The following was taken from an email group I subscribe to called The Daily Om; (emphasis is mine):
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Since the dawn of spirituality, men and women have sought communion with numerous gods, goddesses, and traditions by leaving the everyday world behind and embarking on a sacred journey. Thus talk of the spirit and of the soul is full of references to travel: leaving yourself behind, walking the walk, and journeys of the soul. Making a pilgrimage is a deeply tangible way of connecting with your spirituality and discovering truths within yourself. The destination isn't as important as devotion and receptiveness, because it is while traveling (by foot, horse, canoe, or car) that you can meditate most deeply on your motivations for undertaking the pilgrimage. The experience is nearly always a quiet one, devoid of television, ringing phones, e-mail, or jostling crowds because a true pilgrimage takes you away from familiar surroundings in order to help you find divinity, healing, clarity, inspiration, or a new perspective.
Pilgrimage to a sacred site of any kind puts the traveler in situations where they must think and behave differently. A sacred journey can take one to far flung places such as Mecca, Kyoto, Europe, Guadalupe, or Cambodia, or camping in hushed forests, sailing through rough waters, or climbing mountains in one's home country. Your yearly vacation can become a pilgrimage, if that is your intent and you are willing to voluntarily give up some of the security of your normal life to experience a new and vibrant setting in a spiritual way. Choose one or more special places and spend a few days getting to know them intimately. Pack lightly, leaving the trappings of your world behind, and let go. Visit areas where people of importance to you, be they family members, heroes, or otherwise, lived, spoke, walked, and died. A trip to the grave of a favorite author can be a pilgrimage as much as a trip to a religious shrine.
Pilgrimages were considered vital to spiritual growth during much of history and, today, people are once again seeking that growth through travel. But, on such a journey, it is important to remember that most pilgrimages bring about gradual change. The stirring of the soul can happen anywhere. And it can solidify a spiritual experience, end doubt, and help you gain confidence in your chosen path. A new outlook may very well emerge from it.
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My last "pilgramage" was a drive north from Idaho through British Columbia and Yukon to Alaska. Six thousand miles of inner reflection while soaking up the outer beauty of the world around me.
I sincerely believe what the article said about these sorts of pilgramages: Making a pilgrimage is a deeply tangible way of connecting with your spirituality and discovering truths within yourself.
So now I'm in the mood for another road trip. Another pilgramage. I have some inner truths that need to be discovered, and travel sounds like the most appealing way to discover them.
I can't take another three week, six thousand mile trek across North America at the moment, but I was thinking of taking a drive back to my home town area where they hold an annual music festival called "Nowoodstock". It was a festival that started with impromptu jam sessions on the banks of the Nowood river, mostly folk and bluegrass sounding music, but pleasant nonetheless. It's evolved since its inception, and continues to evolve. The drive might do me good; eleven hours of solitude for inner reflection is a hell of a long meditation, and that's just traveling in one direction. The music, the sun, and the beer at the festival won't be so bad, either.
Here are a couple scenes from my last pilgramage:
http://www.hooglanderonline.com/photos/alaska trip 2004-03 014.jpg
The photo above was taken in British Columbia.
The photo below was taken just inside the Alaskan/Canadian border (on the Alaska side).
http://www.hooglanderonline.com/photos/alaska trip 2004 001.jpg
* * * * *
Since the dawn of spirituality, men and women have sought communion with numerous gods, goddesses, and traditions by leaving the everyday world behind and embarking on a sacred journey. Thus talk of the spirit and of the soul is full of references to travel: leaving yourself behind, walking the walk, and journeys of the soul. Making a pilgrimage is a deeply tangible way of connecting with your spirituality and discovering truths within yourself. The destination isn't as important as devotion and receptiveness, because it is while traveling (by foot, horse, canoe, or car) that you can meditate most deeply on your motivations for undertaking the pilgrimage. The experience is nearly always a quiet one, devoid of television, ringing phones, e-mail, or jostling crowds because a true pilgrimage takes you away from familiar surroundings in order to help you find divinity, healing, clarity, inspiration, or a new perspective.
Pilgrimage to a sacred site of any kind puts the traveler in situations where they must think and behave differently. A sacred journey can take one to far flung places such as Mecca, Kyoto, Europe, Guadalupe, or Cambodia, or camping in hushed forests, sailing through rough waters, or climbing mountains in one's home country. Your yearly vacation can become a pilgrimage, if that is your intent and you are willing to voluntarily give up some of the security of your normal life to experience a new and vibrant setting in a spiritual way. Choose one or more special places and spend a few days getting to know them intimately. Pack lightly, leaving the trappings of your world behind, and let go. Visit areas where people of importance to you, be they family members, heroes, or otherwise, lived, spoke, walked, and died. A trip to the grave of a favorite author can be a pilgrimage as much as a trip to a religious shrine.
Pilgrimages were considered vital to spiritual growth during much of history and, today, people are once again seeking that growth through travel. But, on such a journey, it is important to remember that most pilgrimages bring about gradual change. The stirring of the soul can happen anywhere. And it can solidify a spiritual experience, end doubt, and help you gain confidence in your chosen path. A new outlook may very well emerge from it.
* * * * *
My last "pilgramage" was a drive north from Idaho through British Columbia and Yukon to Alaska. Six thousand miles of inner reflection while soaking up the outer beauty of the world around me.
I sincerely believe what the article said about these sorts of pilgramages: Making a pilgrimage is a deeply tangible way of connecting with your spirituality and discovering truths within yourself.
So now I'm in the mood for another road trip. Another pilgramage. I have some inner truths that need to be discovered, and travel sounds like the most appealing way to discover them.
I can't take another three week, six thousand mile trek across North America at the moment, but I was thinking of taking a drive back to my home town area where they hold an annual music festival called "Nowoodstock". It was a festival that started with impromptu jam sessions on the banks of the Nowood river, mostly folk and bluegrass sounding music, but pleasant nonetheless. It's evolved since its inception, and continues to evolve. The drive might do me good; eleven hours of solitude for inner reflection is a hell of a long meditation, and that's just traveling in one direction. The music, the sun, and the beer at the festival won't be so bad, either.
Here are a couple scenes from my last pilgramage:
http://www.hooglanderonline.com/photos/alaska trip 2004-03 014.jpg
The photo above was taken in British Columbia.
The photo below was taken just inside the Alaskan/Canadian border (on the Alaska side).
http://www.hooglanderonline.com/photos/alaska trip 2004 001.jpg
That's high praise coming from you. Thank you.
