Sandra Straw's Circle Of Light logo

Mayan Mexico
Sri Lanka
Iceland - eco-tour
more tours (2008/9)

Retreats
Sacred Scotland
Sacred Ireland
Sacred England
Cathars - France
Mother Meera
John of God (Brazil)
more retreats (2008/9)
*Wellbeing Retreats*

Stay on top!
Email us now to request our free no-obligation newsletter and we'll keep you posted with news about all our forthcoming sacred journeys & retreats, as well as special offers, early-bird discounts and free prize draws, etc.

info@spiritualholidays.com

(Naturally we take your privacy very seriously and shall not pass on your details to anyone else, or mis-use them in any way.)

New! Discover Dartmoor & Bodmin Moor
– Retreats, courses & workshops to suit you!

Whenever possible Sandra likes to offer her retreats and trainings in beautiful surroundings where everyone can also benefit from the natural earth energies therein. The Westcountry has much magic to offer, and Sandra is keen to help you with her range of meditations, personal development techniques and sound guidance, whilst exploring the spiritual treasures of the ancient wildernesses of Dartmoor and Bodmin moor.

What would you like to do?
How could we make the most of a few 'sacred' days?

There are a range of possibilities for Sandra's new Dartmoor & Bodmin Retreats:
• A Celtic Odyssey of Stone Circles, ceremonial sites and the wild Tors?
• Tracing the pilgrims' route: the St Michael and Mary line – visiting churches, holy wells and bridges across Dartmoor and Bodmin moor, and through to Penzance?
• A silent retreat with walking meditations on the moors?
• Or maybe you would like to attend one of Sandra's renowned 'Focus on your Life' retreat workshops, or a Reiki Jin Kei Do training course here in Devon or Cornwall rather than London?

At the moment dates are flexible too, so why not phone and have a chat with Sandra to see what would suit you best?

One day schedules – from just £50
Two days, plus one night B&B – from £150

Call 0845 456 1007 now for details!

Sacred England - a Celtic Odyssey: Glastonbury, Avebury & Stonehenge
plus Annual Crop Circle Conference
5-8/10th August 2008

Also:
The Sacred South West:
Exploring the St Mary/Michael Line
10-15th August 2008
This 5-day tour of Devon and Cornwall takes place immediately afterwards so can make a lovely extended tour, or a mini-tour in its own right.

See below for details of both these popular tours.

Cultural holiday to England

Sacred England - a Celtic Odyssey:
Glastonbury, Avebury & Stonehenge
plus Annual Crop Circle Conference
5-8/10th August 2008

Experience the magic and mystery of the ancient Vale of Somerset – a spiritual journey exploring the sacredness of this land; the Heart Chakra of planet Earth.

This journey is centred around Marlborough, an historical market town of much interest. There is a certain air of mystery that clings to the ancient Kingdom of Wessex, an enchanted land from Neolithic times. Whether because of psychic impressions left by 1000’s of years of habitation, currents of ‘earth energy’ coursing through the landscape, or purely natural causes, one thing is certain: Wessex in general, and particularly the Wessex Triangle, is home to the unusual and unexplained.

Glastonbury is a powerful energy site of great significance, both in legend and reality. The Arthurian story weaves itself around Tor and the surrounding area, which in ancient times was a great marsh with tidal waters.
This is the Heart Chakra of our Earth, and has many sacred associations. Christ is thought to have visited here with Joseph of Arimithea. Stand in front of the Michael Tower on Glastonbury Tor and feel the energy course through you.
The Tower was built in Christian times on the site of an ancient place of worship, on the famous St. Mary/St. Michael Ley Lines, which run from near Land's End to Bury St. Edmunds on the east coast.
Other sacred sites that have attracted the spiritual energies of many people throughout the centuries are the Chalice Well Garden, where peaceful meditation is one of the attractions, and Glastonbury Abbey where King Arthur is thought to be buried.

"Avebury is a haunting place to see at all times and in all weathers, but most impressive of all on a still moonlit night, when it seems peopled with ghosts", to quote from John Betjeman.
The area encompasses Silbury Hill, 'the tallest mystery in ancient Europe', and several Long Barrow burial sites. Avebury and the surrounding area is a truly fascinating and atmospheric place, with beautiful feminine energy in the Stone Circle Temple also being on the St. Mary/St. Michael Ley Lines.

Stonehenge is thought to have been started around 3000 BC, when the first earthworks were dug, and modifications were made to this large henge over several centuries.
Stone circles such as this most famous example were sanctuaries for religious rituals, as well as being astronomical calendars, marking the solstices of the sun, and therefore the seasons, which were of major significance to all peoples living close to the land. Although always of great significance to those working on the land and sea, many of us from the towns and cities are beginning to become more aware and re-embrace the significance of these circadian rhythms as well as of the Moon's phases, and are integrating them into their lives.
Whilst we are in the Uffington region we shall visit the White Horse, Waylands Longbarrow, Dragon Hill and any nearby crop circles.

Day four of our tour will hopefully include a private visit to Stonehenge subject to enough bookings coming in early enough for us to arrange this!

Proposed itinerary includes:
Guided tours of Glastonbury Abbey, the Chalice Well and gardens
A whole day exploring Avebury and its environs
Quiet sacred time inside Stonehenge
Time to experience Glastonbury life and shops, etc.
Plus visits to some of the current Wessex crop circles!

Crop Circles, or agriglyphs as they are increasingly called, are, with few exceptions, created at night, with conditions only being right for easy viewing between early April and late September.
The 'force' that often accompanies them can have a buzzing electronic sound or a loud roar, though sometimes completely silent. It might come from the sky, the earth, or both, or neither! Much is still to be discovered about this strange phenomena.
They are frequently seen near ancient monuments, and some native Americans say they are ancient symbols sent to re-awaken mankind and raise our vibrations for the great.
Visiting 'crop circle country' is like opening a wonderful present – there are so many different designs. Sometimes it is hard to see exactly what form the glyph has taken unless one has the advantage of seeing an aerial shot beforehand.
People entering crop circles experience a variety of physical and mental sensations. A number of causes have been put forward to account for these effects, including earth magnetism, and energy leylines.
From 1991 onewards the glyphs took the form of more obvious symbols. One of the more famous agriglyphs from that era was a representation of the Mandelbrot set, a complex mathematical object involved with postulations concerning chaos theory, infinite dimensions and the suchlike. Could it be that the creators of this glyph are asking us to consider the fine line between chaos and order?
Crop circles appear to have a telepathic effect too. In the case of the aerial phenomenon the viewer is drawn to look at the UFO. In many eye witness accounts, unidentified flying objects have been seen either before, during or after a crop circle has been formed.

Have your own crop circle experience! There will be time to visit some of the new crop circles in the area - there are usually a few to choose from for those who are really fascinated by this mystery.

Cost of this main Tour: £395 approx.
(Twin shared B&B accommodation)

The Wiltshire Crop Circles Conference takes place over the weekend of 11/12th August and costs an extra £80 + accommodation.
This full, 2-day programme includes lectures on the phenomenon, helicopter rides, crop circle visits as well as fascinating talks from acknowledged experts in the field (so the speak!).

PLEASE NOTE: Single rooms may be available on payment of a supplement.
Not included: Meals other than breakfast, entrance fees to specified sites (about £25), personal travel insurance, cost of travel to and from Marlborough.
Circle of Light/spiritualholidays.com reserves the right to change itineraries and prices if local and/or world conditions change.


"...Experience the limitlessness of 'being' and a spiritual shift that will last a lifetime..."
New Budget
Accommodation Option
For those on a tighter budget Sandra is happy to look into sourcing alternative accommodation on some of the Tours and Retreats. Please enquire for further details.

Glastonbury Tor
"Fantastic weekend - beautiful group always helping each other.
Sandra, you are a true inspiration giving time to everyone."
– Eleanor

Avebury from the air
"Excellent, lovely retreat. Well done Sandra - your fortitude and patience amaze me!"
– Patricia

On Glastonbury Tor



Symbolic stained glass


Silbury Hill


Crop circles


back to top


The Sacred South West: Exploring the St Mary/Michael Line
10-15th August 2008

We trace the ancient Pilgrims Route via the St. Michael/St. Mary Lines which run through Avebury to St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, before crossing to France and on through Europe, along the Apollo/Athena leyline to ancient Armageddon in Turkey.

"A spiritual awakening occurs as we journey as Pilgrims in an awakened consciousness through this idyllic landscape of ceremonial power sites. As we travel as one we activate the Divine Feminine wherever we are led..."

Dartmoor is the largest wilderness of Southern England, with its rocky tors, fossilised Bronze Age villages, Stone Age hut circles, and stone rows.
We visit Dartmoor and some of its attractive villages such as Widecombe-in-the-Moor, an ancient 'Clapper Bridge', and Brentor's 13th century church. We also visit the Hurlers and Merry Maidens stone circles along with a full day at St. Michael's Mount, all of which are on the St Michael Line.

Proposed itinerary for Devon & Cornwall extension:
Day 1: Today we journey to picturesque Devon, stopping off
at Burrow Mump and the ancient church at Creech St. Michael. We take lunch at Bickleigh, a quaint little village with lovely thatched cottages. We then travel on to Widecombe-in-the-Moor in Dartmoor, for tea, experiencing the rolling countryside en route We overnight locally.

Day 2: Next we visit Bodmin Moor, with the Cheesewring and Hurlers Stone Circle power sites. This wild and craggy moor with its prehistoric granite 'sculptures' is home to Dozmary Pool, the supposed final resting place of King Arthur’s legendary sword Excalibur. We visit the sacred wells of St. Neot and Cleer, and journey on towards Penzance to overnight.
Day 3: Experience St. Michael’s Mount in the morning. Here it is said fishermen in the 6th Century saw a vision of The Archangel Michael. In the afternoon we will visit the Merry Maidens Stone Circle and Madron Well and Baptistry.
Day 4: Next we visit Tintagel, the legendary stronghold of the Cornish King Vortigern where Uther Pendragon, according to legend, through Merlin’s wizardry, gained admission and consorted with Queen Ygerna, resulting in Arthur’s conception. In the evening we experience Boscastle, a charming smuggler’s cove.
Day 5:
Enjoying the wonderful Westcountry scenery as we go, we return to Marlborough via Totnes for those departing to London via the fast train.

Cost of South West tour: £395 approx
(Twin shared B&B accommodation)

PLEASE NOTE: Single rooms may be available on payment of a supplement.
Not included: Meals other than breakfast, entrance fees to specified sites, personal travel insurance, cost of travel to and from Marlborough.
Circle of Light/spiritualholidays.com reserves the right to change itineraries and prices if local and/or world conditions change.



Moorland church


Dartmoor Tor


St Michael's Mount

Tel: 0845 456 1007 (local call rate)
Mobile: 07776 405140

Sandra Straw's Spiritualholidays.com
PO Box 96, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ8 8WR. UK
info@spiritualholidays.com
Tel: 0845 456 1007 (local call rate)
Mobile: 07776 405140