The Modern Pilgrim
The modern pilgrim, just like those that came before, is on a journey to explore the sacred. The act of the pilgrimage itself can be traced through historical records dating back to antiquity. As one researches the subject, time and time again, we uncover patterns in human behavior. Throughout time, humans, as a species, have been drawn to the act of pilgrimage, and while sometimes that has a religious component, oftentimes, it does not. Some humans seem compelled to go on these journeys, but why?
Just by the general aura of the word, a pilgrimage will hardly be the most luxurious or relaxing form of travel or self-discovery. Still, hundreds of thousands of people travel the world each year to visit sites of importance to them. It's easy to understand how walking for forty days, carrying thirty-five-odd pounds of gear on your back, through the sweltering northern regions of Spain on the Camino de Santiago qualifies, but we forget there is a pilgrimage in traveling, say, to see your favorite sports team play. Is there not suffering on some level to achieve your destination? In the best case, you probably have to contend with stadium traffic, while on the other hand, if you're flying, you have the fresh hell of luggage, cramped seats, and long layovers. The sacrifices may not seem the same, but they are sacrifices to experience something greater than the self, nonetheless.
But why? What compels one to be a pilgrim? In the example above, the sports team is easy to wrap your mind around. We're all probably a fan of one thing or another, and, given the opportunity to visit/meet/see said thing, it would bring us joy. Sweating constantly, sleeping in bunkhouses, developing blisters that get their own blisters, and walking eight hours a day, seven days a week for a month on a more traditional pilgrimage might be a little more challenging to understand.
In ancient times, there were many reasons to endure the pain of pilgrimage, and most of those revolved in some sense around paying homage to different gods or holy spaces. In fact, walking the Camino de Santiago through Spain absolves you of all sin, as far as the medieval Catholic Church is concerned anyway. While the practice of granting indulgences is no longer popular today, pilgrims completing the Camino still receive a certificate from the church, forgiving any indiscretions that may keep them out of heaven. Of course, other pilgrimages had different promised results. Olav's Way in Norway is hiked both for sport and for those seeking physical healing or miracles, and the Shikoku Pilgrimage, which connects 88 temples in Japan, is walked by those seeking greater spiritual enlightenment.
In the old days, pilgrimages were made by people from all walks of life; literal kings, queens, and popes have walked alongside teachers, doctors, and farmers in search of something…more. It was never meant to be easy, though (some traditions even suggest the walks should be done barefoot or on your hands and knees); in fact, it was common knowledge that one must be willing to accept one's own death before beginning one's walk. You see, it could be dangerous for pilgrims in the less-than-modern era. Everything from thieves to roaming bands of wild dogs, to freak weather events in the mountains could bring harm, if not death, to the pilgrim.
Today, while many of the physical plights of the pilgrim are still with us, the safety concerns are significantly reduced. This, coupled with the fact
that we live in a time where access to travel is almost universal, has caused pilgrimages to see a rise in participants while interest continues to grow. Again, I ask, but why? If we set aside the group doing it for religious absolution, we are left to ask what brings a relatively sane individual to the point where they are willing to leave behind their regular life, open their body up to physical harm, and spend days to months in a mindset of intentional self-reflection?
The short answer? We don't know. However, if you ask almost any pilgrim, they will tell you that it just felt like it was something they were supposed to do. Most people can pinpoint an issue or thought they are working through or want answers about while they walk a pilgrimage, but when you press them as to why they chose this manner, of all things, to process, I often just get a smile and a bemused shrug.
Pilgrimages are an intense and meaningful way to begin a hero's journey, separate yourself from your daily life, and find a path toward growth. Apraxis Center embraces the concept of the modern pilgrimage from the micro to the macro. A mental pilgrimage can occur in a counseling room sitting across from your therapist, or more traditional, physical options exist. In a modern twist, Apraxis currently offers two excursions to facilitate the hero's journey in Costa Rica and Peru, famous for the Inca Trail pilgrimage. If you've been seeking something to deepen your journey of self-discovery, perhaps you've felt a calling, then pilgrimage may be the experiential therapeutic adventure you are looking for.
For more information about excursions with Apraxis Center, click here!
