Pilgrimage to the Shaktiyoginis of Nepal
with Yana Womack, Ph.D.

a 12 day tour, October 7th through October 18th, 2010
$1,995 (not including airfare)

Discover Durga and Tara, the ‘crossing over’ goddesses. Learn about dakinis or 'skydancers,' Saraswati, Kali and Lakshmi. Meet them in their benevolent and fierce forms as they are worshipped in nature and at numerous shrines and temples throughout the Kathmandu Valley. We will attend Dashain or the Durga Puja, meet with yoginis, shamanic healers, learn sacred dance, sound healing, visit medieval villages, explore the making of exquisite handicrafts and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Himalayas. Overall, the focus of this pilgrimage is to provide time and support for your personal transformational journey in an atmosphere surrounded by sacred imagery.

Tour Director: Yana Womack, Ph.D. received her doctorate degree from California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco where she concentrated on Eastern religious studies, Consciousness studies and healing methods. She holds a Master's degree in Women's Spirituality and a B.A. in Archaeomythology. Yana has been offering spiritual pilgrimages to Nepal since 1998. Along with leading tours, Yana maintains a private practice in the East Bay as a Medical Hypnotherapist and Counselor. www.yanawomack.byregion.net .

She is also the author of Guardians of the Gate: An Investigation of Numinous Presence, 'Visions of the Divine,' in Dreams (Lambert Academic Publishers, 2009). See below.

My passion for Nepal, particularly Kathmandu Valley, began in 1996 when I traveled to Nepal and India on fieldwork for my Master's thesis on Hindu female deities. The sights, sounds, flavors, customs and people left an indelible imprint on my psyche. The breadth of the vast cultural differences evident in the East and West was riveting! Since then, I have traveled to the East frequently bringing tour groups, offering unique itineraries, introducing many of the participants to their first-time journeys to Asia.

My pilgrimage tours are designed for those curious about the spiritual and ritualistic practices, art, architecture and folklore of Nepal, as well as for participants seeking to embark on a spiritual path and for those with intentions of deepening their practices. My contacts include: holy women and men (sadhus and sadhvis), Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, village shamans, living manifestations of the goddess (including Kusali Devi of Kathmandu and the Kumari of Bhaktapur), a world-renowned master dancer and teacher of traditional Newari dance, a mster sound healer, Ayurvedic body workers, art gallery curators of the art and crafts of Kathmandu Valley, university professors and tour operators who offer exciting excursions for those who want to extend their stay.

It gives me the greatest pleasure to share with participants this amazing, exotic culture and beautiful Himalayan mountainous atmosophere. One cannot help but feel transported. Many comment they feel like they are walking in a numinous, mythic dream-like realm. I hope you will join us on this very special Pilgrimage to the Shaktiyoginis of Nepal this fall, a journey of a lifetime!

$1,995 (based on double occupancy, not including airfare)

Tour includes:

• Deluxe accommodations. Our secluded hotel, designed by a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright, is like no other . . . beautiful grounds and gardens, an art gallery, a theater where Nepali dance performances are offered, rooftop restaurants overlooking Swayambunath, considered the most holy locale in all of Kathmandu Valley, a large dining room, a library and massage room (Ayurvedic massage treatments available).

• Full breakfasts (large sumptuous buffet, all you can eat).

• All teachings and lectures by tour leader and on-site guides and teachers.

• Entrance fees to sites.

• Ground transportation.

• Farewell feast.

$500 deposit holds your space. For more information and registration form, please contact: Yana (510) 652-3697, yanaw@comcast.net.

For more information on complete itinerary and registration information, email:

yanaw@comcast.net or call 510 809-6575.

Next information / slideshow presentation scheduled for March 7th from 11 a.m. to noon in Emeryville. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

My first visit to Nepal, guided by Yana Womack, was a journey of both heart and soul. Yana's knowledge of Kathmandu and the Sacred Feminine provided a special foundation for exploration and inquiry of Nepal as well as for my own spiritual unfolding. I greatly appreciated Yana's contagious passion for this magical land and her people.
Leslene de la Madre

I've been on a number of tours in my life, but none have compared to my tour of Nepal as designed and led by Yana. Her amazing knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the complex spiritual and cultural dimensions of the Kathmandu Valley--as well as her deep and respectful friendships with local living Goddesses, shamans, scholars, and artists--made this one of the best educational investments I've ever made. Some day, I hope to return!
Kalli Rose Halvorson

It was an awe-inspiring trip. Every moment was filled with rapture and every experience led to the sacred hub of the heart. The brilliant sights and tantalizing smells filled the senses with unebbing stimulation. The colors and music, the dance and devotion were moments crystallized in the temple of the heart. It was more than a trip; it was an archaeological dig into the cave of one's soul. Should it be offered again, do not miss it. It is an experience of a lifetime and more!
Seva

Thank you for all the effort and hard work that you put into this trip. This has been an incredible experience.
Rashida

Thank you so very much for trusting your calling, your intuition bringing us all here on this very important journey that will no doubt change all of our lives.
Vaschelle Andre

Thank you for introducing me to the beauty and wonder of Nepal and for heightening my awareness of my goddess self.
Michelle

This has been an absolutely divine experience. Thank you so much for initiating and organizing our journey.
Kimberly

Guardians of the Gate: An Investigation of Numinous Presence, 'Visions of the Divine,' in Dreams (Lambert Academic Publishers, 2009).

Experiences of the numinous 'visions of the divine' in dreams offer glimpses into a vast well of teachings available to us beyond the boundaries of our waking consciousness. In this investigation, numena are understood as harbingers that awaken deep ways of knowing and perceiving; they enliven and inspire appreciation for the sublime wonders and textures of life. This work represents one woman's account of her dreams drawn from over ten years of journal entries. The numena for discussion include: the "Spirit of Sound," the "Mother," and the "Skywoman." These mythologems are examined through the portals of Clarity dreams, Personal Mythology dreams and Initiation dreams. The author's objective is not to present an interpretation of the dreams but to examine the mytho- religious symbolic content and mystical qualities of the dream experience in order to understand them as guiding forces for furthering spiritual development and human potential. This book is a rare account of primary research on this topic and will appeal to those interested in dreamwork, spirituality, women's studies, psychology, shamanism and consciousness studies.