A Sacred Journey

practicing pilgrimage at home and abroad

I’m Back! A Peek into Our Young Adult Pilgrimage to Ireland…

Ireland 2015

I’m back from leading a young adult pilgrimage to Ireland with Christine and John Valters Paintner of Abbey of the Arts!

I originally intended to write about Holy Week today, but I decided to share some snapshots of my recent journey instead. (There will be more on Holy Week this Friday, along with a great list of resources—I promise!)

The theme of our pilgrimage was “the soul’s slow ripening,” and it was an inspiring week filled with Celtic wisdom, camaraderie, and soul stirring. I hope this recap takes you straight to the Emerald Isle on this first day of April as the world surrounding many of us continues to turn green.

Here’s a peek into our daily itinerary, as well as images and captions I shared via Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter each day of the pilgrimage.

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I don’t Feel Prepared, and That’s Okay (Walking the Camino: Take 2)

I just dropped my husband Kyle off at the airport. He’s walking the Camino de Santiago—for real this time. Here are his final thoughts upon departure, and he plans on sharing new discoveries and pictures from the road when he returns in May.

I’m heading off on my own pilgrimage soon as well and will return at the end of March. Until then the Journey Shop will be closed and you won’t be seeing much of me here, but you can follow along on my journey through Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. -Lacy 

I’ve been planning on walking the Camino for a few years now.

I was supposed to walk it last fall, but I injured myself (on a training hike, ironically). I’ve built up a grand vision in my mind of how I want this journey to be, and how I want it to change me. I’ve almost constructed a new version of myself—a man who looks like me but is much healthier, stronger, wiser, and has a clear direction in life; a man who truly knows who he is; the man I compare myself to, but have yet to find.

I hope to meet and become this man, and as my departure looms closer and closer, I feel the pressure to prepare for the trip—not only physically, but mentally and spiritually, too.

I don’t feel prepared.

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What’s Saving My Life Right Now

window

With my sudden week-long departure last week, I owe you an explanation.

Not because I have to post each week in this space—at times that’s both unrealistic and unnecessary. Instead, I want to share with you about my time away because it was an act of self-care—an unfolding spiritual practice in this very full season—and I want to invite you to do the same in times when the events of life carry you away from your center.

You might remember that my husband, Kyle, and I bought our first house toward the end of last summer. Since then we’ve been working on turning our basement into an income property, and though we’re closing in on the finish line, everything seems to be happening all at once, demanding our evenings, our weekends, and often interrupting our workdays. Add into the mix the fact that we’re both preparing to leave the country on our own respective pilgrimages (I’m co-leading a journey to Ireland and Kyle is finally walking the Camino), and our current circumstances quickly become overwhelming.

As a highly sensitive person, I’ve been aware of this for a while now, watching my anxiety build and my capacity decrease as the weeks progressed. The things which often act as an anchor were being uprooted—my home became noisy and chaotic, my backyard a construction zone, my time seemingly robbed and my finances draining (people warned us that renovations always take longer and cost more, and they were right).

Even my workplace was disrupted as they cut into the wall behind my desk to make repairs to the pipes in the neighboring bathroom—a metaphor for the greater ways in which my work and capacity to create were suffering, no doubt.

I felt as if I were drowning—grasping to simply stay afloat. Then, one day while driving, the Mary Oliver poem, “When I Am among the Trees,” appeared in my mind as if a message from my soul—

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily…

And, they do. At that moment something within me shifted, and the burden of what seemed to be drowning me was lifted as I began to focus on the glimmers of the Sacred that were saving my life, acting as the source of Life and the face of the Divine in this overwhelming season.

Apart from the trees and my daily walks in the forest, here’s what’s saving me right now:

These things are saving my life right now, and daily. They might seem simple in nature, but in this season they mean the world. And, in the end, isn’t it often the simplest shifts that can make the greatest difference? A shift in perception is always a miracle, no matter how small.

I took time away last week to take one thing off of my to-do list, to tend to what matters most, and to regain my footing. I painted walls, took walks, and stayed in my pajamas a little longer. And although I’m back at work—the construction continuing below and my departure drawing ever near—things feel different. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by all that surrounds me, I’m savoring the ability to press pause and am holding close to the simple things that are saving my life—things that call me to return and remember—little miracles, indeed.

GO FURTHER…

What’s saving your life right now, offering you glimpses of the Sacred when you need it most?

This Lent, Make Space for Spring (+ lent resource sale!)

first forest blossoms

Lent means spring. Did you know that?

So often Lent is associated with death and with fasting, but that’s not the whole story. It’s about the stripping of the false self in order to call forth the true self—the imago dei. It’s about surrendering the things that don’t give life in order to allow the things that do to flourish. It’s about clearing away the brush of winter and making space in our lives so we can tend to the new growth that comes with spring.

Lent is about omission and waiting, yes, but it’s also about taking action—about drawing close to God so that we may be refined, refreshed, and made new, just as Jesus was in the desert.

If you’re looking for a guide, I have a special offer for you: Now through February 24 at 11:59pm PST, receive 25-50% off Lenten resources from A Sacred Journey!

A Sacred Journey Lenten Resource Sale

LEARN MORE
 

What will I be doing this Lent?

I’ll be giving up my typical morning reading during the season of Lent to make space for reading Scripture again. I’ve been taking a break for a while and am curious eager to revisit the stories of Jesus with fresh eyes as I learn from his life what it truly means to strip off the false self and allow the true self to bloom. Because of its ties to Celtic spirituality, I’ve chosen the gospel of John, and I’ll be practicing lectio divina with each passage in hopes of gleaning Sacred wisdom both old and new.

Interested in joining me? I’ve created a free guide to help make this practice your own during the season of Lent (PDF). Click the image below to download the guide and feel free to pass it on!

Lenten Lectio Divina: John

GO FURTHER…

In this season of Lent, how will you usher in a springtime of the soul by setting aside the things that inhibit growth and making space for the budding of Sacred blooms?

A Prayer for Valentine’s Day (and every day)

Valentine's Day Prayer

I just returned from my annual pilgrimage to the post office to pick up a book of stamps decorated with hearts, which can only mean one thing: Valentine’s Day is almost here.

(I buy Harry Potter stamps otherwise.)

I’ve always been a fan of Valentine’s Day. My family has celebrated the holiday with small gifts and Valentines since I was young. Plus, here in the northern hemisphere it’s always a bright spot to look forward to in the midst of a winter slump.

However, I come across disdain for the holiday year after year—it seems that there are just as many people against Valentine’s Day as there are for it. More often than not, this frustration with the holiday has to do with romantic love and broken hearts. What if we started to think of the holiday it differently?

As my interest in the liturgical seasons in the Christian calendar has grown, I’ve also started to notice the liturgical seasons and feast days we participate in as a culture—summer vacation, the Fourth of July (in the US), the onset of autumn (and everything pumpkin spice), Halloween, the Super Bowl (apparently), and of course Valentine’s Day (the list could go on). Sure, they’re often cloaked with consumerism, but just as with the liturgical seasons of the Church, these cultural holidays offer annual invitations for our everyday lives if we choose to listen.

What if this year you made this Valentine’s Day a celebration of love—not simply romantic love that might come and go with each year’s passing, but rather the Love that brings healing and draws us closer to our True Selves and the Divine?

A great invitation, right? However, as with liturgy, it’s always nice to have a written guide. The prayer below has been pinned above my desk for many years. May it help you celebrate and surrender to the Love that never fails to bring Life—this Valentine’s Day and every day.

THE LOVE PRAYER

Today I remove all boundaries and walls,
Once used as a means of defense,
I forgive those things from the darkened past,
That in love’s divine realm make no spiritual sense.
Releasing all worries, all burdens and doubt,
I bring light to the shadows of fear.
By centering myself with a loving thought,
Harsh judgments I no longer hear.
The greatest experience that life has to give,
Is love from an open heart,
For it moves me to appreciate all there is,
And I’m one with it all, not apart.
It’s love that brings me closer to God,
And leads me according to God’s way,
Love’s light warms my spirit, it nurtures my soul,
And assures me everything is okay.
I am one with God and never apart,
As I live this day with an open heart.

(Poem from a card distributed by Unity Temple on the Plaza in Kansas City, MO)

GO FURTHER…

How can you celebrate love this Valentine’s Day (and every day)?

When I Am Among the Trees: Engaging the Body in Spiritual Practice

Trees Ravenna Park

How do you incorporate your body into your spiritual practice?

Tonight is the second session of the “Pilgrim Principles” class I’m teaching at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church here in Seattle and we’ll be spending time exploring the second pilgrim principle: “A pilgrim practices somatic spirituality.”

The word somatic means “of or relating to the body.” Somatic spirituality, then, is a spirituality that doesn’t ignore the body (as we so often do when it comes to matters of faith), but rather embraces the body as both a valued participant and conduit in our spiritual search.

A spirituality that incorporates the body is essential for the pilgrim, because a pilgrimage is not only a journey that takes the pilgrim to a foreign land, but also a journey that engages the senses—taste, touch, sight, smell, sound—each serving as windows that can lead to Sacred Encounter and transformation.

I know this to be true now more than ever because of my daily walks in the nearby forest. I began taking these walks simply to get exercise, but it didn’t take long for my daily walk to become one of my most treasured spiritual practices.

Ravenna Park

I don’t listen to any music or podcasts on these walks, nor do I bring any reading for inspiration. Thoughts will fill my mind, as they inevitably do. But I’ve learned to allow them to come and go, instead surrendering to the steady movement of my steps and the stimulation of my senses—the sound of the trickling stream, the sight of the bright green moss beside the overcast sky, the feeling of the cool breeze against my cheeks and the soft forest floor beneath my feet.

Ravenna Park

In the few months since I began my daily walks, the sights and sounds and smells of the forest have become ministers to me in ways distinct from the prayers or passages more typically associated with the spiritual journey. As Mary Oliver says in her poem, “When I am Among the Trees,” these walks in the forest “save me, and daily.”

I want to share this poem with you today, alongside images captured from my daily walks over the past few months, in hopes that they might inspire within you a more somatic spirituality that comes to save you, too.

Ravenna Forest
“When I Am among the Trees”
by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

Ravenna Park

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Ravenna Park

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

Ravenna Park

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”

Ravenna Park
Find this poem and more of my personal favorites, including “When Roses Speak, I Pay Attention,” in Mary Oliver’s volume of poetry entitled Thirst.

GO FURTHER…

How do you practice somatic spirituality? How does incorporating your body into your spiritual practice “save you daily” as Oliver implies? Share your response to the question or the post in the comments.

PS: a yoga + prayer practice

Practice: Welcoming Your Emotions (+ a meditation inspired by Rumi)

Guest House, Rumi

I first discovered the wonderful world of the Sufi mystic, Rumi, almost five years ago through his poem, “The Guest House.”

It was the beginning of a season of self-discovery as well as an introduction to self-care for me, and Rumi’s declaration was both radical and freeing. I wanted his words to be a daily invitation, and so I commissioned a friend to write out and illustrate the poem so I could frame it.

The framed poem and illustration now hangs above the corner chair in which I practice centering prayer (almost) every morning, and I secretly hope that as I sit there in silence it beams its wisdom on me from above since I’ll forever be a novice at welcoming all the parts of myself, learning anew each and every day.

Here’s the beloved poem, “The Guest House,” as translated by Coleman Barks:

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

This evening my “Pilgrim Principles” class at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church will meet for the first time and we’ll be exploring the first pilgrim principle: “A pilgrim looks for the Sacred in the Quotidian.”

The pilgrim knows that even the most ordinary aspects of our days can serve as windows to the Divine. One everyday aspect that is often overlooked, and yet can consistently offer insight into our soul and the work of God within our lives, is our everyday emotions. Inspired by Rumi’s poem, this evening we’ll be participating in a meditation that encourages us to welcome the emotions that greet us each day, and I want to share it with you here so you can journey with us from afar.

MEDITATION

Find a comfortable spot free of distraction and have your journal close by. Settle in with a few moments of silence and steady breathing and then direct your mind to the emotions that have decided to greet you today. Some might be obvious, such as worry that already has your mind racing or relief brought about by a slow day ahead. Other emotions might be lurking in the background, not as easily translatable but still present, such as shame or sadness.

Take a few moments to explore these emotions, not going too deeply, just simply noticing their presence. As you notice them, acknowledge and welcome them, no matter how uncomfortable or unsettling they might be.

close your eyes and explore your emotions for a few minutes, welcoming them

Now go a bit deeper with the emotions present, especially the ones that are surprising or strange, and begin to wonder what they might be trying to tell you. Do this internally first, making space for the Sacred Guide to give you insight rather than allowing your analytical brain to take over.

close your eyes again and spend a few minutes wondering about what your emotions might be trying to say

Close your meditation with a breath of gratitude for your emotions and what they communicate to you, and then write down any new discoveries as a reminder of what your feelings can convey. As you go about your day, carry the purpose of this meditation with you in your heart. Become aware of your emotions as they arise, welcoming them and finding Sacred meaning within. You might be surprised at the wisdom found in things so seemingly ordinary.

(Meditation excerpted from Pilgrim Principles: Journeying with Intention in Everyday Life.)

GO FURTHER…

How can you begin to welcome your emotions as they come to you each day rather than rejecting them or pushing them away? Share your response to the question or the post in the comments.

Celebrating Epiphany: My Word for 2015

My word for 2015: RELEASE

Today is the feast of Epiphany in the Christian liturgical calendar—a day (or season, in some traditions) to mark the revelation of God and the manifestation of the Divine.

Epiphany marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas and is traditionally when we remember the visitation of the three wise men who were guided by a mysterious star to the Christ child. After this visitation, they encountered the Sacred in a dream which altered their path, encouraging them to return home by a different way.

Over the past few years as I’ve learned more about the liturgical seasons and feast days, I’ve been especially intrigued by the feast of Epiphany. I feel like it’s a little gem—an appropriate bookend to the Christmas season and a meaningful way to begin the new year. The word epiphany, from the Greek word epiphaneia, literally means “reveal,” and by definition marries the Sacred with the secular—”a manifestation of the Divine” with “a moment of sudden insight or revelation.”

What I love most about the liturgical calendar is its invitation for our everyday lives. Today, on the feast of Epiphany, we are not only invited to remember the wise men who visited the Christ child so long ago. We are also invited to contemplate the manifestations of the Divine within our own lives—our own places of Sacred Encounter—as well as celebrate our sixth sense of intuition, active in such moments of sudden insight or revelation and sourced from our Inner Witness, the place where the True Self and Divine meet.

After awaiting the Incarnation during the weeks of Advent and celebrating “God with us” during the twelve days of Christmas, Epiphany invites us to participate in the mystery of Divine revelation and celebrate that Sacred Light that guides us from within—both two thousand years before us and in the days, years, and centuries to come. What better time to open ourselves up to the mysteries and revelations of the year ahead?

While ceasing and feasting during the Christmas season, I took some time to reflect on the year that had passed and contemplate the year ahead—a spiritual practice that has become one of my favorite traditions over the past few years. For the second year in a row I was guided by Christine Valters Paintner’s annual “Give Me a Word” series, and as I crossed the threshold from 2014 to 2015, I paid holy attention for an epiphany—a Divine revelation in the form of a word that would inform my journey in the year ahead.

Christine describes this process as similar to the practice of lectio divina, in which we open ourselves up to the presence of God (traditionally while reading a Sacred text) and wait to see what, in her own words, “shimmers.” Last year the word (or phrase) that “shimmered” for me was sink in. It foretold of many desires to be met and many lessons to be learned—areas of growth that no doubt continue into the new year.

My word for this year? Release. 

It arrived in early 2015 in the true form of an epiphany—a moment of sudden insight or revelation—and as I’ve held that word in prayer and contemplation over the past few days it’s continued to “shimmer.” I couldn’t imagine a better word for the year ahead. The invitation to release is both a gift and a challenge, which seems to me a good indication that it is indeed an invitation from the Divine—one who seeks to both bless us and guide us on the ever-evolving path of transformation.

In the spirit of Epiphany, I’ll be holding this word close to my heart as 2015 unfolds, following it like the shimmering star that guided the wise men long ago as it leads me on my own mysterious and revelatory journey toward the Divine.

GO FURTHER…

What’s your word for 2015? Any resolutions that will impact your journey? Share your response to the questions or the post in the comments.

PS: Today marks the first anniversary of my book, Pilgrim Principles: Journeying with Intention in Everyday Life! Help me celebrate by passing it on to someone you think might enjoy it. Send them here »

PPS: Tomorrow (1/7) is the last day to receive $10 off when you register for my “Pilgrim Principles” course at The Center at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, WA.  I’d love to have you join me! Learn more and register »

Merry Christmas from A Sacred Journey (+ gifts for you!)

Christmas stockings
Let the countdown begin!

Not long from now, the day will fade into night and our Advent vigil will shift into full-on Christmas celebration. I like the Jewish idea that the day begins and sundown—a time of rest, of quiet, of mystery. I experience the beauty of it most of all on Christmas Eve as we pause from the cultural hustle and bustle and gather together by candlelight, remembering that mysterious, (not so) silent night so long ago.

And then with the birth of Christ comes a celebration—twelve days of it in fact. I’ll be entering my own time of rest, quiet, and mystery over the twelve days of Christmas as I take a break from A Sacred Journey, slowing down and spending time with things less technological and more tangible.

When New Year’s rolls around, I’ll also take time to reflect on the year that has been and and the year to come—one of my favorite traditions that has taken shape over the years. Here are some of my favorite resources from friends of A Sacred Journey if you’d like to join me:

How to Do an Annual Review from The Meaning Movement
Give Me a Word from Abbey of the Arts

Another gift for you: On Christmas Day (December 25 from 12am PST to 11:59pm PST), the Kindle edition of Pilgrim Principles will be over 50% off! (Sorry—US only.) Might I suggest starting the year off with the intention of the pilgrim with this seven-week journey right at home? It’s hard to believe it was released just this year!

I’ll be back on January 6 (Epiphany!) to share my word for 2015 and what the year holds for A Sacred Journey. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2014 Christmas card

our 2014 Christmas card

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