Pilgrimage Archives

An ancient spiritual practice, pilgrimage invites seekers to travel away from home on journeys of intention in search of Sacred Encounter and transformation. Find posts on pilgrimage below, learn more about pilgrimage on the about page, and sign up here to receive updates on new posts directly in your inbox.

2 Signs You Can Always Trust

We’d all appreciate a sign from time to time to help us know the right path to take, wouldn’t we?

Pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela don’t necessarily need a map to make the journey—they simply need to follow the yellow arrows that indicate the direction of the path.

Just like the pilgrim on the road to Santiago de Compostela, there are arrows for the pilgrim on the interior journey, too—signs that you can always trust to lead you to your inner destination, whether you are a pilgrim abroad or in everyday life: what draws you in and what you have resistance to.

While pilgrimage might be a single spiritual practice, there’s no one way to do it.

Ultimately, what makes a trip a pilgrimage is the intention behind it and the presence you bring (that and the three elements required for any pilgrimage). Here are 10 types of pilgrimage, from outward journeys to inner ones and ancient destinations to modern:

It’s a story we know well from our favorite books and films.

An unsettled heroine or hero embarks upon a journey—planned or unbidden—that brings them to their edges, filled with trials, adventure, and new revelations. In the end, there must always be something that is surmounted—the game won, the dragon slayed, the challenge faced—but through this encounter, something is gained that has the power to change life entirely. In mythologist Joseph Campbell’s study on the monomyth or hero’s journey, this is called the “boon,” and it is not just a gift for the seeker—it is an offering to the world.

Are you ready to go on a meaningful journey?

While it’s easy to think the travel portion of a pilgrimage is the most significant part of a journey, oftentimes it’s the groundwork laid in the preparation phase that makes a journey meaningful. In fact, your pilgrimage actually begins in the preparation phase, from the moment you say “yes” to your inner stirrings. As you move from longing to action, thoughtfully planning for your journey can cultivate intention as you await your departure and allow for more engagement on your travels, clearing the path ahead for transformation. Here are eight things to consider when planning your pilgrimage: read more »

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:

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Which pilgrim path are you on?

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the pilgrim at home

the pilgrim abroad

2 Signs You Can Always Trust

We’d all appreciate a sign from time to time to help us know the right path to take, wouldn’t we?

10 Types of Pilgrimage: Which is Calling You?

While pilgrimage might be a single spiritual practice, there’s no one way to do it.

The Purpose of Pilgrimage: What is Your Offering to the World?

It’s a story we know well from our favorite books and films.

Things to Consider When Planning a Pilgrimage

Are you ready to go on a meaningful journey?

5 Must-Have Qualities of Journey Companions

Though pilgrims of old often journeyed solo, they were not alone on their journeys.

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