What
makes a Pilgrimage a Pilgrimage?
(The
October 1st 3-minute Weekly Insight from Spirituality U.)
Many of us would probably answer that question by
describing a very structured journey undertaken by extremely devoted religious folks.
But really, a pilgrimage can be any type of journey that has a significant spiritual
or emotional impact on our lives. In fact, a pilgrimage can just as well be secular
as spiritual. Some people find their lives as deeply affected by a trip to the
Baseball Hall of Fame as they do by a visit to a major religious shrine.
So, let’s take a look at what makes a trip a
pilgrimage and then let’s talk about the various steps involved in a sacred
journey.
As I see it, pilgrimages can come in at least four
varieties. First, there are pilgrimages that are required of members of a
religion. A good example of this type is the once-in-a-lifetime “Hajj--a visit
to Mecca required of most Muslims. Second, there are “elective” visits to religious
sites undertaken by deeply spiritual people who choose to undertake a sacred
journey as part of their religious practice. A good example here might be the
walk undertaken by thousands of Christians each year along the “Camino de
Santiago de Compostela” in Northern Spain.
Third, there are the seemingly non-spiritual excursions
that are converted into pilgrimages by something we experience along the way or
by an epiphany we have after our travel. We may have a casual encounter in an
airport or on a train that changes our lives. Or months after our travel we may
have a sudden realization that radically alters the way we see things.
Fourth, there are pilgrimages that take place
without any physical travel at all. I call these “virtual pilgrimages.” Here’s
a personal example: one day I was
longing to be at my favorite place on the planet: the beautiful high desert of Ghost
Ranch in New Mexico. I closed my eyes and suddenly was able to visualize myself
standing on the porch of the Ghost Ranch dining hall. I could see all of the
details of the mountainous terrain. I could hear the birds singing and the
coyotes wailing. I could savor the aroma of the pinion and the sage. It was
like instant teleportation. (And it saved a lot on travel expenses.)
If we actually have time to plan a trip, it can be
helpful to understand the steps that make up the typical pilgrimage. Such a journey
often involves at least six stages. These include: 1) the call (something that
draws us to make the trek); 2) the preparation (not just the reading of travel
books and the packing, but also the seeking out of spiritual advice and
sometimes counseling); 3) the journey (undertaken with an attitude of openness
to everything we encounter); 4) the arrival (which may be fulfilling…but can
also be disappointing or even disturbing); 5) the return home (with its
attendant letdown); and, 6) a time of reflection—a savoring of what happened during
the pilgrimage. This savoring may come weeks or even months later—with the
possible discovery of facts and lessons we weren’t aware of as we traveled.
So, the next time you travel for any reason, be
open to the chance that you may be on a pilgrimage. And if you plan a sacred
journey, make sure you pay attention to every step of your trip. Remember, “We
make the path by walking.”
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