Nicki & Zahra Indigo at Saqqara
I initially began my journey guiding pilgrims through the Egyptian Mystery in 2012 with Nick Scully of Shamanic Journeys, Ltd. We connected when I was studying Alchemical Healing and Nicki was in need of help to complete the manuscript for the book with her husband, Mark Hallert, Planetary Healing; Spirit Medicine for Global Transformation. Nicki immediately recognized my intelligence and direct connection with the spirit world. Already trained in a number of disciplines, I then became a teacher of Alchemical Healing and was one of the visionaries for the book Sekhmet: Transformation in the Belly of the Goddess.
After Nicki's retirement from leading tours in 2014, I continued to manage tours under Shamanic Journeys. Then in 2019, I started Sacred Witness Pilgrimages to continue to offer specialized sacred pilgrimages to Egypt based upon the strong foundation Nicki built over thirty years of spiritual travel around the world.
Since that first trip with Nicki in 2012, I have now facilitated and lead nineteen tours in Egypt, and have accumulated nearly three years on the ground learning, growing, and becoming. During this time, I have led hundreds of seekers from Abu Simbel to Alexandria and oh-so-many places in between. Over the years, I have refined my way of walking with the sacred and look forward to sharing this amazing country and her mysteries with you.
Sacred Witness Pilgrimages would not be what it is today were it not for the Egyptian team who help make every journey special. This is especially true about my Egyptian business partner, Sayed Molatam, and the many amazing Egyptian service providers with whom they work. I am eternally grateful for all they have done to assist my understanding of the tour business in Egypt.
by Zahra Indigo Rønlov, MA MCPC
September 17, 2023
Little did my 16 & 17 year old self know, as I was twirling away at my first Irvine and Long Beach, California Grateful Dead shows in the late 1980’s that the band’s past would so profoundly influence my future.
The faithful 1978 Egypt shows were historic in so many ways. In addition to being the first band to play at the iconic paws of the Sphinx right at the same time that President Carter worked with Egypt and Israel to negotiate peace, my mentor, colleague, and dear friend, Nicki Scully was at this epic concert. She traveled to Egypt with the band and her then partner, Rock Scully, who was a road manager for the Grateful Dead. There, she fell in love—in love with the land, the people, and the Egyptian mysteries.
This love inspired her to begin her company Shamanic Journeys, Ltd. and to lead tours throughout the land and into the mysteries. Over the course of thirty years and sixty tours, Nicki led so many people through Egypt, sharing the magic of this special place and helping them awaken to their place and purpose on this planet.
Fast forward to Autumn 2011. It was the year my mom died from a two-year battle with cancer. It was rough. I was grieving. I had forgotten what joy felt like. Nicki, who I had been working with for many years and who had initiated me into the Lineage of Djehuti, suggested I assist her on the next tour with Alex and Allison Grey in February 2012. She wanted to provide me with a reset after all the grief. Without hesitation, I said yes.
Just like Nicki—and countless other seekers to that land—I fell in love with and felt the love back from Egypt. I returned four times in 2013 and 2014 and by the end of 2014, Nicki came to the difficult decision to retire from the tours. I continued on, leading and managing the tours under her company until in 2018. In order to keep the tradition of leading Mysteries of Egypt journeys alive, I initiated my own company, Sacred Witness Pilgrimages, with Nicki's support, blessings, and love.
As of the writing of this, I have been to Egypt nineteen times and have led hundreds of seekers through the mysteries. For the foreseeable future I intend to continue to lead sacred pilgrimages in Egypt as well as design, organize, and operate custom tours for others. With my business partner, I have recently formed an Egyptian service company called Zahra el Hayat (translated: Flower of Life) to manage Sacred Witness Pilgrimages in Egypt. We are even now in the process of building our own Nile river boat called a dahabiya! Perhaps, if Egypt is calling you home, one day you will join me.
In addition to the tours, in 2014 I founded a 501c3, Zahra Handworks Foundation, to honor Egyptian woman and the beauty of their handmade items. To date, we have gifted four weaving looms and hundreds of crochet hooks and scissors. Hand made items are truly something special.
I would not be who I am were it not for the influence to expanded my consciousness that the Grateful Dead gave my young self. I likely would not have the gift of Egypt in the way I do were it not for their epic shows in 1978!!! I would also not be who I am now, were it not for the beautiful relationship Nicki and I share and all I have learned from her. Her trust and guidance means the world to me.
It is so amazing to witness it all unfold, like the petals of the Egyptian Blue Lotus. I am ever in awe.
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