The world lost an incredible human being this past week. And Richard and I lost a dear friend.
This is Fouad Fayed, who we all called “Uncle” because he was the Uncle of Ahmed Fayed, the founder of Guardian Travel, our travel partners in Egypt. I first met Uncle in 1995. He owned the Al Amir Palance, the business that produced the most incredible Egyptian oils which are sold all around the world.
I met him again in 2000 when I was on another Egyptian tour with Guardian Travel. And then in 2004, I started taking groups there. Every single year since 2004, one of the most fun things we would do on the trip each year is to go to the shop and he would tell us all about the oils and laugh that incredible, booming laugh of his.
Uncle always called me “my queen” and I adored him. After Richard and I got married and Richard started coming on the trips, he would always say to Richard, “You’re a lucky man.”
He was so funny and all the stories he told would just keep us in stitches. He would talk about the special oils for men and special oils for women that were to be used “after midnight” and how to use them. Ha! Ha! Ha!
He was always so much fun and had such an incredible huge energy. He was one of a kind.
I literally cannot believe he is gone and burst into tears when I heard the news. He had been having kidney issues and was in the hospital but they said he was much better and were going to release him. Then, on the same day they were going to release him, he passed.
I think his passing is the result of him being told two years ago that the Egyptian government was going to take all the land that is privately owned around the Sphinx and the Pyramids by eminent domain (including his home and shop). The government had not taken final steps to do that, but he was told that was going to be happening and in the past two years, both Richard and I saw and felt a noticeable decline with him.
I sent out an email to everyone on my past Egypt trips and I have to say I was stunned at the responses I received. So many people wrote to tell me that was the most fun shop we went to, but also about the oils and about Egypt itself.
I got this incredible one from Meghan (remember this happened the day before!):
Even though I only met him once, he left a deep ripple in that great web we’re all connected through. His spirit actually brushed up against me yesterday. While getting ready, my eyes were pulled to my fragrances and landed right on the two bottles I brought home from his shop. I haven’t worn that scent in at least two years, but I felt drawn to it and put it on. Instantly I was back there in my mind with the delicate bottles, the tea, the warmth, and that feeling of wanting to bring home far more than I could afford, lol.
Memories kept surfacing throughout the day… the messages I received on that trip, the sense of being guided, and the honor of being one of the few allowed inside the Great Pyramid for a private visit. I remembered lying inside the sarcophagus, singing, and feeling the sound move through me as if my whole body were lifting. I imagined thousands of voices doing the same in ancient times, helping guide kings and queens into the heavens. It was one of the most profound spiritual moments of my life.
All of that kept returning yesterday. There’s no doubt something was moving through the web of life. His presence mattered. His life radiated far beyond what he ever knew, and I think many of us will find these memories resurfacing now, reconnecting us to Egypt, to each other, and to him.
Isn’t that just incredible? And that’s what happens with going to Egypt. It stays with you for years, actually forever. Richard’s brother and his wife went with us this year and they told us recently that somehow the Egypt trip comes into their thoughts almost every single day.
Isn’t that amazing? It’s just life changing.
As Jane said...
It’s so true.
So many of the people wrote me and said “I want to go back to Egypt again with you.” I love that so much.
It’s not too late to go to Egypt on one of our next trips. They are:
- February 16-March 1
- March 2-15
We are still looking for a female roommate for the first trip – if you’re interested, contact me at [email protected].
It’s the Holidays—And People Want Experiences
As we move into the holiday season, it’s worth remembering what studies keep showing: people are craving experiences, not more “stuff” that gets used once and forgotten. Meaningful adventures, shared memories, and life-changing moments are what people value most now.
And honestly, what could be more unforgettable than standing between the paws of the Sphinx or meditating inside the Great Pyramid?
If you’ve been feeling the pull, this may be the perfect time to give yourself the gift of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Plus to have friendships that last a lifetime – it’s priceless.
Andrew says the Egypt trip "was truly amazing and beyond my wildest dreams! If you ever want to go to Egypt, traveling with Sedona Soul Adventures is the absolute best decision you could ever make!"
"Ever since my Sedona Soul Adventure seven years ago, I'd been longing to join Debra on her Return to Egypt trip. When all the stars finally aligned and I reserved my spot, I was anticipating a unique adventure. But what she and her partners with Guardian Travel delivered was truly amazing and beyond my wildest dreams!
I can't express how supportive it felt going to a foreign country with EVERYTHING already taken care of. The transportation, the hotels, the dining, the excursions, the itinerary, the private entries & VIP treatment, our tour guides, and so much more were all expertly managed and well beyond any expectation. I felt completely safe and well taken care of the entire time.
The iconic places I've only seen in books or online came alive in a way beyond description when visiting them in person. Whether cruising the Nile topside on a lounge chair, or hovering over the Valley of the Kings at 500 feet in a hot air balloon basking in the golden morning mist, or simply enjoying a lavish peaceful lunch with newly made friends overlooking lush sugar cane fields, every moment felt surreal and dreamlike.
If you ever want to go to Egypt, traveling with Sedona Soul Adventures is the absolute best decision you could ever make! My heart is overflowing with gratitude, my dreams are filled with fond reminiscence, and my soul dances with a new expansiveness. Thank you Debra, Richard, Sedona Soul Adventures, and Guardian Travel!!"
~ Andrew L.
Read more amazing testimonials here.
Anne says, “Before my Soul Adventure, I was completely burned out and feeling empty. After, I feel so healthy and so much happier.”
Isn't that the whole point of our lives? To be healthy and happy!
Call us at (928) 204-5988 or request a call from one of our Soul Guides and they will call you. They'll connect in with you in a deep way to bring you from where you are to where you want to be.
Did you know Sedona Soul Adventures was named
“Best of Sedona” for Retreats for 2020-2024,
“Best Marriage Retreats in the US” 2015-2025 and
one of the "11 Best Couples Retreats Around the World"
by Bride's Magazine in 2022? Plus we were named one of
Global Radiance Review's "20 Most Trustworthy Companies of 2023"
and “Ten Best Companies of the Year for 2024” by CEO Views.
It’s because what we do gets results - call us now, let us help. As I always say, if you knew what could happen, you’d be calling right now.
What area of your life do you need help with most right now…
Your relationship?
Finding your life purpose?
Loss of a loved one?
Healing & pampering?
Or is it something else?
Because we’re here for you - and we’re even open on Sunday!
Remember, there's no cost or obligation to speak with a Soul Guide and have them custom-design the perfect retreat just for you in Sedona or At Home.
Call us at (928) 204-5988 or request a call from one of our
Soul Guides and they will call you.
New Puppy Report – Patricia is holding her own with the big dogs
It was so cute – we had so many responses to the newsletter last week introducing you to our new puppy, Patricia.
This week Richard and I are out of town and she had her first stay with our beloved (and much needed!) dog sitter, Deb. Deb has lots of beds for the different dogs (it's a doggie day care) and she pointed to this one and said, "This was always Missy's favorite" (Missy was our Labradoodle we lost in August). I got tears in my eyes.
The next day she sent us this photo of Patricia curled up in the same bed and said, "She went straight to it." We discovered last week through our pet psychic that Patricia is the reincarnation of Missy.
And then Deb sent us this precious video of Patricia holding her own with the big dogs (and of course, she's with her brother, Beauregard, who's looking out for her). In her message, Deb said, “She’s so stinkin’ cute!”.
Wishing you a week filled with health and happiness!