Today’s pilgrimage: The inner journey

By Chris O’Brien Typically, the word “pilgrimage” conjures up images of the Crusades, bitter treks through the Himalayas and arduous journeys to Mecca. But that’s not always the case—especially today, when you can fly to the shrine of Mary Magdalene or take a cab to Lourdes. More and more, a pilgrimage is about an inner spiritual journey, often accompanied by the same challenges and obstacles as those once found on the footpaths of our forefathers.
The origins of the pilgrimage are found in pre-Christian, pagan/shamanic practices where it was often believed that certain deities resided on earth in foreboding or seemingly unreachable places, such as mountain tops and deep forests. The earliest pilgrims, holy men and warriors, would make brave and dangerous journeys to seek the council or help of such deities. Over the centuries, the same act of pilgrimage became more about religious devotion, often including homage and even righteous suffering. Skeletal remains of early European pilgrims show severe physical damage, including musculoskeletal disfiguration and arthritis as a result of endless treks without proper equipment.
Today, the typical pilgrimage tends to be more physically comfortable, but usually includes the historically similar motives of religious devotion and seeking help. Additionally, the modern pilgrimage often incorporates the more secular idea of an inner journey or inner search for clarity around traumatic or confusing life events.

Perhaps part of the shift from outer to inner journey is the result of our overall psychological and spiritual evolution. We humans seem to be better able to hold a connection to the idea of the Divine or a sense of purpose without necessarily needing to be physically in the presence of a holy person or place.

“In this day and age, and with current geo-political conditions, travel is getting a little more complicated,” says Lila Tresemer, president of the board and minister at The StarHouse in Boulder. “People are becoming aware that the traveling experience as part of a pilgrimage is not as necessary today as it used to be. We have become more able to unhook from Œmundane’ consciousness so that sacred consciousness can be accessed anywhere.”

The StarHouse is a modern, trans-denominational temple dedicated to spiritual and ceremonial practices. Surrounded by 200 acres of open space, it features a 12-sided, sacred geometric construction. Also located on the grounds—four miles up Sunshine Canyon, west of Boulder—are replicas of important shrines from around the world that are used for pilgrimages.

“Our redefinition of the word pilgrimage would take into account the idea that one can travel internally, and what we’ve established here is a place that has the echoes of sacred sites from other places,” Tresemer says.

Some of the sites on the ground of The StarHouse include a labyrinth, a traditional, ancient tool for meditation and inner pilgrimage, and a sacred well, created to mirror the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, England. The StarHouse well even holds some of the water from the Chalice Well.

The StarHouse caters to individual and group pilgrimages by making the grounds available to pilgrims. Ministers and other participants may get into costume and help guide pilgrims through their journeys.

This type of modern pilgrimage can be used for many purposes. Tresemer says that at The StarHouse, some are religious in nature, while others are the “team-building” type—less spiritual, but a lot of fun. There are pilgrimages specifically for pregnant women and those for families. Some are for individual awakening, others for grieving.
A local pilgrimage at The StarHouse can be set up for about $25 to $75 per person, depending on the size of the group and other requirements.

But for some, a pilgrimage is all about visiting that sacred place. However, getting to some of the mystical places around the globe can be challenging logistically. Travel plans, language barriers and other details are sometimes impossible obstacles. Knowing this, certain travel agencies have put together pilgrimage packages for the would-be seeker. Demfer Travels U.S.A. offers complete trips, such as eight days in Mejugorje for around $1500, including airfare from New York. 206 Tours, Pilgrimages and Spiritual Journeys offers trips all over the world. An eight-day Lourdes and Paris pilgrimage runs from $1,800 to $2,100. Ten days across Ireland in the footsteps of St. Patrick costs about $2,000, and $2,200 will take you to the Pyramids for 12 days. The list goes on and on. Holy sites in India, Tibet, Greece, Asia and the rest of world can also be visited through pre-arranged tours.

But whether you travel to far away places for religious devotion and worship or walk the labyrinth one afternoon at The StarHouse, the main idea behind the modern pilgrimage seems to be one of commitment to inner transformation, or at least a sacred exploration of the self, often in relation to some sort of divinity.

For most spiritual seekers today, traveling to sacred sites is an added luxury, whereas making the metaphorical journey is the main requirement.

“The travel is only one part of it,” says Tresemer. “If you choose to make a pilgrimage through your inner land, you can still experience the sacredness that those who travel do. What’s important is that the shift in your heart is aligned with your actions and your intentions.”

A pilgrimage can benefit anyone, religious or not. With the options available today, you don’t have to have visions in the middle of the night, abandon life as you know it and start hiking across the world. Any inclination towards religious or spiritual devotion or self discovery is grounds for a personal pilgrimage, one that can often be journeyed close to home.

Resources, local and beyond

For more information about the history of pilgrimages, or to find out about local and foreign options, visit these websites:

• www.newadvent.org/cathen/12085a.htm: includes a Catholic-based history of pilgrimages
• www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/NORpilgrimage.htm: Historical overview of certain pilgrimages
• www.pilgrimsprogress.org.uk/: Facts and links about pilgrimages
• www.thestarhouse.org/AboutSH.html: The StarHouse’s website
• www.demferusa.com Travel agency booking Christian pilgrimages
• www.206tours.com/main.html: Travel agency booking all kind of pilgrimageswww.chardham.com/: Treks and pilgrimages in India
• www.apollovoyages.com/pilgrimage_nepal_tibet.html: Treks and
  pilgrimages in Tibet

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