Pilgrimages In 2019

Britain’s Sacred Landscape: A Pilgrimage Journey through Avalon/
Glastonbury, British Isles (Brigit’s Isles), and a Heart Chakra center on
Earth – a landscape that has hosted many of the crop circle formations
over the last 40 years.

Thursday, July 25th – Friday, August 2nd, 2019

We will follow a path to some of Britain’s most sacred sites in the mystical lands of the Arthurian and Grail legends. (The timing is planned so that we will be in Devizes for the second part of our pilgrimage, for those who wish to attend the annual Crop Circle Conference in Devizes, August 2-4th, 2019 immediately afterwards.)

The pilgrimage will convene in the afternoon of July 25th, and conclude with a closing circle on the morning of August 2nd.

Offered by Veronica Goodchild, PhD, Professor Emerita, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Jungian Psychotherapist, Author, Pilgrimage Leader

“At times I feel as if I am spread out over
the landscape and inside things, and am
myself living in every tree, in the splashing
of the waves, in the clouds and the animals
that come and go, in the procession of the
seasons”
C. G. Jung

“And did those feet in ancient time walk
upon England’s mountains
green……..”
William Blake

Pilgrimage is a sacred rite of passage that begins long before you arrive and lasts long after you return home. It helps connect you with the spirit of nature and the stars, and with what you knew as a child and can bring back into awareness as an adult – in other words, who you truly are and who you always were. Open yourself to above and below at the ancient initiation center at Glastonbury Tor, speak to the magnificent beech trees at Avebury, listen to the memories of the stones at Avebury and Stonehenge, be inspired by the Divine Feminine and Mary Magdalene at Wells Cathedral, and let your own inner wisdom and knowing flourish.

The focus of this 9 day/8 night Pilgrimage will be connecting with the subtle and ancient landscape of the mystical land of Avalon, a site both related to early Christianity (the Avalon of St. Joseph and St. Bride, symbolized by the Abbey), and a much earlier Celtic landscape called Iniswitrin, “Isle of Glass” (the Avalon of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake, symbolized by the Tor). Between these two, and connected to both, are the legends of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, Excalibur and the Grail, stories that reach back in pre-history to the Great Bear (or Plough) constellation and Arcturus its brightest star (also the star of the Cathars), and the fabled land of Atlantis, calling to us again today. From a spiritual perspective this star system was ‘written’ on the landscape, linking stars and earth energies together to create a portal opening to a sacred in-between domain – Avalon, “Isle of Apples,” in the county of Somerset, or Summerland as it was called. This area is also the landscape of many of the crop circle formations of the last almost 40 years. Seeking to connect to this ancient and ever present ‘invisible Earth,’ we ask for guidance for our planet and ourselves at this crucial time of change, and inquire how we can be of service beyond self care, to care of others and our Earth.

The group size will be limited to 12 to preserve the intimacy of a contemplative journey.

Click HERE to View The Proposed Schedule

Fee for the Pilgrimage is $3,650. This includes all accommodation and breakfasts (shared accommodation in Glastonbury in private vacation
homes, single occupancy rooms in our Devizes hotel), 2 dinners, pick-up at London Heathrow Airport (not Gatwick) on Day 1 at 10am (otherwise meet in Glastonbury at 4pm), teachings on the tour, excursion bus, additional guide specialists, preparation materials, meditations, gatherings where we reflect and share dreams, visions, images, feelings and thoughts.

The non-refundable deposit of $700 (you’ll be charged $722.00 with fees that go directly to Paypal of approx. 3%) by March 1, 2019, but please know that spaces are filling on a first come basis. (If you wish to avoid these fees, try using the Friends/Family button.)
CLICK HERE TO PAY THE DEPOSIT DUE BY MARCH 1, 2019.

The balance of $2,950 (you’ll be charged $3,039 with fees that go directly to Paypal of approx. 3%) is due by May 1st.
CLICK HERE TO PAY THE BALANCE DUE BY MAY 1, 2019.

You may also pay by check directly to me at: Veronica Goodchild, P.O. Box 815, Summerland, CA 93067, USA.

Please note that if you wish to pay by bank transfer, I will give you my bank details. You will be responsible for any bank fees charged to my bank account on these transactions.

Email for more information: veronica.goodchild@gmail.com

The Pilgrimage fee does not include round trip travel expense from your home country, entrance fees to museums and other places, all lunches and other meals, except those mentioned as part of the tour, and personal expenditures.

Many of you might be coming to England before the Pilgrimage starts so travel option suggestions to Glastonbury will be provided if you wish. It is always a good idea to come in a day or two early to rest before the Journey begins, or visit other parts of England not on the tour.

UK weather is very unpredictable and can be cold and variable at all times of year. Hopefully it will be pleasantly warm in July! So bring some summer clothes, but prepare to dress warmly, dress in layers, and bring a raincoat, and waterproof shoes or Wellington (rubber) boots. All clothing is casual.

Bring a small daypack for your journal, a small voice recorder if you wish, water and snacks. We will be outside and walking so you need to be fit enough to walk. Walking is at most moderately challenging in Glastonbury up to the Tor, and through the field up to West Kennett Long Barrow near Avebury. It will be about a 10 minute walk from our residences in Glastonbury to the town center, or other venues. Elsewhere it’s mostly flat or sloping. Please do not overpack. You can bring a medium suitcase, and a small backpack. If in doubt, check with me.

Email for more information and reading resources:
veronica.goodchild@gmail.com. Phone: +1 (805) 722-7758.


The Magdalene Mysteries and the Path of the Blue Rose:

A Ten-Day/Nine-Night Pilgrimage Journey to the Heart of the Languedoc in SW France and Northern Spain.

Tuesday, September 24th through Thursday October 3rd, 2019

with Veronica Goodchild, PhD

Professor Emerita, Pacifica Graduate Institute,
Author, Jungian psychotherapist

You are invited to download and read Veronica’s recent paper about Mary Magdalene and the Path of the Blue Rose.

Click here to access the pdf.

TOUR OVERVIEW

The Magdalene Mysteries relate both to ‘hidden’ histories and Gnostic Texts concerning Mary Magdalene and Jesus, and to the Tradition of the Blue Rose, the name given to MM’s teachings, and a lineage of Grail Priestesses and Womb Shamans whose central symbol is the Chalice of the Grail, and whose guiding force is the Cosmic Sophia.

MM has a strong presence throughout France, particularly in Provence, and in the Languedoc where the Cathar Gnostic Movement – devotees of MM and Jesus – also flourished. During our pilgrimage in this beautiful part of France, we will journey to some of the sites sacred to these traditions. Our focus will be a contemplative one, and our days will be informed by dream-work and meditation practice, history, legends, and conversation, as well as visiting places, portals or doorways, that resonate with the energies of MM and the coming culture of Sophia.

This is an inner journey in the outer world! We will immerse ourselves in the extensive symbolism of the Grail Chalice as an archetypal image that is emerging again in our time. Our hope is to deepen into what our own contribution might be to the new emerging story as we leave the Age of Pisces and welcome the Age of Aquarius as ‘Water Bearers’ in the Grail tradition of personal transformation and service.
In the Languedoc and Cathar Gnostic tradition, MM as Jesus’ Beloved, Initiate of the Mysteries, and the “Apostle to the Apostles,”
is also remembered especially as “Mistress of the Waters” and “Mary of the Sea.” We will link her story to the Egyptian Goddess Isis, to star lineages, and to the Black Madonna tradition so alive in France and Spain, as well as other areas of Europe.

We will also enjoy and be inspired by the delicious food and wine of this special region.

The first part of our journey includes the mystical landscapes in and around Rennes-les-Bains and Rennes-le-Château, the sacred mountain of Bugurach, Esclarmonde’s Cathar Château of Montségur, and other venues. For the second part we will travel to northern Spain, to the Gulf of Roses, and visit an Isis Temple and Asclepian Dream Sanctuary, the town of Girona, a mediaeval center of Alchemy and Kabbalah, where there was a community vision of MM, and finally to the sacred and healing Black Madonna of Montserrat.

Fee and Program Cost: $3,650

(includes preparation materials and all teachings, hotels and all breakfasts, six dinners, 1 picnic lunch, 1 concert, all ground transportation including pick up at Toulouse airport on first day, entrance fees to the Château at Montségur and Empúries archaeological site, tips).

The non-refundable deposit of $700 (you’ll be charged $722.00 with fees that go directly to Paypal of approx. 3%) is due by May 15, 2019. (If you wish to avoid these fees, try using the Friends/Family button.)

CLICK HERE TO PAY YOUR DEPOSIT BY MAY 15, 2019.

The balance of $2,950 (you’ll be charged $3,039 with fees that go directly to Paypal of approx. 3%) is due by June 15, 2019.

CLICK HERE TO PAY YOUR BALANCE BY JUNE 15, 2019.

Please email for the detailed Daily Schedule and more information: veronica.goodchild@gmail.com

You may also pay by check directly to me at: Veronica Goodchild, P.O. Box 815, Summerland, CA 93067, USA.

Please note that if you wish to pay by bank transfer, I will give you my bank details. You will be responsible for any bank fees charged to my bank account on these transactions. For international transfers, http://www.transferwise.com is practical and less expensive than an ordinary bank transfer.



Praise from Pilgrimage Participants

“[The Pilgrimage] was a journey into Heaven and Earth. Throughout the days I felt I was living in a rarified atmosphere, a higher frequency of vibration bringing awarenesses, dreamlike entry into the landscapes and conversations, visions through time and out of time. These continually extended my sense of who I am as an individual and more importantly as a part of the community of life on Earth and in the starry fields. I had some extraordinary inner experiences. That was heaven. The Earth aspect included vibrant connection to the phenomenal beauty of Nature wherever we went; astonishingly exquisite art and architecture; and daily feasts of food, wine, fun, meaningful conversations and plenty of hearty laughter. Returning home I knew I had been through a rite of passage that has initiated necessary changes in mind, heart and spirit. I recommend this journey highly. I learned so much, more than I can possibly describe. Veronica is an extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, gentle, attentive and inspired leader in these journeys.”

~ Tayria Ward, Ph.D. Owner, Bridging Worlds Dream Analysis and Depth Psychology, Asheville, NC, USA

“As a dedicated spiritual seeker and long time practitioner of meditation and yoga, Mary Magdalene and The Path of the Blue Rose Pilgrimage was definitely a turning point in my life. It expanded my understanding and experience of the feminine and of the important role that we, as women, have moving forward for our own evolution and indeed, for the evolution and survival of all man and womankind. I now experience seeing the world differently, with more intimacy and connection. I trust and cherish myself in newer and more revealing ways. As a result of the impact of such a pilgrimage as this was, I feel a heightened compassion and a renewed connection with others and for this planet and most especially, with nature herself. Veronica’s authenticity, her ability to listen and her willingness to be open and vulnerable and courageous set the tone for us all as we journeyed together. I was touched on a deep soul level that continues to unfold long after the pilgrimage ended. Thank you, Veronica and all who participated.”

~ Anna Hayward, NC



Past Pilgrimages

In The Footsteps of the Goddess: An Initiatory Journey to Crete and Mainland Greece

May 18 – June 1, 2018

Click here to download the brochure with all of the details and full itinerary.

Organized and facilitated by Veronica Goodchild & Svetlana Meritt

This is an in-depth journey of inner transformation and renewal, offered to support the re-emergence of the Divine Feminine. The goal of our Pilgrimage is to travel “back” in time and be inspired by the values of the high Minoan culture of ancient Crete as a living presence, in order to move “forward” in our lives with renewed vision and purpose. In mythology May is often seen as the month when the Goddess returns from the “underworld” or “death” of winter. Here is your opportunity to descend into the depths of your own being, accompanied by the rich symbolism and energy of the Minoan culture, Cretan myths, and other sanctuaries.

Our Pilgrimage will unfold on several levels: archaeological, as we explore the rich symbolism and energy of ancient Minoan Great Goddess at the temple-palaces of Knossos, Phaestos, Malia, and Kato Zakros, as well as the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina; artistic, as we visit the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion that houses some unparalleled works of pre-Hellenic art; esoteric, as we examine the principles of an ancient sacred knowledge transmitted to the initiates of the Temple Mysteries; in nature, as we hike to the Mt. Yuktas sanctuary and the Dicteon Cave (the most sacred Goddess sanctuaries on Crete); on pristine beaches, where we take a rest from activities to journal and integrate our experiences.

It will end with a full-moon meditation ritual at the famous oracle of Delphi.

For more information, a detailed Overview, Registration Form, and Pricing and Practical Details doc., please email Veronica by clicking HERE.

15-day Crete and mainland Greece tour is: $5,450.00

10-day Crete-only tour is: $3,600.00

Please Note: The amounts shown below do not reflect the added PayPal processing fees.

Non-refundable Security Deposit for either trip: $700.00 due by February 1st, 2018, together with the Registration Form.

CLICK HERE TO PAY YOUR DEPOSIT.

Balance due: 15 day Crete and mainland Greece tour: $4,750.00.

CLICK HERE TO PAY YOUR BALANCE FOR THE 15-DAY TOUR.

Balance due: 10 day Crete-only tour: $2,900.00, due no later than March 1st.

CLICK HERE TO PAY YOUR BALANCE FOR THE 10-DAY TOUR.

Early bird special: $200.00 off the full 15-day tour if you register and pay in full by January 15th, 2018. (Balance due:$4,550)
CLICK HERE TO PAY IN FULL FOR THE 15-DAY TOUR.

The Pilgrimage is organized and led by two accomplished women, specialists in their fields of inner journeying and sacred sites.


About Svetlana Meritt

Svetlana Meritt, M.A., teaches courses on sacred sites and Earth energies. She is an author, teacher, public speaker, and esotericist. Her latest book is Meet Me in the Underworld: How 77 Sacred Sites, 770 Cappuccinos, and 26,000 Miles Led Me to My Soul. Website: http://www.svetlanameritt.com.

About Veronica Goodchild, Ph.D

Your faculty/guide: Veronica Goodchild, PhD, is Professor Emerita at Pacifica Graduate Institute where she taught courses on Jungian and Imaginal Psychology, Psyche and the Sacred, the Grail Myth, Alchemy and Depth Psychology, and Soulful Research for over 16 years. Educated at London University in her native England as well as Columbia University in NYC, she has long been interested in the reality of dreams and visions, synchronicities and extraordinary experiences.

She has travelled extensively to sites sacred to the Magdalene and Black Madonnas in France, and to the sacred sites of the UK, Egypt, and Peru. Recently, she walked the Le Puy route of the Camino de Santiago in France, as a response to our environmental crises. This led her to two separate but related shamanic paths (the Q’ero mystical tradition in Peru, and the Path of Pollen/Way of the Melissae in the UK), which extended her Jungian background to include the energetic nature of the universe, which ancients called the ‘anima mundi.’

Veronica enjoys the imaginal reality of sacred space and pilgrimage walking, as well as the history, legends, mythological, and symbolic background of these ancient places.

Veronica is the author of two books, Songlines of the Soul: Pathways to a New Vision for a New Century (Foreword by Thomas Moore), and Eros and Chaos: The Sacred Mysteries and Dark Shadows of Love, as well as the Introduction to Mary of Magdala: A Gnostic Fable. She has also written book chapters, reviews, and other essays.