"Pilgrimage begins not at embarkation but at the moment that you imagine the journey. The process of deciding to go on a pilgrimage is part of the experience, along with the decision of where to go, the preparation for the trip, and, upon return, the resuming of your usual life. Using all these various points as meditative, centering experiences will deepen the pilgrimage's effect upon you.
"In many religions, pilgrimage was a rare event, often the cornerstone of a rite of passage at a major life transition. Most religions emerged at times when lives were shorter, travel more hazardous, and resources more limited. Today's pilgrim can conceivably take one or more lengthy journeys each year. But pilgrimage is more than sacred sightseeing. A visit to an old church in your neighborhood can be more meditative than a month at Stonehenge. Ultimately, pilgrimage is an internal journey, which reflects and is reflected by the outer one.
"The first step of a pilgrimage is assessing your reasons for considering one. Is this the right time in your life to make a commitment to the inner change that pilgrimage will bring? Are you willing to open yourself to the challenges of the experience itself? Are you willing to let go of control, to let the experience speak to you? If not, you may wish to simply travel, without weighting your trip with the expectations that it be a spiritual pilgrimage.
"If you decide that pilgrimage still calls to you, you face two decisions: where to go and whether to travel with a tour group. To make the first decision, you must rely on your deepest inner promptings. Just because a friend had a spiritual experience at Lourdes does not mean that it's the right destination for you. Let your heart and your dreams speak to you. Be open even to unusual images or ideas that arise, for they may bear your personal truth. Your pilgrimage may be to a nearby unknown spot or to one of the historically important power places. Remember, it is the journey rather than the destination that makes up your pilgrimage.
"Once you have committed yourself to a pilgrimage, the journey has begun. Journaling, reading, discussion with others on spiritual issues, and artistic creativity can all be part of your preparation for the pilgrimage. Preparation, both inner and outer, is necessary. Just as you must take appropriate clothing for the weather, you also must decide what 'baggage' you should take with you and what you should leave behind, in your emotional and spiritual life.
"As part of this process, consider whether you should travel with others in a tour group or alone. Group travel, especially with strangers, has its own dynamic. Although this can enhance the pilgrimage experience — which does not necessarily mean making it easier or more pleasant — it can also provide so many distractions that you fail to satisfy your soul's purpose in making the journey. Conversely, having the details of residence and transportation taken care of can free you to concentrate on your inner experience. This can be especially helpful if your pilgrimage site is located in a country that speaks a language other than your native tongue.
"Once you have embarked on your journey, use each moment as part of the meditative process. Continue the searching that began before your departure. Many pilgrims find that simple rituals — lighting a candle every night, writing in a journal each morning, praying or meditating in specific ways and at specific times — deepen the experience. Meditation is the art of living in the present. Distancing yourself from your daily routine makes this both more difficult and easier. You may easily become absorbed in the challenges of travel itself, fretting endlessly over something you cannot control. Conversely, the changed setting can serve as a reminder that, indeed, we pass this way only once.
"Finally, remember that pilgrimage is not intended to be an easy path. Many early pilgrims made the journey more difficult by traveling barefoot or otherwise in discomfort. You will have some difficult, even miserable, moments on your journey. In the great myths of the hero's journey, there are always 'guardians at the gate,' threatening beings who must be dealt with before the adventure can proceed. An annoying roommate, a bus that breaks down, or a disorganized guide may be your 'guardians.' You can focus on them and on your distress, thereby trapping yourself in the negative moment, or you can accept their presence as a part of your pilgrim's learning, and in your struggle with them, learn and grow.
• "Assess whether this is an appropriate time for you to embark on a pilgrimage. If it is, examine your most heartfelt dreams and desires in order to ascertain what destination calls to you.
• "Begin the pilgrimage by employing as many meditation techniques as appropriate: pray, read inspirational literature, create some art, write in your journal, record your dreams, talk with spiritual advisors. The journey begins as soon as the journey is imagined.
• "Determine whether you will travel in a group, with a loved one, or alone. In making this decision, let your inner guide call to you. You may not generally enjoy traveling in a group, but the spiritual lessons that you need to learn may require it. Conversely, you may dislike being alone, especially in distant places, but you may have spiritual lessons that only solitude will teach you.
• "Before leaving, do everything you can to ensure that during your pilgrimage, you will not be interrupted by demands from your usual life. Do not plan to return email or access voice mail while away. A pilgrimage is not travel. You cannot attend to your deepest spiritual needs while also managing the details of business.
• "When on a pilgrimage, set up daily meditative rituals. Even something as simple as praying before a meal can take on a deeper meaning when performed on a pilgrimage.
• "Find a relic, a souvenir, or a reminder of your pilgrimage. Bring your pilgrimage home into your daily life this way.
• "Know that the pilgrim's path is not always an easy one. You will be tested in some way; otherwise it would not be a pilgrimage. Your learning lies as much in the difficult times as in the splendid, transcendent ones."
