A pilgrimage is a journey,
often into an unknown or foreign place,
where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning
about the self, others, nature, or a higher good,
through the experience.
-Wikipedia
I’ve been reading and thinking lately about the idea of pilgrimage.
I love to go for a walk,
but I also love to be walking towards something.
To be on the way.
When I put a big walk on the calendar,
all the steps that I take to get ready for it are actually part of it.
My weekend hikes are part of my pilgrimage.
Even my reading and researching is part of the journey.
And I love this anticipation stage almost as much as I love the actual walk.
My “search for new or expanding meaning” has already begun,
which hopefully means I am walking through the world with an intentional openness.
I am keeping my heart open.
For whatever comes.
Here are the words of an email I sent out to the ladies who are coming walking with me in September:
You have already begun your ancient pilgrimage.
By committing to come on this walk,
You have started your journey.
In fact, every step you take to prepare to walk the Camino is actually part of your Way.
I hope that excites you as much as it does me.
The first step on any epic journey is the one you take out your front door.
In Norway, they call it the “doorstep mile.”
And every time you walk out your front door to go for a walk,
You are taking the hardest step there is.
The beginning.
Once you’ve begun a journey,
everything else is just an obstacle to be faced along the way.
But since you’re already on The Way, you have everything you need with you in order to face whatever comes.
Whatever is waiting for you around the next bend in the path is just something to walk through.
And the beautiful part is that you are not walking alone. We are all walking together.
We are already walking together, but in six months, we will be walking side by side!
I can’t wait!
Cheers to doorstep miles, to new beginnings, and to remaining open on the way!
PS. If you want to come on pilgrimage with me one day, shoot me an email on the contact form at the bottom of this page. I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop about future journeys!
