The mystery of pilgrimage rests in the soul's essential engagement with place, memory, and meaning. In certain places there are reverberating voices which are especially distinct and condensed with meaning. The mystery centers of Ancient Greece were a crucible for transformative learning—a contemporary term for initiation. Following our 2005 pilgrimage, Aftab Omer and Melissa Schwartz will lead a two-week pilgrimage to the mystery centers of Ancient Greece in the Spring of 2007. This intimate journey to the birthplace of classical mythology will be a window into the mythic imagination and its role in contemporary possibilities for personal and cultural transformation.
Pilgrimage Highlights:
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"Hermes, for to you beyond all other gods it is dearest to be man's companion. . ."
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- Athens, the Parthenon at the Acropolis, the Agora, and the Plaka.
- Corinth, the palace of the acropolis of Tiryns, Hercules and his twelve labors.
- Nafplion, this elegant old town which was the first capital of Greece after its independence is dominated by the towering Palmidi Fortress.
- Epidaurus, site of the healing sanctuary of Asklepios, and world-renowned ampitheatre.
- Mycenae, the ancient palace of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
- Samos, the island birthplace of Pythagoras.
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- Ephesus, the temple of Artemis and the birthplace of Heraclitus, on the Aegean Coast of Turkey.
- Troy, the site of the Trojan wars described in the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer.
- Lesbos, the island where the poet Sappho made her home.
- Eleusis, site of the ancient Eleusinian Mysteries, ritual celebrations in honor of Demeter and Persephone.
- Delphi, home of the ancient oracle in the sanctuary of Apollo.
- Sounion, the site of the temple of Poseidon.
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Program Leaders:
 Aftab Omer is President and core faculty at the Institute of Imaginal Studies. Formerly a faculty member in the Psychology Department at Sonoma State University, he is currently the President of the Council on Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychologies. Aftab's research has focused on the emergence of human capacities within transformative learning communities and his work has included assisting organizations in tapping the creative potentials of conflict, diversity, and complexity. Born and raised in South Asia, his previous experiences in Greece, including the Institute's program in Greece, have been formative to his work with imagination and cultural transformation.
 Melissa Schwartz is Academic Dean and core faculty at the Institute of Imaginal Studies. Formerly a faculty member in both the Psychology and Counseling departments at Sonoma State University, she is in private practice as a Licensed Psychologist and Marriage & Family Therapist. Her interests include enriching the psychology of gender with mythological perspectives. She finds in Greek Mythology a rich cornucopia of images to deepen our understanding of feminine and masculine soul journeys.
Pilgrimage Information:
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Registration:
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| Dates: |
Sunday, April 29 - Saturday, May 12, 2007 |
For itinerary and more information contact Andrea Lambert, Director of Communications, at 707-765-1836 or AndreaLambert@imaginal.edu.
To register online, please click here. |
| Fee: |
$3700 (plus air) |
Pilgrimage Itinerary:
Throughout the pilgrimage, Aftab Omer and Melissa Schwartz will offer participants daily lectures and open discussions pertinent to the mythological, literary, historical, political, cultural, and personal significance of each of the sites and mystery centers. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to participate in walking tours, meditative practices, dreamwork, somatic practices, and poetry, all within a ritualized context. In addition, we will also maintain an on-going rhythm of personal time to support choice and integration.
Sunday, April 29:
- Participants arrive in Athens.
- Overnight in Athens.
Monday, April 30:
- Pilgrimage Orientation.
- Walking tour through the ancient Agora (the site of ancient markets and gathering place of the philosophers and politicians) along the traditional Sacred Way to the Acropolis. There, we will visit one of the marvels of the world, the Parthenon, built by Pericles in the fifth century BCE, and now undergoing a magnificent restoration.
- Lunch near the ancient Odeon Theater of Herod Atticus.
- Moonlight stroll around the Acropolis.
- Overnight in Athens.
Tuesday, May 1 (Greek National Holiday)
- Athens tour by coach.
- Dinner at a traditional taverna in the Plaka (the old Turkish quarter overlooking the Parthenon).
- Overnight in Athens.
Wednesday, May 2:
- Transfer from the hotel to the Athens Airport; flight from Athens to Samos.
- Excursion by coach to the Harion of Samos (sanctuaries dedicated to Hera).
- Overnight in Samos.
Thursday, May 3:
- Early morning departure from Samos to Patmos via hydrofoil.
- Visit sites of Patmos via coach.
- Return to Samos via hydrofoil; overnight in Samos.
Friday, May 4:
- Travel to the port of Samos and take ferry from Samos to Kusuadasi, Turkey.
- Departure by coach to Ephesus, the birthplace of Heraclitus, on the Aegean Coast of Turkey.
- Visit Ephesus, the temple of Artemis and Byzantine sites.
- Overnight in Ayvalik, Turkey.
Saturday, May 5:
- Travel by coach to Troy, the site of the Trojan wars described in The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer.
- Return to Ayvalik and depart to Lesbos via ferry.
- Overnight in Mytilene, on the island Lesbos.
Sunday, May 6:
- Tour of sites on Lesbos, the island where the poet Sappho made her home.
- Overnight ferry from Lesbos to Piraeus (two-berth cabins with bathrooms).
Monday, May 7:
- Early morning arrival in Piraeus.
- Travel by coach from Piraeus to Nafplion via Eleusis and Ancient Corinth.
- Visit the archaeological ruins of ancient Eleusis. It is here that the myth of Demeter and Persephone was ritualized into the secret initiation rites known as the Eleusinian mysteries which were held for many centuries.
- Overnight in Nafplion, the elegant old town which was the first capital of Greece after its independence.
Tuesday, May 8:
- Travel by coach from Nafplion to Tyrins.
- Travel by coach from Tyrins to Epidaurus.
- Visit Epidaurus, site of the healing sanctuary of Asklepios and world-renowned classical amphitheatre.
- Return to Nafplion; overnight in Nafplion.
Wednesday, May 9:
- Travel by coach from Nafplion to Mycenae.
- Visit Mycenae, the ancient palace of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
- Travel by coach from Nafplion to Delphi, home of the ancient oracle in the sanctuary of Apollo.
- Overnight in Delphi.
Thursday, May 10
- Visit the sacred sites and museum at Delphi, home of the famous Delphi Charioteer and the Hellenistic copy of the Omphalos (the stone that marked the navel or the center of the world for the ancient Greeks).
- Overnight in Athens.
Friday, May 11
- Visit to the National Archaeological Museum (which houses the glorious Artemision Poseidon, Bronze Jockey, and the Santorini frescoes).
- Farewell lunch at a Greek taverna.
- Visit by coach to the temple of Poseidon in Sounion; stay for sunset.
- Return to Athens; overnight in Athens.
Saturday, May 12
- Depart from Athens Airport.
Revisions to the Pilgrimage Itinerary will continue to be made as advisable and/or necessary.
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2005 Greece Pilgrimage Participent Comments
“The 2005 Greece pilgrimage exceeded my expectations—accommodations were comfortable, the excursions were well-planned and organized. The deft handling of logistics provided the backdrop for a deeply transformative experience. Aftab Omer created a container in which to experience the profundity and power of being in the presence of the antiquities of Western Civilization. His understanding of mythology and ritual combined with his keen insight into human nature assisted in making this pilgrimage a life-changing and unforgettable experience. At the time of trip I faced a critical juncture in the process of writing my dissertation; I was losing the inspiration and confidence I needed to complete this daunting task. Visiting the mystery centers in Greece with such a conscious group led by an extraordinary teacher rekindled the fire and passion I needed to bring my goal to fruition. The wonder of the sites we visited enriched my inner life—it was as if the place coupled with the experiences opened an inner window bringing life to parts of myself that were formerly in hibernation.”
– Joy Policar, Ph.D
“Going to Greece on the Institute's 2005 Pilgrimage was more than just a "travel adventure"; it was a way of evoking the various possibilities that were trying to unfold in my life. While I was there, something happened that changed my entire life, and when I got back home, I continued to be significantly affected by the journey. Being in Greece and being a part of the Institute's pilgrimage was a turning point in my life.”
– Lucas Plumb, M.A.
“This pilgrimage was an opportunity to explore my relationship with Greek culture and mythology. I have a love for the stories of antiquity and the teachings that they provide. To be present in the sites and to be oriented to their creation and meaning through Dr. Omer’s extensive knowledge allowed me to begin to integrate the intent of these sites. For example, I knew that Epidaurus was created as a healing center and that within this center exercise, theatre, food, rest, and dreamwork were included in their healing practices; treatment for mind, body, emotions, soul, and spirit were available. However, I did not know that Epidaurus was built within a supportive terrain that the land around the site is calm and beautiful. When I walked onto the site, I experienced the soulful intelligence of this place and remembered how important these activities are for us. My deep appreciation for their attention to the care of the soul is with me even now.”
– Elizabeth Schreiber, M.A.
“My small smile, as I start to reminisce about my trip to Greece, starts to widen and finally shift into laughter as my memories of people, places, and an extraordinary diverse group of experiences come back to me. I have traveled extensively through out the world with friends or by myself but this particular group of uniquely precious people combined with the intent of pilgrimage kept me consciously honest and committed to my personal intent for a certain experience of the trip. In this moment I am immersed in the imagery of Eleusis as I finish the revisions for my defended dissertation, a place I was able to come to with the support of an extraordinarily funny and brilliant friend I met on this trip. Images from the trip continue to recombine and add up in my psyche offering deeper understanding of who I think I am. I am so envious that this next trip will be traveling to Ephesus, which I bumped into by chance while on a sailing trip years ago. That afternoon was one of the most profound experiences of my travels. I wish I would have really understood where I was. A gift of this trip is that kind of understanding.”
– Kathleen Wilson, M.A.
“I began my journey in Greece sitting on a balcony while breathing in the evenings silver sky of Athens. I heard the bell tower chime. The bell-tones began to tell the stories of this mythic place. I knew in that moment I would have walked alone barefoot to be here. And, gladly, I was not alone but with my fellow pilgrims. During the following days we formed lifetime bonds sharing deep, meaningful, and playful experiences in this sacred land. There was something life changing about seeing the mysteries found in every stone and artifact that weaved together the Greek’s sacred mythological life. For example, the Greeks always had a Temple, Stadium, and Theater placed close enough together to feed one’s Soul, Mind, and Spirit (Emotions). We had time to experience oratory in the theaters, prayer and ritual in the temples, and running in the stadium. We were able to continue our adventures through conversation in morning and evening seminars. Aftab’s seminars embraced the knowing that memory is itself mythic and the mythic imagination is what can move us towards personal and cultural transformation. The exploration of the soul’s mythology and imagination was always the heartbeat of our journey. For me, this journey was about rediscovering the images that were deep in my heart. My memories include two or three beautiful pressed red poppies in my journal that echo the classical wonders of Greece; words and questions that linger deep in my soul from the Oracle of Delphi; and seeing the world through the erotic poetry of the sunset in Santorini. Thank you Aftab and Melissa for bringing to life the enchanting history of Greece that is so necessary for us to remember.”
– Sandra Emma Shelley, Ph.D.
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