This spring, Unity will host a 12-day trip to an intriguing, inspiring and historical destination–Egypt.
For centuries, people have tapped Egypt's ancient wisdom and sacred sites to further their personal and spiritual growth. Unity in Egypt: Secrets of the Ancient World, March 18–29, 2011, will provide participants with an opportunity to embark on an inspiring and educational journey through the ancient history, culture and places of this unique country.
Trip Venues Will Include:
- Memphis, the first capital of Egypt. Visit the recumbent statue of Ramses II and the 80-ton alabaster Sphinx.
- The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. See more than 120,000 artifacts and explore the gold and treasures of King Tutankhamen.
- An overnight, five-star Nile River cruise. Visit the Nubian town of Kom Ombo and tour the ancient temple of two Gods: Haroeris and Sobek.
- Karnak Temples. See the largest religious complex in the world.
- The Necropolis of Ancient Thebes. Visit the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Egypt's famous female Pharaoh), and the Colossi of Memnon.
- Alexandria—the “Pearl of the Mediterranean.” Experience the second most populous city in Egypt and the largest port in the world.
- A sleeper train from Cairo. Visit Aswan, the High Dam and granite quarries where the Unfinished Obelisk has rested for thousands of years.
- The Ben Ezra Synagogue. Observe a unique relic of Cairo's ancient Jewish community and where tradition says the Pharaoh's daughter found the baby Moses in the bulrushes.
Spiritual Symbolism
Unity's co-founder Charles Fillmore was captivated by the ancient Egyptian symbol of a winged globe and used it as Unity's emblem for many years. He is quoted in The Story of Unity by James Dillet Freeman as saying, “… as a religious symbol, [it] had its earliest use in Egypt, but it is found in various forms in the religions of other races. It represents the relation existing between Spirit, soul and body. … The winged globe is also a symbol of the earth and its soul. … When the people of the earth lift up their thoughts to God … then the planet takes wings into a higher radiation of universal life. ...”
Charlotte Shelton, president and CEO of Unity, welcomes the adventure. "I have long been fascinated with the Unity wings, a symbol frequently found in Unity churches and in our architecture at Unity Village,” she says. “On this spiritual pilgrimage to Egypt, I will have an opportunity to explore the origins of our wings, as well as the symbology of the pyramids along with many, many other historical and spiritual wonders. I hope many others will join us on this adventure of a lifetime."
Support for the Unity Movement
Proceeds from this trip will help support the work of Unity Institute®, Unity's premier graduate institution.
The Institute offers a variety of educational opportunities from continuing education classes open to the public to a Master of Divinity degree. Unity Institute's extensive metaphysical Library and Archives serve as the primary source of historical materials relating to the Unity movement, including a vast collection of rare early New Thought materials.
“I have always been intrigued by the strong ties between Unity teachings and the wisdom of ancient Egypt,” says Ted Collins, Unity Institute chief academic officer and dean. “It is clear that our founders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, were strongly influenced by Egyptian symbols and beliefs.”
This trip is being offered in collaboration with Regent Travel and Tours, which has worked with Unity churches for over a decade, leading tours to destinations such as China, India, Greece, Peru and Israel.
The first 20 people to register for Unity in Egypt will receive a special thank you offer, which includes free tickets to a light show featuring the Sphinx, that statue of Ramses II, and the pyramids of Memphis; and a complimentary dinner following the show.
