About our Destination
Turkey possesses one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes of Middle East/Asia with a multitude of cultural influences criss-crossing the country creating a truly unusual and rich history. On this spiritual journey we’ll explore the incredible architecture – from the Byzantine Haghia Sofia (Church of the Divine Wisdom), to the phantasmagoric rock formations of Capadoccia. And we’ll experience the powerful spiritual traditions from the Whirling Dervishes and the Sufis in Konya, to the Goddess site of Artemis at Ephesus.
Mysticism & Power
We’ll reconnect with the Mother Goddess worshiped from around 9000 BC to 2000 BC and explore early Christian Mysticism in the steps of St. Paul and St. John. From there we’ll deepen our understanding of the Sufi tradition and the mystical heritage of the Whirling Dervishes. Watching these dancers enter spiritual bliss is an amazing experience.
Ancient Ruins
Some of the other wonderful sacred sites we will be visiting are the famous Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, and the ancient cities of Konya and Pamukkale.
“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.”
~ Moorish proverb
Our Amazing Itinerary…
Day 1 – August 17 (-/-/d) Istanbul
Arrive at Istanbul Atatürk Airport where you will be met by your driver and taken by private car to your hotel. If you are flying in from the US, you will have to depart on August 16th to arrive today, August 17th in Istanbul. In the evening we settle in and have a lovely dinner at our hotel. After dinner we gather together as a group and get to know each other and share our intent for our time together. Overnight at the Wyndham Istanbul Old City, Istanbul.
Day 2 – August 18 (b/-/d) Istanbul
A full day İstanbul Tour of the Highlights; visit the Hippodrome area, the remnant of an arena built in the reign of Septimus Severus. Then walk in to the Blue Mosque, the main cathedral Mosque of the city for centuries; the 17th century Blue Mosque, so called due to its more than 20,000 blue İznik tiles that adorn the interior walls. Proceed to the Church of Haghia Sophia, the church of Divine Wisdom and a center of worship for feminine energies of life for centuries. Visit Topkapı Palace with Crown Jewels and the section of Holy Relics. The Holy Relic Room contains the Rod of Moses, the Turban of Abraham, the Sword of David, the bones of St. John the Baptist, and the Holy Mantle and Koran of Prophet Mohammed.
Visit the covered Bazaar with 4000 thousand shops around labyrinthine streets, a world of fairy tale with all kinds of souvenirs. Afterwards you’ll proceed to the venue where you will see a Whirling Dervishes show which will end at around 8:00pm. From here you will be taken back to your hotel for dinner and overnight at your hotel in Istanbul.
Day 3 – August 19 (b/-/d) Istanbul
Full day in Istanbul. Meet your guide in the lobby and drive down to the pier for the most memorable Bosphorus cruise. We’ll cruise on a private boat betweeen Asia and Europe, sailing through the memories of the mystical journey of Jason and the Argonauts through clashing rocks in search of the golden fleece. After disembarking you will visit the Church of Chora, to see the excellent quality of Early Renaissance mosaics and art. Drive to the church of Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. The Patriarchate church recently hosted Pope Benedict XVI of Vatican which was regarded as a first step to unite east and west churches. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4 – August 20 (b/-/d) Ankara–Cappadocia
Early morning flight to Ankara to visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum. The museum includes the best imagery of the Mother Goddess of Anatolia from 9000 BC onward. The collection will clearly testify Anatolia’s importance as a source of Feminine Energy.
The museum contains a representative collection of the many civilizations from Turkey including, Çatalhoyuk and Hacılar Civilizations, Hittites, Hattians, Assyrians and Phyrgians.
Afternoon drive to Cappadocia and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the world famous Salt Lake and the countryside views of Turkey. Arrive at Cappadocia area, following an orientation drive check into the Argos in Cappadocia Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – August 21 (b/-/d) Cappadocia
Optional early morning Hot Air Balloon ride; an amazing experience! Cappadocia provides us with a unique lunar landscape composed of volcanic conical formations which locals called Fairy Chimneys.
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Full Day exploration of the Cappadocia Mystical Christian Heritage, by means of visiting the early churches with fresco paintings and the underground cities, carved to escape the Roman persecutors.
Cappadocia was where Monastic Life in Christian Church has began, through 3 Capadocian Fathers, the two St. Gregorys and St. Basil. Visit Goreme Open Air Museum, Pasabag Valley, Pigeons valley, natural fortress of Uçhisar, one of the underground cities, also drive by Avanos village, famous for handmade pottery production since the times of Hittites.
During the day there will be an opportunity to visit a local carpet weaving factory where the local village women are still hand weaving thousands of years old images of abstract Mother Goddesses, male fertility symbols, ying/yang and wheel of fortune symbols on their traditional carpets. This is an experience of the loom of history endlessly weaving through time eternal. Dinner and overnight at Cappadocia.
Day 6 – August 22 (b/-/d) Konya
Early morning meditation and contemplation at the Love Valley within the uniquely mystical landscape of Cappadocia. Then drive to visit Guzelyurt village, ancient Karballa where we you will see St. George’s Church. Then a 3 hours drive to Konya, the city of the great Turkish mystic Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes. En Route visit Sultanhan Caravansarai, a medieval inn for silk road merchants. Upon arrival at Konya visit the Mausoleum of Rumi and the collections of the museum. Overnight in Konya at the Dedeman Konya Hotel.
Day 7 – August 23 (b/-/d) Konya-Pamukkale
Drive through the Taurus mountain range, on the route of the Silk Road. Late afternoon arrival to Pamukkale.
Pamukkale is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey. Explore the white calcium-oxide cascades of Pamukkale and visit the ancient site of Hierapolis where St. Philippe was martyred.
The area is also where St. Paul travelled through spreading the Good News, therefore there will be a mention of his work in the area. Overnight in Pamukkale where you may enjoy the hot spring thermal baths of the Colossae Thermal Hotel.
Day 8 – August 24 (b/-/d) Pamukkale–Kusadasi
Drive to see Sardis, one of the wonderful excavation sites in Turkey. Sardis was the capital city of the Lydian Kingdom, and the seat of the richest man on earth, King Croesus.
Sardis Excavation is a joint project of Harvard, Cornell and Berkeley Universities. Archaeologists uncovered one of the oldest synagogues of the world in Sardis. Sardis was also a main worship center for Mother Goddess Artemis therefore another feminine energy center of worship.
Visit the magnificient Artemis Temple and allow time for meditation in this impressive pastoral landscape, by the temple. The temple is not far away from Pactolus river where King Midas divested himself of the golden touch by washing himself in the river. Overnight at the Charisma Deluxe Hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 9 – August 25 (b/-/d) Kusadasi
Full day tour of Ephesus. Ephesus was the capital city of Roman Province of Asia Minor and a major Pilgrimage center. One of the oldest centers of Mother Goddess worship, the temple of Artemis/Diana in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the world. Pilgrims from as far as Palestine, Egypt, Greece and Rome would travel to Ephesus,once every year to visit her temple, during spring festival.
We will visit her temple site and her extraordinary sculptural works of art in the local Archaeological Museum. A Goddess of such mystical depth, Ephesian Artemis generously exposes her many breasts to feed her children, as all the wild animals of nature sit on her skirt like pets. A Goddess of 9000 years of age, when St. Paul came to Ephesus, her memory lingered in Anatolia even long after the transition to monotheistic faiths.
It must have been St. John (the Gospel writer and the author of Revelations) who introduced the worship of Virgin Mary in Ephesus who might have replaced the memories of Mother Goddess in the Christian context. Tradition holds that St. John brought Virgin Mary to Ephesus.
A church stands on the site of her house in the background mountains of Ephesus, which is a major pilgrimage center not only for Christians but also for Moslems. We will also visit the church of Virgin Mary.
Most amazing is the archaeological site of Ephesus, with the third richest library of the ancient world (Celcus Library), the Trajan Temple, Hadrian Temple, the Great Theatre, and the Odeon. As we explore Ephesus through the ancient mysteries of Ephesian Artemis, her transition into the Christian Mysteries of Virgin Mary, and to the journey of St. Paul and St. John to Ephesus as they spread the Good News in Anatolia. Ephesus’s outstanding importance in mankind’s Mystical Heritage will come alive in our hearts and minds. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 10 – August 26 (b/-/-) Kusadasi-Izmir
Transfer to İzmir airport for your departure flight back home!
What’s Included:
- Daily breakfast and 9 dinners are included in the itinerary.
- 9 nights double occupancy for the land itinerary.
- All ceremonies, rituals, dance and music demonstrations.
- All spiritual teachings are included.
- All tips for the waiters, drivers and guides are included.
- All excursions indicated on the itinerary are included and all indicated entrance fees.
- Donation to the Whirling Dervishes.
- Ground Transportation by comfortable, spacious, air-conditioned vehicle (Mercedes Benz Sprinter or similar).
What’s Not-Included:
- Your round-trip air flight to Istanbul, returning from Izmir.
- Domestic flight between Istanbul and Ankara.
- Your drinks are not included.
- Meals not listed in the itinerary.
- Optional tours like the Balloon Trip in Cappadocia.
- The fee for an e-visa upon arrival, for US citizens, is US$30.00. The fee for e-visas obtained prior to arrival in Turkey is US$20. If you are a passport holder of another country, please check the entry requirements into Turkey for your nationality.
Your Fabulous Facilitator
Rev. Dr. David Ault
For 30 years David has traveled the world as a New Thought musician, keynote speaker and workshop/retreat facilitator. He is currently the Senior Minister of Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta, located in Atlanta, GA
David has spent the last ten years traveling back and forth to the country of Cambodia – a country he believes holds a resilience and peace like none other he has ever experienced. In spite of its impoverished population, David beholds a people willing to strive for peace amidst its struggles. His outreach began with the digging of fresh water wells throughout the outlying villages of Siem Reap and expanded into developing and offering free education programs for the children abandoned by any educational system or skills training.
Through the years he established Khmer Child Foundation – a stateside 501c3 that helped fund and build a non-government regulated school right in the heart of Siem Reap. Gaining full approval from the Cambodian government in 2009, David has tirelessly raised funds and built classrooms, a sewing facility, an IT tech learning lab, resulting in a professionally administered campus offering free education plus a high quality arts program. KCF’s funding supports over 200 regular attending children year round. David’s Foundation has also built more than 150 fresh water wells in the surrounding villages of Siem Reap.
David’s aim is to provide progressive education, agricultural and life skills training, along with food and fresh water to assist impoverished and underserved children in having a better now and a brighter tomorrow.
David is the author of the bestseller ‘Where Regret Cannot Find Me’ as well as his 2014 release, ‘The Grass is Greener Right Here’. To learn more about David visit www.davidault.com
How To Get to Turkey:
Regarding Flights: Feel free to make your own flights, but please confirm them with us before booking. If you need help – no worries, Ales in Custom Travel is our travel guru – feel free to ring him at: 1866-866-5566 Ext. 2 or email him and it will be his pleasure to assist you!
Keep in Mind:
The actual schedule of spiritual teachings and what we will be doing day to day is not published so we can be in the moment. Every day will be a magical experience for all of us, so keep your heart and mind open to the experience life brings us. Due to the remote areas we are traveling to, weather, bad roads and other unseen obstacles may cause us to make changes in our itinerary.
On this spiritual journey our intent is to create sacred space where we can learn and share in group for the purpose of deepening our spiritual connections. The power of our teachings (please make sure you align with the group leader’s philosophy) and ceremonies comes from our combined energy and if group process does not interest you, then this trip would not be your best choice.
Your Investment:
Double Occupancy: $3495 USD
If you desire a single room, the cost is an additional $795 USD per person (these rooms are limited).
A deposit of $500 USD is needed immediately to hold your place. The balance payment of $2995 USD is due: June 15th, 2015. **This is high season and we have to have everyone registered early!
** NOTE: If you don’t wish to register online or are having issues, call 1866.866.5566 Ext. 2 or email us.
Easy Steps to Register:
To place your deposit NOW with our secure online store (your deposit holds your spot) – hit the blue “Add to Cart” button, and your selection will go immediately into the shopping cart.
When you are finished, then click the “checkout” link below.
If you don’t wish to register online or are having issues, call 1866.866.5566 Ext. 2 or email us. Money orders and checks are also welcome (as long as your check has enough time to clear before the trip departure date). Simply mail your check to: Journeys of the Spirit, 6245 Vista Verde Dr W, Gulfport, FL 33707.
Single Supplement
This is to pay for your single supplement for the Turkey Spiritual Journey.
Price: $795.00
Balance double occ
This is to pay your balance for our Turkey Spiritual Journey double occupancy.
Price: $2,995.00
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Any cancellation received in writing from January 1st, 2015 to April 1st, 2015 will result in a total loss of the $500 USD deposit. Any cancellation received in writing between April 1st, 2015 and June 15th, 2015 will result in a loss of 50% of the trip price. Any cancellation made between: June 15th, 2015 and the trip departure will result in a total loss of funds. We reserve the right to cancel the trip if it is not meeting the trip minimum (if we do so your deposit is refunded). Trip cancellation insurance is always recommended when making travel plans. You can use our suggested Travel Guard Insurance online and choose from several policy options.
