THE BLESSING OF THE VALLEY OF GOLD

in the ancient and sacred lands of the Golden Rose

THIS IS AN INTIMATE AND SACRED ROSE PILGRIMAGE

IN VAL D'ORCIA TUSCANY ITALY

for just 4 women drawn to the path of the rose

to fully immerse in sacred waters

and seed and receive the Rose Light

in these very sacred sites with Ishtara Rose

BIRTHING THE GODDESS WITHIN

WATER BLESSINGS AND PURIFICATION IN SACRED SPRINGS

BLESSINGS OF THE ROSE

SACRED CIRCLE AND CEREMONY

WEDNESDAY 2OTH MAY - SUNDAY 24TH MAY

RECEIVE WATER BLESSINGS AND BATHE IN THESE ANCIENT HOT SPRINGS ON THIS 4 DAY

PILGRIMAGE OF THE ROSE IN THE VALLEY OF THE GOLD

This is a very intimate pilgrimage of just 4 women for 4 days

who are either on the Rose Path already, or else drawn to the rose.

You do not have to be a priestess or have experience of The Way of the Rose,

yet you do have feeling a strong draw to the rose and MM

We will sleep in the most ancient and mystical sacred place of Bagno Vignoni where the waters are most powerful and there are heated springs, we will be in the natural ones and there are also public pools you can pay for.

Bagno Vignoni is on the sacred path to Rome called the Via Francigena, which for thousands of years pilgrims have walked along and it is the setting for many films due to its beauty and mystique.

This is a truly special place to take water purification and blessing

and these blessings will be sealed as you stand in other sacred sites in the area

From this sacred resting place as our base, we will have 4 days to visit the most sacred places where we will sit in circle and together receive the rose light from these places and plant the rose light to awaken these places ever more to new ascension waves, we will also make water ceremony and blessing with bathing or blessing in other hot springs of the areas and I will guide this as High Priestess of the Magdalene.

SACRED SITES & BATHS IN THE AREA

As well as space to simply to be present in Bagno Vignoni both on your own in your private space and room, and also with the very small group, either bathing or take blessing in the hot thermal springs there (both the wild ones and the fee paying ones) we will also take gentle day trips out to sacred places to make ceremony in local areas including -

The Magdalene church in Rocca d’Orcia and a walk in nearby Castoligne
The incredibly beautiful Benedictine Abbey of Saint Antimo and walk in nearby Castel Nuovo del Abate
Rose ceremony in an ancient crypt in Abbadia San Salvatore with a bathe or blessing in nearby hot springs of San Filippo
Sacred Circle by the Chapel of Madonna of Vitaleta and a visit to San Quirico d’Orcia
Possible options to wander the local and beautiful nearby towns which include Montalcino, Montepulciano & Pienza
Option on the last day for either a day trip to Saturnia for bathing and blessing where there is another MM church, or else the sacred baths of Petriolo
Visit the stunning church of the gateway of Orvieto (and possibly the underground Eustrucan tunnels) on the final day before an evening flight home from Rome airport

WHY VAL D'ORCIA?

This area is called Val d'Orcia, Valley of the Gold, for a reason. It holds the Gold of the Goddess.

MM is always associated with the GOLD. Gold is a coded word for MM.

The Gold also relates to the lineage of the Golden Rose of which I teach that comes from Ishtar through Isis to the Marys.

We will be guided by the rose and the Marys for the whole trip, we will feel their presence and meditate with them.

It will be a most sacred and intimate journey.

I was in Southern Tuscany with my small children after having been in Venice where my husband had been working in the Biannale. And I awoke at sunrise in a sacred ancient little house near Montalcino, and went to close the shutters so as not to wake the children and saw the most beautiful site of the tuscan sun in the hills and it was a very sacred experience. When I went back to bed I had a dream about a tower on a hill. The next day we decided to go to some hot springs. Everyone said to go to a certain other place but I was adamant to go to Bagno Vigno despite that.When we were there I had goose bumps all through me. Later we found the wilder springs and as I bathed I looked up and saw the tower of my dream the night before. Now I realise there is a church to Mary Magdalene there.

Mary Magdalene is said to have walked this ancient pathway to Rome. The powerful Matilda of Tuscany was said to be a follower of The Way and built a bridge dedicated to her near Lucca. You may read about her in Kathleen McGowan's book The Book of Love. The Cathars followers of MM most known to be around the corner in South France, also spread into Northern Italy. Tuscany of course is also home to the birth of the renaissance and the churches and architecture are so very beautiful and powerful. I always feel Italy is the India of Europe. Tradition relates, that in Italy Mary Magdalene visited the Emperor Tiberias (14-37 AD) and proclaimed to him about Christ's Resurrection. According to tradition, she took him an egg as a symbol of the Resurrection, a symbol of new life with the words: "Christ is Risen!" Then she told Tiberias that, in his Province of Judea, Jesus the Nazarene, a holy man, a maker of miracles, powerful before God and all mankind, was executed on the instigation of the Jewish High-Priests and the sentence affirmed by the procurator Pontius Pilate. Tiberias responded that no one could rise from the dead, anymore than the egg she held could turn red. Miraculously, the egg immediately began to turn red as testimony to her words.

LOSITICS

RETREAT COSTS

The cost of the retreat is £820

Price include 4 nights accommodation with your own private ensuite room and breakfast, in a lovely B&B in the heart of Bagno Vignoni, as well as daily transportation. I will be your guide to these places were we will meditate and hold the rose together. Airport transfers are also included if you arrive and depart form the airport at the times specified - see below.

Price does not include your flights, nor lunch and supper. Lunch will be simple picnic snacks or basic cafe food, and supper will be in basic restaurants in the village or surrounding towns. We will eat simply and cheaply. The entire pilgrimage is to be alcohol free.

We will go to the natural thermal springs for free and there is an option of the thermal swimming pool with a discount of 10% on the cost of the ticket (around 20 euro per person per day). Most (if not all) of the sacred sites are free to enter yet if there is a fee for any that is unknown to me, then this is not included.

BOOKING

If you are interested, places are only limited to just 4 places, so please apply by email explaining why you are drawn and it will be first come first served. I will then send you a link to place your non returnable deposit of £240 which will be deducted off the total amount, or you may pay in full. Final payment must be paid by 1 March 2020 to secure your place. ishtarablue@gmail.com

TRAVEL

Bagno Vignoni is in Val d'Orcia in Southern Tuscany, exactly half way between the airports of Pisa and Rome. The nearest train stations to Bagno Vignoni are Buonvencento or Sienna and then a taxi ride. Easyjet and Ryan air both fly cheaply to Pisa and Rome. There is also an airport in Florence.

GETTING THERE - You have 2 options. You can either make your own way to Bagno Vignoni or we can meet at Rome Fiumicino Airport on Wednesday 20th May in the evening at 6pm. We will then drive 2 1/2 hours to Bagno Vignoni taking a break. This journey will be part of our pilgrimage. In fact it will start the moment you leave your home to the moment you return.

GETTING HOME - I can drive you to Rome airport for a return flight on the evening after of 7pm or later of Sunday 24th May (unless you decide to stay on). This is so we have time to complete our final day in Orvieto.

These airport transfer is included in the costs but if you cannot do these times then you need to arrange your own transfer to your preferred airport or mode of travel at your own expense. You are also responsible for any costs if flights are delayed etc - see below.

TRAVEL & HEALTH INSURANCE

In making your payment you agree to take full responsibility for your own wellbeing on this retreat.You are therefore responsible for any theft, lost baggage, accidents, illness, problems with flights as well as anything unforeseen that happens such as political unrest, natural disaster, flight cancellations, or anything along those lines. If you have good travel and health insurance they will cover this and help you recuperate costs and I cannot be held accountable nor make any refunds for any reason. I will ask you to sign a form to agree that you take full responsibility for your well being before attending.