Pilgrimage Still Unfolding
It is interesting that my Pilgrimage that took place in June is still unfolding now. Of course, it is! I don’t think at the time of signing up, I was aware that it would.
My Pilgrimage this year has changed me forever and shaped my life in new ways. Through walking mostly solo and in silence, I reached the very heart of me.
In my previous post about my Pilgrimage, I shared how I put my intentions for my Pilgrimage aside as I felt an invitation to BE. This felt like the biggest challenge. I was invited to be! Oh no, the invitation for my head to calm down, to not engage with the heartaches in my life, and to let discernment rest. As I signed up to travel with a group, I was also invited to not focus on fitting in, yikes. It did not make sense.
I could be doing a lot, and I understood: I had nothing to do.
What I see now, is that I traveled back to the creation of me, and I walked further and further away from my ego and who I was trying to be. In this space, I noticed all my coping strategies, and in this space of being, I found peace.
I found my core and fell in love with who she is.
In being, I am my most profound self. Gift to the world. Yes, dare I say it. When I offer the creation of me, not who I try to be, I am much more of a gift to myself, to God, and to others. No one needs the version of me who tries hard; the world only needs my presence.
What if that really is enough?
And I pondered; What is my presence like? Who is she?
The further I got into my Pilgrimage, the quieter I got, the less I needed, the more satisfied I was.
I loved spending time with her, the one whom I was intended to meet and then subsequently hang out with. And that we did; numerous coffee shops along the way offered pauses to deeply care for her, to be and listen.
I mentioned that my Pilgrimage is shaping my life in new ways. I still do not have the words to explain this more. This is the mystery of it all. My daily walks bring me right back to June and keep the invitation alive today, the invitation to lean back and watch the world as I offer my presence.
If my experience inspires you in some ways, or you notice desires bubbling up, perhaps ones you do not have words for… consider coming on a Pilgrimage with me in June 2024. You can read all about it HERE.
Of course, we are all Pilgrims. Perhaps you would like to enjoy a little Pilgrimage right where you are. An important note: this Pilgrimage can take an hour, and it can take 6 hours. It is not about the number of hours that makes this worth anything. You can walk in a loop, and you can arrange for someone to get you to your destination. You can walk alone or with a friend. There is not one right way to engage in a Pilgrimage.
The Steps:
Make plans to go out for a walk in a place you have not been before and at a time you usually do not find yourself walking. It may require some planning.
Prepare your Pilgrimage by enjoying thinking about what you would like to wear and bring: How can you keep yourself warm in the winter, and cool in the heat of summer? What is your favorite clothing? Do you bring flavored water, a snack, fruit? Perhaps a favorite poem. Your journal (don’t forget your pen 😉.)
Spend some time pondering what you desire and need during your little Pilgrimage; perhaps you want to walk phoneless (though for safety, I do recommend you bring your phone, you can put it in airplane mode or on silence), maybe you want to look and gaze through the less of your photo camera. Do you want to walk in silence and leave your headset at home? Perhaps some music would be a nice company.
~ Spend time connecting with your desires and needs.
~ Try and listen to invitations that stir up from deep within. Follow them, even if they do not make sense (yet.)
Set your intention and spend some time journaling about this, or share with a friend or spiritual director.
The day has arrived! It is time for your Pilgrimage. Make sure you tell your loved ones where you will be and about your desire not to get disturbed.
Once at your location, before you start your walking, pause and take a few slow breaths, as many as calms you.
~ What are you sensing in your body?
~ Does your intention remain the same, or do you sense a shift?
Start walking, and as you do, start connecting with your body by thanking various body parts for executing this Pilgrimage. It might surprise you how calming and grounding this can be. Take your time doing this.
Now let the Pilgrimage do what the Pilgrimage can do, just walk. Keeping your intention close to your heart.
~ Take moments to pause and ponder.
~ Sit down, feel the slow pace, choose a slow pace.
~ Take time to journal. Eat a snack. Sit leisurely against a tree, breathe slowly, and listen.
Continue your walk. When your mind seems busy, go slower, breathe deeper, and listen for the sounds around you.
~ Whether you feel something is happening or not, trust this Pilgrimage is doing just what it wants to do. Trust you are right where you need to be.
You can pause as many times as you would like, or as you feel led.
When you come close to the end, pause again and take some time to journal about what this time was like for you.
When the end is in sight, pause and express gratitude to your body (mind, body, and spirit) for doing this with you. Praise yourself for showing up. Notice God having been present and share your gratitude. And as you get back to your home, remember, “her” work is ongoing.
You might want to ponder the mystery and keep it for yourself before sharing it with the ones around you. You may want to explore your journey in more depth with your spiritual director.
In Grace, MaddyChristine