible wonder in watching a soaring Condor fly.
As the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan of 3.5m (11.5 feet), it is impossible for this immense and heavy bird of prey to simply lift off from the ground as other birds do. And so it takes flight from cliff perches - gliding and climbing with the air currents first, before it finally heads off in search of its prey.
To witness the majestic flight of a Condor is a memorable and mesmerizing sight that is capable of producing goose bumps on even the most jaded traveller.
The October 2008 retreat In Peru follows the theme of the mystical fight of the Condor with a special ceremony at the Temple of the Condor of Machu Picchu. The Temple has the image of a Condor created in rock on the floor of the temple with the wings (also in rock) hanging over the body of the Condor. It is an incredible place that reminds one of soaring off into space and a dimension that can only be accessed from within the confines of Machu Picchu and its very special energies.
Being able to connect with the Andean Condor (the mystical ruler of the Third or Upper Inca World called Hanaq Pacha) during this trip, will be an incredible privilege with many, many empowering and positive effects on your life as a participant. You will be able to view your life and your world from a totally new - and more evolved - point of view!
The trip format allows you to explore two of the most scenic regions in Peru that are specifically connected to the Condor - to make this a trip of a lifetime:
LAKE TITICACA
To visit and witness the world’s highest navigable lake at an elevation of 3,800 m (12 460 feet) that is 176 km (109 miles) long and 50 km (31 miles) wide and where the sun is extraordinarily intense.
THE SACRED VALLEY OF MACHU PICCHU
A fertile valley considered to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the world with magnificent ruins and terracing and the revered Urubamba River whose flow the Incas believed was tied to the star constellations and the mountain peaks, and to be the earthbound counterpart of the MILKY WAY.
And so you will be able to experience:
Access to one of the most powerful energy vortexes on the planet
Participate in Inca meditations
Meet like minded people
Safely experience a part of the world that few ever get a chance to see
Rapid personal and spiritual growth
SACRED EARTH ITINERARY
1 October (Wed) ARRIVAL LIMA
Late evening arrival Lima (capital of Peru)
Transfer hotel
Overnight in Lima
2 October (Thurs) PUNO DAY 01
Breakfast
Group meeting and free morning to get over jet lag
Afternoon flight to Juliaca airport
Transfer to hotel in Puno
Arrival at Lake Titicaca
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
3 October (Fri) PUNO DAY 02
Breakfast
Pick up guided tour to the floating Uros Islands made since Inca times by hand from totora reed that grow in abundance in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca.
Guided tour to Taquile Island, a stunningly beautiful and natural island in Lake Titicaca that still remains starkly traditional with no electricity and vehicles. Their unique dress code is equally famous with some of the finest embroidery in Peru.
Return to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Puno
4 October (Sat) CUSCO DAY 03
Early breakfast
Breakfast
Pick up to catch tourist bus from Puno to Cusco (traditional Peruvian lunch included)
Guided visits to cathedral and various Inca ruins on the way
Arrive Cusco and transfer to hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
5 October (Sun) PISAQ MARKET DAY 04
Breakfast
Transfer to hotel in Pisaq, a small village in the Sacred Valley
Visiting famous Pisaq Sunday artisan market for local produce and some of the finest crafts in Peru
Dinner
Overnight in Pisaq
6 October (Mon) OLLANTAYTAMBO FORTRESS DAY 05
Breakfast
Transfer to Ollantaytambo
Visit to Ollantaytambo Fortress and meditation
Free afternoon to explore village and resting
Dinner
Overnight in Ollantaytambo
7 October (Tues) AGUAS CALIENTES DAY 06
Breakfast
Transfer to train station
Train through Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, the village below Machu Picchu where we stay for 3 days
Exploring Aguas Calientes, its markets and beautiful landscape
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
8 October (Wed) MACHU PICCHU DAY 07
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Meditation and Condor Initiations at the Temple of the Condor
Visit and meditation at famous energetic star portal, the INTIHUANTANA Stone
Visit to the Sun Temple, Temple of the Wind and other main sites
Return to hotel to rest
Early dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
9 October (Thurs) MACHU PICCHU DAY 08
Early rise to catch bus to Machu Picchu
Climbing Huayna Picchu (Sacred Mountain of the Divine Feminine Trilogy: Mother Nature, Mother Earth and Mother Moon) for meditation, AND/OR
Visit to the Main Temple and Temple of the Three Windows, OR
Visit to the Mandor Waterfall and Machu Picchu Museum
Resting
Dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
10 October (Fri) CUSCO DAY 09
Breakfast
Resting and visiting the hot springs of Aguas Calientes
Transfer to train station
Train back to Cusco, capital of the INCAS
Dinner
Overnight in Cusco
11 October (Sat) CUSCO/RETURN DEPARTURE LIMA DAY 10
Breakfast
Transfer to Cusco airport for flight back to LIMA airport (to catch connecting international flight on the early Sunday morning)
Transfer to hotel in Lima
Overnight in LIMA
Early transfer to Lima airport on Sunday morning
12 October (Sun) LIMA
Early transfer LIMA airport to catch connecting international flight
13 October (Mon) ARRIVAL SOUTH AFRICA
Arrival in South Africa
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON RETREAT: 6 people
Please note the Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, festivities, etc.
GENERAL PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The meditations during this retreat trip require no previous experience, but please note that although the trip is aimed at giving you the experience of visiting interesting tourist places, the focus is on the inner effect that Peru and its historical heritage can have on you personally, and for you to use it for self awareness and inner growth. It is therefore not the ordinary tourist trip that you could do just as well (and with much less hassle and cost!) by watching it on the travel channel. Please refer to the School’s literature on how the trips are meant to help you become an explorer and adventurer of ancient places, and if you have any more questions about this aspect, email or phone me to explain the fundamental difference in approach to you in greater detail.
The trips to Peru started because I was very strongly moved to share my incredible positive and unique experiences there with others, so that they can also benefit and grow from it. These trips are not created by me, they often seem to create themselves with me helping them to unfold. I strive to keep the groups small to make sure that it is a unique personal experience, and that each person receive very close personal attention and support so as to get the maximum benefit from visiting Peru.
As a further note, I have decided to start all future Peru trips from Lima (the capital of Peru where all the international flights come in) and not from Cusco (that is about an hour and a half inland from Lima) as I normally do, because flying in South America can be tricky and it is much easier for everyone to fly together and for me to arrange the internal flight to Cusco. I am able to get the better flight prices via my contacts in Peru.
We will therefore all meet in Lima, the capital of Peru. As to dates we can make the necessary adjustments for you. Please let me know so that we can discuss your requirements in detail.
Please also note that although we will not be camping or trekking as they do on the Inca Trail, the high altitude and also steep gradient of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley require you to be reasonably fit. Often we will also be getting up early to catch the special atmosphere of a site, or to get an early plane/bus/taxi so as to fit in with the travelling schedules of Peru. It is therefore advisable for you to focus on acquiring a reasonable level of physical fitness before the retreat. The energies of Peru are incredibly powerful and the more fit and healthy you are in your body, the easier it will be to adjust and integrate the changes that will be happening to you. If you are a smoker, please consider cutting down or if you possibly can, giving up (hypnotherapy can be very effective) before the trip as in my experience smoking makes it more difficult for the body to adjust. Don’t feel discouraged if you are a smoker, just bear this advice in mind. Many smokers have successfully done the trip, but forewarned is fore-armed!
Please also note that the way that the Incas worked with the concept of energy and nature will also be the fundamental way in which I approach the sites and places we visit. Therefore be open to work with your more intuitive and less rational self on the trip, and to become more aware of energy!
Many people that visit Peru become ill because of the altitude and also different sanitary and water conditions. This does not necessarily need to happen, and there are certain easy safeguards that can be put in place to ensure that it is an enjoyable and productive journey. More information on this will follow closer to the time of the retreat.
The hotels in Peru are of a much lower standard than in South Africa, but all places on the retreat where we will stay are clean, have hot water (often quite rare in Peru!) and comfortable. Do remember that Peru is a third world country and that some of its public amenities are not the same as you would have in your home- however, its people are friendly, kind and very warm hearted and will offer you one of the most unique, interesting and enjoyable experiences that you will ever have in your life!
Finally, this is a trip where there will be a conscious exchange and connection with Machu Picchu and Peru on a physical and also energetic level. When you speak to previous participants of the School, you will hear that they all left with more than they came with, having gained some sort of personal gift by being able to make contact with the mystic beauty and magic of the land of Peru.
It is therefore designed to provide a deep and meaningful experience of mystical Peru and especially Machu Picchu, having the benefit of individual support and personal attention of a facilitator -
“A facilitator is not just a "tour guide". A facilitator must perform all the functions of a "tour guide", (from making sure everyone's luggage is ready to making sure no one is missing when the taxi or bus or train leaves) plus he/she needs to have specialized training or skills. These skills and training include being adept at sensing and directing the energy of the group, years of studying a specific practice such as psychic ability, teaching various spiritual practices or being available to journeyers when "things come up" (as they frequently do during a visit to a powerful place). A good facilitator will play the energy of the group dynamic like a conductor leads an orchestra, and this adds to an individual journeyer's experience immensely. A good and experienced facilitator is a big part of what makes a successful retreat and journey.”
Most trips to Peru including the Inca Trail are focused on spending only half a day or at the most overnight at Machu Picchu with local tourist guides providing limited factual information about the site. The School’s aim is quite different, and you will have the rare opportunity of experiencing Machu Picchu’s mystical heritage over a proper period of time. That is quite a unique thing to find if you look at tours offered to Peru.
Here are some comments about the inspiration of PERU:
“After years of being stuck in old habits along
came Peru! I had not left the country since 1962.
Thanks to many revelations during my visit I no
longer view the world in the same old way. I
gained an appreciation for the richness of another
culture. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
Peru gave me a gift I will never forget.” Alice N.
“I journeyed to Peru last year. It was
not only a life changing experience—it was life
saving! Truly transformation of the physical,
mental and most importantly, the spiritual self.” I. Rae
COSTS
All-inclusive cost of R8 144 (or the £ or $ equivalent at the date of payment) (this price is based on 6 people sharing). This includes: all hotel accommodation for 11 nights, 10 breakfasts and 9 dinners, as stated, all bus, taxi and train transportation, all transfers, all entry and excursion fees to all the ruins including at Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, guides, retreat fees.
ADD Lima/Juliaca FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 (R840) depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD Cusco/Lima FLIGHT – LAN PERU Airline- approx $105 (R804) depending on availability and airport tax $6
ADD international air travel of approx R13 000 or £700 (see below) plus departure airport tax of $30.25 at Lima airport, lunches, tipping of guides and porters, any personal expenditure, miscellaneous expenses. Please note that the local Peruvian airfares to Juliaca and from Cusco are subject to price fluctuation until paid.
TOTAL BUDGET FOR TRIP IN SOUTH AFRICAN RANDS:
TRIP COST 8 144
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT 13 000 (approx)
INTERNAL FLIGHTS 1 680 (approx)
R22800 (or the £ or $ equivalent at date of payment)
plus whatever you want to spend on presents and goods purchased.
You will receive a packing list and pre-departure information upon receipt of your registration and payment. Please make sure that your passport is up-to-date and valid for at least 6 months after your trip. If it is not, or you don't have one I suggest that you get it updated or apply for one now. Please note you do not need a visa if you are a South African citizen, but you do need to have a yellow fever inoculation for re- entry into South Africa (it lasts for 10 years). Please also consider whatever other inoculations you may need even though it may not be legally required.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
The cheapest way to get to Lima Peru from South Africa is to fly Malaysian Airlines that stop over at Johannesburg and Cape Town (an hour and half stopover in Cape Town) and then on to Buenos Aires Argentina (approximately 6 hour flight). At Buenos Aires there is typically about a 2/3 hour wait and then a connecting flight by a Peruvian airlines (such as TACA or LAN PERU) to Lima (flight approximately 6 hours). The journey therefore starts in South Africa in the morning and you arrive in Lima Peru at 10.45 pm the same night. The time difference between South Africa and Argentina is 5 hours, and Peru 7 hours.
Coming back the flight leaves early Sunday morning and there is a slightly longer wait in Argentina of about 5 hours and you then fly Malaysian Airlines overnight to arrive in South Africa on the Monday morning (because of the time difference).
The flights are relatively easy but you need to be very early at the South American check in desks because of long lines and having to pay airport taxes etc and security checks. It is very easy to miss flights believe me!!
The airfare is around R12/13 000 from South Africa.
See for UK flights www.opodo.co.uk around £646/771
Come with us...Explore the World. Explore your Self.
CONTACT DETAILS:
www.arthurianschool.co.uk
info@arthurianschool.co.uk
telephone: (0027) 28 273 8277 international 028 273 8277 local
mobile: (0027) 783716343 international 0783716343 local
“Revitalise and Enlighten your Life with the Moon”
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