Knights of Yore

Arrive at London International Airport where you will be greeted and transferred to our luxury accommodations in the heart of the city.

After settling into your room, join your fellow pilgrims in the evening for a Meet and Greet dinner — an opportunity to connect with kindred seekers before we cross the threshold together.

Our pilgrimage begins at Temple Church — the ancient headquarters of the Knights Templar in England.

Built in the 12th century, Temple Church features the distinctive round nave modeled after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Here, the famous stone effigies of nine knights lie in eternal vigil — not merely historical monuments, but guardians of inner mysteries, representing knights who conquered the lower self.

Tim will illuminate the church as a diagram of the initiate's spiritual journey: from profane to sacred, from darkness to light.

In the afternoon, we descend beneath modern London to the London Mithraeum — the reconstructed Roman temple to Mithras discovered in 1954. Here, centuries before the Templars, Roman soldiers practiced mysteries that would echo through Western esoteric tradition.

Tim will explore: • The Tauroctony (bull-slaying scene) as a glyph of sacrifice and transmutation • Connections between Mithraic grades and Templar initiation • Solar and lunar polarity — the conquest of ego as spiritual technology

Evening Lecture by Timothy Hogan — Topics may include: • 'The Spiritual Architecture of the Temple' • 'The Grail Code: Universal Truths in Initiatic Tradition' • 'The Inner Order: From Warrior to Mystic'

This morning we visit Freemasons' Hall — the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England and one of the finest Art Deco buildings in London.

The Grand Temple within is a masterwork of Masonic symbolism made manifest in stone, wood, and glass. Tim will provide an overview of operative and speculative Masonry, the spiritual symbolism encoded in the Square, Compass, Plumb, and Level, and the documented connections between Templar lineage and Scottish Rite Freemasonry.

In the afternoon, we journey to the Tower of London — fortress, palace, and prison. For the Templars, this site holds particular significance: it was here that William de la More, the last Grand Master of the English Templars, was held during the Order's suppression in the early 14th century.

Tim will explore: • The imprisonment of the English Templars and what became of their knowledge • The Tower as a glyph of the Dark Night of the Soul — the necessary descent before illumination • Parallels to the Tarot's Tower card: destruction as liberation

Today we travel north to one of England's most enigmatic sacred sites: Royston Cave.

Discovered accidentally in 1742, this artificial cave is carved with mysterious medieval imagery that has puzzled historians for centuries. The walls display an extraordinary collection of carvings: the Holy Family, St. Catherine, crucifixion scenes, swords, hearts, and symbols of the sacred feminine.

Many researchers believe Royston Cave served as a secret Templar chapel — a place of hidden worship and initiation after the Order's official suppression. The very act of descending into this underground chamber mirrors the initiatic journey: the inward descent that precedes spiritual rebirth.

Tim will decode the symbolism of the carvings, revealing layers of meaning invisible to the casual observer.

Optional: Templar Initiation Ceremony

For those who feel called, we will gather at a Masonic Hall for a Templar-style initiatory ritual.

This ceremony is optional and intended for qualified seekers who wish to formally cross the threshold. Elements include: • Use of symbolic regalia and sacred geometry • Emphasis on service, humility, light, and duty • Formal entry into the chain of transmission

Note: This ceremony is by invitation and requires prior discussion with Timothy Hogan.

This morning we board a first-class train from London to Edinburgh — a scenic four-hour journey through the English countryside and into the Scottish Lowlands.

Upon arrival, we transfer to our luxury hotel and settle into our Scottish accommodations.

In the late afternoon, we embark on a walking tour of Edinburgh's Old Town — one of Europe's most atmospheric historic districts. The Royal Mile stretches from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, lined with medieval closes (alleyways), ancient kirks, and buildings that have witnessed five centuries of Scottish history.

Edinburgh has long been a center of Masonic and esoteric activity. The city's lodges preserved traditions during times of persecution, and the Royal Order of Scotland — one of the most prestigious Masonic bodies — maintains its headquarters here.

Evening Discussion: 'Templar Light in Exile: Preservation of the Mystery Tradition in Scotland'

Tim will explore how Scotland became a sanctuary for Templar knowledge after the Order's suppression, and how that wisdom was encoded and preserved through the centuries.

Today we visit the crown jewel of Scotland's sacred sites: Rosslyn Chapel.

Built in the 15th century by William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, Rosslyn Chapel is perhaps the most densely symbolic building in the world. Every surface is covered with intricate carvings: Green Men, angels, Biblical scenes, and mysterious imagery that has fueled centuries of speculation about Templar treasure, the Holy Grail, and encoded esoteric knowledge.

Exclusive Lecture by Timothy Hogan: 'The Secret Ornaments of Rosslyn Chapel'

Drawing on decades of research and initiatic understanding, Tim will reveal what the carvings actually mean — moving beyond popular theories to illuminate the genuine esoteric tradition encoded in stone by master craftsmen who understood the mysteries.

Before visiting the Chapel, we walk through Rosslyn Glen to Wallace's Cave — the legendary hiding place of William Wallace and a powerful site of natural beauty. The cave represents the archetypal retreat of the hero, and the glen itself contains sacred springs and ancient carved stones.

Time will be given for meditation in silence among the trees and water — grounding ourselves in nature before approaching the Chapel.

Our final full day begins at Edinburgh Castle — the ancient fortress that dominates the city from its volcanic rock.

For centuries, this has been the seat of Scottish royal power. We will explore its history and discuss the mythic significance of the Stone of Destiny (Stone of Scone) — the ancient coronation stone upon which Scottish and later British monarchs were crowned.

Next, we visit the Grand Lodge of Scotland — headquarters of Scottish Freemasonry since 1736. Scotland holds a unique place in Masonic history: the oldest documented Masonic lodge in the world (Lodge of Edinburgh, Mary's Chapel No. 1) has met continuously since at least 1599.

Tim will discuss: • The Royal Order of Scotland and its connection to Templar traditions • The concept of Heredom in Scottish Masonic philosophy • Spiritual geometry and the Scottish contribution to the Craft

In the afternoon, those who wish may take an optional walk through Dean Village — a picturesque medieval village hidden in a gorge of the Water of Leith, just minutes from the city center. The river has long been associated with memory, insight, and subtle force. Observe natural symbols in stone, bridge, and flow.

Farewell Dinner at The Witchery

We conclude our pilgrimage with a memorable final dinner at The Witchery by the Castle — one of Edinburgh's most atmospheric restaurants, located at the gates of Edinburgh Castle. Named for the hundreds accused of witchcraft who were burned nearby in the 16th and 17th centuries, The Witchery offers Gothic grandeur, candlelit dining, and Scottish cuisine.

A fitting conclusion to our journey across the threshold.

After breakfast, transfer to Edinburgh Airport for your return flight home.

You leave not merely as a traveler who has visited historic sites, but as a pilgrim who has walked the path — who has stood where the Templars stood, descended into caves of initiation, and received teachings from a living guardian of the tradition.

The journey continues within.

Safe travels, and may the light guide your way.