Journey to the Land of Ancient Wisdom with Stephen Mehler and Dr Vivian Zaki

Arrive at Cairo International Airport where you will be met by our local tour representative who will assist you with obtaining the Egypt Tourist Visa. Clear Immigration, Baggage Claim & Customs. Transfer to our luxurious 5 star hotel near the Great Pyramid and Sphinx and check in. Explore your beautiful surroundings and gaze in awe at the Great Pyramid from the hotel grounds. Believe it. You are really here in this ancient land where the mystery of spirit is palpable. Tonight we will gather for our orientation meeting with Stephen Mehler, and get to know some of our fellow participants on the journey.
(Overnight in Cairo at Mena House Oberoi Hotel)

This morning we begin our Journey to the Land of Ancient Wisdom with a visit to the Giza Plateau and Sphinx. One of the greatest of the Mystery Schools was in Egypt at Giza. Here they taught the mystery of “the immortality of the human soul”. What is evident is that the knowledge, possessed during the times the Pyramids are said to have been built, included a complete grasp of astronomy, solar systems, planetary bodies, distances, the procession of the equinoxes, the fixed star groupings, and the decans and dodecanates of the zodiac. Unofficially, Thoth built the pyramids after the Great Deluge. Thoth then encoded into the Three Great Pyramids, energetic, sacred geometrical templates for planetary consciousness evolution to be completed before 2013 C.E. These pyramids later served as initiation chambers for those who completed their Mystery School teachings. The Great Pyramid was considered the “navel of the Earth”, marking the center of the 0 degree meridian line that indicated the longest stretches of land running in both a north-south direction and an east-west direction on the entire globe. It founded grid systems aligning all Earth’s pyramids and monuments across the entire world.

The initiate system in Egypt was based on one point, that the individual should learn factually and beyond question through personal experience that death is an illusion. They had developed a science by which they could communicate the fact, and circumstance of death directly to another person. In other words, the initiates of the Mystery Schools, were persons who had lived, died, and been born again in this world. We will make some connections here that will serve us well when we return at the end of the trip for our private time in the Kings Chamber of the Great Pyramid.

You’ll drive out to a spectacular vista spot in the desert for photos and an optional camel ride to the Sphinx area. This afternoon we will immerse ourselves in a fascinating lecture and presentation with Stephen Mehler, “The Indigenous Tradition of Ancient Egypt”. Stephen will present an overview of the indigenous oral tradition of the wisdom keepers of Egypt, a tradition that differs vastly from the theories of academic Egyptology, as presented in Stephen’s first book, The Land Of Osiris. Stephen will discuss the different theories of the pyramids, Sphinx and the age and knowledge of the ancient civilization known as Khemit, not Egypt. This evening we gather for our Welcome Dinner and get to know our fellow participants a little better.
(Overnight in Cairo at Mena House Oberoi Hotel)

We will have an early start to the day as we head out to Dashur and Sakkara. Dashur, a royal necropolis in the desert, is a site where we can view several pyramids, two being among the oldest, largest and best preserved pyramids in all of Egypt. Here we will enter the Red Pyramid and begin our initiations into the ancient traditions by evoking the sacred sound codes—the key to understanding ancient wisdom and the true functions of the pyramids.

The Red Pyramid, named after its crimson hued granite surface. At the time of its completion it was considered to be the tallest man made structure. It has the second largest base of any pyramid in Egypt and is only slightly smaller than the Great Pyramid at Giza. Its Ancient Egyptian name was “The Shining One”. We then visit the Bent Pyramid, a unique example of an earlier pyramid. We will learn about the many theories which explain why the pyramid was built in this angled fashion. When Orion is on the meridian, the star cluster lambra Orionis, representing the head of Orion, is over the Dashur pyramids. When Taurus is on the morning horizon, the two pyramids of Dahsur match the stars Aldebaran and epsilon Tauri, the two “eyes” of the bull in the constellation Taurus. Here we begin to understand the concept of Astrotheology, and the Ancient Egyptians’ spiritual connection to the stars.

At Sakkara we discover the use of Sound Technology and Healing in Ancient Egypt. This vast, ancient burial ground which features the world's largest Step Pyramid, is considered the oldest of Egypt's pyramids. The pyramid was built for King Djoser by the ingenious architect, Imhotep. Sakkara represents the 5th Chakra, the centre of our communication which determines how we interact with the Universe through vocalization and the process of thought. Here we will explore the site and discover its historical and spiritual offerings and also learn about the sound healings which were once performed by the Egyptian priests and priestesses such as, the Sound Healing Temple which was used to increase the vibratory rate and accelerate higher consciousness of the Initiate. Here at Sakkara we will evoke the ancient sound codes for healing and demonstrate the techniques used by the ancients.

Later we travel to El Minya, a centre of soap, perfume and sugar processing. After our longest travel day of the journey, we will enjoy a group dinner to share our experiences of the day.
(Overnight in El Minya at the Nefertiti Minya Hotel)

Today we enjoy a visit to the city of Akhetaten, meaning “The Horizon of the Aten”, and the sites of Tuna el-Gebel and Amarna. Tuna el-Gebel is a large site which once functioned as the necropolis for the ancient town and burial site of Khnum or Hermopolis. The ruins are scattered over an area of about three kilometres and the oldest monument found here is one of six stelae on the boundary of the pharaoh Akhenaten's ancient city. It is a part of a rock-cut “shrine” found up the escarpment. The burial site itself goes back to the 5th century BC. What make this site so interesting are the extended catacombs which are rare in Egypt, and the in situ mummy of Isadora which is in excellent condition. The most important tomb in the necropolis is the burial temple of Petosiris, a high-ranking citizen of Hermopolis and high priest at the Temple of Thoth. The burial site, decorated with well preserved and colourful reliefs, consists of an anteroom, the newer part of the structure which was dedicated to the memory of Petosiris, as well as a nearly square sanctuary which is supported by pillars and which Petosiris dedicated to the cult of his father and his elder brother.

We then visit Amarna, a city located on a flat stretch of land beside the Nile Valley. There is really little to see of Akhenaten’s capital of Amarna; much was destroyed by his enemies, but there are also great areas that remain unexcavated. The site includes several modern villages and was built as the new capital by Akhenaten as a dedication to his new religion of worship to the Aten. Akhenaten remains one of the least understood figures of Egypt, considered a heretic by those who did not follow him and a visionary by those who have studied him. He was responsible for the religious revolutions of his time and changes that would alter the political and religious landscape of the ancient world for generations to come. Akhenaten, which meant in the ancient language, “The Shadow of The Wiser,” was not promoting a “religion”, or the worship of a single “God,” as has been written by many, but was advocating a return to the time of pure spirituality, that is, anyone can access The Divine without priests or any intermediaries, or formal rituals and sacred texts. We will meditate at the site of the main Aten Temple and connect with the principle of Aten, The Wiser, and the stage of full enlightenment.
(Overnight in El Minya at the Nefertiti Minya Hotel)

Early this morning we transfer to sacred Abydos, one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt. The city, known as the “City of the Dead”, was one of the holiest places throughout the whole history of Ancient Egypt. It was the cult centre of the god Osiris and the star gateway to the underworld. It was also significant due to the energy of a special place in the desert mountains which today is known as Gaab. Abydos is a huge archaeological site and a place of pilgrimage for spiritual seekers. Here at Abydos we will visit the Temple of Sety I which was built around 1300 BC by Sety and his son Ramses II. In the outer hypostyle hall we will see a cartouche which has become famous for the engraved figures of the “Abydos Helicopter” as well as a submarine.

At the rear of the Temple of Sety I sits a very strange structure called the Osirion that holds a number of mysteries. Visitors must exit Sety's Temple at the rear and approach the Osirion from above at modern ground level. The first thing of note is the enormous size of the red granite blocks used in its construction, which draws parallels with similar Old Kingdom megalithic structures, like the Valley Temple, and the Sphinx Temple at Giza. The megalithic design, the lack of prolific inscriptions, and the fact that some of the larger stone blocks weigh up to 100 tons suggest that the Osirion pre-dates the Temple of Sety. Inscribed on some of these blocks and visible from the staircase one can see a number of Flower of Life patterns of interlocking circles. The Flower of Life contains the patterns of creation as they emerged from the “Great Void”. Everything is made from the Creator's thought. After the creation of the Seed of Life comes the Egg of Life. This structure forms the basis for music, as the distances between the spheres is identical to the distances between the tones and the half tones in music. It is also identical to the cellular structure of the third embryonic division; the first cell divides into two cells, then to four cells then to eight. This same structure, further developed, creates the human body and all of the energy systems, including the ones used to create the Merkaba. If we continue creating more and more spheres we will end up with the structure called the Flower of Life. Here we will discuss Sacred Geometry of the Merkaba and the Flower of Life and connect with this tradition.

Possible visit to Dendara and the Temple of Hathor if time permits. Transfer to Luxor later in the day and settle into our hotel for the evening.
(Overnight in Luxor at the Sonesta St George Hotel)

This morning we embark our luxurious 5 star cruise ship to prepare ourselves for our Nile cruise. Once we have settled and attended the safety briefing we will head out for a day of sightseeing.

We begin with Luxor Temple, an impressive representation of Sacred Geometry at its best. The Temple exhibits proportions which show a comprehension of the link between so-called cosmic realms and the terrestrial nature, including alchemy, physics, mathematics, geometry, art, astronomy, and symbolism. The Temples were also encoded with practical, physical and spiritual lessons. Luxor Temple will be a teaching area and discussion of sacred geometry.

We then explore the vast open air museum of the Temple of Karnak complex, one of the largest ancient religious sites in the world. Remnants of Sphinxes which once lined the avenue all the way to the Luxor Temple still remain. For many centuries, Karnak Temple was the main religious centre of Egypt, with each Pharaoh adding to or altering the complex. It was the main temple for the cult of Amun, but like many other Egyptian temples, other gods and goddesses were worshipped here as well, including Ptah and Sekhmet. The key difference between Karnak and many other temples and sites in Egypt is the length of time over which it was developed and utilized. Approximately 30 Pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity and diversity not seen elsewhere. Illustrations within the Temple show Thoth, the ibis-headed god, stretching a cord to display the concept of spirit moving into physical space and manifesting in all forms of the physical world. Here Initiates learned how spiritual forces and all energy and consciousness could be brought to manifestation in the physical world. Sekhmet—literally means “The Power,” as she represents the Unconditional Love of Mother. We will use the sacred sound codes to connect with Her as an aspect of The Great Mother and for Her protection. 

This evening we will enjoy a fascinating lecture with Stephen Mehler, “The Evolution of Religion In Ancient Egypt”. Stephen will discuss how ancient spirituality devolved into our modern religions, a presentation based on his second book, From Light Into Darkness. Stephen will also discuss the “King” Akhenaten, here and throughout the tour, and his connections to monotheism, Judaism, the Rosicrucian Tradition, and all modern mystery schools.
(Overnight on Cruise Ship)

Today we cross the Nile to the West Bank and explore the sites in this area. We will gaze in awe at the Colossi of Memnon. Amenhotep III built a mortuary temple in Thebes that was guarded by these two gigantic statues on the outer gates. The statues are made from carved blocks of quartzite quarried either at Giza or Gebel es-Silsila. The Northern statue depicts Amenhotep II with his mother, Mutemwia, while the southern statue is of Amenhotep II with his wife, Tiy, and one of his daughters. On the sides of the statues are reliefs depicting Nile gods joining together plants symbolizing Upper and Lower Egypt.

The Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is still standing and is one of the most popular attractions in Egypt today. It is located in Deir el-Bahri, which is a complex of mortuary temples and tombs found on the west bank of the River Nile just across from Luxor. Hatshepsut's reign was a long and prosperous one and although she saw warfare early on, eventually her reign ushered in an era of extended peace. She also re-established trading relationships and increased the wealth of Egypt, allowing the country to introduce a higher caliber of Egyptian architecture, the likes of which remained incomparable worldwide for hundreds of years. We will also visit the Temple of Hathor beside Queen Hatshepsut's Temple.

We will also visit the Valley of the Kings. The Egyptian belief that “to speak the name of the dead is to make him live again” is certainly carried out in the building of the tombs. The king's formal names and titles are inscribed in the tombs along with images and statues. Beginning with the 18th Dynasty and ending with the 20th, the kings abandoned the Memphis area and built their tombs in Thebes. Also abandoned were the pyramid style tombs. Most of the tombs were cut into the limestone following a similar pattern: three corridors, an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber. These catacombs were harder to rob and were more easily concealed. Construction usually lasted six years, beginning with the new reign. The text in the tombs is from the Book of the Dead, the Book of the Gates and the Book of the Underworld.

The Valley of the Queens is an isolated cemetery, at the southern part of the vast Necropolis of Thebes. It contains about 70 tombs, mainly belonging to Queens, Princesses, Princes and Nobles, who lived during the XIX and XX Dynasties. In general, these tombs are smaller than the ones of the Kings. The plans of these tombs usually consist of a small antechamber, a long narrow corridor with several side chambers, and at the end, the burial chamber. One of the most important tombs in the valley is that of the famous Queen Nefertari, the principal consort of King Ramses II.
Please note: The order of the visits is subject to change and we will try to visit the Valley of the Kings early morning to avoid the crowds.
(Overnight on Cruise Ship)

This morning we enjoy a relaxing horse-drawn carriage ride to the Temple of Horus. The Temple of Horus in Edfu (also known as the Temple of Edfu) is considered the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt. It was built during the Ptolemaic era on top of an earlier temple to Horus, which was oriented east-west instead of the current north-south configuration. The falcon-headed Horus was originally the sky god, whose eyes were the sun and moon. The “Eye of Horus” is considered an important Egyptian symbol of power. He was later assimilated into the popular myth of Isis and Osiris as the divine couple’s child. After Osiris’ murder by his brother Seth, Horus avenged his father's death in a great battle at Edfu. Seth was exiled and Horus took the throne with Osiris reigning through him from the underworld. Thus, all pharaohs claimed to be the incarnation of Horus, the “living king”. Horus, or Heru in the ancient tongue, was the principle of the realized male, the Initiate. The Temple of Horus is a great teaching temple and we will view and discuss the many esoteric reliefs with Stephen Mehler. Here we will do a meditation to connect with the Higher Self, the path to initiation into The Greater Mysteries.

The Temple known as Kom Ombo is actually two temples consisting of a Temple of Horus and a Temple of Sobek dedicated to the corresponding gods. The left, or northern side, is dedicated to Horus, a representation of the higher self. The right is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile God, representing the lower self. This was a temple of initiation and here the initiates swam with crocodiles in order to overcome fear and negativity. Here we will understand the importance of releasing ourselves from fear and negativity in order to raise our consciousness as we follow the path of the ancient initiate. Sobek was the principle of assimilation and transmutation. In this temple the ancient initiates would attempt to overcome their fears, particularly the Fear of Death. We will do a meditation to give our fears to Sobek and overcome all doubts on the path to self-mastery.
(Overnight on Cruise Ship)

This morning we visit Philae’s Temple of Isis. Isis, or Iset in the ancient tongue, was the complete, realized feminine principle. Our meditation will connect us with the Divine Feminine in every person.

The Island of Agilkia is the beautiful home of the Temples of Philae. Philae is the modern day Greek name, but the ancient Egyptians called the island P-aaleq, which amongst other definitions has the dual meaning of “end” and “creation”. It is believed that the various structures contained on the island took 800 years to build however, the building of the Aswan Dam almost wiped out the island and its history. Fortunately, with the aid of UNESCO and the Egyptian government, the temples were rescued, dismantled, relocated and finally reconstructed piece by piece in a mission that took 10 years to complete. The island is considered to be a site of worship in honour of the goddess Isis. The cult of Isis was well spread in the Roman world and Philae survived as the last outpost of this ancient following. The temple sanctuary, or Holy of Holies, where the goddess resides, was thought to be the source of the “waters of life”, and was once separated from the rest of the temple by a curtain. Using the sound of Aum, the sound of creation, and Tibetan singing bowls, we will be led into meditation here to attune to the tone of the waters of creation.

In the afternoon we board a traditional Felucca for a leisurely ride along the Nile to Elephantine Island. The island was known to Ancient Egyptians as Abu or Yebu and acted as a border between Egypt and Nubia. According to Egyptian mythology, the island was the dwelling place of Khnum, the ram-headed god of the cataracts, who guarded and controlled the waters of the Nile from caves beneath the island. Here there are many “smoking guns,” evidences of advanced machining in granite. Stephen will present many indigenous traditions concerning the structures found in ruins here. At the Birthing Chapel of the Temple of Khnum, we will meditate and connect with the Divine Principles of Creation, as Khnum was the Divine Potter who creates our physical forms.
(Overnight on Cruise Ship)

This morning we reclaim our land legs and leave behind our wonderful cruise ship. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to explore Aswan. Shop to your heart’s content at the city’s wonderful “souqs” or discover the city’s interesting history at the Nubian Museum. Stephen will offer some ideas for today – we could visit a Nubian home or Souk, or perhaps a group meeting and discussion.

OR enjoy an Optional early morning tour to the Temples of Abu Simbel.  Located near the southern border of Egypt with Sudan, the Great Temple is dedicated to Rameses II and Queen Nefertari, the love of his life. The Temple’s façade is dominated by four enormous seated statues of the Pharaoh, each over 67 feet high. The Temples were shifted to higher ground in the 1960a as the waters of Lake Nasser began to rise following the completion of the Aswan High Dam. 

We then meet back at the dock and transfer to the train station to board our overnight train back to Cairo.
(Overnight in Sleeper Berth on Train)

(Photo: Steve FE Cameron, Wikimedia Commons)

Arrive in Cairo and transfer to the hotel. Spend the morning at your leisure to rest up from your overnight train ride. Later, prepare for an afternoon of magnificent discovery at the amazing Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. This outstanding museum houses an innumerable collection of fine relics and artifacts dating back thousands of years and is home to the most extensive collection of Egyptian Antiquities in the world. It is impossible to see all that the museum holds in just one day, but we will do our best to take in as much as we can. A highlight of our time here will be an option to view the Royal Mummies Room to view the many treasures of Tutankhamun such as, ornate jewellery, alabaster vases, and tools used by the king. Enjoy the evening at your leisure to explore Cairo independently.

Why not spend your evening at the optional Sound & Light Show by the Sphinx?
(Overnight in Cairo at Mena House Oberoi Hotel)

This morning we begin the day with Old Cairo which contains remnants of Egypt’s earlier capital cities. As we wander through the area we can admire the stunning architecture and beauty of the many old churches. We visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Allaka Church where the Virgin Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus are believed to have taken refuge. We then drive to the Islamic Quarter to visit the great Saladin Citadel and the beautiful Mosque of Mohamed Ali, known as the “Alabaster Mosque”.

This afternoon we head out to the pyramids once again for our special initiation ceremony in the Great Pyramid. Stephen will have already discussed the Great Pyramid in detail before we go in. He will have presented the indigenous tradition, supported by many scientists, that the Great Pyramid was a machine, not a tomb for any “king”, or anyone! The Great Pyramid was a sonic machine and we will engage in sacred chanting and toning to open all chakras, energy centers, as the final initiation into the Greater Mysteries. Over the last few thousand years, the Great Pyramid has become the Supreme Temple of Initiation, and we will connect with all the great souls who have been there!

Afterwards, indigenous wisdom keeper, Abd’El Hakim Awyan’s eldest daughter Shahrzad will offer healing sessions to help us integrate the powerful energies which we have absorbed in the Great Pyramid. In the evening, we gather for our final Farewell Dinner. 
(Overnight in Cairo at Mena House Oberoi Hotel)

Transfer to the airport for your departure. Bid your farewells to Egypt and return home with many fond memories and new friendships.