Palenque: Explore the Mayan People, Ruins & Jungles February 9th - 17th, 2008 Led by: Dr. Sheri Rosenthal Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Toltec Wisdom & WITH Forgiveness - Are You Ready?

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There are many beautiful and magical sacred sites in Mexico, but few hold the energy of the Mother like Palenque. From the moment you arrive into this area you will feel like you are being cradled in a spiritual womb. It is this spiritual energy that forms the basis for our week of heart-felt transformation and personal expansion.

We will travel from the highlands of San Cristobal de las Casas to the lowlands of Palenque, experiencing many shifts of altitude and landscape reflecting our own personal internal process on this journey. Entering the Lacandona rainforest we will have the opportunity to connect with well-known shaman and healer Antonio Hernandez. At around 82 years old, he is one of the few natives who continues to practice his familys' ritual traditions which he will lovingly share with us in the form of a sacred Balche ceremony.

This ceremonial mead drink is created by taking the Balche tree bark, flowers, anise and wild fresh bee honey and fermenting them in alcohol. The place where Antonio lives is surrounded by virgin rainforest and green and blue lagoons that the locals believe were created by the impact of shooting stars that fell to earth. (More about their culture) We will explore the colonial highland towns of San Jaun Chamula and Zinacantan to see how the Mayan people took Christianity and altered it to fit their sacred traditions. In addition we will explore the old church in San Cristobal and experience local life and food.

As is typical for a Journeys of the Spirit retreat, you will experience class time daily, time for sharing with the group, reflection and meditation time, and one-on-one personal time with your group leader (along with fun and shopping time too of course!). It is our intent that you return home with an open heart and mind along with the tools you need to make the changes in your life you desire.

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Day 1 Feb 9th - ARRIVAL (-/-/d) We leave the US today and meet in Mexico City and transfer to our flight to Villahermosa. We will be met by our bilingual guide and driven to Palenque (about 1.5 hours). There we will settle in at the Hotel Nututun, a beautiful hotel just on the outside of Palenque set in it’s own private tropical setting next to a lovely river. Enjoy a welcome dinner and after dinner we gather together as a group and get to know each other and share our intent for our week.

Day 2 Feb 10th - PALENQUE (b/l/d) All day to discover the spectacular ruins of Palenque. All morning to explore the great palaces and temples and tomb of this famed site. Lunch and afternoon for visiting the modern museum.

Day 3 Feb 11th - PALENQUE / MISOL HA (b/l/d) After breakfast, take the morning to further explore Palenque and its wonderful energy. Lunch en route to the waterfalls of Misol Ha. Enjoy the afternoon, basking in the sun and swimming in the pool of the falls. Return to Nututun in time for dinner.

Day 4 Feb 12th - PALENQUE / BONAMPAK / NAHA (b/l/d) Board bus for 4-hour ride to the site of Bonampak, breakfast en route. Bonampak is located in the Lacandon Forest of the Chiapas and in the Lacanha River Valley. This site occupies 1,000 acres. The main buildings were built along the top of a chain of hills that runs through the middle of the valley from the Cojolita Range to the side of the river. However, only the Grand Plaza cluster has been explored and is open to the public. We will enjoy the finely painted murals depicting various Maya scenes including the gruesome torturing and bloodletting rituals performed by the Maya. Transfer to the small vans of the community of Naha for our drive to Naha. (3.5 hrs) Box lunch.

Antonio Hernandez (our honored Shaman and host) has been preparing the Balche 3-day ceremony in advance so we can participate in other rituals or visiting, to culminate on the last afternoon with the balche drinking. The preparations and ceremonies all take place at Don Antonio’s new God House which is in a beautiful little hollow at the foot of the hillsides that are just next to the airstrip in down town Naja. We will have access to both the cabins (only enough for 3 doubles) and the Na Bolom Campsite 200 meters from the spot. Our meals for the next days will be in the communal kitchen of the campsite. Overnight at the Na Bolom Campsite and Naha community cabins.

Day 5 Feb 13th - NAHA BALCHE CEREMONY (b/l/d) All day for the Balche Ceremony and spiritual teachings. Overnight at the Na Bolom Campsite and Naha community cabins. The Lacandones worship a complex group of deities of the sky, forest, and the underworld, many of whom are directly related to the gods of the Prehispanic Maya. As in Classic Maya cosmology, the Lacandones believe the cosmos is multi-layered. Hachäkyum is the principal Lacandon deity. He is the creator of the jungle, animals, and humans. Although K'akoch created the original earth, Hachäkyum made it fit for life (also known as Popul Vuh, the supreme creator deity in Lacandon belief, the father of the gods).

Day 6 Feb 14th - NAHA / TONINA (b/l/d) After breakfast, transfer to the Ocosingo Hotel Rancho Esmeralda. After settling in we will visit the Maya Site of Tonina. Enjoy a box lunch to take advantage of the entire day visiting the site and the museum. The center of Tonina is built on the side of a large hill in seven terraces producing the overall effect of a stepped pyramid. Numerous chambers and passageways exist and there are several fascinating buildings located in front of the main complex which may have been used in conjunction with structures on the main buildings. Return to hotel in time for diner. Overnight at Rancho Esmeralda, Ocosingo.

Day 7 Feb 15th - TONINA / SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS (b/l/d) After breakfast, transfer to the Hotel Diego de Mazariegos in San Cristobal de las Casas. We will be visiting some of the wonderful old colonial churches in town and there will also be free time for shopping and exploring. Overnight at Hotel Diego de Mazariegos.

Day 8 Feb 16th - VILLAGES AROUND SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS (b/l/d) After breakfast we board bus to the villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan villages. Chamula is located in the Chiapas highlands, at an altitude of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet), inhabited by the indigenous Tzotzil Maya people, whose Tzotzil language is one of the Mayan languages. We will witness the central church, which is very much a part of the villagers’ life, in its mix of Christianity and Maya religion and local markets. The floor of the church is covered with pine needles, copal can be found burning, and people receive treatments from the local shamans and curanderas. There hasn't been a traditional Christian mass in this church since approximately 1968. Zinacantan, also a Tzotzil speaking municipality, lies just west of San Cristobal de las Casas in the Chiapas Highlands. The name "Zinacantan," derived from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, and means "place of bats." Flowers have become important to the Maya of Zinacantan, as they have brought a great deal of prosperity to the region. Return to San Cristobal. Overnight at Hotel Diego de Mazariegos.

Day 9 Feb 17th - SAN CRISTOBAL / TUXTLA GUTIERREZ DEPART (b/-/-) Today we leave our beautiful hotel and make our way back to the airport and get ready for our flights home. We say our last goodbyes, hugs and kisses as we prepare to take our new dream of heaven back to our lives!

All meals are included in this itinerary (as indicated on the itnerary in brackets). All spiritual teachings are included. All tips for the drivers, guides, and bell boys are included. The spiritual teachings and Balche Ceremony in Naha with Antonio Martinez is included. All excursions are included: Local guide to visit Palenque and its museum, free 1/2 day in Palenque with Maya Expeditions guide, 1/2 day tour to Misol Ha, tour to Bonampak, site of Tonina, and the villages of Chamula and Zinacantan. All entrance fees are included for our sites. All transportation/hotel transfers upon your arrival in Villahermosa in a bus to accommodate the entire group in one vehicle, except for the drive to Naja which will be 2 smaller vans as the road is not paved.

Non-included items would be: phone calls, laundering services and souvenir shopping! Tips for the maids are not-included (we suggest planning on leaving $1.00 per day). Your round-trip air flight to and from Mexico is not-included. Please fly into Villahermosa (VSA) on the 9th arriving no later than 4pm. Going home on the 17th please do not schedule your flight to leave before 12-1pm from Tuxla Gutierrez (TGZ) - yes, this is a different city than the one you arrived in. Most folks will be flying into Mexico City or Cancun on an international flight and then transferring to a national flight to our destination. If you run a multi-city search on most travel sites you will be able to book this ticket without a problem - for example Expedia can do this for you at a great price.

The actual schedule of spiritual teachings and what we will be doing day to day is not definite. This is because we teach by channeling spirit which comes in the moment. Every day will be a magical experience for all of us, teachers included! Keep your heart and mind open to the experience life brings us.

The 2008 trip cost is: $2675.00 per person, double occupancy for a cabin space in the Naha Community (they have only 3 cabins available with 2 double beds to be given on a first come basis the rest are tents) and $2648.00 per person, double occupancy for a tent or hammock space while in the Naha Community. If you need a single, please let us know asap, as the cost differential is $305.00 for this journey.

A deposit of $500.00 is needed by: December 1st, 2007. Final payment is due: January 1st, 2008. Any cancellation made in writing before: December 1st, 2007 will result in a cancellation fee of $0.00. Any cancellation made between: December 1st, 2007 and January 1st, 2008 will result in a loss of deposit of $200.00. Any cancellation made between: January 1st, 2008 and the trip departure will result in total loss of deposit ($500.00) plus any other non-refundable payments from our Mexico operator. Trip cancellation insurance is recommended to cover such issues. Please know that I am happy to create a monthly payment plan for you - but do note that you must have paid the trip in full by the departure date. Just email me and we can charge a specific amount monthly to your credit card.

You may print each form separately, or download all 7 forms at the same time and then print them from your computer. All the documents are in Adobe PDF format. If you don't have Acrobat Reader in your computer (most people do), please go to CLICK HERE to download it. You will find that these forms contain all the information you could possibly want regarding this journey. Enjoy!

Dear Spiritual Traveler
Don't Forget Me List!
Statement of Health
Trip Application
Limitation of Liability
Release of Liability
Terms & Conditions
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Having experienced many Spiritual Journeys, it is nice to have all the information you might need before you go! I have included a list of online resources that will prove to be useful as you plan and prepare for your next Spiritual Journey. Simply choose a link from the drop down menu below and the corresponding website will open in its own window making it easy for you to return to this site and continue your exploration.