The power of pilgrimage:
What is it, how can you experience it, and why you should.
* ul) you’ve never been before
* Explore your limits - find out what you’re capable of
* To do something extraordinary for someone other than yourself
Pilgrimages frequently involve a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith, although sometimes it can be a metaphorical journey into someone's own beliefs.
In my case, my pilgrimage was a journey into my own belief in myself.
As I turned, 50, decided that I wanted to enter my next 50 years fitter than I have ever been. So I signed up for my biggest cycling challenge yet: The Vätternrundan is a 315km bike ride around one of Sweden's largest lakes - the farthest I have ever cycled in one session, and the added twist was that we were doing it overnight.
When I signed up I wasn't sure that I could actually do it. That's the mark of a good challenge. And my journey, my pilgrimage, started six months before the event with training.
A pilgrimage is a journey both physical and spiritual. The geographical aspect of the pilgrimage is a physical construct framing a journey of self-discovery and contemplation. They say it's not the destination, but the getting there that counts.
The pilgrimage could also a physical challenge of stamina and endurance. It’s not meant to be a walk in the park!
I’m not religious, but I love the developmental motivations behind pilgrimage.
What’s more, I reckon that whatever our beliefs, we can all benefit from the power of pilgrimage, and here’s why:
1. Break out of your usual routine, and your comfort zone to explore something else.
2. See what you’re made of. Demand something extraordinary of yourself. The chances are, you won’t let your self down.
3. Take yourself to a new level (whether that be enlightenment, fitness or spiritual connection)
4. Mark a significant life stage, and reflect on both how far you’ve come and where you’re going next.
5. Give yourself a new sense of purpose. Give yourself an opportunity to ask yourself what’s really important to you.
6. Earn yourself a new sense of achievement.
7. Create a platform from which to build. If you can do this, then what more are you capable of in the future
And if you’re up for making a pilgrimage, but don’t know exactly what form it should take, then here are X ideas to get you started:
Go to the place where it all began: it could be:
* A significant place in your religion
* A significant place in your life’s passion
* Where you met your life partner
Make a journey:
* From home to somewhere else (see above)
* From your current state to a future state (see below)
* To a place way outside your everyday world
Take a challenge:
* Push yourself to go to place (in your soul) you’ve never been before
* Explore your limits - find out what you’re capable of
* To do something extraordinary for someone else
3. 1
7 reasons
to make a pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Break out of your usual routine,
and your comfort zone,
to explore something else.
4. 2
7 reasons
to make a pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
See what you’re made of.
Demand something
extraordinary of yourself..
5. 3
7 reasons
to make a pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Take yourself to a new level
(whether that be enlightenment,
fitness or spiritual connection).
6. 4
7 reasons
to make a pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Mark a significant life stage
& reflect on both how far you’ve come
and where you’re going next.
7. 5
7 reasons
to make a pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Give yourself
a new sense of purpose.
8. 6
7 reasons
to make a pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Earn yourself
a new sense of achievement.
9. 7
7 reasons
to make a pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Create a platform to build off.
If you can do this,
then what more are you capable
of in the future?
11. 1
Ideas for your own
pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Go to the place
where it all began
A significant place in your religion
A significant place in your life’s passion
Where you met your life partner
12. 2
Ideas for your own
pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Make
a journey
From home to somewhere else (see previous)
From your current state to a future state (see next)
To a place way outside your everyday world
13. 3
Ideas for your own
pilgrimage
(whether religious or not)
Take a
challenge
Push yourself to go to place (in your soul)
you’ve never been before
Explore your limits - find out what you’re
capable of
To do something extraordinary for someone
other than yourself
