What about a pilgrimage?

Summer is vacation time, so whether you can travel this summer or not, let’s talk about real HSP travel. As some of you know, last summer my husband and I embarked on a six-month “sabbatical,” as he called it. For me it was a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is defined as an “intentional journey, possibly a long one, to a goal sacred to you.” A pilgrim is “a person who journeys, especially a long distance, to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion, or in search of a sacred goal.” I will tell you more about mine someday, but let’s talk about what might be yours.

Because you are an HSP, I can be fairly certain that you are probably spiritual in some way. “Spiritual” has many meanings (look it up if you wish), but maybe that’s good. You can define it as you wish. And that means you should think seriously about a pilgrimage. If you google “pilgrimage sites” you will be amazed by the possibilities. If none of them call to you, no problem. Probably you already have one in mind or heart, if you dare to imagine actually going there.

Please take a moment to seriously reflect on each of these questions before reading the next one:

What is a place you consider sacred that you would like to journey to?

Could it be an inward rather than outward pilgrimage?

Would you do this alone or with others?

How long would it take to get there? (Travel time or time in retreat or community or whatever you seek.)

What cost (time, money…) would you be willing to incur to reach this sacred place?

If there are obstacles, even if they seem insurmountable, if you get wildly creative, how might you imagine you could surmount them?