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Be Inspired

Our sacred travel consultations are customised to meet your needs. This might include facilitating insights into why you are called to travel, the optimal destinations for you at this time or how to prepare for your journey. We might suggest using tools like astrocartography and past life regression.There is a wealth of information about sacred travel and we will explore how to navigate this during your consult. For now, we want to wet your appetite with images and stories of sacred places we have been inspired by or feel called to visit.To get you started, we have mapped our travels, compiled our ’top’ sacred destinations, posted some our favourite photos, and linked to some of our writing shaped by pilgrimage. You might also like to check out Paul’s travel blog.You may wish to make a note of any thoughts and feelings that come up for you as you absorb this information.

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The Art of Pilgrimage

Released in 1988, Phil Cousineau’s beautiful book is for the traveller who longs for something more than diversion and escape, for those searching for a path with heart - a transformative journey to a sacred centre. The book has chapters on the longing, the call, departure, the pilgrim’s way, the labyrinth, arrival, bringing back the boon.Click on the book cover for the audiobook read by Phil Cousineau.

Holy Places - How Pilgrimage Changed the World

Kathryn Hurlock’s scholarly but readable book, first published in 2025, follows the trail of pilgrimage through nineteen sacred sites revealing the many ways in which this ancient practice has influenced our relgions and our world.Harlock discusses pilgrimage to Tai Shan (China), The Ganges (India), Delphi (Greece), Jerusalem (Palestine), Mecca (Saudi Arabia), Rome (Italy), Istanbul (Turkey), Iona (Scotland), Karbala (Iraq), Chichen Itza (Mexico), Muxima (Angola), Bear Butte (USA), Amritsar (India), Lourdes (France), Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (France), Ratana Pa (New Zealand), Buenos Aries (Argentina), Shikoku (Japan) and Santiago de Compostela (Spain).Click on the book cover to watch an interview with Kathryn Hurlock on “The Psychology of Pilgrimage” Youtube channel.

The Camino - A Journey of the Spirit

Shirley MacLaine’s narrative of her pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in 1994, at the age of 60, chronicles a quest for spiritual understanding.In the introduction MacLaine states “It is said that the ‘Camino’ lies directly under the Milky Way and follows ley lines that reflect the energy from those star systems above it… The Camino has been traversed for thousands of years by saints, sinners, generals, misfits, kings, and queens. It is done with the intent to find one’s deepest spiritual meaning, and resolutions regarding conflicts in Self… along the Camino, I felt I was travelling backward in time to a place that began the experiences that made me and the human race what we have become today”.To view Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Shirley about her camino experience, click on the book cover.

Wisdom from Franciscan Italy - The Primacy of Love

This is the story of a group of secular Franciscans on pilgrimage in Franciscan Italy, lead by the hermit Peter Calvay. It shows how the essence of Christian Spirituality is restored by St Francis and details the implications of the revelation of the Primacy of Love shortly before his death.The author, David Torkington, specialises in Mystical Theology and Franciscan Spirituality. He has sold over 200,000 books.

The Miracles of Mary - Everyday encounters of beauty and grace

Mary has inspired countless generations with her miracles. Often she appears in times of war and devastation, bringing a message of peace and reconciliation. Many of those Mary has touched had no previous connection with her, but on experiencing her presence their lives changed forever.In this book, Bridget Curran shares over 30 miracles of Mary from 20 countries, including the now famous pilgrimage sites of Lourdes, Fatima, Montserrat, Guadalupe, Walsingham, Akita and Banneux.

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Holding a relic of St Ignatius of Loyola in the Chapel of the Conversion in the Sanctuary of St Ignatius, Loyola, Spain.

Paul McCarthy’s Story

the path to 8 pilgrims

“Although I had been travelling the world for decades, I never considered myself a pilgrim or thought about undertaking a pilgrimage until I met Saint Ignatius of Loyola.I was visiting a centre dedicated to St Ignatius to acquire a crystal light healing apparatus in 2008. But when I was asked why I was there, I spontaneously said that I wanted to clean up my relationship with God and the Roman Catholic Church. To say I was stunned by the words coming out of my mouth is an understatement, but the divine response to this prayer was even more surprising.I developed an irresistible urge to learn about Spiritism, the good spirits and, in particular, the life of St Ignatius.In Ignatius’ autobiography, which is written in the third person, he refers to himself as “the pilgrim”. This book, combined with my diligent study of Spiritism and the lives of the saints, set me on a new path of learning about pilgrimage, relics and miracles. And this motivated me to be a better human, to advance my soul through mediumship and compassionate service to others.Then I had a recurring dream about going on pilgrimage to Montserrat and other places connected to St Ignatius. Out of the blue, I received an invitation to do just that, so I acted on this call and joined 5 friends on a pilgrimage to Spain, Italy, Palestine and India in 2011.Then I got the bug. For several years I dedicated my holidays to visiting sacred sites around the world, including the shrines of many saints. 2015 was the biggest year for me - I pilgrimaged to 63 holy sites in 11 countries.I also visited sacred sites around the world and have worked with the good spirits to release dense energies in Indonesia, Egypt, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, USA, Canada, Eastern Europe and Japan.I invited St Ignatius to be my companion on pilgrimage and I found many places dedicated to him. I travelled from Loyola, Spain - where Ignatius was born and had his conversion experience - to the rooms in Rome from which he directed the Society of Jesus and in which he died. And to many other places from his life, including Barcelona, Salamanca, Montserrat, Manresa, Paris, Venice and even Jerusalem.As I pilgrimaged, my connection with Ignatius and with several other saints became stronger. On these sacred journeys I was gifted with awesome, faith-building experiences at exactly the right times and places.I have visited some shrines many times. Each shrine, like each saint, is different. And each visit to a shrine develops and deepens one’s connection to the saint who is honoured there. Of course, some experiences are life changing. I will never forget the instant recognition of the face of St Vincent de Paul (his life-like relic is in a glass coffin above the high altar in a church in Paris) or the opportunity to do the reading during a mass in the chapel where St Ignatius had his conversion experience. I wish everyone could see the incorrupt body of St Francis Xavier in Goa, India, St Juan Diego’s tilma (the cloak made of agave fibre on which the miraculous image of Mary is imprinted) in the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe outside Mexico City and the original image of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania.The shrines dedicated to Mary are very special and miracles are common there. I have been to shrines in Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugorje, Knock, Walsingham, Montserrat, Loretto, Ephesus, Banneux, Turin and numerous other places. Apart from the Basilica of NS Guadalupe, my favourite Marian site is in Poland. The Pauline Monastery of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa is home to the famous icon of the Black Madonna. Unlike other Marian sites, there is little commerce in Jasna Gora and the focus is entirely upon prayer. Without commerce, the energy of this site is intense.Assisi is a place I am often called to and it has become my second “spiritual” home. For me, it is the perfect combination of holy and historical places, extraordinary natural beauty, art and food. I have pilgrimaged to Assisi in every season and had several life-changing mystical experiences in this little town. I’ve also connected with the Franciscan sites in nearby towns and, of course, with Cascia.Many people enjoyed hearing of my experiences and told me they were keen to pilgrimage themselves. The next step was to write about travelling with my favourite saints, starting with St Ignatius, St Francis of Assisi and St Francisco Xavier.I never imagined my life would go in this direction. Learning about medieval saints, pilgrimaging to their shrines and praying for their help has transformed my life. This work, combined with my meditation practice, has strengthened my faith, mediumship and intuition. I have seen a lot of the world in a relatively short period of time and transmuted karma with several places. I have also transformed past life issues related to pilgrimage, relics and the church. For me, it has been a mission.Pilgrimage is a calling - it is not required for spiritual advancement and there is no guarantee that a person will benefit from it. Indeed, one would most likely progress more by devout prayer at home, than half-hearted pilgrimage to the centre of Christendom or Mecca. For those who cannot pilgrimage, there are other options.As in medieval times, towns and businesses may develop an economic dependency on pilgrims and, at worst, this can give rise to very high prices and even fraud. As a sign of our absolute faith and commitment to the transformational power of pilgrimage for advanced souls, we do not profit from our sacred journeys.As modern mystics, it is incumbent upon us to exercise deep discernment as we travel to the world’s holy places. By remaining open and praying for assistance, we can release the past and deeply transform ourselves.”

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