From Alpha to Omega
An Astrology Retreat in Greece
Cape Sounion – Island of Paros – Island of Crete
May 27 – June 9, 2024
with Arielle Guttman & Alexandra Karacostas
Join us . . .
. . . for a course on archetypes, symbolism, cycles of life. We are at the changing of an age revealing a new direction about our spiritual consciousness and what it means to be human. As the sands of time now shift and the slower moving planets end a major cycle and begin another, we are at the Alpha and Omega. Our backdrop for this meaningful discussion takes place in sites where a similar age change occurred—from pre-historic Minoan Crete to Classical Greece. We will reflect on these changes as we move through the currents of time.
Special program with Arielle Guttman
The sands of time are shifting . . . we will examine the significance of the current celestial configurations against the backdrop of larger planetary cycles.
There will be a special program with Arielle Guttman, author and creator of the Venus Star Point technique, while we are transitioning to a new star point.
Itinerary
May 27, Monday – Sounion – Aegeon Beach Hotel (4 nights)
Arrival. Day is free for relaxing, swimming and enjoying the beautiful ambience of the hotel and its surrounding area.
May 28, Tuesday – Sounion
At 12N, we gather for a welcome ceremony and introductions. In the afternoon, we meet our guide and visit the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. In the evening we enjoy dinner on the beach at a nearby local tavern where we can swim and relish Greek traditional food beneath the sacred site and sky.
Αλφα Ωμεγα
May 29, Wednesday – Sounion
Morning program will be on Neptune – the Alpha and the Omega. Afternoon free to explore the nearby area on our own. In the evening a trip to explore the scenic port town of Lavrio for dinner.
May 30, Thursday – Sounion
Morning program: Find your Venus Start Point – discover your heart center joy.
Early afternoon excursion to the ancient site of Vravrona, in honor of Artemis, associated with the Moon goddess. Evening on own for swimming and free time.
May 31, Friday – Paros – Paros Bay Resort (3 nights)
Today we journey to the island of Paros. Check-in to the Paros Bay Resort and the afternoon free to explore on our own.
Paros has natural beauty, beaches with crystal clear waters, white washed houses and unrivaled Byzantine footpaths connecting traditional villages and breathtaking landscapes. Located at the heart of the Cyclades, Paros is one of the best loved and popular holiday destinations in Greece.
June 1, Saturday – Paros
Morning Program - Pluto from Capricorn to Aquarius - Changing of the Guard.
Evening Program - Chiron In Aries – the USA Chiron Return. Another cyclical completion.
June 2, Sunday – Taos Meditation Center
An enriching experience at the Taos Center awaits us. Dance, meditaion, sharing of the heart and a luscious lunch, from the Center’s renowned kitchen. Return to Parikia mid-afternoon. Evening on our own to explore the traditional port of Parikia filled with shops and restuaruants with its maze of beautiful stone footpaths.
June 3, Monday – Paros to Chania, Crete – SanSal Boutique Hotel (4 nights)
Travel by sea from Paros to Heraklion, Crete, en route to Chania. Stop at the port of Rethymnon for dinner. After checking in at the hotel, the evening is on our own.
Crete
Crete is the largest island in Greece, and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountain landscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, becoming part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture.
Crete is, after all, a small universe teeming with beauties and treasures that you will probably need a lifetime to uncover!
Crete is renowned for its pin-up beaches, wild natural beauty, exquisite cuisine and thousands of years of culture and history.
As Crete’s most celebrated author, Nikos Kazantzakis (of Zorba the Greek fame), once wrote: “The mystery of Crete runs deep. Whoever sets foot on this island senses a mysterious force coursing warmly and beneficently through their veins, sensing their soul beginning to grow.”
Chania
Chania is a city on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. It’s known for its 14th-century Venetian harbor, narrow streets and waterfront restaurants. At the harbor entrance is a 16th-century lighthouse with Venetian, Egyptian and Ottoman influences. Opposite, the Nautical Museum has model ships, naval objects and photographs.
The former monastery of St. Francis houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
June 4, Tuesday – Chania
Today is the Venus Star Point at 14 Gemini! We will celebrate with a special ceremony to all participants.
Morning is free to walk around this beautiful old town.
Afternoon program is Venus Star Point Gemini talk and ceremony.
Dinner on own or together at Chrisostomos, one of Chania’s most celebrated traditional restaurants.
June 5, Wednesday – Chania
Afternoon/evening traditional cooking-dancing class.
June 6, Thursday – Chania
Morning program What’s Love Got to Do with It. Discussion on Venus and Neptune. The Five faces of Love. Evening free time.
Knossos
What makes Knossos so impressive to historians is that it was not simply a residence for a royal family – it was also a center of government, commerce, and culture. The palace was home to many workshops where craftsmen produced goods for trade with other parts of the Mediterranean. And thanks to its location near the coast, Knossos also served as an important port city. All this combined makes Knossos one of the most significant archaeological sites in Europe.
June 7, Friday – Chania to Knossos Palace, Heraklion – Olive Green Hotel or Lato Hotel (2 nights)
This morning we travel along the north coast to Heraklion and visit Knossos Palace where we meet our guide. Discussion about the Minoan Civilization and mythology prevalent during this period.
June 8, Saturday - Heraklion (2 nights)
Heraklion is Greece’s 5th largest city. It’s a bustling town, with a vibrant pedestrian downtown area near our hotel. The day is free to explore the old port and/or visit the remarkable Heraklion Archaeological Museum which is footsteps from our hotel.
By the end of the Age of Taurus, in which the civilization of Minoan Crete played a major role, bulls were worshipped and bull-leaping was the “Olympian” sport of the day. Many artistic renderings of the bull-leaping event have been recovered.
In the evening, we gather for a special farewell dinner and a celebration of our time together.
June 9, Sunday
Transfers to the airport, or port, for departures home, or to your next destination.
Pame (let’s go) Greece!
— Arielle & Alexandra
Tour Pricing
The tour is limited in number of participants, so register early!
Rates are per person based on Double Occupancy and are 5,400 Euro per person and single supplement is 1,000 Euro.
Please note that all rates are in Euro.
We require a 1,000 Euro per person non-refundable deposit to hold your space.
Early bird discount of 4,995 Euro extended to December 15, 2023 and 5,200 Euro through January 31, 2024.
Travel insurance is strongly advised!
Registration Applications and Waivers need to be signed and returned to us. We will send them to you as soon as you sign up.
Rates include:
Arrival transfer in Athens
Accommodations – All properties are 4 stars wherever possible
4 nights - Sounion
3 nights – Paros
4 nights – Chania, Crete
2 nights – Heraklion, Crete
Deluxe a/c motor coach in Sounion
Transportation to Paros and Crete
Deluxe a/c motor coach on Crete
Excellent English and qualified guides for: Cape Sounion, Knossos
Entrance fees to Sounion, Taos Center, Knossos
Daily breakfast
Seaside Dinner at Cape Sounion
Lunch at Taos, Paros
Dinner in Lavrio
Dinner Chania
Greek delights and mezes in Chania
Dinner in Heraklion
All road tolls & taxes
Tips for guides and drivers
And more…..
Rates do not include:
Travel Insurance – STRONGLY ADVISED
Any drinks during meals which are not included
Any personal expenses
Anything not clearly mentioned above as included
For assistance with inter-island travel before or after tour, or other travel needs, please contact our outstanding travel agent, Irene Komatseli at irene@travelsmart.gr
Throughout the tour there will be quiet moments in beautiful seaside settings, where as a group, we will gather for discussions and sharing about astro-mythology, dreams and insights we are experiencing on our journey. We hope you will join us!
Alexandra is a Greek-American currently based in northern California. She grew up in Greece, and continues to work and travel there frequently. She has traveled extensively throughout Greece over the decades and has lived in various areas of the country. Alexandra has been a professional astrologer since 1980’s. She is a consultant, teacher, writer and workshop facilitator serving an international clientele. With over 30 years in the travel industry, Alexandra now enjoys leading small, specialized tours to her beloved homeland, sharing its immense beauty, ancient sites and traditional culture. Visit her website: WisdomAstrology.com
Arielle has been coming to Greece since the 1970s. In the 1990s, she began leading or co-leading tours there for small groups and in 1996 she resided in a small village of Greece, among people whose roots stretched back over a thousand years. There, she learned much about modern-day Greek life. As the co-author of Mythic Astrology and Mythic Astrology Applied, she has visited almost all of the sacred sites devoted to the planet-asteroid archetypes of Greek myth. Besides her extensive knowledge of Greek Mythology and her study and writings about the ancient archeological sites, Arielle is a lover of modern Greek culture, art, food, architecture and style. Since 1974 when Arielle entered the field of astrology, she has penned five books on the subject. Her newest work involves Venus. Both Venus Star Rising (print edition) and the abridged version, The Venus Star Point® (ebook) takes us from Venus in the Sky to our Heart Connection on Earth, by identifying, utilizing and living out our Venus Star Point. Contact her at: arielle@SophiaVenus.com. Visit her websites: SophiaVenus.com
Contact Us for a Registration Application
Alexandra Karacostas
(530) 520-9992
alexandrakaracostas@yahoo.com
Arielle Gutman
arielle@sophiavenus.com
