Pilgrimage Begins with The Door

An important part of pilgrimage is noticing the invitations that are all around us. Every pilgrimage begins with recognizing. What is inviting you to more of you and how can we recognize the doors that are for us. As you move through the world the next couple of weeks we wanted to give you practical advice on how to identify your own doors. Try 1 or 2 of these spiritual practices consistently and see what comes up for you in this time. 

1. Journal for a few minutes every day. Start off simply - roses, bud, thorns. Reflect after two weeks - what are your patterns - what is helpful for you? What is perpetually harming you? Adjust accordingly.
2. Take a walk outside in the same place every day for 2 two weeks. Don’t listen to anything but yourself. Notice what comes up.
3. Talk to a safe friend about a time when you felt connected to your joy. Recognizing what’s bringing us joy helps us identify our doors.
4. Are you reading something that inspires you daily? Read or listen to 5-10 minutes of music, a podcast, or nature sounds that bring you back to yourself.
5. Remember to breathe. How is your breath today friend?  Place your hand on your heart and mindfully breathe for a few minutes. How does your body feel? Your mind? How are you a part of liberation of self and others? Part of finding our doors is being keenly aware of our place in humanity and serving others.

We conclude this episode with a blessing from John O'Donohue:
A Blessing Prayer in Difficult Times
by John O’Donohue
May you know tender shelter and healing blessing
when you are called to stand in the place of pain.
May the places of darkness within you be surprised by light.
May you be granted the wisdom to avoid false resistance and
when suffering knocks on the door of your life, may you be able to glimpse its hidden gift.
May you be able to see the fruits of suffering.
May memory bless and shelter you with the hard-earned light of past turmoil,
to remind you that you have survived before,
And though the darkness is now deep,
You will soon see approaching light.
May this give you confidence and trust.
May a window of light always surprise you.
May the grace of transfiguration heal your wounds.