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WE LOVE YOU MOTHER, WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN (OF THE EARTH)

WE LOVE YOU MOTHER, WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN (OF THE EARTH)
MACHU PICCHU

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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

PERU & BOLIVIA SOLSTICE 2012 JOURNEY TO THE SUN



SACRED EARTH RETREATS©
For the love of the Earth and building a new future
Being of service to the Greater Whole
PERU & BOLIVIA
JOURNEY TO THE SUN
7-22 JUNE 2012
Tarot- ART, THE UNIVERSE

MACHU PICCHU
2012 WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

SPECIAL CEREMONIES:

* HONOURING THE SUN AT MACHU PICCHU ON WINTER SOLSTICE 2012

*RECLAIMING OUR EARTH POWER AT THE ISLANDS OF THE SUN AND THE MOON, BOLIVIA

This is a journey that will be focused on gathering your soul energy through working with the Sun, culminating in a special ceremony at Machu Picchu on Winter Solstice 2012.

PLEASE CONTACT:
Elizabeth Bardin
SACRED EARTH RETREATS©
www.arthurianschool.com
info@arthurianschool.com/ elizabethbardin@yahoo.co.uk
Tel +27(SOUTH AFRICA) – 028 273 8277 Cell/mob +27(SOUTH AFRICA) - 078 371 6343

NOTE: SACRED EARTH RETREATS© is owned by ELIZABETH BARDIN who organises specialised group trips to PERU (INCA), EGYPT, MEXICO (AZTEC, MAYAN) & parts of SOUTHERN AFRICA ( AFRICAN).
On these trips you are taught how to SHAMANICALLY “tune in” so that you are able to find a much deeper connection to the Earth and gather spiritual wisdom from the Ancient Civilisations.
Learning how to open your Heart and awaken your spiritual Intuition to live in a totally new way!

THE RETREAT TRIP

LIMA - AREQUIPA
We start our journey in the capital of Peru, Lima, a big city on the Pacific Ocean. Here we meet as a group to catch our flight to Arequipa – south of Lima and well known for its glistening white buildings made from a white volcanic rock which gives the city its nickname “La Ciudad Blanca” or The White City”. Arequipa is surrounded by 3 volcanoes – highly respected because the melting water from their snow-capped peaks form the headwaters of the mighty Amazon River, thousands of kilometres away. But probably the most astonishing site in Arequipa is the Monasterio de Santa Catalina which opened to the public only in 1970 after 400 years as a cloister. The convent is a complete miniature walled colonial town in the middle of the city filled with arches and flower gardens. *Here we will reap some amazing feminine energy – bursting with fertility, beauty, abundance.

AREQUIPA – PUNO
Next we travel on to Puno, a small village at the foot of Lake Titicaca. The altitude is very high and we do some resting and acclimatising. But for those of you who are well and adventurous enough- there is a day trip to see the floating reed Islands of Uros and the Island of Taquile – an island on the lake where traditional dress is still worn by the local people.

PUNO – COPACABANA – ISLA DEL SOL (BOLIVIA)
They say that the Boliva side of Lake Titicaca is the most beautiful and so we travel across the border. Here in Bolivia we spend our first night in the town of Copacabana. Copacabana's religious celebrations and traditional festivals are well known throughout Bolivia. The following day we leave by boat for Isla del Sol, the sacred Inca island. It is said that the Islands of the Sun and the Moon represent two of the greatest natural and cultural monuments of South America. During the Inca occupation of the region (around A.D. 1470 - 1532) these islands were the final destination of ritual pilgrimages from all around the Inca Empire. However, recently recovered archaeological evidence indicates that the sacred nature of these islands extends back at least to the Tiwanaku Empire (A.D. 600 - 1100). Prior to this time, humans first occupied the islands as early as 2000 B.C., and have continuously lived there for millennia. *The Islands of the Sun and the Moon are very singificant portals of earth energy and power and we gather some important Soul energy for our journey here.

CUSCO
After our stay on the Island of the Sun where we also have an opportunity to respectfully share a space in the homes of some local people, we travel back to Peru and further north to connect with the amazingly expansive energies of Cusco. Cusco was the capital of the INCA and is also translated as “navel” of the world – a name well deserved because of the extraordinary energies of this place so honoured by the INCA. Many have fallen in love with Cusco and never want to leave! *We visit the Gold Museum in Cusco to find our deeper connection to the INCA energies and also our relationship with the greater whole. Cusco is truly one of the richest spiritual capitals of the world!

OLLANTAYTAMBO - MORAY
Next we travel on to one of the most beautiful and feminine villages in the Sacred Valley of Machu Picchu. After some serious flooding a few years ago in Peru, this village has reclaimed its power and holds some very powerful connections to water- the special gift that the INCA people had when building their villages and monuments. Running waterways are still used in the village with its magnificent huge stones in the high temples of the ruins. *And so, Ollantaytambo is an important part of our journey to connect to the magic of water. We also visit the nearby site of Moray. Moray has a very mysterious atmosphere, much connected to star energies and there is much speculation as to what it was originally built and used for. Circular terraces speak of some experiments with water and plants and it has an incredible view of the snow capped Andes. * We do a special ceremony here to anchor star sun energies for the trip into our bodies.

MACHU PICCHU!
And then – at last! -we reach our real destination- Machu Picchu! We travel by train along the scenic Inca Trail to reach the small village just below Machu Picchu, called Machu Picchu Pueblo. Nestled among the mountains and next to the mighty Urubamba River, this area has a completely different feel. It is part of the cloud forest and much more lush and tropical. We visit some markets with beautiful colourful goods such as fabrics, crystals and jewellery and soak in the special energies of Machu Picchu that you feel immediately as you visit the area. And on the very special day of WINTER SOLSTICE we rise early to great the sun at the Sungate of Machu Picchu. Like so many, many times before, and through the ages, we once again gather to pay homage to the Sun! At the Sun temple WITH ITS SPECIAL ALIGNMENT TO THE SOLSTICES we also do a special meditation to honour the Sun- the most incredible opportunity to be at a place of such beauty and peace in 2012!

CUSCO - LIMA
After our journey to the Sun, we have time to rest and integrate as we finally return to Cusco by train where you are able to catch a flight back to Lima and then your international flight back home.

ITINERARY
*(please note some of the final detail of the itinerary may still change)

7 JUNE (Thursday)
START OF RETREAT & MEETING IN LIMA
Meeting of group at Lima International Airport
Short flight to Arequipa
Overnight Arequipa

8 JUNE (Friday)
Breakfast
*VISIT TO FAMOUS SANTA CATALINA CONVENT
Overnight Arequipa

9 JUNE (Saturday)
Breakfast
Travel to Puno (near lake Titicaca)
Overnight Puno

10 JUNE (Sunday)
Breakfast
Day of rest and connection to Lake Titicaca (very high altitude)
OPTIONAL TRIP:
*VISIT TO THE FLOATING ISLANDS OF UROS AND ISLAND TAQUILE ON LAKE TITICACA
Overnight Puno

11 JUNE (Monday)
Breakfast
Travelling across border to Bolivia
Overnight Copacabana

12 JUNE (Tuesday)
Breakfast
* VISIT AND SPECIAL CEREMONY ON THE ISLANDS OF THE SUN AND THE MOON
Overnight Island of the Sun

13 JUNE (Wednesday)
Breakfast
Day of resting and integration
Overnight Island of the Sun

14 JUNE (Thursday)
Breakfast
*Travelling back into Peru and further north to Cusco (visiting some INCA sites on the way)
Overnight Cusco

15 JUNE (Friday)
Breakfast
Free day to discover the wonder of Cusco (called “navel of the world”)
*Visiting the INCA GOLD MUSEUM to connect to the INCA ENERGIES
Overnight Cusco

16 JUNE (Saturday)
Breakfast
Travelling to Ollantaytambo (village in the Sacred Valley leading to Machu Picchu)
Overnight Ollantaytambo

17 JUNE (Sunday)
Breakfast
*VISITING MORAY (circular site where plant experimentation took place)
Overnight Ollantaytambo

18 JUNE (Monday)
Breakfast
*VISITING THE INCA RUINS OF OLLANTAYTAMBO
Overnight Ollantaytambo

19 JUNE (Tuesday)
Breakfast
Train to Machu Picchu
Getting connected to the energies of the Cloud Forest in the area
Overnight Machu Picchu Pueblo

20 JUNE (Wednesday)
Breakfast
Exploring the markets of Machu Picchu Pueblo and preparation for our solstice visit to Machu Picchu
Overnight Machu Picchu Pueblo

21 JUNE (Thursday) SUMMER SOLSTICE
Breakfast
* Early morning visit to MACHU PICCHU TO SEE THE WINTER SOLSTICE SUNRISE AND CEREMONY
Overnight Machu PIcchu Pueblo

(OPTIONAL: For those who are energetic and want to experience something similar to the INCA TRAIL, you can climb HUAYNA PICCHU PEAK (you will then need an extra approx $56 )- it is well worth the climb with magnificent views of the city of MACHU PICCHU and the surrounding valleys and mountains from the top of HUAYNA PICCHU PEAK –it takes 2-3 hours of quite steep climbing on steps up the mountain which is very similar to some of the climbs on the Inca trail but more spectacular 360 degree views.

22 JUNE (Friday)
Breakfast
Train back to CUSCO
END OF THE RETREAT
(15 nights 16 days)

Retreat fee: R17 300/£1460 /$2200

Retreat trip cost includes:
*Subject to availability at time of your booking: 2 flights: Lima/Arequipa AND Cusco/Lima
* Accommodation (x2/3 sharing) at scenic and local hostals with en suite bathrooms
* All breakfasts as indicated
* All transfers as per above itinerary
*All transportation to sites as per above itinerary
* Return train trip to Machu Picchu Pueblo
* All entrance fees to sacred sites on retreat itinerary
* Full day entrance and return bus ticket to Machu Picchu
* Guided SOLSTICE sunrise meditations at Machu Picchu and at other sites as per itinerary
*Shamanic and trip leader, Elizabeth Bardin, personally accompanying you
* Shamanic meditations and ceremonies
* Small group tuition

Not included:
*Airport departure taxes which are never included in air tickets (approx $60)
*Optional trips/excursions listed on itinerary
*Lunch and suppers (approx $12-15 per day)
*Tipping (tipping- ($60 to be collected at the start of the trip))
*Drinks
*Items of a personal nature
*Souveniers
*Travel and holiday insurance

*(Note for South Africans: The retreat cost is based on a maximum conversion rate of 8:1 South African rand to the US dollar.) Please ask for specific information on international flights please-

Notes

SOME PRELIMINARY NOTES

Please note that nothing on the scheduled programme is compulsory- it there to help and assist you to have a spiritual experience of Peru & Bolivia, but it is up to you as to how and when you want to join in. Having said that, I encourage you to do take part in as much as you can, because very often it is by taking yourself out of your comfort zone that magic happens!
Please also note we often visit the sites in silence so as to have an inner experience first and find a spiritual connection with the site and energies.

What is so special about the trip in 2012?
The dates chosen above are given to me under guidance to make sure that the trip will be safe and happen at the most auspicious and spiritually awakening times of that year when visiting the Sacred Sites on the itinerary. The year of 2012 holds special opportunities and being at MACHU PICCHU for the winter solstice will be an unbelievably precious and exciting opportunity for all of us!

Food
Lunch and suppers are not included in the overall costing of the retreat. This is to keep the cost of the trip flexible and make it easy for each person individually to decide what they would like to eat and also how much they want to spend on food. You have the choice and you will be given ample suggestions as to where to find good local food on our visit. Most of the food in Peru & Bolivia is fresh and grown locally with fantastic salads and products such as quinoa soup etc. You can also try the local meat varieties such as Alpacha. There are a range of types of food available (from fast food to traditional) and also in terms of budget.
Budget on about $12-20 as an average cost per day for meals and eating out.

What is the accommodation like?
SACRED EARTH RETREATS are planned to make it affordable to most people on a budget (without having to do camping or backpacking!), the rooms are simple but clean and enjoyable and in tune with the general rural atmosphere of Peru & Bolivia. Most accommodation establishments that call themselves hotels or hostals are really simple hotels that provide fair but basic accommodation. The accommodation chosen on this trip is clean, has an interesting and scenic aspect to it, has en suite bathrooms and also hot water- not a given always! Be prepared to have your standard needs met, but nothing luxurious. At the Island of the Sun in Bolivia we will have a special opportunity to stay with local people in their homes- a great opportunity to have more than just a superficial interaction with the local people of South America- we can learn so much from them!

How do we travel?
We travel as a group together in taxis and micro buses for most of the way.
It is only possible to go to Machu Picchu Pueblo (the village just below Machu Picchu) by train and so we will be catching a train on our way there and back. It is truly a beautiful journey along the Urubamba River.

Flights
The flight at the beginning of the retreat to Arequipa is a short flight and included in the retreat fee.
All international flights connect out of Lima International airport and so at the end of the retreat you will need to fly back from Cusco to Lima (about an hour flight). The cost of this is also included in the retreat fee although the retreat ends when we arrive back in Cusco by train.
You will need to arrange your own international flights to and from Lima.

Entrance fees
There are different options regarding the type of tickets that are available depending on what you want to do, but all entrance tickets are included in the price of the trip so you don’t need to worry about which ones are best suited to your needs and are the most economical.

What do I need to know about weather?
When packing it is best to bring layers that you can put on and take off. You will be given more information about what to pack etc closer to the trip. You can buy very cheap plastic ponchos for any occasional down pour that may happen in the afternoon. Our trip in June is a good time to go to Peru - the rainy season is over and the evenings are not that cold yet as it is in August of the year when it is mid winter in Peru.

Machu Picchu is high altitude but part of the Cloud forest, so the weather is mild, but you will need sun hats and sunscreen for the Inca Sun!

Do I have to worry about altitude sickness?

It is an important aspect to think about and to do some preparation before the trip.

If you have a history of strokes or very high blood pressure you will not be able to take the high altitude pills if you are in fact not able to cope with the altitude when you are in Peru & Bolivia. There are certain simple procedures that can be followed to help you adjust and if you have particular concerns, it may even be advisable for you to arrive a day or two before the retreat starts, to make sure that you are rested. The highest altitude you will be at is Lake Titicaca and since that is at the beginning of the trip, it is important to rest the day you arrive and if possible even sleep! Cusco is also at high altitude, but at the time we arrive there your body will have adjusted to the altitude. Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco so once you have adjusted to the altitude at Lake Titicaca and Cusco you will be fine for the rest of the trip.

Altitude sickness is unpredictable and although it will be good for you to become fit and trim before the trip, it does not necessarily mean you will not be affected. Often it affects younger persons more than if you are older and not so fit!

On some level the altitude is symbolic of ascending also in your body and so at the end of the trip you will find that not only are you emotionally and mentally a lot sharper, your body will also be more efficient because it has learnt to use oxygen more efficiently. In all the years that I have taken groups to Peru I have not had anyone who has had life threatening/serious complications, although often I have made sure that people stay in bed and just sleep because of the first symptoms they have of altitude sickness!

Also, many people complain about having stomach upsets in Peru & Bolivia because of the altitude and also different conditions with water. It is recommended that you only drink bottled water and there are other measures that you can take to make sure you get over any complaint quickly. Very often it is a way for the body to detox, but it need not ruin your trip and also when you are with a group you have the comfort of knowing that you are supported and that if you need any medical attention is easy to find for you. Consider medical insurance that covers all kinds of eventualities.

Malaria and yellow fever
There is not any malaria where we visit- it is applicable if you visit the areas near the Amazon, but if you are South African and visit Peru you will need to show a a yellow fever injection certificate on your return to South Africa..


MACHU PICCHU (BACKGROUND)
(where we will be spending winter solstice 2012)

Machu Picchu PERU holds some of the most feminine and important energies for our planet. It has a simplicity and gentleness of the Heart that one cannot truly understand - until one has been there.

This amazing feeling of peace and connection to the Heart comes from an ancient heritage born in Peru where the indigenous people have always understood and communicated with the more subtle energies of Mother Nature. Being in tune with these cosmic soul energies of Pachamama - as they affectionately call her - they have always treated the Earth as a living energetic being that creates life for them and their children.

But even more than that. Peru has the wonder of Machu Picchu.

Many are intrigued about why so many people are drawn to visit the lost city of Machu Picchu at this time in our world. IT IS SAID TO BE THE MOST VISITED PLACE IN SOUTH AMERICA!

Built as a place that is literally “above the clouds,” it is said that its purpose was to commune with the gods from above, a sacred place where humans and the cosmic gods of Nature could safely meet without any interference.

The concept of building a city of the size and magnitude of Machu Picchu even now seems ridiculous. Yet this was done painstakingly and with the most incredible amount of patience and aptitude. The people of Machu Picchu knew what they were doing- they had a master plan that was so brilliantly conceived that we now need to find the same to build and create our own sustainable world for the future!

When you look at Machu Picchu, its ultimate genius is that of working with the hazards of the elements. High up on the top of a mountain, dealing safely with the force of the elements and most importantly rain, had to be a priority. And so structures were conceived and taken from ancient civilisations of the past that made sure that there was incredible security in the face of heavy cloud bursts, earth quakes, torrential rain- for this was after all a place of the Gods and with it came the raw elemental forces of nature! And so even today you will see a system of conducting water that ensures that these channels of water still function with water to this day. Stones were built in an inherent pyramid structure using bedrock and so the entire city is still standing in very much the way it was built - after thousands of years in the most daunting of locations.

Machu Picchu holds a vital key to our future!

“Many come to Machu Picchu not quite knowing why, but all return knowing that it was meant to be - something that transformed their lives and old ideas and limitations to a new freedom and power – and having a deep knowing…. that it IS possible to once again have a living AND loving relationship with the Earth…”

(Elizabeth Bardin ©2012)

NOTES ON SHAMANIC WORK DONE AND TEACHING DONE DURING THE RETREAT:

Shamanism is the most ancient of spiritual practices.
Modern shamanic roles are vast. There are shamans whose talents are to work with plants and elemental earth energies, urban shamans, meta shamans who travel into other dimensions to retrieve lost pieces of our souls. They are holders of sacredness and ceremony.
Soul Retrieval Shamanism is a specific heart centered training in contrast to sacral forms, and uses heart intelligence to direct restorative or as it more commonly known, healing energy. As we go through our lives, dramas and traumas, we lose pieces of ourselves, people take them, we become uneasy, depressed, at a loss, ill in some way. A soul retrieval shaman has guides who are specifically trained to aid in the collect these pieces on your behalf. It is a very beautiful, creative and spiritual process... that requires strength and dedication.

WITH LOVE

Contact details:
ELIZABETH BARDIN
info@arthurianschool.com/ elizabethbardin@yahoo.co.uk
telephone +27 - (0)28 273 8277
cell/mobile +27 - (0)78 371 6343