Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Strategic Monk

Home
Contemplative
Neighborhood Pilgrimages: Pilgrims in a Public Garden

Neighborhood Pilgrimages: Pilgrims in a Public Garden

Last updated on: June 10, 2021 at 3:50 am by Greg Richardson

Neighborhood Pilgrimages: Pilgrims in a Public Garden 2021-06-10T03:50:28-08:00 Greg Richardson

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.

Pilgrims in a Public Garden

One of the places my neighborhood pilgrimages take me is wandering in a public garden.

I am fortunate to live in a place where we can wander in a public garden during daylight hours all year long. The garden where my pilgrimages take me most often exists as a refuge for native fauna. It has a meadow as well as citrus, olive, and pine trees. There is a labyrinth, an amphitheater, and a formal terrace. Volunteers do much of the gardening work.

Visitors, including pilgrims, are encouraged to follow the paths.

This particular garden is a good place for taking a pilgrimage. I appreciate visiting during the week, as early in the day as I can.

Our pilgrimage is not merely a way to spend time peacefully. We are not here simply to relax or take a break.

Being good pilgrims does mean taking our time and paying attention. The space and freedom of this garden make it tempting for some people to walk briskly and exercise their way through the experience.

Our work as pilgrims is different.

It is not enough for us to notice what has changed since the last time we visited. We are not in a public garden to appreciate all the work which has been done. Our focus is deeper.

We are not listening to overhear other people’s conversations. Our task as pilgrims is to pay attention to spiritual life in the garden. We listen to the sacred stillness which surrounds and infuses the sounds we hear.

Our attention is on how the flowers and butterflies, the trees and other wildlife point to spiritual truths.

Which aspect of our pilgrimage in a public garden draws our attention? Where do we find spiritual life waiting for us?

How do we start?

Spiritual Life in a Public Garden

I find it helpful to begin my pilgrimages in a public garden with a little stillness.

My walk to the garden often includes traffic and other noises. Walking to the garden I cross several significant streets and some commuter train tracks. Once I am past all that there are a few blocks to walk to the garden, which helps me slow down and be quiet.

Sometimes I sit down when arriving at the garden so I can listen to the stillness. After a few minutes I am able to walk around slowly and pay attention to what crosses my path.

For example, evergreen trees often remind me of cathedral spires. I reflect on them pointing to the stars. Also, I love the way they smell.

I remember the times I visited the arboretum where I went to school and walked in the tall evergreen trees.

The olive trees remind me of peace, and the people with whom I need to make peace again.

This particular public garden is designed to remind us where we are. There is both a Mediterranean and a Californian feeling here. The aroma of the pine trees and the citrus combine to make me feel at home.

My pilgrimages in a public garden are not intended to accomplish any specific goal. I try not to have an end in mind when I head into the garden.

The point is not to have a point. The goal is not to have a goal.

Our time in the garden is not about getting a job done. We are not keeping track or paying attention to that.

A pilgrimage in a public garden, or anywhere else, is a time to listen to spiritual life within us and all around us.

Where do we find spiritual life?

A Labyrinth in a Public Garden

Sooner or later each pilgrimage I make in this garden brings me to the labyrinth.

A labyrinth is not the same thing as a maze, not a puzzle to solve or a challenge to meet. Labyrinths are walking prayer practices which traditionally follow a pattern of three parts.

The first part is our journey inward. We start at the edge of the labyrinth and slowly, quietly make our way into it. It is a deliberate, contemplative process of taking one step at a time with time for breathing, listening, and being open.

The second part of the labyrinth is spending time at the center. We stand or sit at the labyrinth’s center to listen to sacred stillness until we are ready to leave.

The third part of our practice is our journey outward. We have listened and spent centered time and now return to a world which waits for us.

We may start on the edge of the labyrinth, but there is no beginning and no ending. Our journey brings us to the edge of the labyrinth and continues as we walk away.

Spiritual life is in the world around us.

Becoming Pilgrims in a Public Garden

We do not need to travel to historic places or remote shrines to become pilgrims.

Each of us is on a pilgrimage of our own. We choose what our next step will be and when we will take it.

Some of us need to take time to stop and rest. There are things we need to sort out for ourselves, questions and insights which require our reflection. It may be important for us to take time, breathe deeply, and listen before we take our next step.

Others of us need to stand up and begin to walk again. We may have needed to rest, needed to reflect when we sat down, but we have been sitting too long. Our next step requires us to stretch and put what we have sorted out into practice.

It might help us to find a public garden where we can explore this week. Once we choose our next step, the challenge is to take it.

We are pilgrims together. Each of us has insights and questions to share.

When can we begin a pilgrimage in a public garden today?

How can we become pilgrims in a public garden this week?

[Image by Kaarina Dillabough]

Greg Richardson is a spiritual director in Southern California. He is a recovering assistant district attorney and associate university professor, and is a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is StrategicMonk.com and his email address is [email protected].

Blog

Neighborhood Pilgrimages

Previous Post

June 8, 2021

Spiritual Direction: Where Are We Looking For God?

Next Post

June 15, 2021 Monastic Strategies: Each Morning We Begin Again

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Book Reviews Everything Else Guest Posts Leadership Monastic Strategies Neighborhood Pilgrimages Sacred Stillness Spiritual Direction Spiritual Practices Work

Select a Month May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the longest Gospel?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Luke Mark Matthew John