"Saint James Way Pilgrimage to Finisterre"

"Saint James Way Pilgrimage to Finisterre" Meeting the great Goddess on the road to Santiago de Compostela With Juan Li & Ferran Blasco October 7th to...
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"Saint James Way Pilgrimage to Finisterre" Meeting the great Goddess on the road to Santiago de Compostela With Juan Li & Ferran Blasco October 7th to 21st, 2011

PRESENTATION The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, “The starry field”, that ends in Finisterre, “The End of the World”, represents the cycle of life, death and transcendence. The practice of pilgrimage consists on focusing with clarity on a high spiritual purpose. This purpose is the representation of the Original Mind. During the pilgrimage, our personal vows and perseverance help us overcome the obstacles we encounter along the way. The clarity and determination that we bring towards achieving our goal are the model and blueprint of how we evolve along the path of self-development. Traditionally, the pilgrimage to Compostela is done walking, charging every step along the way with untiring perseverance. But in this introduction to the inner teachings of El Camino, the Way of the Stars, we will travel together in a minibus, getting to know the energetic practices that mark the way and its many powerful sites. The practice of pilgrimage, whether done on foot or by any other method of transportation, is not a simple touristic trip. It is a retreat in movement, framed by personal vows and commitments that help the pilgrim move along the seven alchemical steps of change. In our pilgrimage we will investigate in depth these seven alchemical steps. We will also study how they relate to the energetic doors that one encounters along the way. The main subject of our pilgrimage will be the study of the transition from life to death and rebirth to a state of higher consciousness, the state know in Tao practices as the “Original Mind”. This transition is undertaken under the loving and motherly supervision of the Great Goddess, who manifests in countless forms and names.

For this reason, our pilgrimage will begin in the cave of the Black Madonna in the holy mountain of Montserrat, west of Barcelona. From there we will follow her trail into the Pyrenees and then all across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela, ending at Finisterre, on the Atlantic Ocean coast. The chosen itinerary for this pilgrimage is truly a unique opportunity that will take us to many places off the beaten path, offering us a true flavor of ancient sites in a state of purity. (For full article on "The Yoga of Pilgrimage" by Juan Li, http://www.ichingdao.org/tao/en/articles/about-the-practices/62-yoga-del-peregrinaje.html)

STEPPING OFF THE BEATEN PATH While still visiting quite a few of the more commonly know sites of the modern pilgrimage, our journey will step off the beaten path to explore areas nowadays omitted or unknown to most pilgrims and most guidebooks. The journey will take us about 2300 kilometers (1400 miles) along the whole length of one of the most ancient routes of the original pilgrimage: from the Mediterranean coast, just south of Barcelona, to Finisterre, on the Atlantic Coast. The “stepping off the beaten path” will be both in terms of physical external landscape and personal internal landscape. Through the practice of meditation we will aim at looking for new references of what pilgrimage means as a practice for personal evolution.

ITINERARY This is a brief summary of the pilgrimage itinerary and some of the key sites we will visit. It’s subject to changes but it will give you a general idea: Oct 7: Meeting in Barcelona at 3 pm. Drive and sleep in Montserrat. Oct 8: Depart from Montserrat to Siresa in the Pyrenees. Oct 9: San Juan de la Peña - Santa Cruz de la Seros. Oct 10: Selva de Oza cromlechs area- San Pedro de Siresa - Leyre Benedictine Monastery. Oct 11: Leyre – Santa Maria de Eunate - Puente la Reina. Oct 12: San Millán de la Cogolla (San Millan´s holy hermitage and Suso´s monastery). Oct 13: Santo Domingo de la Calzada - Quintanilla de las Viñas. Oct 14: Santo Domingo de Silos. Oct 15: Fromista - León. Oct 16: León cathedral and cloister. Oct 17: Villafranza del Bierzo - O Cebreiro Oct 18: Pico Sacro - Santiago´s cathedral. Oct 19: Noia - Padrón - Fisterra. Oct 20: Muxia - Santuario de la Virgen de la Barca. Oct 21: Muxia - Santiago (End pilgrimage at 2pm).

ABOUT JUAN LI AND FERRAN BLASCO Juan Li began the yoga of pilgrimage in 1996, when he became 50, with the Taoist pilgrimage to eleven sacred mountains in China. In 1998 he walked 700 miles along the Celtic-Christian pilgrimage route of Santiago in Spain. In 2000 /2001 he did a seven-month-long Hindu pilgrimage to the four sources of the river Ganges in India. (For full biography go to http://www.ichingdao.org/tao/en/biography-of-juan-li.html ) Ferran Blasco began studying pilgrimage in 1995, during a journey to the the San Luis Potosi desert, in Mexico. After that he was introduced to the ancient art of the European Master Builders by Raymond Montercy, Dominique Susani and Juan Saez. Along the course of his apprenticeship he was gradually introduced to the spiritual practices of the ancient Master Builders tradition related to El Camino de Santiago. This aspect of the teachings would become one of his main focus of personal study and practice. (For full biography http://www.acupunturabarcelona.com/zahoriart/?page_id=358). Juan and Ferran are currently working on a book about the yoga of pilgrimage and Saint James Way.

PREPARING FOR THE JOURNEY The practice of pilgrimage, and therefore the intention of this class, is not simply traveling from place to place to look around and take some pictures. It is a most important step in personal development in which one brings to completion situations unfinished from the past, closing cycles and recovering energetic integrity. Pilgrimage starts long before one arrives at the “place of departure”. For this reason, some preparatory practices will be suggested to participants in the months prior to arriving to Spain for the actual trip. After making your reservation you will receive instructions on the practice and a list with suggested reading to help you to prepare for the journey.

STARTING AND FINISHING DATES AND PLACES Pilgrimage starts: Friday October 7th @ 4 pm in Sitges (Barcelona) Class ends: Friday October 21st @ 2 pm in Santiago de Compostela.

COST: 2490 EUROS Included: - 14 hotel nights in double occupancy bedrooms with private bathroom. - Tuition for 14 days of classes and practices with Juan Li and Ferran Blasco. - Transportation in bus from Sitges (Barcelona) to Santiago Compostela. - Breakfasts and one meal per day for 14 days (either lunch or dinner, depending on day activities). - Entrances to sites that require a fee for group visits. Not included: - Airfare to Spain and back to your destination. - Transportation back from Santiago to your destination within Spain after the class. - Medical insurance. - Everything else that is not included in the “Includes” section.

PAYMENTS By credit card: Visa or Mastercard accepted. By wire transfer: bank account in Spain information upon request. Bank fees are to be paid by the sender. Payment plan option is available: (1% added to each payment made by credit card when using paying plan): - Reservation fee: 820 euros (non-refundable). - Then 2 payments of 835 euros due by May 15th and July 31st. REFUND POLICY If after you reserve your space you need to cancel your participation in the class, this is the policy: - Reservation fee is Non-Refundable. - Before September 1st: we will refund credit card or wire money back to you for the amount you have paid until then, minus bank fees for transaction and non-refundable reservation fee. - After September 1st: No refunds. There´s the possibility though that another person you know might come in your place, if they are fit for the journey. FOR REGISTRATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION Shen Dao Institute of Acupuncture and Natural Health Ferran Blasco Aguasca (Enzo) Tel. 00 34 93 292 01 06 - Fax. 00 34 93 691 98 57 Mailing Address: Calle Balmes, 151 Ent 1 - 08008 Barcelona Email: [email protected] Web: www.zahoriart.com - www.acupunturabarcelona.com Web for Juan Li: www.ichingdao.org