Today’s pilgrimage: The inner journey
By
Chris O’Brien Typically, the word “pilgrimage” conjures
up images of the Crusades, bitter treks through the Himalayas and arduous
journeys to Mecca. But that’s not always the case—especially
today, when you can fly to the shrine of Mary Magdalene or take a cab
to Lourdes. More and more, a pilgrimage is about an inner spiritual
journey, often accompanied by the same challenges and obstacles as those
once found on the footpaths of our forefathers.
The origins of the pilgrimage are found in pre-Christian, pagan/shamanic
practices where it was often believed that certain deities resided on
earth in foreboding or seemingly unreachable places, such as mountain
tops and deep forests. The earliest pilgrims, holy men and warriors,
would make brave and dangerous journeys to seek the council or help
of such deities. Over the centuries, the same act of pilgrimage became
more about religious devotion, often including homage and even righteous
suffering. Skeletal remains of early European pilgrims show severe physical
damage, including musculoskeletal disfiguration and arthritis as a result
of endless treks without proper equipment.
Today, the typical pilgrimage tends to be more physically comfortable,
but usually includes the historically similar motives of religious devotion
and seeking help. Additionally, the modern pilgrimage often incorporates
the more secular idea of an inner journey or inner search for clarity
around traumatic or confusing life events.
Perhaps part of the shift from
outer to inner journey is the result of our overall psychological and
spiritual evolution. We humans seem to be better able to hold a connection
to the idea of the Divine or a sense of purpose without necessarily
needing to be physically in the presence of a holy person or place.
“In this day and age, and
with current geo-political conditions, travel is getting a little more
complicated,” says Lila Tresemer, president of the board and minister
at The StarHouse in Boulder. “People are becoming aware that the
traveling experience as part of a pilgrimage is not as necessary today
as it used to be. We have become more able to unhook from Œmundane’
consciousness so that sacred consciousness can be accessed anywhere.”
The StarHouse is a modern, trans-denominational
temple dedicated to spiritual and ceremonial practices. Surrounded by
200 acres of open space, it features a 12-sided, sacred geometric construction.
Also located on the grounds—four miles up Sunshine Canyon, west
of Boulder—are replicas of important shrines from around the world
that are used for pilgrimages.
“Our redefinition of the
word pilgrimage would take into account the idea that one can travel
internally, and what we’ve established here is a place that has
the echoes of sacred sites from other places,” Tresemer says.
Some of the sites on the ground
of The StarHouse include a labyrinth, a traditional, ancient tool for
meditation and inner pilgrimage, and a sacred well, created to mirror
the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, England. The StarHouse well even holds
some of the water from the Chalice Well.
The StarHouse caters to individual
and group pilgrimages by making the grounds available to pilgrims. Ministers
and other participants may get into costume and help guide pilgrims
through their journeys.
This type of modern pilgrimage
can be used for many purposes. Tresemer says that at The StarHouse,
some are religious in nature, while others are the “team-building”
type—less spiritual, but a lot of fun. There are pilgrimages specifically
for pregnant women and those for families. Some are for individual awakening,
others for grieving.
A local pilgrimage at The StarHouse can be set up for about $25 to $75
per person, depending on the size of the group and other requirements.
But for some, a pilgrimage is
all about visiting that sacred place. However, getting to some of the
mystical places around the globe can be challenging logistically. Travel
plans, language barriers and other details are sometimes impossible
obstacles. Knowing this, certain travel agencies have put together pilgrimage
packages for the would-be seeker. Demfer Travels U.S.A. offers complete
trips, such as eight days in Mejugorje for around $1500, including airfare
from New York. 206 Tours, Pilgrimages and Spiritual Journeys offers
trips all over the world. An eight-day Lourdes and Paris pilgrimage
runs from $1,800 to $2,100. Ten days across Ireland in the footsteps
of St. Patrick costs about $2,000, and $2,200 will take you to the Pyramids
for 12 days. The list goes on and on. Holy sites in India, Tibet, Greece,
Asia and the rest of world can also be visited through pre-arranged
tours.
But whether you travel to far
away places for religious devotion and worship or walk the labyrinth
one afternoon at The StarHouse, the main idea behind the modern pilgrimage
seems to be one of commitment to inner transformation, or at least a
sacred exploration of the self, often in relation to some sort of divinity.
For most spiritual seekers today,
traveling to sacred sites is an added luxury, whereas making the metaphorical
journey is the main requirement.
“The travel is only one
part of it,” says Tresemer. “If you choose to make a pilgrimage
through your inner land, you can still experience the sacredness that
those who travel do. What’s important is that the shift in your
heart is aligned with your actions and your intentions.”
A pilgrimage can benefit anyone,
religious or not. With the options available today, you don’t
have to have visions in the middle of the night, abandon life as you
know it and start hiking across the world. Any inclination towards religious
or spiritual devotion or self discovery is grounds for a personal pilgrimage,
one that can often be journeyed close to home.
Resources, local and beyond
For more information about the history of pilgrimages, or to find
out about local and foreign options, visit these websites:
The following Nexus advertiser offers spiritual adventure travel:
JULY/AUGUST 2008 FEATURE ARTICLES
