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An international spiritual organisation that believes Jesus was an extraterrestrial being from Venus is planning its next pilgrimage - at a 'holy mountain' in Devon.

The Aetherius Society was founded in the 1950s by George King who says a voice told him he was to be the earthly representative of an inter-planetary parliament.

Cabbie Mr King, who died in 1997, claimed to have had an unusual encounter with "Master Jesus" at Holdstone Down near Combe Martin in 1958.

The cult, which is described as a 'growing religion' with a global following now has groups in several countries around the world.

And it is now organising a pilgrimage to its 'special' place on Saturday, July 28 for what is called "Operation Prayer Power".

(Image: SWNS - BRISTOL 0117 9066550)

On its website, the society says the operation is a "a cosmic mission" devised by George King in which "spiritual power is invoked through prayer and mantra and directed into a specially designed physical container for later release".

Speaking in a previous documentary, Mr King described the experience of meeting Jesus at the top of Holdstone Down hill.

He said: "It was very, very windy at the top of Holdstone Down. As a matter of fact it was quite dark by this time.

"Dimly out of the corner of my eye I saw something in the sky. Then I saw a being which kind of appeared before me - I didn't see him walk up to me, I opened my eyes and he was there.

"He was very tall, he was dressed in a long robe, he had long brownish hair - there was so much radiance around the man.

"I knew, although he didn't tell me, I knew that he was Jesus and that he had come from the planet Venus - I didn't have to be told, I just knew this.

"I think it was some sort of telepathic impression that I picked up. There was no denying it and there was no denying his presence."

(Image: SWNS - BRISTOL 0117 9066550)

Mr King said Jesus had arrived in a space craft and had "sent power through himself" to Mr King and into the mountain top at Holdstone Down.

In the documentary he said that he was "told later by inter-planetary sources that this mountain was holy".

He continued: "That's why we use Holdstone Down because we really truly believe that it is holy."

The society continues this tradition to this day, with July's meeting followed by a social event at a nearby venue.

According to the Aetherius Society, Holdstone Down is just one of several holy mountains - with another being located here in Devon at Yes Tor near Okehampton.

(Image: Getty)

Other holy mountains across the globe include Castle Peak in the Rocky Mountains near Colorado, Mount Ramshead in New South Wales, Australia, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Le Nid d'Aigle near Les Houches in France.

According to their website, the society’s beliefs cover a very wide spectrum of philosophy, religion, metaphysics and the spiritual sciences.

It is described as a 'growing religion' with a global following that basically cherry picks from different belief systems from throughout the ages.

They twist some details, add a New Age focus, and anchor everything in the teachings of founder Mr King, a Yoga-enthusiast-turned-author.

On its official website it states that its “philosophy and teachings come largely from highly advanced intelligences from the higher planes of Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn” but members say they view the society as “a spiritual brotherhood, dedicated to healing and service to mankind”.