Presentation 

This experiential and landscape phenomenology study of the Celtic Shamanic Tradition in Wales  is offered in two options :

The itinerary cum seminar  program is escorted by experienced resource- persons, entitled academically and experientially to provide guidance and historical indepths.
 
 

Starting at Canterbury Cathedral, the old pilgrimage road to  St Davids Peninsula goes from the English Channel to St. Davids Cathedral and the Presceli mountains ( Pembrokeshire / Wales ). 

Visiting on its way Glastonbury Tower and Stonehenge, this experiential and landscape phenomenology will introduce you to the megalitic , Keltic and medieval powerplaces of Welsh Christendom , investigating the traces of the Arthurian legends and refuges of the Celtic saints of the medieval period.

OPTION ONE (14 days)

Day 1 :

- for participant from USA : 
Flight from USA to UK , arrival in London Heathrow airport, transfer by minibus to the medieval town of Tenby ( for details see your registration form )

- for participants from Europe : 
Meeting in Bruxelles, boat from Calais (Fr) or Oostend (B) to Dover (UK), or Shuttle to Folkestone (UK) (for details see your registration form). 
Transfert from Dover or Folkestone , by coach to Canterbury, introduction to the Tour and Pilgrimage Itinerary and Guides, visit of Canterbury Cathedral, 
Bed and Breakfast in a guesthouse in Dover seafront, meeting

Day 2: arrival in London Heathrow airport, transfer by minibus to the medieval town of Tenby (Pembrokeshire, SouthWales), old fishing harbour with a spectacular view across the Carmathen Bay and towards Caldey Island. 
Pembrokeshire is a unique breathtaking 200 miles Atlantic coastline, in a countryside providing a contrasting idyllic rural setting , full of Welsh mysteries and Celtic remains. 
Tenby is a small town historically known as " Dinbych y Pysgod", meaning in Welsh the "Little Fortress of Fish". The old city is lined with buildings dating from the late Middle Ages and the Tudor Period. It has spacious golden beaches.
Evening presentation of the Keltic and early Christian sites visited by the tour, first investigating Arthurian legends and Celtic saints and the medieval period. First lecture by Dewi Bowen (landscape of Pembrokeshire from Cambrian epocs upto the Iron Age) and Eric Talbot (Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at Glasgow University) from the Iron Age upto the Medieval time.

Day 03: morning guided visit of Tenby medieval town, its harbour, castle, old Tudor House and its prehistoric cave. Afternoon transfer by ferryboat to the Caldey Island Cistercian Order's monastery (12th Century), lecture by Father Peter or Father Douglas on the history of the early Christendom and Cistercians monasteries in Wales. Evening lecture from John Sharkey, author of " Celtic Mysteries" (Thames and Hudson, London ) on the ancient Celtic and medieval pilgrimage routes.

Day 04: day excursion by mini-bus and visit to St. Davids' Peninsula, land of ancient pilgrimage, beauty and peace. This granite ledge of land jutting into the Atlantic, is an area of sanctity dotted with Neolothic tombs, Bronze Age stones, wells of healing and tiny chapels having their roots in the saints of Celtic Christendom. King Arthur landed on St. Davids' shores. 
Two pilgrimages to St. David Cathedral equalled one to Rome in the Middle Ages. The glorious cathedral stands where St. David build his original church and monastery . Behind the High Altar are the relics of St. David and St. Justinian. Adjacent to the cathedral are the magnificient ruins of the Bishop's Palace, where they lived in great pomp and state. On the way, exploration of ancient stones and the old Pilgrim sites of Ancient Britain. Participation of Norna Rees on St. Davids cathedral. 
Evening lecture on the possible historical and modern links between the early Buddhist missionaries (Ashoka Period), the Celts of Ireland, as well as the current activities on Holy Island , given by a member of the Samye- Ling Tibetan Buddhist Community.

Day 05: All day freetime or an optional " Thousand Island " boat- excursion (2 hours) to Ramsey, Skokholm and Skomer islands and their Natural Wildlife Reserve. This boat excursion will be a fulfilling experience of the myriad of natural wealth and beauty of the Pembrokeshire Atlantic coast and will enable a close encounter with colonies of seals, dolphins, seabirds niched along sea-caves and sea-cliffs. 
Evening 2nd lecture by Dewi Bowen on the Mesolithic and Neolotithic transition.

Day 06: Morning excursion day devoted to Celtic Arts and Handicraft Workshops in Fishguard and Newport. Visit of the Celtic Iron Age Village at Castell Henllys. Afternoon presentation of publication and documentation on the Celtic Heritage, at the Catell Henllys. Early evening lecture by a Member of the Bards and Druid Community of Wales on the Celtic tradition and shamanism ….

Day 07: Day free (...).

Day 09: Interactive day excursion to the sacred Celtic sites. Experiencials in phenomenology of landscape, the resulting empathy and intuition with the sites, their sacred geometry and astronomy. The day follows the ancient pilgrimage route linking the heart of Pembrokeshire to St. Davids.
Evening optional / invitation to a typical Welsh evening with food, drinks and Celtic music.

Day 10: Day excursion to the prehistoric landscape of Skomer Island. Guided visit of the site by the Warden of Skomer Island. Interactive exercises. Evening preparation of a Celtic Shamanic Purification or the Solar Solstice Ceremony.

Day 11: Celtic Shamanic Purification or Solar Soltice Day Ceremony , visit to Stonehenge and Glastonbury , evening back to Tenby.

Day 12: One day excursion and visit of the Tintern Abbey , and the castle of Caerffilli. - evening lecture on The Arthurian Grail and Politics , given by Brian Davis (at Pontypridd Historical and Cultural Centre),

Day 13: free day evening special Welsh Entertainment & Celtic Music ( party ).

Day 14: transfer to London , then Heathrow or Dover , departure back to USA or Europe.
 

 

OPTION TWO (07 days) 

Day 1 : Meeting in Bruxelles, boat from Calais (Fr) or Oostend (B) to Dover (UK), or Shuttle to Folkestone (UK), depending on your connection timetable. Transfert from Dover or Folkestone , by coach to Canterbury, introduction to the Tour and Pilgrimage Itinerary and Guides, visit of Canterbury Cathedral, Bed and Breakfast in guesthouse on Dover seafront,

Day 2 : Early morning travel by coach in the splendid Southern England (Kent) countryside to the sites of Stonehenge, lunch in Glastonburry, afternoon introduction to the megalithic site archeology, transfer by minibus (Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea) to the medieval town of Tenby (Pembrokeshire , South-Wales), old fishing harbour with a spectacular view across Carmathen Bay and towards Caldey Island. Pembrokeshire has a unique breathtaking 200 miles of Atlantic coastline, in a countryside providing a contrasting idyllic rural setting , full of Welsh mysteries and Celtic remains. Tenby is historically known as " Dinbych y Pysgod", meaning in Welsh the "Little Fortress of Fish". The old town is lined with buildings dating from the late Middle Ages and the Tudor Period. It has spacious golden beaches.

Evening presentation of the Keltic and early Christian sites visited by the tour, first investigating Arthurian legends and Celtic saints and the medieval period. First lecture by Dewi Bowen (landscape of Pembrokeshire from Cambrian epoques up to the Iron Age) and Eric Talbot (Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at Glasgow University) from the Iron Age upto the Medieval time.

Day 03: morning guided visit of Tenby medieval town, its harbour, castle, old Tudor House and its prehistoric cave. Afternoon transfer by ferryboat to the Caldey Island Cistercian Order's monastery (12th Century), lecture by Father Peter or Father Douglas on the history of the early Christendom and Cistercians monasteries in Wales. Evening lecture from John Sharkey, author of " Celtic Mysteries" (Thames and Hudson, London ) on the ancient Celtic and medieval pilgrimage routes.

Day 04: day excursion by mini-bus and visit to St. Davids' Peninsula, land of ancient pilgrimage, beauty and peace. This granite ledge of land jutting into the Atlantic, is an area of sanctity dotted with Neolothic tombs, Bronze Age stones, wells of healing and tiny chapels having their roots in the saints of Celtic Christendom. King Arthur landed on St. Davids' shores. Two pilgrimages to St. David Cathedral equalled one to Rome in the Middle Ages. The glorious cathedral stands where St. David build his original church and monastery . Behind the High Altar are the relics of St. David and St. Justinian. Adjacent to the cathedral are the magnificient ruins of the Bishop's Palace, where they lived in great pomp and states. On the way exploration of ancient stones and the old Pilgrim sites of Ancient Britain. Participation on Norna Rees on St. Davids cathedral. n Evening lecture on the possible historical and the modern links between the early Buddhist missionaries (Ashoka Period), the Celts of Ireland, as well as the current activities in Holy Island , given by a member of the Samye- Ling Tibetan Buddhist Community.

Day 05: One day excursion and visit of Tintern Abbey , and the castle of Caerffilli. - early evening lecture on The Arthurian Grail and Politics , given by Brian Davis (at Pontypridd Historical and Cultural Centre), late evening special Weslh Entertainment & Celtic Music ( party ).

Day 07: transfer to London and Dover, departure back to Europe (see your connection timetable)