On Pilgrimage

Last updated on: July 23, 2011 at 8:08 am by luxpickel

On Pilgrimage 2011-07-23T08:08:14-07:00 luxpickel

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I am about to leave on a road trip, which I always try to practice as spiritual pilgrimage. My guide to that whole enterprise for many years now has been Phil Cousineau in his book, The Art of Pilgrimage. He says that a pilgrimage is a “transformative journey to a spiritual center.” This trip is not solely dedicated to the task of finding a spiritual center; it involves family connections, wilderness and mountain exploration, hospitality of friends. However, even with this variegated agenda, I making it a sacred journey.

Cousineau’s book is crammed full of inspiring lenses with which to view what one sees. It has accessible rituals for leaving home, honoring the sites at which one lands, returning hospitality as a listening guest, and practices that help to remember and record the gifts of one encounters.

Among his suggestions for this trip that I am taking are these:

Treat everything that comes my way as a part of the sacred time that envelops my pilgrimage.
Make sure that walking (some of it barefoot!) is part of my road trip, even though I am primarily traveling by car. I have been reading two books on prayer-walking, which are very insightful and energetic. In a sacred manner I am walking. With visible tracks I am walking. In a sacred manner I walk. White Buffalo Woman
Bless my leaving, my arriving, the spaces in between.
Root myself in sacred text each day.
Bring resources for remembering and savoring the Holy in each experience: journal, pencils, scissors, glue, picture, camera, talisman from home.
Listen deeply to all I encounter–people, earth, trees and grass, water, the Spirit in each of them.
Ponder as I go, especially wonder about the Saving Grace that has come my way in this wild and precious Life.

One adage Cousineau quotes again and again for the the traveler has given me pause: Pilgrim, pass by that which you do not love. As I have pondered that saying, I think he means that a wondering wanderer should go where her heart takes her and not be obligated to see the 10 Must-See lists written in every travel book and guide. However, I am musing on the reality that as we sojourn, whether on a road trip or a soul excursion, that we do find the things that surprise, baffle, and ever horrify. I think of the sojourner we call the Good Samaritan. Those earlier on his road passed by when they saw a person in trouble. And it cost him time, energy and money to stop for the one which his culture told him not to love. Yet he did with integrity and grace attend to the one who needed care. So I am adding a spiritual caveat to Cousineau’s adage: Pilgrim, stop where your heart leads you, where the Star of the Spirit stands still, where you recognize that God is in this place, even if you have not known it. Surely, this will be part of sacred pilgrimage as well.

So I set forth, away for some days from blogs and e-mails, from quotidian mysteries and caregiving, from newspapers and updates on the hour. I leave hearth and home in capable hands. I take myself out of the loop of convention and routine, entrusting myself to the mystery of the road and the Mystery we call God.

May the stars light my way and may I find the interior road. Forward! Traditional Irish farewell

spiritual practice

Previous Post

July 16, 2011

Blog Body and Spirit Sinew

Next Post

August 13, 2011 Watching for Signs

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category action Advent animals attentiveness Beauty blessing body Book Review Brigid Bruce Reyes-Chow celebration change Christmas church clergy misconduct community compassion creation David Hockney discernment Easter Eastertide election Epiphany faith faithfulness feminism forgiveness friendship God of all seasons Gods world Grace gratitude Healing hesychia Hildegard of Bingen Holy Spirit Holy Week hope hospitality humility inclusiveness invitation Jesus Christ journey joy justice kindness labyrinth Lent letting go Light listening Love Love & Salt making space marriage Mary Mechtild of Magdeburg memory Mothering mourning music ordination patience paying attention peacemaking Pentecost perseverance pilgrimage praising Prayer preaching presence reconciliation remembering repentance restoration sacred conversation sainthood Scripture reflection Seasons seeing clearly serving silence soul friend spiritual direction spiritual practice St. Francis storytelling suffering time Transfiguration Sunday transformation traveling trust truth-telling Uncategorized wisdom witness women Word work worship

Select a Month January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Bethlehem" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

God's Dwelling City of Kings Place of Peace House of Bread