Sacred Journeys: Spiritual and Pilgrimage Travel

There are of course different types of spiritual journeys. Some people head off to explore ancient historical sites or to have an experience with others seeking some sort of spiritual enlightenment. Others are looking for answers or at personal direction. There is another group seeking more knowledge of a certain religion or spiritual path. These are the pilgrimage travellers. Here is a great article about these sites with suggestions about how to best benefit from these journeys as well as some recommended spiritual tour companies. The article, "In Search of Sacred Places: Spiritual and Pilgrimage Travel" is written by Peter Scheer, himself a tour company director, and is posted on the website Travel with a Challenge.

First, let's look at the suggestions to help the traveller get the most benefit from the journey. First, prepare yourself mentally and physically. Many of these places are not easy to reach and it's a good idea to do some research about the site as well how best to arrive there. In times past, people fasted for days or even took hallucinagenic herbs before approaching these sites. It's important to approach with reverence and respect for local customs. They are places that are very important some people.

 In the European Middle Ages, most pilgrims to Canterbury, Santiago de Compostela and other Christian sites went there on foot which allows one plenty of time to prepare mentally. Travel to sacred sites required planning, persistence and often great sacrifices. No wonder arrival created such excitement!

The second suggestion is to leave room in your travel schedule for unexpected events to happen or time to visit with people you meet. This will leave you time also to just stop and soak up the incredible energy of these places that has built up over the centuries. There is not only the energy of the place itself but layered on top is the energy of all the other pilgrims who have come and gone away again over the centuries.

In ancient Greece, sages built an Earth Goddess shrine at Delphi because of the abundance of plenum, an energy they believed bubbled out of the slopes of Mount Parnassus. In the Chinese tradition there is a similar life force called chi. Sufis call it baraka and Hindus know it as prana. If this invisible energy seems fanciful to you, don't forget that is how people felt about radio waves a mere 100 years ago. Perhaps 21st century establishment scientists will verify earth energies, but regardless of official endorsement, many travelers are creating their vacations around visiting places of power and spirituality.

American folklorist and mythology expert, Joseph Campbell once met a woman going to Greece to discover the spirit of the Goddess. After she showed him her elaborate, highly-detailed itinerary, Campbell said, "Dear lady, I sincerely hope that all does not go as planned." He explained, "Unless you leave room for serendipity, how can the divine enter in? The beginning of the adventure of finding yourself is to lose your way."

Lastly, Mr. Scheer suggests that you decide why you are going. What is your goal? What do you want to find or experience? Of course the answer may change during your journey. Are just looking for a special experience or are you wanting to explore religious connections? People will ask you why you are going and also why you are there, so it's a good idea to have some answer in mind. It will help you get more out of an experience that can end up being life-changing.

To read the original article and check out the spiritual tour companies listed at the end of the article, click here.

In sum then, it's best to loosely plan your trip, find out more about the place, don't cram in too much and be open to whatever happens. Remember that teachers come in all forms. The person living on the street might be one of them.

Red rocks of Sedona, Arizona

Stonehenge Mt. Kailash, Tibet. Pilgrimage site for 15,000 years.

What Happens with Spiritual Awakening?

For some decades now people have been talking about "raising your awareness" and "higher vibrations". However, there are now an increasing number of people who are experiencing physical symptoms that are linked to what is called Spiritual Awakening. Actually, this is nothing new. People throughout history have had religious experiences in which they saw visions, heard voices or at least felt different. What is different now is the number of people who are experiencing these states. Perhaps you are one of them. According to Wikipedia, there have been some common threads to these experiences.

• Transient — the experience is temporary; the individual soon returns to a "normal" frame of mind. It is outside our normal perception of space and time.

• Ineffable — the experience cannot be adequately put into words.

• Noetic — the individual feels that he or she has learned something valuable from the experience. Gives us knowledge that is normally hidden from human understanding.

• Passive — the experience happens to the individual, largely without conscious control. Although there are activities, such as meditation (see below), that can make religious experience more likely, it is not something that can be turned on and off at will.

Read the original here.

Now let's jump to the present and look at what people are experiencing in often less clear terms. Arlene Rich has described 10 common "symptoms" of spiritual awakening. While some of them may of course come from other sources, together they do form a nucleus for what people are going through. It's a kind of human evolutionary process.  Here is part of what Arlene has said.

• An increase in occurrences - (there aren't any coincidences) An increase in psychic, mediumistic, clairvoyant, and intuitive skills.

• Acute sensitivity to negative energy around specific people or environments.

• A desire to "find yourself", change your social group, behavior, job etc. Sudden extreme sensitivity to people or crowds. You may find that your once sociable nature suddenly disappears and you simply cannot bear to be with certain friends, family members, colleagues, or coworkers.

• Sudden awareness of recurring patterns or relationships- A noticeable inability to tolerate someone with whom you have had a previously close relationship.

• Sudden inexplicable panic or anxiety attacks occurring at any time with no valid reason. A feeling that something has changed within you.

• Acute sensitivity to shopping malls or crowded environments such as restaurants, clubs, festivals, and so on.

• Extreme sensitivity to mobile and digital phones, laptops, computers, wireless routers, and all microwave technology, as well as certain types of lighting.

• Falling asleep and then waking in the middle of the night at or around the same time, feeling wide awake and needing to be up, and oddly not being tired the next day as expected. (This is a sign of your consciousness adapting to new cycles of activity.)

• Strange electrical energy coursing through the body or body parts like legs or arms. (This is caused by the raised frequencies from the Galactic centre flooding the planet. These energies assist in the process of rewiring the physical and Light-Body in order to carry higher vibrating energies.)

• A whole range of physical experiences caused by detoxification as the body continues to release years of physical, karmic, emotional, and mental toxic waste, producing symptoms including: fatigue and exhaustion;excess thirst; stomach upsets, including cramps, headaches, especially at the base of the skull and migraines with pains over the crown and in one or both eyes; muscle, neck, and shoulder pains.

• Dizziness, balance problems, and feeling spacey (triggered by being in higher states of consciousness).

To read the complete list click here.

If you or someone you know can relate to some of these symptoms or phenomena, you are not alone. I suspect there will be counsellors and support groups  in the future specializing in helping people go through versions of spiritual awakening. It makes places such as retreat centers and monasteries even more valuable as centers to experience spiritual changes without the interference of modern life. And it is important  to remember that the end result of whatever mental and physical changes occur should be better - healthier and happier people and hopefully a more peaceful world.

Spiritual Travel to Tibet: A Meaningful Journey

Here is a travel company (actually a Tibetan Cooperative) called Tibet Travel Coop that uses a Tibetan staff of travel agents, tour guides, cooks, drivers and hosts who know the Tibetan travel industry and have been working in every part of Tibet. The picture of the Coop members is great - all the families too including the children. There are some very moving testimonials from travelers who plan to go back. This is definitely an authentic experience you won't soon forget. Here is some of the text from the website.

Knowledge

As Tibetans, we can share our communities, customs, history, and spirituality from our hearts and experiences from childhood live rather than from travel guidebooks. After all, we believe you come to Tibet partly to experience Tibet's culture and having a good Tibetan guide matters.

Responsible Tourism

We support local communities, use local services, volunteer in local villages, and donate a percentage of our profits to sustainable projects. After all, our bottom-line is not just measured by how much we made but how many Tibetans we are able to employee and how well we are able to protect the environment for future visitors to enjoy.

 The trips are divided into 3 sections: spiritual journeys, cultural odysseys, and trekking adventures. The cultural odysseys are further broken down into homestay, classic Tibet, spirit of Minyak and shangri-la! In this case I won't elaborate more. I urge you to explore this fascinating website yourself and find out the incredible journeys that you also could take with them. http://tibettravelcoop.com

Near Death Experience Predicts the Future Ahead on Earth

In 2012 a woman named Martha St. Clair nearly drowned while water skiing. As you will hear her describe in this video, she fell and was pulled under the water when the rope became tangled around her leg. She had many of the same experiences as others who have come back from the other side, but this time she was shown what was ahead for this planet and why we are all here this time during these huge changes. This is a must-listen for anyone spiritual who wants to survive the coming days.

Near Death Experience Predicts the Future Ahead on Earth

Now that you know what Martha saw, perhaps you would like to read more about near death experiences. It's a popular subject these days. If you go to Amazon and type in "near death experiences" you will find 14 books on the topic published in 2013. I've chosen one to share with you but please leave a message regarding any other good choices you know here below this article or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mysticfare Here is one of the best new books. What Happens When We Die: A Psychic's Exploration of Death, Heaven and the Soul's Journey After Death by Echo Bodine. Here we have much the same material in much more depth as the video you just watched. I hope you like it.Just click on the image below to see more.

Meditation Reduces Risk of Death by Half

This article, written by J.D. Hayes in NaturalNews.com describes from several source test studies that groups who learned meditation showed a reduction of heart problems, anger and were able to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption vastly better than the control groups who were given classes on health and fitness. Here is part of it.

One "treatment" that has begun to generate interest is meditation and, in particular, how it can be utilized to effectively treat dire medical conditions such as heart disease. To that end, researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have found that people with coronary disease who began practicing Transcendental Meditation were 48 percent less likely to have a heart attack, stroke or die from all causes, compared to a group of study participants who merely attended a health education class over more than five years.
In addition, researchers found that those practicing meditation were able to lower the blood pressure, in addition to reporting less overall stress and anger, The Times of India reported. The study also found that the more regularly patients meditated, the greater their rates of survival.
"Meditation is now widely accepted as a mind-body technique for maintaining holistic health and wellness. In medical and rehabilitation settings, meditation has proven to be a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for treating a variety of conditions and the psychologic effects of chronic illness and pain-effects often not addressed in conventional treatments," adds Dr. Sala Horowitz, PhD, in a paper discussing the newest research into the health benefits of meditation.
"Evidence suggesting that meditation has neuroprotective properties has implications for enhancing cognition and preventing dementia," she wrote.
To read the original click here.

I agree that meditation is a wonderful gift to humanity with endless uses. However, I have known people who simply could not learn to calm their minds, no matter what techniques they used to learn it. I wonder about these studies and whether all members of the meditation groups improved. It is hopeful that some of them at least were able to use meditation to reduce risk of death by half.

Journeys of the Spirit Revisited

For those of you familiar with this website you might know that one of the regular listings under the heading, “Mystical/Spiritual Tours and Retreats” is Journeys of the Spirit. Sheri Rosenthal, a former doctor who was wealthy but not happy, found her focus in life through a spiritual direction and through journeys to sacred sites. She continues to create with her talented staff the journeys she herself calls, “transformational, soul-stirring and awe-inspiring”.

Upcoming journeys:
Heart Wisdom of Whales and Wild Dolphins, Panama, 9/15 – 10/11/13
Highlands and Mystical Islands: Sacred Scotland, 9/15 – 9/24/13
Reconnecting to Truth through Horse Wisdom, Tucson, Arizona, 9/18 – 9/22/13
Journey to Machu Picchu – Authentic Spiritual and Cultural Wonders, Peru, 9/26 – 10/ 5/13
Access your Dreams Retreat, Assisi, Italy, 10/12 – 10/18/13
Kindfulness – a Healing Retreat in the Himalayas, Nepal. 10/16 – 10/25/13

I like how this website is organized into categories such as By Region, By Trip Type, By Month and By Price. The home page features a map of an imaginary island with the types of trips such as Women’s Retreats, Mind-Body-Spirit, Spirituality in Business, Power Journeys, Volunteer Travel and Yoga Retreats. The option to plan your own retreat is also possible. Sherri has a recorded message for you which you can experience on this home page if you have Flash on your computer. Here a sample of what these trips are about.

Ready to move deeply inside yourself using ancient and indigenous spiritual traditions and ceremonies, meet local shamans, connect with other realms, trance dance or participate in a sacred plant ceremony? A Shamanic Journey is the perfect experience for you!

Is your business at a standstill, mental barriers and limiting thoughts blocking your abundance? You need a Spiritual Business Retreat to put you on the road to success!
Do you wake up wondering whose life you’re living? Feel like you’re lacking clarity? Find yourself short-tempered, frustrated or unhappy? Wish your relationships were more supportive and loving? Want to forgive and move on, but can’t?
If you crave freedom from your own life and mind you would definitely benefit from a Personal Intensive!

To read the original click here.

I understand from people who have gone on the Journeys of the Spirit tours that the service also includes travel and meals. Check out one of these great tours and let me know how it was. To contact them go to: http://www.journeysofthespirit.com or call 866-866-5566. If you mention MysticFare you will receive a discount on your trip.

Mystical Meditation in Action

The organization, Profound Mystical Meditation, has been in existence since 1965. It was founded and still led by Dr. Francisco Coll in Iowa. There is also an International Conference Center and the Americana Leadership College all initiated by Dr. Coll. There are 4 main concepts:

• Each of us is a soul with a physical body
• Everyone has Angels (Spiritual Guidance)
• We come to Planet Earth with a purpose
• We have been, we are, and we will always be

I couldn’t agree more, so I was eager to find out what they offered and what accommodations were available. Here are 3 scheduled workshops: Angel Encounter Workshop, Discover Your Sea of Tranquility and Tranquility and Accomplishment Technique Workshop. They also offer classes with titles such as “Meditation in Action” and “New Spiritual Horizons”. Also of interest are Angel Consultations and the course to become a Certified Spiritual Educator.
I’ve long wanted to find a group that combines mysticism with meditation, so I was very pleased to find this beautiful website and meet a group that has been going for over 35 years. Even more intriguing is the retreat center, part of the Americana Leadership College and located in Iowa. As they explain on their website:

Americana Leadership College
International Conference Center
Osceola, Iowa
FINALLY... A retreat center where you can

• Relax and unwind in nature
• Attain an integrated, balanced, conscious living lifestyle
• Learn deeper Angel communication techniques
• Discover your True Life Purpose

Nestled in the rolling hills of south, central Iowa is the 170 acre International Conference Center. For over 36 years people from around the world have come to discover their true inner self and their life purpose in a relaxing natural environment.

Read the original here.
The retreats occur on major holidays such as Easter, Memorial Day weekend, month of July, Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. For more information about this group, please visit their website at: http:// www.profoundmysticalmeditation.com  If you are lucky enough to visit and take a course or workshop, please leave a comment or contact me: contact@mysticfare.com
Unfortunately there is no mention of fees or accommodation on the website, so I can't share that with you at this time.