Sacred Travel is foremost a mindset. It is something that happens within our being, regardless of our outer destination, for the true journey is a pilgrimage of the soul.
Many people go on vacation and walk away with stories of adventure, a bit of color and a feeling of rest…but that is far from being transformational. While on the other hand there are those among us who go no further than their backyard and experience tremendous spiritual growth.
If you are looking to set up a Sacred Pilgrimage for yourself and are lacking in funds, start by setting a date. Block out the days you wish to set aside for personal growth, and act as if you are going to be out of the State during that time. You will not be answering phone calls unless they are emergencies. You may even want to tell people that you know that you will be away, or better yet that you are taking a much-needed Staycation to recalibrate. Simple answers, make it easier to not receive a thousand phone calls during your time of introspection.
Plan your journey ahead of time, choose a location in your home or abroad (if you are so fortunate). When using our own space for the journey, we must make sure to set the stage. Taking time to make it comfortable and inviting…Setting up an altar where we can place items sacred to us. When Packing it’s important to bring enough provisions so we do not need to leave our sacred space until finished. Remember the more fully you can submerge yourself in the experience, the deeper into self you can go. Make sure you have a journal and a few good writing pens on hand, perhaps even some art supplies; as not all who journal do so in words.
When we choose to engage in sacred travel without leaving our homestead, it is important to step away from our regular habits. Disconnect from social media, television, computer, smartphones, and technological static. *I make an exception here for my camera. For me, taking pictures is part of my journaling. I love to capture moments and items that are seeped in the divine. That being said, if you do not have the willpower to resist picking up your phone every few moments then it’s best to use a real camera, not the one on your phone.
Once we have set out on our sacred adventure we should plan on staying in that mindset for the duration of the time allotted to the journey. This is important, as most people are impatient and somehow think results/answers should come quickly like a flash of lightning. When in fact, more often than not it takes much longer than you think and is far more subtle than hoped for. Learning the nuances of subtly is a spiritual art, it takes practice. One of the tips I give to my students when practicing any type of trance work or meditation is to stay past the point of discomfort. By this, I do not mean stay when we are in pain or about to wet ourselves, what I mean is…we all reach a point in which our mind starts saying “Is this it?”, “Am I doing anything, can I do anything?”, “What am I suppose to be doing?”. I am not immune to this distraction. It still shows up from time to time… telling me I have better things to be doing. I simply ignore it and keep on keeping on. It is after this point when we have crossed the threshold of our wondering mind, that we begin to truly connect.
Sacred tools, like drums and rattles, scrying mirrors, tarot cards & runes are helpful tools to take on our journey. But so is going for a walk in the woods, sitting by your favorite brook, listening to the sound of the trees, exploring art at a local museum, listening to Gregorian chants and Shamanic trance music. This is an adventure…you may spend it how you wish, and with who you wish. Most of my sacred travels are spent with like-minded spiritual seekers.
When I was younger and could not get away as easily, my sacred-sisters (women I practiced magic with) and I would go away for one weekend a year together. Most often this was at someone’s parents camp. We would work and play together or the weekend and walk away refreshed and ofter more clear of our personal path.
Now here is an important add-on…I know most of you are imagining Sacred Travel as a somber thing, filled with drumming and meditation, and that is true…but it is can also one filled with tasty libations, your favorite herbs, and laughter. After all, it is a time of stepping out of our day to day life and let us be honest we all like to eat well and celebrate.
The biggest factor in Sacred Travel is that we are there with our senses open. We need to savor every detail of the moment, allowing ourselves to fully be present instead of wandering around on auto-pilot like we often do in our everyday lives. Sacred Travel is a time of fully being conscious. It is a time of celebration and love for self and the amazing world we live in.
I personally go on a sacred journey just about every week. I began adding a weekly ‘adventure day’ almost 2 years ago; when my sister was struggling with illness. As part of her process, we decided to dedicate every Wednesday to spiritual growth and experience. Sometimes it is just us, sometimes others of our tribe join us. Most often we go to the Ammounousuc River, a place seen as a spiritual treasure to both of us. This practice has enhanced the quality of my life tremendously. Between the small weekly journeys and the larger ones I manage to pull off each year, I have created a life in which stepping out of my everyday reality & into my deeper soul consciousness is easily accessed.
I hope you enjoyed the read & that it inspires you to seek out Spiritual Adventure of your own. The world is an amazing place, whether our path takes us ‘just down the road a bit’ or around the world. Open your eyes, your heart, your ears, your entire being to the marvels of self & the universe and you will not be disappointed.
spreading love-salicrow
ps-if you enjoy my writing, make sure to check out my book!
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