You might not use the word “ritual” every day, but it’s likely that you participate in rituals on a regular basis.
Weddings, church services, graduations—each is a common occurrence that follows a ritualistic format, imbuing the event with meaning.
S2:E3 | Mysticism with Amos Smith
The 13th Century Christian mystic Meister Eckhart declared, “I pray God to rid me of God.”
Eckhart, however, wasn’t throwing in the towel on his spiritual journey. Instead, his desire was to be rid of his own limited notions of God to make room for the true Mystery that is the Divine. This is the beginning of the mystical journey, and today author and minister Amos Smith shares with us his insights on the mystical path and how it is an everyday journey that can lead to both inner and outer transformation.
Someone Already Knows the Path You Should Take (and how to start listening to them)
I had this thing I used to do when faced with a shopping decision.
Say, for example, there was a sweater that I wanted to buy, but I couldn’t decide which color I liked best. Here’s what the chatter in my head would sound like: I don’t have anything in purple, but I’m more drawn to the cream. But then again I have 3 cream sweaters… maybe I should get it in purple. But do I want to get it in purple? Then again, should I really get something else that’s cream?
As you can imagine, I would be faced with a dilemma. All of my reasoning would be getting in the way of what was most important: which sweater did I prefer? I finally figured a way to get around all of my second-guessing if I had a shopping companion with me. I would ask my friend to flat-out choose one: purple or cream? And when they would say “purple,” I’d pay attention to how I felt inside—was I excited or a bit sad? In this case, I probably would have been a bit sad, because I’m really a neutrals girl at heart. Of course, this meant that I really wanted the cream sweater instead of the purple one. I’d walk to the check-out with great relief and clarity, putting the purple sweater back and telling it to stop getting in the way of my love affair with neutrals.
This might seem a bit trivial, I know. But the reason I use this example is that these situations are some of the earliest instances where I began tapping into my intuition. I didn’t really know much about what intuition was or the power or depth that it offered. But I did know one thing: that feeling inside me was revealing more than just my preference—it was speaking my truth.
S2:E2 | Coming Out with Daniel Tidwell
Much of our journeys in everyday life are slow seasons of unfolding and awakening, and often these journeys require great courage in order to reach the other side.
This is true for many in the LGBTQ community, and to mark Pride month I’m excited to have my friend and fellow spiritual director Daniel Tidwell share with you his own coming out journey. This episode is a bit longer than most, but the best stories take time, and Daniel leaves us in the end with wisdom we can each apply to our own journeys, no matter our orientation.
5 Activities to Make Your Next Trip a Spiritual Journey
Summer is nearly here and the travel season is upon us!
Even though you might not have an official pilgrimage planned, you can still easily infuse your next trip with a bit of spirituality. Add one of the following activities to your next trip a spiritual journey and see where it leads:
S2:E1 | Travel as Pilgrimage with Ryan Moore
What does it mean to travel like a pilgrim and how can pilgrimage be done affordably?
Therapist, spiritual director, and seasoned pilgrim Ryan Moore answers these questions and more as we talk about his many pilgrimages and best travel tips.
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3 Creative Practices to Spark the Journey Within
How can creative practices serve as a tool on your journey?
I’m in the final stages of preparation for my upcoming Creation Pilgrimage in the Pacific Northwest, fully immersed in the revelations of creation and the creativity it inspires. As image-bearers of the Divine and co-creators with the Sacred, we are hard-wired to create. And just as creation can be seen as theophany or God-showings, tapping into our own creativity has a way of revealing what’s hidden deep within and illuminating the path we should take.
Below you’ll find 3 creative practices to spark your journey within in your pilgrimages both at home and abroad. However, one thing should be clear as you approach these practices: They are not meant to be planned out as if striving for perfection; the point of these exercises is to listen deep within, follow your intuitive impulses, and let your response flow freely as you work in tandem with the Sacred Guide.
Pilgrim Podcast 10: (In)Fertility Journeys
There are journeys in life that we plan and look forward to with anticipation, and then there are the journeys that life brings us.
For me, these past few years have taken me on a journey through infertility, and I’m not alone. One in eight couples experience infertility and/or pregnancy loss, and it’s a story that’s often untold, making the journey all the more isolating. In today’s extended episode, I’m sharing my own journey and also interviewing author Breanna Chud and therapist and priest Danae Ashley about their fertility journeys as well.
Whether or not you’re struggling with infertility, this episode is for you, because we all likely know someone who is, and one thing is certain: we all need tender and compassionate companions who are willing to journey with us wherever the road might lead.
Have Wanderlust? How to Use It for Good
Do you, like me, long to wander?
When it comes to travel, there’s a term for that—wanderlust. And while the term itself might set my soul ablaze and have my mind dreaming of far-off landscapes and spontaneous adventures, I also know that wanderlust can be masking a deeper longing hidden within. I know that my tendency to wander has a shadow side that often stems from brokenness, and I’m not the only one to notice this. After hearing parts of my story, my graduate school professor (a well-known therapist and spiritual teacher) insightfully posed the question that caused me to look deeper into my love of travel and pilgrimage: “I wonder why it is that you wander?”
Pilgrim Podcast 09: Solo Travel + Crafting Meaningful Journeys with Amber Englund
Have a case of wanderlust, a curious spirit, and a desire to know yourself and God in deeper ways?
Then solo travel might be calling to you. In today’s new episode I’m talking to psychotherapist Amber Englund, who took a solo trip to Italy last fall and returned home transformed and renewed. In our conversation, we explore what made her decide to make this journey alone, how she crafted a meaningful journey, and the ways in which her experience has influenced her life at home.
