30th June – 1st July 2026 Cumbria

There is no consensus in modern times of what stone circles and other ancient features actually represented to our ancestors. Many, like me, believe they were built for religious, spiritual and ceremonial purposes. The networks of sacred sites developed thousands of years ago are the result of great communal effort and a shared sense of purpose; requiring great wisdom and understanding for their positioning in the landscapes where the natural forces of the earth are intense and highly concentrated. Clearly they were of great significance to those who created them and thankfully many still survive offering us the opportunity to experience and absorb their mystical power.

The ancient Geomancers utilised invisible energy currents both above and below the Earth’s surface to align sacred sites to each other, as well as being in alignment with the planets, the stars and the seasons. Stone circles are considered by some to be both energy accumulators and energy dispensers with healing capacities.

This year our Dancing Pilgrimage in Sacred Cumbria will take us to Castlerigg Stone Circle (pictured above); Gamelands Stone Circle; Long Meg and Her Daughters; Little Meg Stone Circle: Gunnerkeld Stone Circle; Mayburgh Henge; King Arthur’s Table and Moor Divock; Church of St Andrew, Dacre; Castle How; St Bega’s Chapel on the banks of Bassenthwaite Lake as well as the nearby Druidic Oak Grove with its small stone circle.

Dancing and attuning together at such awe inspiring sacred places is an important ongoing concentration and one of the most important aspects of my work. The intention has always been that with a sense of love, reverence and humility, we may offer our heart-felt dancing and singing to help restore the sense of peace, harmony, healing and balance at these numinous places. Without doubt, the energies we can tune into at these sites as well as the energies we create together as we sing and dance, resonate much further into the space beyond our circles; more than we may fully appreciate.

It is quite likely that the ancients also danced and sang together in their ceremonial practices at their sacred sites. If so we are in a real sense, dancing in the footsteps of our ancestors and we can even tap into the sacred sense embodied by them.

During the many years I have been leading dancing pilgrimages both in Dorset and Cumbria we have always been welcomed warmly by the sites. It’s clear they respond extremely well to our presence and our practices.

We will be a relatively small group of dancers and places are limited.

For those who are looking for accommodation we will be spending the three days north of Kendal from Orton to Penrith and then west to Keswick. The Penrith area could be a good place to stay, with easy access to the M6 and the A66. Likewise it would also be good to stay in the Keswick area or even Kendal.

We will gather together for an orientation session on Zoom a few days before the start of the pilgrimage.

Times: Our pilgrimage will be three full days from Monday 1st June to Wednesday 1st July inclusive. Arriving at sites each day at 9.45am to begin our sessions at 10am. Ending each day around 5pm.

Price: The price for participating in the pilgrimage will be £165.

Bookings and Further Details: Contact Philip. Tel. 07799 603928
or Email: philipodonohoe@me.com