In the 11th-16th centuries during the Golden Age of Pilgrimage, pilgrims on the road to popular pilgrimage destinations such as the Holy Land, Rome, or Santiago de Compostela would only bring with them what they could carry.
A pilgrim’s possessions consisted of a cloak for warmth, a satchel or bindle in which to store a few necessary items, a coin purse for money, a walking stick to offer support, and a vade mecum (a small book with instructions and prayers) to give guidance along the way. Every other necessity, including food and lodging, was provided by the hospitality of strangers along the way. Their emotional load was light as well—before leaving for an arduous journey, all debts had to be settled, disputes resolved, and sins confessed. Free to journey without any burden other than the trials of the path before them, these pilgrims of old traveled uninhibited, fully present to the journey and its invitations each day.
Today, however, advances in the travel industry have allowed us to carry more with us when we travel. Large bags roll on wheels and airplanes can compress a multi-month migration into a single day. If something was left unsaid to a friend or family member before a departure, we needn’t worry; they’re always just an email or phone call away. Traveling light is no longer a requirement in order to reach our destination. Still, whether an ancient pilgrim traveling a well-worn path or a modern pilgrim jet-setting around the globe, one thing remains true: the greater the baggage, the heavier the load.
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