When I first set foot in Egypt as a tourist, I arrived with no knowledge whatsoever of its ancient wonders. The trip to Egypt was simply the cheapest holiday on offer at the time. Nonetheless, as soon as the plane door opened (and I happened to be the first waiting there) a profound sense of belonging washed over me, a feeling of being “home” in some indefinable manner. I did not understand it but it was a call that lingered for three years, during which time I returned several times because my enthusiasm for Egypt was contagious and I was now bringing groups back with me.
But the visitor’s fantasy soon met the resident’s reality. When I answered the call and moved to Luxor permanently, I discovered a vital truth: Egypt’s energy shifts profoundly for the one who stays. And Luxor is the third chakra of Egypt, the solar plexus and it’s all about claiming and owning your own personal power. My initial years were not spent in temples, but in the quiet challenge of building a life. The simple act of sourcing food became a daily puzzle; I was more accustomed to the quick-fix meals of Ireland than to preparing the vibrant, fresh produce of my new home—a shift I had not anticipated. Nor had I anticipated so many dishes using hot peppers, chilies or tomatoes – none of which my system tolerated well.
My daily sustenance often narrowed to bread and chips, a practical compromise that left my body feeling heavy and my spirit distant. The great monuments, those postcards for travelers, became just a backdrop to my hustle. I was so focused on the physical construction of a house—Mara House—that I didn’t yet understand I was also building a home for my soul.
This is Part 2 of the seven-part series, The Seeker’s Path. Begin the pilgrimage from the beginning here.
The Guests Who Held the Mirrors
The transformation began not with a grand event, but with a gentle turning. Curiously, it was the diverse array of seekers gracing Mara House who became my unwitting teachers. They arrived with a light in their eyes, asking not just *where* the temples were, but *what* they meant and “where in the temple” to find such and such a thing. I had to find the answers for them and my guides had never been asked some of the questions so it was a voyage of discovery for all of us.
And what a constellation of seekers and guides they were: teachers, esoterics who spoke of energy lines, mystics who sensed ancient prayers in the walls, and healers who felt the pulse of the land beneath their feet. They generously shared a wealth of knowledge not just about Egypt, but its ancient soul as well as their own personal story or two. Their questions were keys. They would share a fragment of knowledge—a story about the Osirion, a theory about the Dendera light or the other uniques carvings in the crypt—and it would latch onto something deep within me, sparking a realization that a single nugget of information could unlock a flood of new understanding.
A curiosity was kindled not from books first, but from conversation. Prompted by their insights, I finally embarked on a more earnest exploration of the sacred sites. Their wisdom sent me searching, through old texts on the internet, into quiet corners of temples, and into conversations with Egyptians who, themselves, were unaware of the knowledge they held.
👉 Explore all my transformative travel stories from Egypt
Over time, these sites wove their enchantment around my soul, with Abydos and Dendera exerting the strongest and most lasting allure. With each visitor, a cornucopia of knowledge was unveiled. Whether through subsequent guests, books, or chance encounters in temple precincts, the stories, secrets and legends of Egypt, not just of Abydos and Dendera alone, became as normal to me as the sun on my skin, until the stones themselves began to speak.
When the Student Became the Storyteller
This marked the beginning of a transformative journey, one where my eagerness to learn and the opportunity to share converged. There was no single moment, but a dawning. I developed a sense for what each guest—those open to conversation and possibilities—was unconsciously seeking and helping them find what they were looking for became part of my normal life.
Very often a guest would ask a question I had not heard before, and the answer would flow from me as if I’d always known it—information from some deep well I didn’t realize I’d been filling. It was a quiet magic. The phrase “ask and it is given” held a new meaning for me; I learned that answers can only come if someone asks the question to bring them forth. And it always does.
In striving to share a connection, I found my own had grown roots. The temples were no longer just stone; they were living libraries. Abydos, with its profound silence and staggering precision, became a place of the heart. Dendera, with its celestial ceiling and vibrant energy, became a place of the soul. The purpose behind Mara House sharpened into focus: it was to be a sanctuary, a place where seekers could catch their breath before stepping onto the path of deeper discovery. My role had shifted from host to guide, from student to storyteller, dedicated to crafting deeply connected tours of Egypt for the seekers who find their way to me.
The enchantment of Egypt does not sit behind glass. It is not a relic to be studied, but a living breath to be felt. It unfolds as it always has: not in a grand lecture, but in a hushed question, a shared story, a moment of quiet awe in a sunlit hall. It is a mystery that reveals itself uniquely to each seeker.
In ancient times, the great mysteries were not hoarded for the elite. They were not the sole property of pharaohs or high priests. The doors of understanding were open to any who genuinely sought—a tailor could possess a deeper thirst for the divine than the king upon the throne. What mattered was the sincerity of the quest, not the status of the seeker.
For true knowledge cannot be simply taught. It must be earned. It is revealed through personal experience, a language of the soul that each must learn for themselves.
We all walk this path at our own pace. But Egypt has always acted as a catalyst. For those who pause here, who relax into its rhythm and ask only for what they are ready to understand, it offers up its treasures. It meets you where you are, and gifts you exactly what you need to carry forward.
Egypt was a fast rollercoaster of growth for me, but don’t think for one minute that, because of what I am now starting to write and share here on these pages, I am any great mystic or teacher. I am not. I am simply a normal person who took what might look like an extraordinary path that all seemed perfectly normal to me at the time – I always just took the next obvious step.
Some come to Egypt looking for proof of aliens (I’m open to any possibilities on that) or suddenly to be able to tap into magical powers overnight. Some who come are delusional. But most who come my way, at Mara House, just want a break from their routine, to see the amazing sites and perhaps, right at the back of their minds, is the everlasting childlike hope that something a little bit magical or extraordinary might happen for them. And these are the people who do find the bit of magic, the revelation, the answer to the question they have been pondering – “should I do this or that?”, “Should I go here or there?“, Should I say yes or no?” No special knowledge or facts or chants are needed – just a quiet walk through the sacred sites that are calling to you will do the trick – as long as you are open to receiving answers, asking questions and believing in the possibility of the impossible, Egypt will open to you.
This path of personal revelation and growth is what these sacred sites were built for. If you feel the call to seek your own answers, your key may be waiting at Abydos or Dendera or even Mara House…
For those ready to explore the mysteries of Abydos and Dendera, the practical details of the tour can be found here.
Or, for a truly immersive journey, join me on one of my small group trips. We secure private time in the sacred Osirion for two full hours—a rare opportunity to listen, undisturbed by crowds, to what the ancient silence has to say.
The Seeker’s Path: TheSevenKeys – Abydos & Dendera
This article is part of a series. Unlock the full story with all seven keys.
- Key of Invitation: The Seeker’s Path
- Key of Connection: How the Stones Found Me
- Key of Devotion: Omm Sety – Dorothy Eady & Pharaoh Sety I
- Key of Mystery: Return of the Djedi?
- Key of Revelation: The Maker’s Hand – Unseen Genius at Abydos
- Key of Ritual: Beyond the Cartouches – The Priests Who Kept the Heartbeat of Abydos
- Key of Cosmos: The Celestial Secrets of Dendera Temple