Luxor Temple at Night

Back from another, my 36th!, group to Egypt. Each of us returned gradually during this week, floating and swirling like leaves back down to earth. The sense of comraderie and caring amongst the group was evident from the first gathering at Logan to begin our long flight. This was a harmonious gathering of old souls, each being a strong individual and yet able to work in co operation with others. There were no big egos or reincarnated Ramses or Nefertitis, no spiritual snobbery or elitism. Just a kind and compassionate group of seekers and adventurers, open to the moment.

Egypt was wondrous as always, and the only unpleasant weather was the day we toured Giza Plateau. There was a fierce wind and sandstorm, most unusual for this time of year. It made the pyramids look as if they were fading into another dimension and caused us to rush the startled vendors in search of cotton scarves to protect our faces.

Oddly,  only a few were up for climbing inside to the King’s Chamber, but those who did were blessed with a special gift. As we ascended to the top of the Grand Gallery, we heard the most beautiful, etherial chanting echoing from the granite walls. Inside there were three women and one man, eyes closed and in deep meditative state. A few of us silently took places seated on the floor and we were bathed in this heavenly sound and vibration. Their voices were magnificent and when the chanting ended, all bowed to one another and departed without a word. It was one of those magical synchronistic moments that doesn’t call for words, only an open heart and deep sense of gratitude. I have no idea who these lovely people were or what country they came from, but I thank them for sharing those sacred moments with strangers. It is so true that there are no strangers, only friends we have not yet met…

The above photo revealed literally hundreds of energy orbs, as did every photo taken in the temple that night. We were also thrilled by an enormous golden/orange shooting star as we entered the temple; this spectacular site passed too quickly for anyone to catch a photo.

The next tour is already forming, to take place in late January 2010. It will be my last for some time, as I am involved in other projects. If your heart calls you to come home to Egypt, you are most welcome to join me.

See website for all details.

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It requires one to suspend all preconceptions and surrender to the present moment, while at the same time adjusting to the odd sense of experiencing life  multi-dimensionally. In spite of growing up in the 1960s in Harvard Square,  I never touched drugs, yet the mild-altering effect of Egypt sounds similar to those ‘trips’ described by users of hallucinogens. It flows over and through you,  naturally altering and enhancing every moment. Sounds scary? Not at all. Read on…

The Ritual of Awakening

It could be a tomb, my room so dark and silent as I lay savoring the stillness, reviewing the night’s journeys.  Which was dream, which reality?  It must be almost time for the second muezzin call to prayer, that sound that permeates even the tombs with its haunting, mesmerizing cry.

A light tapping startles me and I rise, pulling on the enormous white terrycloth robe that trails on the floor behind me.  I open the thick, dark wooden door to find Khaled balancing the fragrant tray that carries my breakfast.  Stepping inside and standing statue-still, he waits for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, exaggerating his difficulty, his magnificent classic features barely visible.

Relenting, I cross the room, and remove just one clothespin from the drapes, allowing precisely two inches of sunlight to enter; just enough for him to make his way and put down the heavy tray.  He smiles, accepting the five pounds extra tip for his extreme good nature in enduring me every morning.

These waking rituals must be performed painstakingly in a certain order; this is made clear in the Book of the Dead, more accurately translated as ‘The Transformation into The Light.’ A copy lies open on my nightstand, transliterated in Arabic and English.

The scent of tamarind hangs heavy in the room, the tantalizing array of fruits beginning to spread their sticky ripeness over the sides of the silver tray onto the garlands of late summer jasmine that I wore last night. Today I will perform the ‘Ritual of the Eating of the Fruits’, but with great care so as not to invoke again the dreaded ‘Mummy Tummy.’

Slowly, I open both outer and inner drapes, carefully moving aside the intricately carved mashrabeya shutters.  Sunlight blinding, I turn the handle of the old casement window; it creaks with age as it slowly reveals the world outside.  The sight of the Pyramids takes my breath every time and the nearness and beauty of them is almost too powerful to bear.  The morning airs carries a rich bouquet of scent and sound along with a fine dust that dances into the room on the rays of sunlight.  The clip-clop of hooves, the braying of donkeys, shouting of vendors, honking of horns, drivers calling greetings to each other, the constant undercurrent of laughter, the stray dogs barking, all heading in a great colorful parade up the curving road to The Giza Plateau.

Pulling table and chair closer to the window, I finally turn to the tray and slowly open the thick white linen napkin, revealing the basket of warm fresh pastries and ‘aish baladi’ my favorite local bread. The Al Ahram lies folded on the tray, waiting to shatter the magic of this moment with world news. I ignore it as if it is an unrecognizable object from another time period. Lifting the perfectly designed square silver pot, I inhale the scent of hot, strong tea, sit back to gaze at the Pyramids and praise Allah that I am alive in this moment.

Omar’s stable across the street is chaos; busloads of tourists demanding camels or Arabian stallions immediately as if they have business meetings to attend across town. American women in bright and too-revealing attire, giddy with jet lag, bravely climb up on the high saddles, as the camel heaves and pitches back and forward to rise to its feet. Their husbands look warily at the overfriendly camel boys, not sure if they should release the reins and let their wives be led into the looming desert with these handsome boys in loose-flowing gallabeyas.  “Camel for you too, sir. No miss the fun. Two for one.” The men are hoisted and cajoled against their protests and off they go. The intrepid tourists move in caravans, laughing and taking photos of one another to prove to someone at home that they did in fact ride a camel to the pyramids.

It is day one of their tour and the cliché is already documented on film; by the time they return to Giza in two weeks for their final stay at The Mena House they will be forever changed.  That is, if they can surrender to the enduring, maddening mystery that is Egypt.

For information on Katrina’s next Transformations Sacred Site tour to Egypt www.transformationscenter.com/tours

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Sacred Sites, Sacred Journeys

All of life is a sacred journey and every place on Earth a sacred site.

This is indeed true if we can bring our full awareness and an attitude of awe and reverence to each experience, no matter how mundane or seemingly insignificant.

Most of us benefit from the periodic shift in consciousness brought about by a total change in environment, returning to our lives with greater enthusiasm and appreciation.  Even those of us fortunate to live in a beautiful place like Cape Cod sometimes forget the healing quality of our location until we are away from home for a while.

The growing interest in travel to so called ‘sacred sites’ speaks to a need greater than that of a change of routine or a relaxing holiday.  The pilgrimage, or sacred journey, has played a central role in every religion and spiritual tradition, as if in answer to an ancient longing to experience something greater and more profound than can be found in ordinary life.  Whether that something we seek is to know the self, to touch the heart or essence of Life, or to reach a transcendent mystical rapture with God, this longing has existed for as long as humanity has walked upon the earth.

A true sacred journey requires a total involvement with the process, even its discomforts and challenges, as well as the resistance you may meet in yourself and others.  The process truly begins with the moment of decision to go.  The wonderful synchronicity of the universe will provide all you need to prepare you for the experience, sometimes in the form of obstacles to your proceeding, as if to test your resolve.

Why would anyone, especially Americans who generally enjoy a comfortable standard of living, choose to travel in developing or remote areas of the world?  Or rise at dawn to enter a temple and meditate, especially a temple which is on top of an inaccessible mountain?  Or wander through cold, dark cathedrals in search of the ‘holy of holies,’ the most powerful place to pray?  What is happening to these people? What do they find when they get there?

From my 20 years of leading tours and conferences to sacred sites, I can attest to it being a very powerful and transformative experience, even for those who claim they just came along to see the historic and architectural sites.  I have found that whatever the outward reasons for joining a particular group, it is always exactly right for that individual’s growth and healing.

Both prior to and during the journey, some experience dreams of incredible detail, often of distant times and events of which they had no prior knowledge.  Often upon entering a site, a great emotional release occurs ranging from anger or tears to ecstatic joy.  In the course of the trip, dramatic personality changes sometimes take place, as if purging some past trauma and allowing for the lighter, happier being to gradually emerge.

Sometimes the characters from group members dreams and visions are recognized to be other members of the group, and a mutual recognition and happy “reunion” takes place.  The bonds of love forged on such an intense spiritual journey often result in continuing close friendships, and sometimes marriages.  As an interfaith minister, I have performed ceremonies for spiritual seekers on The Red Sea, Sinai, and many other remote locations.

As with so many of life’s adventures, it is often in retrospect that we realize how changed we are and how far we have come in our spiritual journey because of times of altered reality, testing, and challenge.  I have met tour participants’ years later who say they only recently became aware that their journey with me so dramatically changed their lives.

Traditionally, the power sites of the earth have been the physical centers of the great religions.  The sites for churches and temples would be carefully chosen based upon the precise location of energy vortices. Ensuing generations over centuries would build their places of worship upon these same sites, resulting in layers of strata containing remnants of churches, mosques, and temples.  These vortices are convergences of what are referred to as ‘ley lines,’ or energy meridians, which encircle the earth.

There are major and lesser vortices, but all are an essential part of the intricate gridline of energy surrounding the living entity that is our planet.  It is believed that this gridline of electromagnetic force is being stepped up now in order to assist our planet through this time of great transition and healing.  The hordes of spiritual seekers convening in these locations are assisting in this activation of energies, grounding a vibration of light and love.

One of the most moving experiences in my travel memories is of a conference in Egypt in 1990, ‘Personal, and Planetary Healing,’ in which I facilitated.  There were 250 participants representing 15 nations, and the intensity of the week was brought to a close with a sunset meditation ceremony at the Great Pyramids.  We had gathered in a large circle surrounding the Pyramid of Cheops, closed our eyes, and began to pray for world peace.

Suddenly we heard throngs of laughing children climbing the Giza Plateau to join us, their little hands waving and their voices calling out “We love you!”  They rushed to join us, delighted to be a part of this huge gathering.  Their parents watched from a distance, smiling shyly and then gradually joined in as we took their hands and welcomed them.

Moments like these confirm the power of love in transcending all barriers, giving us a glimpse of what is possible.  If we are to find peace on Earth, we need to see ourselves as part of one great world family, celebrating our oneness as well as our diversity.  There are no ‘others’ or foreigners; just us. the family of humanity.  As more groups and individuals throughout the world are inspired to gather in meditation and prayer, both on the physical plane and by linking spiritually, the powerful collective focus cannot help but have a positive effect.

Regardless of where each of us is called in our own personal journey, or what particular place on this beautiful planet we find most powerful and sacred, the pilgrimage is ultimately to our own center.

Katrina Valenzuela is an inspirational teacher, counselor, healer, and leader of sacred site tours.  She facilitates consciousness transformation for individuals and groups.  Drawing upon a lifetime of personal growth, spiritual training, and metaphysical study, Katrina is dedicated to assisting others toward their unique path and soul mission, as well as assisting in the awakening of global awareness.  For full bio, see

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