Wisdom of the
English
Mystics
An SDI Pilgrimage
May 27 - June 2, 2026
The spiritual history of England is filled with several highly esteemed mystics like Evelyn Underhill, C.S. Lewis, and Julian of Norwich, among many others. In this pilgrimage, distinguished spiritual director and renowned scholar of the English mystics Carl McColman will lead us in an exploration of their perennial wisdom through the lens of spiritual direction and companionship, which is woven into the tradition of the English mystics.
We will travel to Norwich, visiting Julian of Norwich’s cell, the Julian Church, and the atmosphere in which she lived—becoming steeped in its mystical ambience. We will also spend two days in Pleshey, in the county of Essex, home to perhaps the most important English mystic of the twentieth century, the legendary Evelyn Underhill. Oxford will allow us to explore the mystical import of C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, among others. There, we will also delight in the streets of the city, home to an almost 1000-year-old, and highly storied, university. And as no trip to England can exclude London, we will peruse the British Library to study the works of William Blake, along with visits to St. Paul’s Cathedral, and a dip into Roman pagan spirituality, particularly, the 1700-year-old Mithraeum in London.
Anybody who is interested in the work of spiritual companionship, whether as a spiritual director, spiritual guide, or as someone who receives this ministry from another, will find this experience deeply spiritually nurturing. We will be forming a small community as we go, enjoying the culture, history, and natural beauty of England, and its many spiritual treasures.
London
Visit the Tate Museum to study the works of William Blake, along with the British Library, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Roman-era, 1700-year-old Mithraeum, and more to come.
Oxford
Delight in the streets of the city, home to an almost 1000-year-old university as well as the home of C.S. Lewis and the imprints of J.R.R. Tolkien. Attend a private tour of the city with Oxford experts.
Pleshey
Stay at the retreat center in County Essex where Evelyn Underhill ran her famous retreats “soaked in love and hope,” in her words.
Norwich
Become deeply immersed in the atmosphere in which Julian of Norwich experienced her own mystical journey including her cell and the Julian Church. Bask in the atmosphere of this beautiful village.
Your Guides
Carl McColman
Spiritual Director
Carl McColman a spiritual director, retreat leader, and internationally known speaker and teacher on mystical spirituality and contemplative living. He is the author of many books, including The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart: The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life, and Unteachable Lessons: Why Wisdom Can’t Be Taught and Why That’s Okay. He is one of the co-hosts of the Encountering Silence podcast, and blogs regularly at Patheos, Medium, and his own website, www.anamchara.com. Carl’s approach to contemplation and mysticism is inclusive and expansive; he is dedicated to exploring the common ground between faith traditions, with a particular interest in the connecting points between Christian, Buddhist and Pagan wisdom. Carl lives with his wife, artist Fran McColman, in Clarkston, Georgia, near Atlanta.
Rev. SeiFu Anil Singh-Molares
SDI Staff Companion
Rev. Seifu Anil Singh-Molares is the Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International (SDI), a Motivational Speaker, a Zen Priest, and a Spiritual Director / Companion / Guide. After nine years at SDI, his relish and enthusiasm for the SDI community continues to grow. He has dedicated his life to promoting the virtues of spiritual companionship as a healing modality, through various incarnations including his current ones, as well as a scholar of comparative religions. He has a graduate degree from Harvard University in that field.
William Blake
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his life, Blake has become a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age. What he called his “prophetic works” were said by 20th-century critic Northrop Frye to form “what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language”. While he lived in London his entire life, except for three years spent in Felpham, he produced a diverse and symbolically rich collection of works, which embraced the imagination as “the body of God”, or “human existence itself”.
Although Blake was considered mad by contemporaries for his idiosyncratic views, he came to be highly regarded by later critics and readers for his expressiveness and creativity, and for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work. His paintings and poetry have been characterised as part of the Romantic movement and as “Pre-Romantic”. A theist who preferred his own Marcionite style of theology, he was hostile to the Church of England (indeed, to almost all forms of organised religion), and was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American Revolutions. Although later he rejected many of these political beliefs, he maintained an amicable relationship with the political activist Thomas Paine; he was also influenced by thinkers such as Emanuel Swedenborg. Despite these known influences, the singularity of Blake’s work makes him difficult to classify. The 19th-century scholar William Michael Rossetti characterised him as a “glorious luminary”, and “a man not forestalled by predecessors, nor to be classed with contemporaries, nor to be replaced by known or readily surmisable successors”.
Day 1: The mysticism of William Blake at the London Tate Museum
What's Included
- Internal Transportation: Travel between locations within England
- Accommodation: All rooms
- Meals: All meals covered
- Guides: Experienced Spiritual Director guiding the tour, and SDI staff member
What's Not Included
- International air fares, visa charges, airport taxes on departure (if applicable)
- Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended)
- Passport and visa fees
- Excess baggage on domestic flights
- Items of a personal nature such as cost of telephone calls, table drinks, laundry, etc. and communication charges
- Anything not explicitly mentioned in the included section
Further Details
Evelyn Underhill
Evelyn Underhill was a prolific writer who published 39 books and more than 350 articles and reviews. In her early years, she wrote on mysticism; in her latter years on the spiritual life as lived by ordinary people. This latter work is more accessible than the earlier writing. Perhaps the best introduction to her is Letters, edited by Charles Williams, which give an introduction to her principal ideas, her style of guidance, and her immense sense of humanity and accessibility. The Spiritual Life, an edition of her BBC broadcast, first given orally, is a clear, concise introduction to her thought. Most of Evelyn Underhill’s retreats were published, and many are still in print. A wonderful anthology of her work is Delroy Oberg’s Evelyn Underhill: Daily Readings with a Modern Mystic.
Her key early works on mysticism include Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Man’s Spiritual Consciousness and Practical Mysticism.
Days 3 & 4: Evelyn Underhill’s home and retreat center at Pleshey, County Essex
Itinerary
Day 0: Tuesday, May 26, 2026: Arrival
- Travel: Arrival in London
- Transportation: Airplane
- Hotel: Royal Foundation of St. Katharine (London)
- Meals: Dinner
Day 1: Wednesday, May 27, 2026: London
- Transportation: TBD
- Hotel: Royal Foundation of St. Katharine (London)
- Meals: Breakfast (at Hotel), Lunch (British Library Great Court Restaurant), Dinner (at Hotel)
Day 2: Thursday, May 28, 2026: Oxford
- Transportation: Transfer to Oxford (9:00 AM)
- Bodleian Library
- Eagle and Child Pub
- Transportation: TBD
- Hotel: TBD
- Meals: Breakfast (at Hotel), Lunch TBD, Dinner TBD
Day 3: Friday, May 29, 2026: Oxford & Pleshey
- The Kilns (C.S. Lewis House)
- Transportation: Transfer to Pleshey
- Transportation: TBD
- Hotel: The Diocesan House of Retreat (Pleshey)
- Meals: Breakfast TBD, Lunch TBD, Dinner TBD
Day 4: Saturday, May 30, 2026: Pleshey
- Full Day in Pleshey
- Transportation: TBD
- Hotel: The Diocesan House of Retreat (Pleshey)
- Meals: Breakfast TBD, Lunch TBD, Dinner TBD
Day 5: Sunday, May 31, 2026: Norwich
- Transportation: Transfer to Norwich
- Norwich Cathedral
- Tour Norwich
- Transportation: TBD
- Hotel: The Georgian Townhouse
- Meals: Breakfast (at Hotel), Lunch (TBD), Dinner (TBD)
Day 6: Monday, June 1, 2026: Norwich
- Day in Norwich
- Transportation: TBD
- Hotel: The Georgian Townhouse
- Meals: Breakfast (at Hotel), Lunch (on own), Dinner (at Hotel)
Day 7: Tuesday, June 2, 2026: London
- Transportation: Transfer to London
- Mithraeum
- St. Paul's
- Temple Church
- Transportation: TBD
- Hotel: Royal Foundation of St. Katharine
- Meals: Breakfast (at Hotel), Lunch (TBD), Dinner (at Hotel)
Day 8: Wednesday, June 3, 2026: London & Departure
- Breakfast: in hotel
- Flight Home
- Transportation: Airplane
- Hotel: Royal Foundation of St. Katharine
- Meals: Breakfast in hotel
Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich is known and loved throughout the world for her book The Revelations of Divine Love, the earliest known book written in English by a woman. Written near the turn of the 15th century, Revelations has inspired generations of people for its groundbreaking theological understanding of God’s love and radical perception of grace.
After receiving a series of sixteen revelations from God during a near-death experience, Julian chose a life of hermitic solitude as an anchoress attached to St Julian’s Church in Norwich, spending the remainder of her life locked in a single, small cell. Here she wrote the book for which she has become so loved.
Her only interaction with the outside world was through a little window to which others would come seeking her wise counsel. While in this cell, she wrote down her account of the revelations she had been given and in so doing became the first woman to write a book in English. The Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich are as relevant to us today as they were 650 years ago, and her writings continue to have an impact on people across the globe.
Julian’s Revelations continues to inspire and enchant people from every walk of life, whether for its spiritual insight into God’s unconditional love or for Julian’s historic significance as one of England’s most well-regarded medieval women.
Days 4 & 5: Fully experience the mystical significance of Julian of Norwich
Accommodation
- Hotel: Royal Foundation of St. Katharine (London)
- Address: 2 Butcher Row, London, E14 8DS
- Phone: +44 0300 111 1147
- See on Map
Royal Foundation of St. Katharine (London)
Day 0-1: May 26-27, 2026 &
Day 7: June 2, 2026
The Royal Foundation of St Katharine’s is a retreat centre where many have found its sense of calm transforms the way they feel. Whether on a short stay in London, a business trip, or a holiday from abroad, we offer a quiet sanctuary set in an extraordinary urban oasis.
Located in East London’s Limehouse area, St Katharine’s is within walking distance of Canary Wharf and has great transport links to the City and major London attractions.
- Hotel: Cotswold Lodge Hotel (Oxford)
- Address: Cotswold Lodge Hotel 66A Banbury Road Oxford OX2 6JP
- Phone: +44 1865 512121
- See on Map
Cotswold Lodge Hotel (Oxford)
Day 2: May 28, 2026
Converted in 1973, The Cotswold Lodge Hotel is a 4 star family-run hotel located in central Oxford. This Victorian mansion with its characterful and elegant period features is the hidden gem of the most visited and beloved city in England.
The hotel’s restaurant, Restaurant 66A, was awarded 1AA Rosettes and is open to residents and non-residents looking for affordable traditional British food and European cuisine in Oxford.
- Hotel: The Diocesan House of Retreat (Pleshey)
- Address: The Street, Pleshey, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 1HA
- Phone: +44 01245 237251
- See on Map
The Diocesan House of Retreat (Pleshey)
Day 3-4: May 29-30, 2026
- Hotel: The Georgian Townhouse (Norwich)
- Address: 30 – 34 Unthank Road, Norwich, NR2 2RB
- Phone: +44 (0)1603 615 655
- See on Map
The Georgian Townhouse (Norwich)
Day 5-6: May 31-June 1, 2026
The Georgian Townhouse offers a relaxing escape with charming Georgian interiors, comfortable rooms and apartments, and a spacious walled garden. Enjoy excellent food and drink in one of the city’s best-kept secrets.
Discover the perfect blend of comfort and convenience with our self-contained apartments in Norwich. Ideal for both short and extended stays, each apartment is thoughtfully designed to offer a private and welcoming atmosphere. Fully equipped with modern amenities, living areas, and cosy bedrooms, our apartments ensure you feel right at home. Located in a prime venue within Norwich, you’ll enjoy easy access to the city’s vibrant attractions, restaurants, and cultural landmarks. Whether you’re here for work, leisure, or a bit of both, these apartments provide flexibility and relaxation.
Note: These hotels are booked as part of the tour package and are listed here for your information only (no action required by you). Hotels will be provided in accordance with the itinerary or similar. We reserve the right to make substitutions with hotels of equal standard.
Travel and Safety
U.S. citizens should always practice good personal security and situational awareness. Be aware of your surroundings. This includes local customs and etiquette. Keep a low profile. Monitor local news reports, vary routes and times in carrying out daily activities, and consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites, and when choosing hotels, restaurants, and entertainment and recreation venues.
We will be led by highly experienced guides.
For the most up-to-date-information, visit the US State Department’s Travel Advisory page, or its equivalent in the country of your origin.
A valid passport for the duration of your time in the United Kingdom is required, as well as a tourist visa. To come as a general visitor, you must be able to show that:
- Your passport must be valid for the entire length of your stay in the United Kingdom.
- Since June 2019, U.S. passport holders can use ePassport Gates when arriving in the UK. If you previously registered for the UK Registered Traveler Service (RTS), you should now use the ePassport Gates.
- All U.S. citizens traveling to the UK for tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences, or short-term study for 6 months or less must have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travel. U.S. citizens can apply for ETAs.
- As of fall 2024, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is working to replace physical documents with a new online record of immigration status called an eVisa.
For other situations and more detailed information, please visit the US State Department webpage on the UK or check with the UK embassy in your home country to verify visa requirements.
English will be spoken throughout this journey.
- The UK currency is the pound sterling (£/GBP).
- There are 100 pennies, or pence, to the pound.
You must declare cash of £10,000 or more to customs when entering or exiting the UK.
If you’re travelling as a family or group with more than £10,000 in total (even if individuals are carrying less than that) you still need to make a declaration.
Cash you must declare includes:
- notes and coins
- bearer bonds
- cheques and travellers’ cheques
London has numerous bureaux de change, often located inside banks, travel agents or post offices, as well as at London’s airports and major train stations.
Most credit and debit cards are widely accepted in restaurants, bars, cafes and shops in London. Although, it is advised to carry an alternative payment method with you during your visit.
Contactless payment cards are widely used in the UK, and many businesses accept them. Contactless payments are limited to £100 per transaction. Travellers can use a contactless card instead of an Oyster card on public transport in London. Google Pay and Apple Pay on phones are also accepted on Transport for London services.
Contactless payments on non-UK cards may incur an overseas transaction fee. Fees vary by card and by bank, so check with your card issuer before tapping your contactless card in London.
Some shops and cafes are cash-free, meaning they only accept card and contactless payments, so always take a card with you.
The weather in England can be unpredictable. Be sure to bring layers so that you may be comfortable under any environmenetal circumstances.
Wear comfortable clothing.
Local cafes and hotels are likely spots to connect to free wifi networks. You can also purchase a local SIM card or an International Plan to use your smart phone in the UK.
Trip insurance is strongly recommended. Please visit one of the various websites such as www.travelguard.com or www.insuremytrip.com
London has six major airports: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted and London Southend. Find all the information you need about London’s airport facilities, locations and connections, including a London airports map.
Terms & Conditions
Prices are per person and are based upon single occupancy (unless otherwise noted). If there are requests for room sharing or double rooms for couples, please reach out to [email protected]. In case of human or computer error, SDI reserves the right to re-invoice for the correct price or service.
Due to limited seating and the requirement for full advance payment for SDI, as well as the peak season of our visit, we must adhere to the following cancellation policy:
– Full Refund: Cancellations made by January 30, 2026.
– Partial Refund: Cancellations made between February 01, 2026 and April 30th, 2026. $2249 for single occupancy.
– **No Refund:** Cancellations made after April 30th, 2026.
Subject to change at SDI’s discretion.
Travel insurance is not included in the tour price. SDI highly recommends the purchase of a comprehensive travel insurance package, which covers health, lost luggage, trip cancellation and trip interruption. Please note that we cannot accept responsibility for any losses or expenses, which you or any member of your party may incur as a result of failing to secure adequate coverage. We can recommend travel insurance companies upon request.
All U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter and exit UK for any purpose.
SDI is not responsible for providing any travel documents to any of our destinations, including visas. It is the sole responsibility of the traveler to confirm with the consulate of each country visited, about any necessary travel documentation/visas required to enter these countries.
We will add more information soon.
Travelers arriving from an infected area must have a yellow fever vaccination. Others are suggested.
These are not covered in the package fee, and each participant is fully responsible for their purchase, as well as compliance with all applicable airline requirements.
Luggage is the responsibility of the passenger/s and that of the airlines. For lost/delayed luggage claims, the passenger is responsible for notifying the airline directly. If a travel insurance policy was purchased, all damage/loss must be reported at time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company. As all airlines differ and restrictions change periodically, we recommend that you call the airline directly with questions about your baggage allowance. SDI shall not be held responsible for any delay or damage to or loss of luggage and/or personal items.
SDI reserves the right to change the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances. In all cases, SDI will do its best to maintain the content of the tour. If the tour services as indicated by the itinerary cannot be supplied or there are changes in the itinerary for reasons beyond the control of SDI we will arrange for provision of comparable services. SDI reserves the right to make changes in the itinerary whenever SDI deems it necessary to the comfort, convenience and safety of the participant at any time. No refund will be paid for unused services such as: transfers, sightseeing, meals, hotel accommodation, entrance fees, and others that are listed in the tour program.
Meals are based on the hotel’s or restaurant’s buffet or set menu. In general, beverages are not included, unless specifically stated.
Hotels will be provided in accordance with the itinerary or similar. We reserve the right to make substitutions with hotels of equal standard. There will be no refunds for any difference in the cost of those accommodations. All rooms are standard twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, unless specifically stated. Special requests such as bed types, smoking preference and connecting rooms are subject to availability. Room selection in all cases, unless otherwise reserved, is strictly at the discretion of the hotel’s management on a run-of-house basis. Triple rooms consist of standard twin beds plus a sofa/folding bed or cot for third person.
Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, meals other than described in the tour details, any other service not described as included, passport and visa fees, insurance.
33 Nine Elms Lane
London
SW11 7US
Phone:
[44] (0)20-7499-9000
(Or the embassy of your home country in London)
FAQs
If you need to cancel, refund requests must be received in writing via e-mail or postal mail by the deadlines set below. SDI will issue refund payments minus the applicable cancellation fees, according to the following schedule: Until January 31st, 2026 the cancellation fee is USD$500. From February 01, 2026 to April 30, 2026, the cancellation fee is USD$1000. There are no refunds after May 1st, 2026.
Pilgrims will travel by private bus through most locations. This pilgrimage is designed to offer the best of both worlds: time to linger at sacred sights and in contemplative repose, as well as daily walks at various sites. Distances are not great, but you should be in good health. International and domestic travel can be taxing, and SDI will do its best to design the schedule with your well-being in mind.
Pilgrims will stay in clean, comfortable accommodations, in single occupancy.
This journey’s itinerary may offer daily morning meditation and prayers as a group, opportunities for group spiritual direction, as well as participation in worship services. Prayer and meditation is built into the various sacred spaces. All these experiences are optional. Throughout the pilgrimage we will share sacred time together designed to deepen our own faith.
No, you do not need to be a member of Spiritual Directors International to join the journey. We ask only that the contemplative nature of this journey ignite your heart and spirit, and that you be eager to explore its spiritual and historical dimensions.
The $500 deposit is an administrative fee that secures your space in this intimate journey and is nonrefundable. SDI strongly encourages you to obtain travel insurance to cover financial losses from any personal emergencies or other events that require your cancellation. You are responsible for reading your policy and understanding what it covers.
If you have any additional questions, please contact [email protected] or telephone 01-425-455-1565.
Why Join Us
As a professional Spiritual Journeys manager, we excel at helping you to discover special places. Not just any vacation, but truly exceptional trips filled with inspiring and enriching experiences. We believe in seeing the world in the most unique way possible, and we want to share our knowledge and passion for travel and spirituality with all of those whom we guide. Explore our site to find out more.
Guides That Companion With You
Every SDI Journey is led by guides that are experienced both in the local landscape, history, and custom, and also as spiritual companions. Companions that listen to your story and longings with care and compassion, as they offer you deep insight into what is happening on your travel experience.
Pause. Rest. Renew.
We all need downtime. Opportunities abound to slow down, explore and pay attention, find words for the experience in poetry and creative writing, or to take a nap. Simple daily rituals call us together as a community, to share in discovery and wonder.
Which Journey Will You Take? Check our Offerings Now, or call 1-425-455-1565 to book today.
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