Body Mind Spirit Journeys
and
Maitreya Zohar & Joshua Inacio
present
Sacred Journey to Ireland

Highlighting the “Lighting of the Beacons”

April 27 – May 5, 2025

All who visit this land, so rich in history and mysticism, are changed by it. And its greatest resource, even more astonishing than the gorgeous greens and the dramatic seascapes, is the people. The Celtic nature of warmth and welcome still prevails here and simply has to be experienced to be understood.

You are warmly invited to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and awakening amidst the enchanting landscapes of Érie. Together, we will delve into the depths of our beings, embracing the inner and outer realities that unite us as Beacons. In this sacred gathering, a Beacon represents a cherished member of a soul group, sent forth to guide, illuminate, and inspire the hearts of humanity. At this pivotal moment, the ancient and mystical land of Ireland—Érie—has been chosen as our sacred conduit for transformation.

In the kaleidoscope of human experience, many dwell within a veil of fog, caught in the distractions of daily life and striving merely for survival. This state is not happenstance. Now, let your imagination soar to a realm where clarity reigns, and individuals flourish with purpose and insight. Envision a world where countless Beacons, both young and wise, awaken to their true potential and radiate their light into the universe.

 On this sacred journey, each of you will have the opportunity to awaken to:

• Boundless openness that invites new possibilities
• The profound truth of your unique essence
• A serene stillness that nurtures the soul
• An exhilarating adventure ripe with discoveries
• A deep, abiding connection with your elemental being
• A vibrant channel for creative expression
• A spirit of joy and play that enriches your experience

Prepare to embark on an unforgettable adventure! We hope you will join us.

Your Hosts:

Maitreya Zohar
Maitreya has supported people with their desire for clarity and healing by utilizing the gifts of Intuitive Listening, Reiki, Shamanism, Tarot, Channeling, Life Coaching and writing. He offers transformation talks, retreats, workshops & classes and is the author of Sisterhood of the Dove: Clarion Call of Mary Magdalene. Maitreya leads spiritual healing journeys throughout the world, always guided by Spirit and for the purpose of healing the earth and humanity.

Joshua Inacio – a spiritual teacher, channel, and vibrational sound healer. Joshua currently divides his time between visiting communities around the country, and doing his holistic work locally, which includes giving regular groups for channeling, sound healing and spiritual teaching. He regularly leads groups on spiritual journeys, and next year he will give a retreat in Kansas City and Ireland. He is writing a book on developing a relationship with our energy anatomy as it relates to all our human experiences. He continually develops and creates sound and vibrational works for the betterment of our wellbeing.

Seán Ó Gaoithín – Sean was born and raised in South County Dublin where he trained in conservation horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens. He is head gardener at Glenveagh Castle, Glenveagh National Park in Co Donegal since 1995. Seán has lectured and published on cultural herbalism, horticulture, Irish art, Irish mythology, Irish flora and fauna in Ireland and the temperate regions of the Earth, and co-lead Druid retreats in Ireland. He is an active member of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD) and describes himself as an Oak Druid. He has a deep connection with his land and a love of Irish nature and culture. He practices Gaia Touch to commune with landscape angels and nature spirits. His journey is the shared search for Cultural Memory Recovery – remembering and sharing authentic indigenous spirituality.

Your Tour Includes:

• Eight nights at good 4-star hotels, all rooms with private bath/shower
• Service charges and taxes at your hotels
• Breakfast at hotels each day
• Three Lunches at a local pubs & restaurants
• Seven dinners at your hotels
• Storytelling and talks with Maitreya, Joshua and Sean
• Farewell dinner at the Cliff Townhouse restaurant in Dublin
• Half day Panoramic Dublin sightseeing tour
• Transportation in Ireland by deluxe motor coach
• Escorted throughout
• Porterage of one piece of luggage per person per hotel on arrival
• INCLUDING Gratuities to Guides, drivers, hotel staff, etc.

Highlights:

• Visits to: Dingle Peninsula, Blasket Islands Heritage Center, The Burren, Knocknarea, Glencar Waterfall, Hazelwood Demesne, Tobernalt Holy Well, Loughcrew Cairns, the Hill of Slane, Brú na Bóinne, Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, Pulnabrone Dolmen and Kylemore Abbey
• The Cliffs of Moher
• Jaunting cart ride to the Muckross Abbey in Killarney

Your Ireland Tour Itinerary

Day 1, Sunday, April 27: Arrival Shannon and onto Killarney (D)
Your tour starts at Shannon Airport as we depart the airport by coach from our meeting spot at 11am. Please make sure your arrival in Shannon is by 9am or earlier. Upon arrival, time to relax before meeting for our Welcome dinner.
Note: If you cannot make this time schedule, we suggest that you reserve an airport hotel the night before and BMSJ will provide some information for this with your final confirmation.

Day 2: Monday, April 28: In Killarney – Day on the Dingle Peninsula (B/L/D)
Today we set off for one of the most breathtaking landscapes in Europe, the Dingle Peninsula. This peninsula is famous for its Celtic, pre-Christian monuments. It is also a ‘Gaeltacht’ (Irish speaking) area, where the Irish language and traditional ways of life are preserved. Dingle town itself is a thriving fishing town, famous as a place where traditional Irish folk music can be heard just about every day. From Dingle, we drive around the coast to Slea Head. Here the blue of the marine landscape surrounds the Blaskets Islands, deserted since 1953. In the distance are the two rocky Skellig islands, where the ruins of an early Christian monastery can be found. The Dingle Peninsula will charm you with its villages painted in bright colors and will bewitch you with the dramatic beauty of its landscapes. Lunch at local pub/restaurant followed by a visit to the Blasket Centre on the mainland in Dún Chaoin (pronounced Dunquin – we will give you some Irish lessons, don’t worry!) on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula. It’s a fascinating heritage center/museum honoring the unique community who lived on the remote Blasket Islands until their evacuation in 1953. The Blasket Centre tells the story of island life, subsistence fishing and farming, traditional life including modes of work and transport, home life, housing and entertainment. The Center details the community’s struggle for existence, their language and culture, and the extraordinary literary legacy they left behind – classics such as ‘The Islandman,’ ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’ and ‘Peig.’ Later return to Killarney and take a traditional horse-drawn  jaunting cart ride to Muckross Abbey, set in the heart of Killarney National Park. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 3, Tuesday, April 29: To the Cliffs of Moher, The Burren & Galway (B/L/D)
After breakfast we depart County Kerry for The Cliffs of Moher. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean and bordering the Burren Area, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights. Standing about 700 feet above the ground at their highest point and five miles long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay, as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara. To the south of the cliffs is Hag’s Head and was once the site of a castle. The cliffs reach their highest point just north of O’ Brien’s Tower. Cornelius O’ Brien, a descendant of Brian Boru (who defeated the Vikings in battle), built a tower at the cliffs to enjoy some tea with his lady friends. Continue through The Burren, a landscape that is one of Ireland’s six National Parks. The limestone region shelters a unique flora and a vast amount of archaeological sites which have attracted visitors for centuries. Man came here over 6,000 years ago, cleared the forests and set in motion soil erosion. Centuries of weathering have produced a terrain of fissured limestone pavements, disappearing lakes, terraced mountains and underground cave systems. Continue to the Poulnabrone Dolmen, which is among the most famous landmarks in the Burren and is in County Clare. The remarkable image of the sun setting through this dolmen is one of those most associated with the area. The dolmen is surrounded by the characteristic Burren limestone pavement where a patient visitor may find examples of the famous Burren flora. We end our touring day by arriving in Galway for our overnight and dinner.

Day 4, Wednesday, April 30: To Sligo (B/D)
Depart Galway and journey to Sligo, through Connemara. Connemara is a land of lakes and rivers, bogs and mountains. A land of small villages where Gaelic is still the spoken language and where little has changed since the beginning of time. It is without a doubt the wildest and the most romantic part of Ireland. We also will visit Kylemore Abbey that is stunningly located in the Kylemore Pass in Connemara. Mitchell Henry built the House in 1868, after having spent his honeymoon in the area. The architecture is best described as neo-gothic, and the house still displays all the characteristics of that period. One of Kylemore Abbey’s most famous features is its miniature cathedral, built in 1870 and known locally as the Gothic church. Today, the abbey is home to the Irish order of Benedictine nuns. Heading north we will pass through the beautiful fjord of Killary Harbor, as well as the steep mountains overlooking numerous lakes and large areas of blanket bog. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue to Knocknarea. The hilltop Knocknarea Cairn is situated about a mile north of the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, in County Sligo. The 1,000 foot high Knocknarea mountain dominates the Cuil Irra Peninsula. Sitting on top is Queen Maeve’s Cairn, a Neolithic passage tomb. Around 1,000 years younger than Carrowmore, the huge cairn is said to be the grave of the legendary Queen Maeve, an important figure in early Irish folklore. The cairn is 40,000 tons of stone, 35 feet wide by 30 feet high, and has never been excavated, despite speculation that a tomb on the scale of the cairn at Newgrange lies buried below. There are several smaller tombs scattered around the mountainside, amongst them the small passage tombs at Knocknarea north and Knocknarea south. Optional climbing to summit of Knocknarea or visit to Carrowmore. After we continue to Sligo on Ireland’s western edge for dinner and our overnight.
 
Day 5, Thursday, May 1: In Sligo – Excursion to Glencar Waterfall & Tobernalt Holy Well (B/D)
We start the morning with a visit to Glencar Waterfall, which is 50 feet high and has been integral to the Sligo legends of Queen Maeve and the fairy cultures since ancient times, passed down via Sligo storytellers about this and other locations we will visit today. Magical Glencar served as an inspiration to William Butler Yeats and celebrates the fairy traditions of this special place in his poem The Stolen Child: “Where the wandering water gushes, from the hills above Glencar.” Just beware of the fairies here – if you follow them, you won’t make it back to the bus! Then we continue to the deep mystery of the Hazelwood Forest on the shores of Lough Gill with time at leisure to walk and explore the nature trails, sculptures and views of the lake. After lunch at a local pub, we continue exploring “the land of heart’s desire” with a visit to Tobernault Holy Well on the shores of Lough Gill, one of the most picturesque holy wells in Ireland, once a place of worship for the Celtic mother goddess, now a much beloved Marian shrine. The well, with water that gushes out from the face of the cliff, was blessed by St. Patrick, who is said to have baptized his converts on his way southward. In the penal days when Catholicism was outlawed, its waters were used in the secret celebration of mass under cover of the great trees. Lunch on our own at Drumcliff (Yeats’ grave) and visit to Creevykeel Court Tomb, believed to be one of the best-preserved examples of court tomb in western Europe, before we return to Sligo for dinner and our overnight.

Day 6, Friday, May 2: to Loughcrew Cairns and Drogheda (B/D)
This morning we depart for Drogheda with an en-route visit to Loughcrew Cairns, perhaps the best kept secret in archaeological and mystical Ireland. In a landscape of inspiring beauty and intriguing history, the cairns at Loughcrew form the largest complex of passage graves in Ireland. The cairns are megalithic structures originally built about 4,000 BC – possibly as burial chambers, but are there other explanations for them? Why is there a perfect alignment to the equinoxes here, whereas the first rays of light in both Spring and Autumn illuminate the gorgeous and enigmatic carvings in the site known as Cairn T? The old Irish name for this place is Sliabh na Caillí, which means “mountain of the hag” as it was once sacred to the crone aspect of the Celtic triple goddess. After lunch on our own, we continue with a visit to the Hill of Slane, and the sacred Boyne River before coming to Drogheda for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 7, Saturday, May 3: To Brú na Bóinne, Newgrange and Dublin (B/L)
After breakfast, we travel to the scenic and ancient Boyne Valley, one of the most historic and mystical regions of the whole island, with roots in pre-Celtic culture! Here we will experience some the most important ancient monuments in the Western World: the stone cairns of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. These are megalithic tombs and temples, dating from approx. 3000 B.C, located along the valley of the river Boyne. We start at the lovely and informative Brú Na Bóinne Visitor Center, designed to present the archaeological heritage of the Boyne Valley through interpretative displays and viewing areas. The extensive exhibition includes a full-scale replica of the chamber at Newgrange as well as a full model of one of the smaller tombs at Knowth for more in-depth exploration. The megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange was built about 3200 BC. The kidney-shaped mound covers an area of over one-acre and is surrounded by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. The 62-foot long inner passage leads to a cruciform chamber with a corbelled roof which is perfectly aligned to the sunrise on the winter solstice. It is estimated that the construction of the passage tomb at Newgrange would have taken a work force of 300 at least 20 years. We will have a quick lunch at a local pub before continuing onward to visit the sister-chamber of Knowth. The Great Mound at Knowth is similar in size to Newgrange and is surrounded by 18 smaller satellite mounds. The exact use of the Knowth site is still not known to us and is a fascinating speculation. Knowth and the other megalithic sites of the Boyne Valley were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. We end this day’s touring at Dowth, the least well known of the three great tombs of Brú Na Bóinne, but some say the one that still contains the most ancient energy. Although as large as Newgrange and Knowth it has not been excavated in recent times. Like the other monuments it was built over 5,000 years ago. If time, possibility of visiting the Hill of Tara, one of the great sacred sites of Ireland and very close to Brú na Bóinne. Here we have a unique opportunity to visit the site freely as it is open access, visit the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny) ancient treasure brought to Ireland by Tuatha Dé Danann, and where there is a real sense you are at the heart chakra of Ireland. Towards the end of the day, we depart for Dublin and check in to our hotel. Dinner tonight is on your own at one of Dublin’s wonderful local restaurants. Overnight in Dublin.

Day 8, Sunday, May 4: In Dublin (B/D)
We start our day with a “Panoramic Tour” of “Dublin’s Fair City.” The tour will introduce you to the principal sites, seeing the elegant Georgian squares, famous for their architecture, and of course the famous doors. Pass by Trinity College on the way to St Patrick’s Cathedral. Built in 1192, it is one of Ireland’s largest cathedrals made famous by its former dean Jonathan Swift, author of “Gulliver’s Travels.” Pass by Christchurch, built by the Anglo-Normans in 1172 to replace an earlier Church built by the Vikings in 1038, on your way to Phoenix Park. Return to the city center via the Quays, passing by the Guinness brewery before arriving back at O’Connell Street and on to our hotel. Lunch on our own. This evening, we will end our Sacred Ireland bonding as we enjoy a Farewell to Ireland dinner at the wonderful Cliff Town House restaurant. Overnight in Dublin.

Day 9, Monday, May 5: In Dublin. Tour Ends (B)
After our included breakfast, our Sacred journey ends and we transfer on your own to Dublin Airport for your flight home.

Hotels (or similar)

• Killarney: The Killarney Avenue Hotel (2 nights)
• Galway: Clayton Ballybrit Hotel (1 night)
• Sligo/Mayo: The Clayton Hotel (2 nights)
• Drogheda: Trin Castle Hotel (1 night)
• Dublin: The Ashling Hotel (2 nights)

Please read the Terms and Conditions for this program.

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. These discounted prices are noted in red.

*Special No Interest + No Payments for 6 Months Plan Now Available!
Body Mind Spirit Journeys now offers the “PayPal Credit” Plan (Click here for details)

PRICING

ALL INCLUSIVE PRICES FOR 9 DAYS (LAND ONLY)

Price Per Person

Per Person Double Occupancy: $5,500 by check or money order, $5,789 by credit card
Per Person Single Occupancy: $6,155 by check or money order, $6,479 by credit card

Optional Pre-Tour accommodation (April 26) at Shannon Airport Hotel
Per Person Double Occupancy: $115 by check or money order, $120 by credit card
Per Person Single Occupancy: $230 by check or money order, $240 by credit card

Deposit Schedule
NON-REFUNDABLE PAYMENT (Due as soon as possible to ensure a place on the tour)
Per Person Double or Single Occupancy: $888 by check: $935 by credit card

FINAL PAYMENT
Balances for payments are due on or before February 27, 2025, as per your invoice.

There is a limited number of rooms and configurations available. If you are willing to share a room, please let us know and we will do our best to match you up with a roommate with advanced introductions. We will create a private Facebook group for retreat attendees where we can all begin to get acquainted in advance and remain in contact afterward!

Attendance is strictly limited due to hotel capacity and the event is expected to sell out. Early booking is highly recommended.

After you register online you will automatically be re-directed for payment by mail-in check or secure online credit or debit card payment.

If you have already registered online and require access to the payment page, click here.

Travel Insurance

As travel professionals, Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends travel insurance. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can arise. A sudden emergency just before or during your trip could spoil your vacation and deplete your resources.

We have recently seen some of our valued travelers lose not only their non-refundable deposits, but also their entire tour payments because they hoped they would not need trip cancellation insurance.

You should protect your trip investment and yourself with regard to health, property and trip payments. That is why we provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 1-800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.

BMSJ will be sending you additional details and a brochure with your confirmation on trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

*No Payments + No Interest if paid in full in 6 months. Click here for details.

Photo credits:
Dingle town: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Poulnabrone dolmen: Steve Ford Elliott, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kylemore Abbey: Textman at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Queen Maeve’s Tomb: Baca12, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Glencar Waterfall: Bob Embleton / Glencar Waterfall
Tobernault Holy Well: Joseph Mischyshyn / Lough Gill – Holy Well off R287 near Tobernault Bay
Loughcrew:  Oliver Gargan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Newgrange Entrance: Entrance to Newgrange Tomb, Co Meath by Stanley Howe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Newgrange: Shadowgate, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons