You might not use the word “ritual” every day, but it’s likely that you participate in rituals on a regular basis.
Weddings, church services, graduations—each is a common occurrence that follows a ritualistic format, imbuing the event with meaning.
Intentional Living Archives
Living like a pilgrim at home is a daily practice, and when we begin to infuse everyday life with spirituality and intention, what once was ordinary becomes extraordinary. Find posts on intentional living below, explore specific practices for intentional living on the resources page, and sign up here to receive updates on new posts directly in your inbox.
5 Must-Have Qualities of Journey Companions
Though pilgrims of old often journeyed solo, they were not alone on their journeys.
Their communities journeyed with them vicariously, sending the pilgrim off with prayers and encouragement as the pilgrim willingly set off into the unknown. The knowledge of this support from afar fueled the pilgrim along the path, serving as a reminder that this was a journey worth making when they needed it most.
We, too, can benefit from the support of Journey Companions. Whether we are traveling on pilgrimage abroad or journeying through everyday life, Journey Companions accompany us in spirit and in presence, sharing our desires for the journey and joining us in solidarity and intention each step of the way.
Journey Companions can be pastors, mentors, spiritual directors, close family members, or treasured friends. The Celts had their own term for this—an anam cara or “soul friend”—a person with whom our shared connection is deep beyond words. Whatever the relationship, a Journey Companion should possess these five essential qualities:
Questions for the Pilgrim at the End of the Day
Reflection is an essential practice for the pilgrim.
Oftentimes, as we move through our everyday lives or travel from one destination to the next, it’s easy to miss the small moments where the True Self surfaces and the Sacred abounds. The spiritual practice of reflection heightens the pilgrim’s awareness of the journey at hand as they consider where Sacred Encounter occurred along the path and where the Sacred Guide is leading next. It is an especially valuable practice at the end of the day as the pilgrim seeks to draw meaning from their experience and make space for whatever the new day will bring.
To practice the awareness of the pilgrim, consider reflecting on these seven questions at the end of your day. Like the Ignatian practice of examen, use these questions as tools to highlight meaning in the day that has passed and look with intention on the new day to come.
My 2019 Sabbatical (+ a Sabbatical Episode with John Valters Paintner)
When I was in graduate school, I took a class on Sabbath.
We talked about the history of Sabbath in the Jewish tradition, began a Sabbath practice, and discovered what it really means to cease from doing and focus on being. Given my interest in pilgrimage, however, and my focus on long-term journeys, what stayed with me most was our exploration of sabbatical—an ancient biblical practice modeled after the Sabbath meant to offer rest for both people and the land.
For most of us, today “land” means our work in the world. And while the practice of sabbatical and taking significant time away from work is common for both academics and ministers, it’s not well-known amongst many other professions. It benefits, though, are extraordinary. In that same Sabbath class, we watched a TED Talk by Stefan Sagmeister, a graphic designer based in New York City. Instead of working straight through until retirement, he decided to bring retirement to him in bits and pieces, choosing to close his agency for a full year every seven years. Though unconventional, this practice, he said, has come to fuel his creativity for years to come. In fact, his work wouldn’t be as good without it.
S2:E8 | Entering Our Places of Darkness with Vanya Stier-Van Essen
No matter your journey, there will always be seasons of darkness.
Sometimes we find ourselves in these dark places, as with dark nights of the soul. At other times we choose to enter the unknown on our search for the Sacred. Either way, though unexpected, one thing is certain—hidden treasures can often be found in our places of darkness if we engage them with openness and curiosity. In today’s episode, I explore this topic and more with depth psychologist Vanya Stier-Van Essen.