Inspiring and supporting light workers

8 Pilgrims

We help advanced souls prepare for sacred journeys to the world’s most energised holy sites.Book a spiritually directed sacred travel consultation to plan your path.

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Detail from the famous "Monument of Discoveries” in Lisbon, Portugal. Statues of Cristovão de Gama and São Francisco Xavier in the Padrão dos Descobrimentos by Jules Verne Times Two / julesvernex2.com / CC-BY-SA-4.0.

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Discover your path

Spiritual guidance for your sacred journey

Sacred travel is an intentional, transformative practice which is most beneficial when prepared for thoughtfully.We provide a spiritually directed consultations to help you:
* Clarify your intention and goals
* Prepare energetically and practically
* Choose the right sites and timing
* Integrate spiritual practices while travelling.We are not a travel agent and do not organise tours.

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Meet Paul

8 Pilgrims helps devoted travellers seeking deeply transformational sacred experiences. It was founded by Paul McCarthy in 2013 in response to a spiritual call.Paul has visited hundreds of holy sites worldwide and offers practical experience, spiritual insight, and mediumship-informed guidance.“Pilgrimage transformed my life. With prayer and discernment, sacred journeys can clear past burdens and deepen spiritual connection.”Paul conducts sacred travel consults and leads pilgrimages to Assisi and beyond.

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Be Inspired to visit sacred places

Our sacred travel consultations are customised for you. This might involve facilitating insights into why you are called to travel, the optimal destinations for you at this time or guidance about how to prepare for your journey. We might suggest using tools like astrocartography and past life regression.There is a wealth of information about sacred travel and we will explore how to navigate this during your consult.To get you started, you might like to check out Paul’s blog which includes a map of our travels, our ’top’ sacred destinations, some our favourite photos, and links to some of our writing shaped by pilgrimage.We suggest you make a note of any thoughts and feelings that come up for you as you read this information.

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8 Pilgrims Journeys

Where have we been?

Our team is global. We come from different places (Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom and Austria) and have lived in XX countries. We each took a sacred journey to Brasil for spiritual development and that unites us in this work.Together we have travelled to XX countries and pilgrimaged to hundreds of sacred sites. We have had a diverse range of sacred, healing journeys and been exposed to many different traditions.Our travel map shows some of the places we have visited. [This needs careful review and reformatting].

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8 Pilgrims suggestions

Top ten sacred sites

Innumerable sacred travel experiences exist, including well known pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela, Rome and Canterbury, as well as the hajj to Mecca and the Kumano Kodo in Japan.Rome, Jerusalem, Lourdes and the Camino to Santiago are the obvious choices for Christian pilgrimage. But there are lesser known sites and experiences that are wonderful for pilgrims.Below are our top recommendations for lesser known Christian holy places to inspire your next journey.

(Insider's Tip: Venerate the Crown of Thorns at Notre Dame de Paris, France).The UNESCO World Heritage list is the obvious starting point for identifying other sacred sites. There are over 1000 sites on the list and I have visited several of the most extraordinary ones. Of the lesser visited sacred sites, I would revisit:

(Insider’s Tip: The Chapel of Serapis in Luxor, Egypt

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Inspired Resources

Meet some inspiring pilgrims

This is the page we love the most! A carefully curated selection of inspiring stories of pilgrimage and sacred travel. Please let us know what you think about these resources.

Where the hell is Matt?

Matt Harding quit his job to travel the world in 2003 and 2004. The following year he released a video of himself dancing with people from around the world. This and a further 4 videos have reached hundreds of millions of people. Matt offers an extraordinary celebration of our shared humanity.

Pigrimage with Simon Reeve

For centuries pilgrimage was one of the greatest adventures on earth, involving epic journeys across the country and around the world. Written and presented by Simon Reeve, this series of three episodes, explores famous pilgrimages to Canterbury, Jerusalem and along the Camino de Santiago de Compostella.

The man who walked across the world

In 1325, Ibn Battutah set out from his native Tangier on a pilgrimage to Mecca. By the time he returned, nearly thirty years later, he had seen most of the known world, covering three times the distance travelled by Marco Polo - some 75,000 miles in all. Captivated by Battutah’s account of his journey, the Arabic scholar and award-winning travel writer Tim Mackintosh Smith followed in his footsteps and recorded the experience in books and on film.

Kumano Kodo - A pilgrimage journey into the ancient heart of Japan

For over a thousand years, emperors, monks, and humble travelers have walked the paths of the Kumano Kodo in Japan, seeking renewal, connection, and transformation. The Kumano Kodo isn’t just a physical path—it’s a bridge between worlds, connecting us to the ancient wisdom that lives within each of us. It’s a ritual of purification, a shedding of what no longer serves us, and a step-by-step recreation of the self. This film celebrates the beauty of nature, the resilience of the human spirit, and the universal truth that life itself is a pilgrimage.

Deeper reflections

Suggested reading

The Companion: Ignatius of Loyola - Soldier, Pilgrim, Mystic, Healer, LeaderIn 2011, Paul McCarthy joined 5 friends on a pilgrimage to Spain, Italy, the Holy Land and India to some sites connected with St Ignatius of Loyola and other spirit entities of the light.This little book, part biography and part travel narrative, highlights the mystical life of Ignatius and his healing powers. It debunks the myth that Ignatius was no “wonder-worker” and explains why he remains such a powerful teacher and intercessor for those with spiritual problems.Over 500 years of pilgrimage, prayer and grace have ensured the Ignatian holy sites in this book remain highly energised places where the presence of Spirit is palpable and the potential for personal healing and transformation is real.The Example: Francis of Assisi - the Radical Follower of JesusFrancis of Assisi is the most popular saint of modern times. And there are more books and articles written him about him than any other saint. So why another one?This new book by Paul McCarthy offers a Spiritist perspective on the incarnations of St Francis. It brings together biographical information and channelled material, practical guidance and personal insights to encourage pilgrimage to Assisi and other places connected with the little friar.Paul joined 5 friends on a pilgrimage to Assisi in 2011. This experience was life changing and Paul made further pilgrimages every year. He has been to Assisi 5 times, so far.Greatly loved: The legacy of Saint Francis XavierKnown as the “Apostle of the East”, Francisco Xavier is the patron saint of world missions in recognition of his role in seeding Christianity in Asia. Xavier evangelised in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines and Japan. He died trying to reach China.The Church has attributed a large number of miracles to Xavier. After almost 500 years, his remains are incorrupt and can be venerated in Goa, India.Currently under development, this book explores Paul McCarthy’s experience visiting sacred sites related to Xavier, including in Spain, India, Malaysia and the Americas.

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Precious memories

Get in the picture

A curated selection of our photos from sacred sites around the world we have visited.

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Holding a relic of St Ignatius of Loyola in the Chapel of the Conversion in the Sanctuary of St Ignatius, Loyola, Spain.

Paul McCarthy’s Story

the path to 8 pilgrims

“Although I had been travelling the world for decades, I never considered myself a pilgrim or thought about undertaking a pilgrimage until I met Saint Ignatius of Loyola.I was visiting a centre dedicated to St Ignatius to acquire a crystal light healing apparatus in 2008. But when I was asked why I was there, I spontaneously said that I wanted to clean up my relationship with God and the Roman Catholic Church. To say I was stunned by the words coming out of my mouth is an understatement, but the divine response to this prayer was even more surprising.I developed an irresistible urge to learn about Spiritism, the good spirits and, in particular, the life of St Ignatius.In Ignatius’ autobiography, which is written in the third person, he refers to himself as “the pilgrim”. This book, combined with my diligent study of Spiritism and the lives of the saints, set me on a new path of learning about pilgrimage, relics and miracles. And this motivated me to be a better human, to advance my soul through mediumship and compassionate service to others.Then I had a recurring dream about going on pilgrimage to Montserrat and other places connected to St Ignatius. Out of the blue, I received an invitation to do just that, so I acted on this call and joined 5 friends on a pilgrimage to Spain, Italy, Palestine and India in 2011.Then I got the bug. For several years I dedicated my holidays to visiting sacred sites around the world, including the shrines of many saints. 2015 was the biggest year for me - I pilgrimaged to 63 holy sites in 11 countries.I also visited sacred sites around the world and have worked with the good spirits to release dense energies in Indonesia, Egypt, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, USA, Canada, Eastern Europe and Japan.I invited St Ignatius to be my companion on pilgrimage and I found many places dedicated to him. I travelled from Loyola, Spain - where Ignatius was born and had his conversion experience - to the rooms in Rome from which he directed the Society of Jesus and in which he died. And to many other places from his life, including Barcelona, Salamanca, Montserrat, Manresa, Paris, Venice and even Jerusalem.As I pilgrimaged, my connection with Ignatius and with several other saints became stronger. On these sacred journeys I was gifted with awesome, faith-building experiences at exactly the right times and places.I have visited some shrines many times. Each shrine, like each saint, is different. And each visit to a shrine develops and deepens one’s connection to the saint who is honoured there. Of course, some experiences are life changing. I will never forget the instant recognition of the face of St Vincent de Paul (his life-like relic is in a glass coffin above the high altar in a church in Paris) or the opportunity to do the reading during a mass in the chapel where St Ignatius had his conversion experience. I wish everyone could see the incorrupt body of St Francis Xavier in Goa, India, St Juan Diego’s tilma (the cloak made of agave fibre on which the miraculous image of Mary is imprinted) in the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe outside Mexico City and the original image of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania.The shrines dedicated to Mary are very special and miracles are common there. I have been to shrines in Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugorje, Knock, Walsingham, Montserrat, Loretto, Ephesus, Banneux, Turin and numerous other places. Apart from the Basilica of NS Guadalupe, my favourite Marian site is in Poland. The Pauline Monastery of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa is home to the famous icon of the Black Madonna. Unlike other Marian sites, there is little commerce in Jasna Gora and the focus is entirely upon prayer. Without commerce, the energy of this site is intense.Assisi is a place I am often called to and it has become my second “spiritual” home. For me, it is the perfect combination of holy and historical places, extraordinary natural beauty, art and food. I have pilgrimaged to Assisi in every season and had several life-changing mystical experiences in this little town. I’ve also connected with the Franciscan sites in nearby towns and, of course, with Cascia.Many people enjoyed hearing of my experiences and told me they were keen to pilgrimage themselves. The next step was to write about travelling with my favourite saints, starting with St Ignatius, St Francis of Assisi and St Francisco Xavier.I never imagined my life would go in this direction. Learning about medieval saints, pilgrimaging to their shrines and praying for their help has transformed my life. This work, combined with my meditation practice, has strengthened my faith, mediumship and intuition. I have seen a lot of the world in a relatively short period of time and transmuted karma with several places. I have also transformed past life issues related to pilgrimage, relics and the church. For me, it has been a mission.Pilgrimage is a calling - it is not required for spiritual advancement and there is no guarantee that a person will benefit from it. Indeed, one would most likely progress more by devout prayer at home, than half-hearted pilgrimage to the centre of Christendom or Mecca. For those who cannot pilgrimage, there are other options.As in medieval times, towns and businesses may develop an economic dependency on pilgrims and, at worst, this can give rise to very high prices and even fraud. As a sign of our absolute faith and commitment to the transformational power of pilgrimage for advanced souls, we do not profit from our sacred journeys.As modern mystics, it is incumbent upon us to exercise deep discernment as we travel to the world’s holy places. By remaining open and praying for assistance, we can release the past and deeply transform ourselves.”

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Privacy Policy

On this website and in my businesses, I treat your privacy with the same care and reverence I bring to each journey and reflection shared on this site. This Privacy Policy explains, in clear and grounded language, how your personal data is collected, used, and protected when you visit my spiritual travel and reflection blog.1. Who I Am
This is one of 3 businesses and a blog under the umbrella of iluminar-Coogee Beach (ABN 93 107 542 317). These are:1. www.iluminar.blog is a personal spiritual travel and reflection blog addressing issues such as pilgrimage, spirituality, healing, meditation, local history, arts and culture, food, music and photography, created and written by me, Paul McCarthy.2. iluminar.au is a business offering crystal light treatments, meditation training, intuitive guidance and spiritual coaching in Coogee Beach, NSW, Australia. Some services may be provided online.3. www.8pilgrims.com is a business helping advanced souls prepared for sacred journeys to the world’s most energised holy sites. The principal focus is offering consultations to individuals interested in sacred travel. Services are provided in person in Coogee Beach, NSW, Australia or online. 8 Pilgrims may also offer opportunities for guided pilgrimages (principally to Assisi, Italy) on an invitation only basis.4. www.breakfastwithpaul.com is a business offering bespoke travelling planning and guidance for foreign visitors over breakfast in a cafe in Coogee Beach, NSW, Australia. Clients are invited to complete a "discovery questionnaire” to assist us to prepare a bespoke plan for them (if they chose that service).Appointments and payment for services are managed through a separate platform (Square).When this policy refers to “I”, “me”, or “my”, it means Paul McCarthy as the data controller responsible for processing your personal data in connection with all my website(s) including this one.2. Summary of How Your Data Is Used
I collect and use limited personal data to make your interaction with the site(s) more meaningful and easy to navigate. In essence, I use your information to:
Notify you of new posts and reflections when you choose to subscribe.
Understand how the site is being used so I can improve the content, navigation, and overall experience.
Maintain the security and reliability of the website.I do not sell your personal data to third parties, and I only share it when it is necessary for operating the site or when required by law.3. What Data I Collect
The information collected on the websites is intentionally limited and proportionate. Depending on how you interact with the site, I may collect the following types of data:
3.1 Subscription and Contact Information
Name (if you choose to provide it).
Email address when you subscribe to receive new posts or contact me directly.
This information is collected when you actively provide it, for example by filling in a subscription form or sending me an email.
3.1a Other information to support the provision of services to you
You may opt to complete a “discovery questionnaire” for Breakfast with Paul to prepare a bespoke plan for you.
You may opt to provide information about your personal experiences and preferences to enable me to provide you with consultancy, coaching or guidance services.
3.2 Usage Data and Analytics
When you visit the website(s) certain information is automatically collected through analytics tools and server logs. This may include:
IP address (in some cases, this may be stored only in truncated or anonymised form).
Browser type and version, device type, and operating system.
Pages visited, time and date of visit, time spent on pages, and referring websites.
This data is generally aggregated and used to understand how visitors find and use the site, and to diagnose technical issues.
3.3 Cookies and Similar Technologies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. On my websites, cookies may be used to:
Remember your preferences (for example, language or cookie choices).
Maintain basic site functionality and security.
Gather anonymised analytics about how visitors use the site.
You can control or disable cookies in your browser settings, though this may affect how the site functions for you.4. How Your Data Is Used
I use your personal data only for clearly defined, respectful purposes connected with the relevant website and the services offered to you:
Subscriptions and email updates: If you subscribe, your name (if provided) and email address are used to send you notifications of new posts, reflections, or occasional updates related to the blog or my business service(s).
Responding to messages: If you contact me, I use your email address and any other information you provide to reply to your query.
Preparing for and providing services to you: If you complete a “discovery questionnaire”, I use the information for the sole purpose of preparing a bespoke plan for you. If you provide information about your personal experiences and preferences in wrtting to enable me to provide you with consultancy, coaching or guidance services, the information is retained only to provide those services and then destroyed. If the informaiton is provided verbally it is not recorded.
Improving the site: Aggregated analytics data is used to understand which content resonates, how visitors move through the site, and where improvements are needed.
Security and maintenance: Technical data and logs are used to monitor for suspicious activity, troubleshoot issues, and keep the site stable and secure.5. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)
For visitors in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, and other regions where the GDPR or similar laws apply, I rely on the following legal bases to process your personal data:
Consent: When you subscribe to receive emails, you give your clear consent to receive updates. You can withdraw this consent at any time by using the unsubscribe link in emails or by contacting me.
Legitimate interests: I process certain technical and analytics data to understand how the website(s) is used, to improve content and user experience, and to maintain security. I carefully balance these interests with your privacy rights.
Legal obligations: In rare cases, I may need to process or retain certain information to comply with legal or regulatory requirements.6. Cookies and Consent
Where required by law, certain non-essential cookies (for example, some analytics cookies) will only be used with your consent. You can change or withdraw your cookie preferences at any time using your browser settings or any cookie controls made available on the site.
For more detailed information on specific cookies used, I may provide a separate cookie notice or table, which will be kept up to date as tools and technologies evolve.7. Analytics Tools
The website(s) may use privacy-conscious analytics tools to understand how readers discover and move through the site. Where possible, these tools are configured to minimise the collection of personal data, for example by anonymising IP addresses and aggregating usage data.
Analytics data is used in a broad, reflective way: to see which journeys and reflections resonate, which pages may need clarification, and how the overall experience can be made smoother and more inspiring.8. Data Sharing and Third Parties
I do NOT sell or rent your personal data to third parties. Your information is shared only in limited circumstances:
Service providers: I may use trusted third-party services (for example, email delivery or website hosting providers) to help run the site. These providers only receive the information necessary to perform their services and are bound by data protection obligations.
Legal requirements: I may disclose information if required to do so by law, or in response to valid legal requests by public authorities.
Whenever third-party tools are used, I aim to choose partners that respect privacy and comply with relevant data protection laws.9. International Data Transfers
Because the internet flows across borders, your data may be processed or stored in countries outside of your own, and possibly outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom. Where this happens, I seek to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses or equivalent protections, so that your rights remain protected.10. Data Retention
I keep your personal data only for as long as it is needed for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law:
Subscription data: Kept for as long as you choose to remain subscribed. If you unsubscribe, your email address will be removed from the mailing list, though a limited record may be kept to honour your request not to be re-added unintentionally.
Contact messages: Kept for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to and document the conversation.
Discovery Questionnaire responses: Retained until the bespoke travel plan is provided to you and then deleted.
Analytics and technical logs: Retained for a limited period to analyse trends, maintain security, and improve the site, then aggregated or deleted.11. Your Rights Under the GDPR
If you are in the EEA, the United Kingdom, or another region with similar data protection laws, you have important rights regarding your personal data. These include:
Right of access: You can request confirmation of whether I hold personal data about you and ask for a copy of that data.
Right to rectification: You can ask for inaccurate or incomplete information about you to be corrected.
Right to erasure: In certain circumstances, you can ask for your personal data to be deleted.
Right to restriction of processing: You can request that I temporarily limit how your data is used in certain situations.
Right to data portability: You can ask to receive the personal data you provided in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format, and to have it transmitted to another controller where technically feasible.
Right to object: You can object to certain types of processing, including when I rely on legitimate interests. You always have the right to object to direct marketing.
Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on your consent (for example, email subscriptions), you can withdraw that consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe your rights have not been respected, though I invite you to contact me first so I can try to address your concerns with care.12. How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of your data protection rights, please contact me using the details in the “Contact” section below. I may need to ask for some information to verify your identity before fulfilling your request, in order to protect your privacy and the security of your data.13. Children’s Privacy
My blog and websites are intended for adults and is not directed at children under the age of 16. I do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe that a child has provided me with personal data without appropriate consent, please contact me so that I can take appropriate steps to remove that information.14. Changes to This Policy
As the journey of my blog and business(es) evolves, this Privacy Policy may be updated to reflect new tools, legal requirements, or ways of connecting with readers. When I make significant changes, I will update the “Last updated” date at the end of this page and, where appropriate, provide a more prominent notice on the site.15. Contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how your data is handled, or if you would like to exercise your data protection rights, you are warmly invited to contact me:
Email: [email protected]
I aim to respond to privacy-related requests with care and within a reasonable time frame, and in all cases within the time limits required by applicable law.Last updated: August 2026