Priestess. Apostle. Initiate.
Long before she was named "apostle to the apostles," tradition holds that Mary Magdalene carried the wisdom of the older Mystery Schools — the anointing rites of Egypt, the temple lineage of Isis, and the sacred marriage teachings later folded into esoteric Christianity. Her alabaster jar, her exile by sea, her cave of retreat: each is read by mystics as a station in an initiatory journey, not merely a legend of the past.
This retreat follows that thread through the physical landscape she is said to have touched — sea caves, black madonnas, mineral springs, and mountain sanctuaries — reading each site through the lens of the sacred feminine and the Isis–Osiris mysteries that many believe traveled with her from Egypt into the south of France.
More Than a Tour of Sacred Sites
This is a living initiation, not a sightseeing itinerary. At each place we pause to listen, receive, and practice, with teachings, sound, and energy work held directly on the land where Mary's story unfolded.
Live Channeled Teachings on the Land
Katie brings through live channeled teachings at the sites themselves, helping you connect with Mary Magdalene and follow her journey from the Mystery Schools of Egypt to the shores and caves of France.
Sound Healing
Immersive sound healing held at the sites along the path, letting vibration settle the body, open the heart, and carry you deeper into each place.
Energy Healing
Energy healing woven through the journey, drawing on Katie's 12th Dimensional Healingâ„¢ modality to clear, restore, and help you integrate what you receive along the way.
Your Guides
At each sacred site, we hold ceremony together directly on the land. Three teaching lineages weave through every circle: ancient Egyptian wisdom, channeled transmissions from the Divine Feminine, and shamanic clearings rooted in the Andean Mystic tradition — held by the three of us who will walk this path with you.
Katie Sutton
A best-selling author, intuitive channel, vibrational healer, and energy medicine teacher, Katie is the founder of Zen Within Academy and the New Earth Now School. She and Josh lead retreats around the world sharing her healing modality, 12th Dimensional Healingâ„¢. On this journey she brings through channeled teachings from the Divine Feminine collective.
zenwithinacademy.com
Josh Vogt
A creative design professional, shamanic practitioner, DJ, and musician, Josh is trained in the traditional healing practices of the Andean Q'eros of Peru. His shamanic work offers a grounding divine masculine container to release what no longer serves us. On this journey he holds the sacred masculine and leads the shamanic clearings.
zenwithinacademy.com/ecstatic-dance
Ragheb Abushahba
An internationally recognized independent Egyptologist, RA connects you with the wisdom of Ancient Egypt, Cosmology, and Self-Knowledge. After a 20-year career in engineering and business consulting, he applies his scientific and business knowledge to sustainable projects that support conscious living. Since 2004 he has led groups on adventurous journeys, guiding an internal journey of self-realization during an external journey around the globe.
Self-Voyage.comThe Path We Walk
Aix-en-Provence
We meet at Marseille airport and travel together to our boutique hotel in Aix-en-Provence. After time to settle in and a gentle orientation walk through the old town, we gather for a welcome dinner and set our intentions for the journey ahead.
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
Tradition holds this shore is where Mary Magdalene landed by boat after fleeing the Holy Land. Her companion Sarah — the Black Madonna of the crypt — carries echoes of Isis and Kali alike: the dark goddess who receives the exile and makes a new land sacred.
Sainte-Baume & the Egg Cave
The cave where Mary Magdalene is said to have spent her years in silence. We climb the Chemin des Rois through the Sacred Forest to the Cave Church, then higher still to La Grotte aux Œufs — the Egg Cave — an initiatory chamber of gestation and rebirth.
Saint-Maximin Basilica
A 4th-century crypt holds the gold reliquary said to contain her skull. We follow with the springs of Cotignac and the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Grâces — waters and mountain shrines tied to older traditions of the divine feminine.
Cité de Carcassonne
Our transfer day threads Narbonne's ancient canal and the walled citadel of Carcassonne on the way into the Razès valley — the threshold into Cathar and esoteric France.
Rennes-le-Château
A village encoded in mystery, its Church of Saint Mary Magdalene shaped by 19th-century priest Bérenger Saunière. Nearby: the carved Isis throne and sacred waters said to run beneath the Razès.
Montségur
The last stronghold of the Cathars, martyred in 1244 for a gnosis some trace back through Mary Magdalene's own lineage of hidden teaching. We climb to the summit for silence at the Field of the Burned.
Rennes-les-Bains & Bugarach
Warm mineral springs and the carved stone Fauteuil du Diable — its throne-like form linked by some to Isis worship. We close beneath Bugarach mountain, known for its strange geological inversion, before our farewell circle.
Abbaye de Fontfroide
We leave Carcassonne after breakfast and stop at the Cistercian Abbaye de Fontfroide, a quiet place to let the journey settle. We then continue to Marseille airport in time for flights home.
From Arrival to Integration
Every site is held with time for silence, ceremony, and personal prayer — not a tour, but a passage through the descent and the return.
The Journey at a Glance
Room Options & Investment
Four nights in a 4–5 star boutique hotel in Aix-en-Provence, four nights in a 4–5 star boutique hotel inside the walls of Carcassonne — a short walk from the lit medieval Cité each evening.
What's Included
Not Included
Voices From the Path
A truly awakening and amazing retreat! A heart and soul opening experience in a safe, non-judgmental, loving and supportive environment. Be prepared to experience a shift in your awareness and several eureka moments! Katie Sutton is a true loving healer. If you are thinking of doing this retreat, it means you are ready for it, so go for it!
I am just so grateful to have found this retreat. I feel the changes happening in me and feel more accepting of myself and actually have hope for the future. I really believe this is the opening I needed to find my real self again.
Traveling with Katie is a profoundly nourishing adventure for your soul; a pathway back to your authentic self. She is deeply connected to the spirit realm, Mother Gaia, and all the elements of the natural world. These connections serve as her personal GPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airport do we fly into, and when?
Fly into Marseille Provence Airport (MRS). Most guests leave the US on the overnight flight on Sunday, May 16 and land on Monday, May 17. We pick the group up at the airport or the Marseille train station, with pickup timed to everyone's landing times, and drive together to Aix-en-Provence. On Tuesday, May 25 we arrive back at Marseille airport around 2:30 PM, so please book a flight home that departs after about 5:30 PM.
Will this be physically strenuous?
The pace is gentle, with time to rest, but this is a walking pilgrimage and a few days include uphill paths on uneven ground. The two biggest are the Sainte-Baume ridge hike to the Egg Cave and the climb to Montségur castle. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Most ages and fitness levels do well, but if you have any mobility concerns, please email us before you book so we can talk it through.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included daily at both hotels. Lunches and dinners are paid by each traveler: lunches at local French cafés near each site and dinners at local restaurants, typically $25–$65 per person per meal. We will help with restaurant suggestions and reservations.
How do we get around?
All ground transportation during the retreat is included. We travel together in private vans between the hotels and the sacred sites, so there is no need to rent a car.
What is the cancellation policy?
A $700 non-refundable deposit secures your spot. It is not refundable unless Zen Within Academy cancels the retreat. Full payment is due 45 days before the retreat starts (April 2, 2027). You may cancel up to 60 days before the retreat for a refund of your payment minus the $700 deposit (March 18, 2027 is the last day). Cancellations made less than 60 days before the retreat are charged the full amount. There are no refunds or discounts for arriving late, leaving early, flight cancellations, travel delays, or illness. We recommend travel insurance to protect your trip.
Can I contact someone if I have more questions?
Absolutely. Email us at calli@zenwithinacademy.com and we will reply within 48 hours.
Twelve travelers. One initiation.
This journey is held intimately, with space for up to twelve. Reserve your place to walk the path of Mary Magdalene through the landscapes that carry her memory.
RESERVE YOUR PLACEQuestions? Email us at calli@zenwithinacademy.com