We can understand the spiritual path as a journey to our deepest self. Many of us experience a deep longing to live a meaningful life, a life connected to something bigger than ourselves. We learn early that this is a life-long journey striving to emerge out of the dark illusion of our separateness and into the light of the soul and its truth of unity and oneness.
We are seeking to arrive at the sacred place of our true identity –that divine essence within that is our source of love and connection with everything. But, how do we get there? We get there by looking for the soul and its lessons in the ordinary and extraordinary experiences of our lives. We get there by committing to the soul’s journey and stepping on the path. Just like pilgrims throughout history who set off to journey to a sacred site, what you discover has to do with what you are seeking. What are you seeking on your life’s journey?
The Invitation: In this regular feature we explore the joys, fears, discoveries, and challenges of walking the path in everyday life. We also explore the ways in which the outer journey of preparing for and walking the 500 mile Camino pilgrimage in Spain, reflects the inner journey of awakening to and walking towards the soul within us. We hope these experiences will resonate with you as you consciously embark on your own walk towards soul awareness. Please join us! We’d love to talk with you as we walk this path together.
Happiness For All
What I want – what I’ve always wanted - is simple. I just want everyone around me to be happy. That’s all. This is part of what made walking the Camino so joyful. Julie, my traveling companion, is happy. There’s nothing I need to do to take care of her or to make her happy – she comes that way. And, like me, Julie is also happy when those around her are happy
Finding Joy
I never expected the theme of my time on the Camino to be joy. In fact I was preparing myself for grueling long walks that grew monotonous over the weeks and that would require me to dig deep into my resolve as I battered harsh rainy weather and longed for the comforts of home. There definitely were times that were hard and I was in pain with blisters and feeling sorry for myself, or tired. But that was such a small portion of the whole trip. By far the overriding emotion was joy. And the greatest discovery was realizing that I had the capacity to feel that much joy.
Right Human Relationship
It is unsettling to be continuously confronted with the hostility, divisiveness, and chaos that has become so much a part of recent public discourse. When we are able to enlarge our perspective and look beyond the individuals and events, though, we can see how this upheaval serves a larger purpose for our evolving collective consciousness. The deeper struggle of humanity in establishing right relationship is at the foundation of much of the turmoil.
What is currently playing out on the American political stage is not unique to just the US. There is a struggle that is playing out globally and is manifesting through Nationalist movements the world over. The UK had Brexit, Hungary has the Jobbik Party, and […]
Making a Commitment
Using Will and Purpose to Move Forward - At some point in any endeavor we are required to fully commit to the disciplines required to accomplish the goal. Applying will, a sense of purposeful intention, to any endeavor is critical. Everything else unfolds as a result of that first impulse of will. Join our discussion about will, purpose, and making a commitment to something bigger than ourselves.
Balancing Work and Rest
Building on the “Essential Rules for living as a pilgrim”, self-care is a key factor in living a balanced, creative, and productive life. A disciplined approach to your life, so that time for work (walking) is balanced with rest, social connection, and what you find most nurturing, is essential to maintaining a life of joy and meaning. How does self-care fit into pilgrimage?