A Sacred Journey

practicing pilgrimage at home and abroad

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.

My Favorite Resources + Practices for Advent

advent-resources

Advent is finally here, and being the first season in the new liturgical year (after a lengthy Ordinary Time, I might add) it seems that many, like me, are eager to dive in.

In my latest monthly newsletter to subscribers, sent on the first day of Advent (Missed it? Sign up here), I shared reflections on the season and an invitation for us all in the days ahead:

Pause. Prepare. Keep Vigil. Wait.

Today I want to share with you my favorite resources and practices that align with these invitations and themes of Advent so that, as fellow pilgrims, we might journey together through this season of mystery, longing, and great anticipation. (It seems tailor-made for the Seeker of the Sacred, doesn’t it?)

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That Time When the Pilgrims Got It Wrong and Our Invitation Today

Thanksgiving

In recent years, Thanksgiving has come to be one of my favorite holidays.

As a child, my favorite holiday was Christmas, naturally, with the mystery, the wonder, and, of course, the gifts (okay mainly the gifts). Since I’ve started celebrating Thanksgiving as an adult, however, the holiday has taken on new meaning for me.

There’s something so special about gathering loved ones—whether given or chosen—around a table to celebrate Thanksgiving. Kyle and I love to cook, and as we’ve also become more convicted about what we eat, making it a priority to try to eat locally and sustainably, the Thanksgiving meal has become more than a delicious feast shared with good company.

When we set our favorite dishes on the table (pumpkin risotto being one of them) and sit down for the classic American meal, we find ourselves not only grateful for the family and friends that surround us and the food on our plate—we’re grateful for the land it came from, the hands that grew it, our passions that transformed it, and this community that we’ve come to call home. We don’t always share our gratitudes out loud, but the intention in our coming together says enough: We are here, we are loved, we love, and we are grateful.

Such a pretty picture of unity, isn’t it?

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5 Ways Spiritual Practices Can Help You Vote

5 Ways that Spiritual Practices Can Help You Vote » asacredjourney.net

There’s no denying it: Everyone who’s anyone knows that we have a big election in the U.S. coming up.

It’s also well-known that it’s been a rough and divisive election season—not just between candidates, but amongst family and friends as well—and many are left feeling they have difficult decisions to make when Election Day rolls around. In this season of chaos and uncertainty, spiritual practices can offer much-needed clarity of the mind and nourishment of the soul as we seek to stay present to our everyday lives. And while they might seem unrelated, when it comes to Election Day, I think they can offer some guidance as well.

HERE ARE 5 WAYS SPIRITUAL PRACTICES CAN HELP YOU VOTE:

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A Liturgy for Halloween?

A Liturgy for Halloween? » asacredjourney.net

It’s a rainy Halloween here in Seattle, and I have no plans of going out this evening.

It’s likely that no trick-or-treaters have plans of stopping by, either—we live on an arterial route, and it seems the kids tend to stay on the quieter streets. While I have a soft spot for anything festive and do love seeing kids in costume (and eating my share of the candy), that’s okay by me. Since spending time in Ireland and learning more about the Celtic tradition and the invitations of the liturgical year, Halloween and the days that follow have taken on new meaning for me.

Although today Halloween is a family-centric folk holiday focused on costumes, candy, and light-hearted frights (a healthy opportunity to play with our fears, I might add), when we think of the origins of the holiday a spookier era comes to mind—a time rife with witch trials, hauntings, and superstition. In truth, though, the roots of Halloween, far removed from today’s manifestations, stem from quite ordinary places.

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All about Sabbaticals on The Meaning Movement Podcast

The Meaning Movement Podcast

I’ve just returned from my trip to Bali, and while I won’t be sharing about my trip quite yet, there’s something that happened while I was away…

I was interviewed by Dan Cumberland of The Meaning Movement for his new podcast! I’ve been enjoying listening to his guests so far and it’s an honor to count myself among them. We talked about sabbatical—my own experience as well as how you can create one for you, too—and I can’t wait for you to hear it.

Click here to listen to the episode, or better yet, subscribe to The Meaning Movement Podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app.

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