This important meeting is the opportunity for all members to contribute to the Trust, to focus on the future, to develop the vision of the Trust for this changing world, and to discuss how we can manifest that vision through forthcoming events and ideas for the future. We will be particularly looking at the programme leading up to the Olympian year of 2012, and the next five years. It is important that all Local Contacts should attend this meeting, as the outreach and growth of the Trust is dependant on taking the vision out to others of like mind. BE THERE!

In the first of our spring Pilgrims’ Weekends, we trace the element of water through Cambridge, visiting the River Granta or Cam, holy wells, the round church (thought to have been built by the Knights Hospitaller), and the alignment of sacred sites in the city. We will also explore the GogMagog Hills, said to be the metamorphosis of the giant GogMagog after being rejected by the river nymph Granta, and Wandlebury Ring, which is possibly the real site of the ancient city of Troy. This residential weekend will also include an evening of storytelling, poetry and music,discussions about pilgrimage, patterns in the landscape and ideas for future activities.

This event, now in its eighth year, is an unique chance to explore the most recent crop circle formations of the season. Francine Blake, WCCSG founder and co-ordinator, will lead us through the mysterious and exciting world of ‘temporary temples’. Meet at Avebury car park, Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 9am to 4pm.

The Special Gatekeeper Weekend provides an opportunity to explore a particular place and to enjoy pilgrimaging through the local landscape. We will be based in Rosslyn for the weekend, where we can discover the beauty and mysteries of the famous Sinclair chapel, as well as exploring the magical glen behind it. We will also visit the hidden Knights Templar church at Temple, and other sacred sites in the area.

Edinburgh has a very clear pattern of chakras through the city centre, creating a harmonious and energetic layout. On Sunday, we will pilgrimage from the root chakra at Cannon Gate up to the Castle and St Margaret’s Chapel at the crown, exploring the energetic pattern of this beautiful city.

TOWARDS 2012 - THE ENCHANTMENT OF OLYMPIC LONDON - AN INTRODUCTION TO LONDON’S SACRED ROOTS - With Peter Dawkins, Anthony Thorley, Louise Coe & Aidan Dun

London has deep and complex traditions of myth, legend and history, overlaying a magical and sacred landscape with many power points and sacred sites, and layered with the synchronicity of contemporary events such as the Olympic Games of 2012. Also, to many people 2012 reflects the changing consciousness of our times, with the date mentioned in Mayan and many other spiritual traditions. In this first of a series of conferences exploring Sacred London, Peter Dawkins and Anthony Thorley will provide an overview of the importance of London in time and place, and the sacred patterns within its history and its landscape. Louise Coe will explore our relationship to water, the ancient water rituals that survive in all cultures to this day, and why water is thought to be the source of our awakening. Aidan Dun, poet of Kings Cross, will be talking about the sacred landscape of London, St Pancras, and the mythology of the sunchild, Pancras, on a journey through the layers of London’s past.

Leading up to the conference, there will be two pilgrimages in London: for full details, please see ‘London’ under Local Events in the main programme.

THE FLEET RIVER PILGRIMAGE - Saturday, 15 March 2008, with Louise Coe and Aidan Dun, starting at 1pm at the Cloisters, Kenwood House, Hampstead

THE LEADENHALL ALIGNMENT - Saturday, 20 September 2008, with Anthony Thorley, starting at 2pm in the centre of Leadenhall Markets.

Many of the temple sites in the Luxor area are aligned to specific astronomical alignments, including the mid-winter sunrise. This 8-day trip will explore some of these sites and allow us to experience the beauty of this special time of the year in Egypt. The highlight will be the visit to the magnificent Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir El Bahari to celebrate the midwinter solstice sunrise. This temple has magnificent views across the Nile Valley to the distant horizon and promises to be a magical experience. Led by David Furlong, this pilgrimage will be an excellent introduction to Egypt and its many temples.

There will be the option to continue your stay for another week and spend Christmas in Egypt.