The Call to Pilgrimage
The call of pilgrimage is a call to the sacred inside of us.
On the surface it may seem like going to a sacred site – the pyramids in Egypt, Cathedrals around the world, the Compostela in Spain, in Mexico to Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalup or to Peru to see the wonders of Machu Picchu – there is no shortage of sacred spots around the world that can entice the seeker.
Yet pilgrimage is much more than visiting sacred sites.
For some it is a day in the mountains, for others visiting the home of someone deeply admired. For others it may be sailing around the world, or following the trail of a respected master. No matter what it is, there is something inside our soul that calls us to a journey. It can also be a time to contemplate life following the death of a loved one, a life-threatening illness, a divorce or other life changing experience. While it might be tempting to say it is a bucket list item, something to be crossed off a list, I would venture to say that engaging fully with the experience will impact in ways that are unexpected and that possibly could alter the next part of your life.
My own pilgrimage journey began with a planned trip to Ireland. It was planned long before the departure date. At the time of booking it, I had no sense of why it was calling – only that it felt right to do it. In the time between that commitment and the actual dates it moved into the background as I was processing the need to sell my home to pay off debts that built up after my husband’s death.
It was an intense time with lots of letting go of the life I had built and the Computer Consulting business I had spent many years building. A process had started that was to become clearer in the weeks following the sale of the house. As I spent some time at my stepson’s vineyard working in the vines there was a something in the repetition of the tasks that stretched out with the seemingly endless rows of vines, that allowed my heart to breath again.
A simple innocent question from a physiotherapist I was working with hit a chord so deep I instantly knew what I would do next. Her question – “Have you ever though of walking the Camino?” – was as unexpected as my response to the instant whoosh that went through my body. Without a real knowing of what was involved, I began some preparation for a 100 day journey - Ireland on my preplanned adventure and training for the walking the Camino, Spain to walk the almost 500 miles pilgrimage, following by Bali to recuperate and integrate. I called it my Drink, Pray, Love journey.
Since that time, I have walked the Camino several times – there is something about the simplicity that continues to call my heart. After some time, contemplating what kept me coming back to the pilgrimage, I wanted to share it with others. I began talking others on the Camino as a new business.
A series of events in 2017 resulted in a shifting to creating pilgrimages to Mary Magdalene. This was spirit redirecting me to a new path. One that called me to create a different kind of pilgrimage – the search for the essence of Mary Magdalene. While I had not spent time thinking about Mary Magdalene, once I processed the powerful call, I realized the seeds had been planted as far back as 2005 when the book Anna, Grandmother of Jesus, showed up on an Abraham Cruise. The energy coming from the book was so strong I knew I had to find a copy.
The invitation to make the shift was given to me as a download from someone who had a message for me. Frankly it was not an immediate and powerful yes. Rather I sensed I would contemplate it and I agreed to read the recommended Kathleen McGowan Magdalene Line trilogy. Immersed in the series it was clear what my new path was. A very different path than the simplicity of walking pilgrimages that allowed for a lot of time for inner contemplation. This was now a search for something more deeply embedded in my soul.
My sense is that we will be called to a pilgrimage when there is something that our souls are wanting us to shift in our lives. When we open to the guidance, the pilgrimage will come into our consciousness. This will be by synchronicities that show up – a book, a talk by someone, music, or one of the many ways that spirt guides us. At that point it is fully up to you to make the decision to take some action. When I decided to do the 100 day pilgrimage it was not logical as I had a small amount of money left from the sale of my home. I was 60 years old and staring over. It was a time I had to let go of my logical computer brain and trust that I was on the right path.
Whether you decide to walk the Camino or do any other spiritual pilgrimage I encourage you to let go of logic and listen to your heart. I truly feel we are on a pilgrimage on the planet right now with Mary Magdalene urging us to come on board the River of Love and fully live the teachings of Yeshua and Mary Magdalene. She is here to guide us through this massive transformative time.
A book you may want to explore is Phil Cousineau – The Art of the Pilgrim
age. He explores the many kinds of pilgrimages. Some quotes from the book:
“To people the world over, pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise, an act of devotion to find a sources of healing, or even to do a penance. Always, it is a journey of risk and renewal. For a journey without challenge has no meaning; one without purpose has no soul.”
“But I also believe in pilgrimage as a powerful metaphor for any journey with the purpose of finding something that matters deeply to the traveler.