It’s the final week for a new free preview of Pilgrim Principles: Journeying with Intention in Everyday Life, and we end with the seventh principle: “A pilgrim seeks to know his Inner Witness.” The seventh principle is all about the place where the true self and Divine meet, a place that no-doubt breeds intuition, which this preview explores today. Other categories discussed with this principle in the book include acceptance, awareness, insight, and enthusiasm (one of my favorites, but you’ll have to read the book to find out why!).

Before you dive into this final preview, be sure to catch up on the other six! And of course as the day of release draws near (less than 3 weeks!), you can always find all things related to the book at pilgrimprinciples.com (it’s the site where you’ve been sending all your friends, right?). You can even be entered for a chance to win a signed copy if you sign up to get updates from A Sacred Journey!

1. “A pilgrim looks for the Sacred in the Quotidian” // Home

2. “A pilgrim practices somatic spirituality” // Taste

3. “A pilgrim is a good steward of resources” // Possessions

4. “A pilgrim immerses herself in culture” // Language

5. “A pilgrim creates daily rhythms to ground himself” //  Body (guided meditation)

6. “A pilgrim carries herself with curiosity” // Delight

MORE PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

Some more words of praise for the book before we jump into the final preview, this time from Dana Reynolds of Sacred Life-Arts (listen to my interview as part of her Women of Wisdom series here):

“Through her practical, invitational, and inspirational Pilgrim Principles, Lacy provides holistic guidance to experience daily life as an earthly pilgrimage. This book is a field guide for the pilgrim’s soul and a sacred tool for transformation for those seeking ways to enrich their inner and outer journeys.”

Sybil Dana Reynolds, Spiritual Director
author of Ink and Honey
sacredlifearts.com

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pilgrim principles free book preview: delight

Often regarded as the sixth sense, intuition is natural and essential, yet so elusive and mysterious. But then again, the Inner Witness can be as well. If our journeys are led by the rumblings and desires of the Inner Witness, then it’s our intuition that guides us to the places of Sacred Encounter. 

When people talk about following their intuition, they often use phrases like, “I felt that it was true,” “I had a sense that it would turn out that way,” or “I can’t explain it, I just know it.” Intuition is a deep knowing, but often unlike the world’s definition of knowing. Typically intuition’s message can’t be outlined neatly with facts or figures or even expressed in words. It is a knowing deep within our hearts and in our bones—a message stemming from our subconscious, our true selves, our Inner Witness. Some might say it is a message from God.

Being able to tap into and reap wisdom from our intuition can be beneficial in many ways. It can guide us in decision making and let us know where we stand. It can warn us of what lies ahead or tell us what action to take in the present moment. It can also be an indicator of the state of our relationship with our essential self. For example, many of us are plagued with bouts of self-doubt from time to time. When we pause to explore these feelings, our intuition can serve as a spotlight, shining light into the darkness, speaking truth into the chasm that has separated us from our true selves and our inherent worthiness.

For the pilgrim, intuition is like a lantern for the journey—a light in the darkness, indicating to the pilgrim his next step and guiding him along the path. When he holds it closely, he too will be in the light. And if he is separated from it, he can always find it again if he searches for the truth. So how can the pilgrim pick up this lantern at home? How can you bask in its light and search for its truth within the darkness? How do you begin to recognize and use this sixth sense in everyday life?

Like many practices of the pilgrim, it starts with awareness. Intuition often appears as a sharp and sudden feeling or a deeply-seated yet indescribable certainty. When you have these experiences, pay attention. What are they telling you? If it is indeed a message from the Inner Witness—a glimmer of light in the darkness—then it will be a message that moves you in the direction of truth, life, and love. If this is the case, then the next step in following your intuition is to take a risk—a step of faith by the light of your intuition, even when the path ahead is still dark with uncertainty.

I could say more, but it would be of no use, for our intuitions are each as unique as our true selves and our Inner Witnesses, and so your intuitive path lies in your hands only. To begin to follow it is an act of intuition within itself. What comes next is up to you.

PRACTICE

When you notice that you have a certain feeling about a particular decision or situation, but you can’t necessarily explain it, pick up your lantern and look closely to see what your intuition might be trying to reveal. It can be risky to act on things based on a feeling, so as you determine what steps to take and which voice to follow, remember this: the Inner Witness—the intuitive whisperer—is always wanting to lead you toward life and your true self.

REFLECTION

Do you feel in touch with your intuition? If so, what happens when you act on your intuition? If not, what are some ways you might begin to explore and act on your intuition each day?

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This post was an excerpt from Pilgrim Principles: Journeying
with Intention in Everyday Life, releasing January 6, 2014.
Learn more about the book and enter to win a signed copy
at pilgrimprinciples.com.

We’ve been at this for a while now, and there’s less than a month until the book launch! Have you signed up to get updates from A Sacred Journey so that you can be entered to win a signed copy? Have you visited the book site and shared it with everyone you’ve ever met? (Just a small request, right?) If you’re still not counting down the days yet (26, to be precise), watch the book trailer to get you in the spirit, and then come on back.

Today’s free preview is about “delight” and comes from the 6th Pilgrim Principle (1 more to go!): “A pilgrim carries herself with curiosity.” In the book, I explore four other expressions that help cultivate curiosity (a necessity for the pilgrim, for what’s a journey without it?): openness, willingness, desire, and perspective.

Enjoy today’s free preview, pass it on, and while you’re at it, tell your friends and family about how much you’ve enjoyed the other free previews, too:

1. “A pilgrim looks for the Sacred in the Quotidian” // Home

2. “A pilgrim practices somatic spirituality” // Taste

3. “A pilgrim is a good steward of resources” // Possessions

4. “A pilgrim immerses herself in culture” // Language

5. “A pilgrim creates daily rhythms to ground himself” //  Body (guided meditation)

MORE PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

“Lacy weaves classic pilgrimage wisdom with fresh, accessible insight. She skillfully includes uncommon words like ‘quotidian’ alongside her own creative ‘pilgrim glasses’… reminding us to see the Sacred in everything. This book is the perfect pilgrim’s pack—filled with essentials, necessities, and a touch of surprise!”

Kayce Stevens Hughlett
author of As I Lay Pondering: Daily Invitations
to Live a Transformed Life
kaycehughlett.com

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pilgrim principles free book preview: delight

It’s summer now, and my husband and I are two months into our first vegetable garden. This year we planted purple bell peppers, jalapeños, cucumbers, wax beans, and three varieties of tomatoes. Ever since we planted our garden in May, I have been fascinated by the growing process of food that I’ve eaten for years, but apparently never fully understood. As a result, tending to the garden has been a great source of delight.

At least once each day–and often more–I venture out to the garden, checking in on the plants, as if we’re good friends. I love discovering blooms, knowing now that they are a harbinger of new fruit, and I routinely stare in awe at my vining cucumbers, amazed that yet another tendril has spiraled around a string since I’ve been away. “It’s like it’s alive!” I exclaim, not able to hide my excitement from anyone who asks about the garden. “I mean, I know it’s alive, but it’s alive alive!”

Yes, it seems that keeping a vegetable garden has brought me so much delight that I have lost my ability to articulate it clearly and can only describe my wonder with child-like excitement. It was no surprise then when I came to realize that by growing a garden I have not only been cultivating food–I have also been cultivating my curiosity through the gift of delight.

As we’ve discovered this week, curiosity is a natural trait of the pilgrim, for without curiosity, the pilgrimage would never begin. But for those who have forgotten how to be curious, it’s hard to know where to start. Often, to cultivate curiosity in our own lives, we need external inspiration. In order to carry ourselves with curiosity, it must be cultivated, and the best place to start is in the places where we find delight, for it’s there that our curiosity lies waiting for our embrace.

The pilgrim knows this and doesn’t wait until she reaches another country or a life-altering circumstance to ask questions or be filled with awe–she nourishes her curiosity at home, relishing in her delights. And when she allows herself to delight, celebrating her curiosity, she begins to become curious in other areas of life as well–she begins to carry herself with curiosity.

Tomorrow we’ll explore another way to do just that, but for me, gardening is a good place to start. As I’ve been writing, it seems a tomato that’s long been green has begun to ripen into an orangey-red by the warmth of the sun, and I have to go outside and look at it. What can I say? I’m curious.

PRACTICE

To begin exploring what brings you delight, collect images of things that attract your attention and put them in a place you see on a regular basis, such as on your refrigerator, on a bulletin board in your office, or as a slideshow screensaver. After a while you might begin to notice some themes and will be able to go even further in your search for delight. For example, if most of your pictures are of delectable desserts, take a baking class, and if your inspiration board is filled with images of the quaint English countryside, plant a garden that has its own way of transporting you there.

REFLECTION

What are the things that you are curious about that bring you delight? How can you incorporate these things into your everyday?

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This post was an excerpt from Pilgrim Principles: Journeying with
Intention in Everyday Life, releasing January 6, 2014.

Come back next Wednesday for the final free preview and learn more
about the book and enter to win a signed copy at pilgrimprinciples.com.

It’s a big day here at A Sacred Journey! Not only do you get another free preview of the book today (this time a guided meditation)–today is also the day that the book website is launching! Pilgrimprinciples.com is your resource for learning more about the book, finding all of the free previews, reading more of what others are saying, and finding buttons and images to share on your blog or through social media. It’s time to spread the word!

You can also enter to win a signed copy of the book at pilgrimprinciples.com by signing up to receive A Sacred Journey’s weekly newsletter (those already signed up will be automatically entered). But what I’m most excited to share with you about the new site is the book trailer–a tantalizing foretaste of the book if I do say so, myself. Click here or on the video below to watch it now. (But don’t forget to come back to read your next free preview!)

Have you watched the trailer? Did you drool with anticipation? And did you sign up to be entered to win a free copy? Good. Then you’re ready for this week’s free preview, which is from the 5th Pilgrim Principle: “A pilgrim creates daily rhythms to ground himself.” In the book, I focus on 5 areas of centering: mind, soul, spirit, presence, and the subject of today’s free preview–body. Today’s preview is a guided meditation–something that you’ll find with each principle in the book. I’ve also included a review I just received from Victor Saad, someone who is truly embracing life as a journey. (Read more reviews here.) Missed a preview? I’ve linked to all of them below.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to share!

1. “A pilgrim looks for the Sacred in the Quotidian” // Home

2. “A pilgrim practices somatic spirituality” // Taste

3. “A pilgrim is a good steward of resources” // Possessions

4. “A pilgrim immerses herself in culture” // Language

MORE PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

“Lacy takes you on a journey you’ve always longed for but never knew how to begin. With her as your gracious and eloquent guide, you’ll find yourself asking questions that move your soul and lead to meaningful discoveries. But beware, this is no quick read of quips and cliche advice. Pack your bags and bring along a few extra journals. The challenges and exercises will take you through meditation, practice, and reflection–all fueled by a hope that you will know your creator, your world, and your self far better than before.”

Victor Saad, founder of The Experience Institute
and author of The Leap Year Project

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pilgrim principles free book preview: body

a guided meditation

When we explored the second Pilgrim Principle, “A pilgrim practices somatic spirituality,” we talked about just how important the body is to our spirituality and how it can be used as a vessel for Sacred Encounter, inviting us to engage our spirituality in new ways. In the same way, the pilgrim knows that the exterior physical journey is a conduit to the interior spiritual journey. This is why, as we seek to ground ourselves, centering the body plays an especially important role.

Though it’s not often recognized in Western medicine, the wellness of the body is connected to the wellness of the mind or soul. Think about it: When you’re angry, does your body tense up? When you’re nervous, does your heart pound quickly? When you’re anxious, do you find that you might not be breathing as often or as deeply as you should?

No wonder we have expressions such as “Don’t forget to breathe” or “I have butterflies in my stomach.” Our bodies respond to the emotions and thoughts we’re experiencing, whether we’re aware of it or not. Sometimes our bodies can tell us that something is wrong when we don’t even know it–they hold our struggle and anxiety when we are unable or unwilling to do so otherwise.

Just as discomfort in our bodies can remind us to check in with our thoughts or emotions, when we experience heavy or complex thoughts and emotions, centering our body can help us to center our mind and soul. In this exercise we’re going to go through a meditation that you can use in the future–on your own at anytime and anyplace–when you want to center your body in order to help center your mind, soul, and spirit, calling you back to presence.

GUIDED MEDITATION

Get into a comfortable seated position with your feet on the floor. Close your eyes, gently breathing in and out for a few moments, slowing your breath, slowing your body, slowing your mind.

Now we’re going to begin a breathing exercise used in yoga and meditation, called ujjayi breath (pronounced oo-jai-ee). Ujjayi breath brings relaxation to the body, cultivating deep breathing that takes us all the way to our edges, where our lungs are fully empty and then conversely where they are completely full. To insure that your stomach and lungs are expanding when you breathe, it might be helpful to place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach.

Slowly breathe in through the nose, filling first the belly, then the chest, until your lungs are completely full. Pause, holding the breath in, and then slowly breathe out through the mouth with a slight “ha” sound (like waves in the ocean), releasing first the chest and then the belly, until your lungs are completely empty. Pause there, holding the breath out, and repeat. Your breathing will sound like waves rolling into the shore.

Closing your eyes, continue the ujjayi breath, breathing in to the count of four, pausing, and then breathing out to the count of four and pausing once more.

continue the breath for a few minutes with your eyes closed

Begin to relax your breath into a normal and steady thoughtless pace. You might find that your body is starting to feel centered already. Now we’re going to practice awareness of our bodies, beginning with our toes all the way to the top of our head. This practice helps your mind to stay focused on your body and can also help you recognize where you’re feeling pain or tension that you might not have noticed otherwise. It is also a good practice when you want to call yourself back to the present moment.

read each prompt one-by-one below,
following the instructions slowly as you go along, taking time to pause
and notice how you feel between each prompt

• Begin with your toes and the soles of your feet firmly on the ground. Without moving, feel the energy in your feet–the warmth, your blood flowing, the feeling of them touching the ground.

• Now slowly move your focus up to your knees. How do they feel?

• Continue moving up to your hips, feeling the energy of your body against your chair, grounded and rooted in your current position.

• Now move your attention up to your chest. How’s your breathing? Feel your chest rise and fall with the steadiness of your breath, and notice how it moves your entire upper body.

• Move out down the arms into your hands, resting. Do you feel the energy flowing, even though you’re not moving? Remember with gratitude all of the work your hands do each day.

• Now shift your focus back up the arms to your shoulders. This is a place where many people hold a lot of tension. Make sure your shoulders are back, opening your chest, and imagine breathing into that space, caring for and relieving any tension that’s there.

• Finally, move up to your mouth, your nose, your ears, your eyes, until you’ve reached the top of your head. Breathe clarity and peace into a place that’s so often consumed with thoughts.

bring your meditation to a close by returning
for a few moments to the ujjayi breath

As you come to an end, close your eyes once more and sit in stillness for a few moments, noticing how you feel.

PRACTICE

Do this meditation on your own anytime you feel chaotic and need re-centering, remembering how physically feeling grounded can lead to emotional, mental, and spiritual centering.

REFLECTION

How does your body feel after this meditation? How do you feel? In what ways can you incorporate exercises like these in moments when you need to feel grounded?

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This post was an excerpt from Pilgrim Principles: Journeying with Intention
in Everyday Life, releasing January 6, 2014.

Come back next Wednesday for another free preview and learn more about the book
and enter to win a signed copy at pilgrimprinciples.com.