Today I began listening to The Art of Pilgrimage by Phil Cousineau. It is a book I am reading in preparation for a pilgrimage my Mom and I will take with a small group to Iona in late September.
The word pilgrimage has always carried a kind of sacred weight for me. I sensed there was profoundness within it, yet at the same time, the meaning felt somewhat ambiguous and difficult to fully grasp.
Ironically—or perhaps not ironically at all—today was also my first meeting with a spiritual director.
I will spend time with Kate preparing for this pilgrimage, but I am realizing I am seeking something deeper as well. I long to become more attentive to the Spirit and to better discern the invitations and nudges I feel each day.
Perhaps pilgrimage is not simply about traveling to a sacred place. Perhaps it is about becoming more awake to the sacred presence already surrounding us.
One quote from the book particularly struck me:
“If we truly want to know the secret of soulful travel, we need to believe that there is something sacred waiting to be discovered in virtually every journey.”
I am a strong believer that each day itself is a journey, and that the culmination of ordinary days can become a pilgrimage. If that is true, then perhaps we, too, must believe there is something sacred waiting to be discovered.
My sweet great-niece gave me a vivid image of this just yesterday while we played outdoors. She was stepping down from her backyard play structure to go eat her yogurt. In the video, you will notice that something catches her eye during the very short trip from point A to point B. Something hidden within the crack of the steps awakened her curiosity. She paused. She noticed. She explored what might be waiting there to be discovered.
Children seem to understand instinctively what we often forget—that wonder lives in the smallest moments when we are willing to pay attention.
I am only on chapter two of this pilgrimage read.
I am only one session into Kate’s wisdom, discernment, and gentle guidance.
But already I find myself wondering:
Do I carry a spirit of curiosity, wonder, and discernment with me each day?
Am I attentive to the sacred interruptions around me?
Is the Spirit at work in my heart and hands, even in ordinary moments?
Words often shared with someone embarking on a pilgrimage, I now share with you, wherever you may be on your own journey!
Be Safe and Well
Peace, love and courage.
