What is Pilgrimage?
Pilgrimage is a walking, embodied journey that answers the longing to re-awaken and claim
our true identity, innate wisdom, vitality, and soul-directed purpose.
The ancient practice and ceremony of Pilgrimage is found throughout the world and in all spiritual traditions as a means to reconnect oneself to the deeper truths of Self and of Life.
The experience of pilgrimage begins the moment you hear the call to walk upon the Earth with intention towards an unknown inner destination. Something within you says, "You must...". As a pilgrim you leave your everyday "ordinary" world behind in order to "quest" for deeper truth and meaning through a physically challenging experience in an unknown land. As you walk, you encounter yourself and others in a myriad of different ways. You find gifts, joys, sorrows, blisters, exhaustion, support, strange food, and unexpected friends.
Our supported pilgrimage is a six-month journey with like-minded individuals. Through a guided experience of pilgrimage, you identify foundational patterns and internalized stories that play out in your everyday life that keep you from walking the true path that pulls your heart. You have an opportunity to consciously release these ways of being that no longer serve you and intentionally step towards the unbounded horizons longing to be explored.
Our guided "rite of passage" pilgrimage experience includes group and individual coaching through a preparation phase (severance), an embodied experience of the liminal during the 10-day walking pilgrimage (threshold), and guided support to implement the wisdom gained upon your return (incorporation).
Read below for more details on a "rite of passage".
According to author Bethany Webster, in her book Discovering the Inner Mother, "The cost of society and the world is that generations of women keep themselves small so as not to offend.... and bypass a chance to fulfill their potential. Thus, the genius, power, love and gifts of countless women are lost to the world." As we more fully embody and choose into our genius, power and gifts, we increase our connection to ourselves, to each other, and most importantly, to the Earth. Through this healing work, we heal ourselves, help others rediscover their value and innate belovedness, and reclaim a life of harmony with our more than human beings.
Severing from the Known and Preparation
The Preparation Phase (Severance) of any journey begins with "Yes!" and is immediately follow by "But..." Inner and outer voices begin to cast doubt and create obstacles that shadow the "Yes!".
Together as a community of pilgrims we begin to explore this universal rhythm of "Yes, but" and transform it into "Yes, and!" Looking at resistances as opportunities to be curious, we guide you into a deeper understanding of what gets in our way.
Through a series of five virtual preparation sessions, we learn more about what's hidden under the layers of the ancient Camino, gain an understanding of the "Heroine's Journey" as the basis of our walk together, we connect with our "What for?", design an intention statement and prepare for the physical challenge of long-distance walking.
The Liminal Threshold
Our Threshold experience is the daily walk along the Camino. This experience stretches us, moves us into discomfort, and symbolizes the metaphorical journey into the unknown. This is the time of trial, deepening into the wisdom of Mystery within and around us.
As Guides and Life Coaches, we will draw upon our varied spiritual and transformational life-coaching skills to guide your deepening experience through a Rite of Passage framework. As Guides, our role is listen to you as your story of Pilgrimage unfolds and offer guidance through the process.
Every day along the Camino, we will share breakfast and dinner, and have morning and evening group gatherings to listen to the deeper ways the Camino is unfolding for you. We will hold space for you through individual walking coaching sessions to support you as your inner landscape is informed by Nature's outer landscape.
The Return
Once in Santiago, we will end our Camino integrating the gifts and wisdom received with a closing ceremony that will support your reentry into the "ordinary world".
However, your journey does not end there! As guides we will support you in creating an "incorporation" plan to bring to birth whatever insights and wisdom you gained during your long walk.
To support you after your return home, we will have two incorporation calls to check in on how you are integrating your new wisdom into your every day.
Additionally, as a Wild Wisdom Life pilgrim, you will have access to discounted individual coaching from our team of qualified coaches to more fully support the change process you began during the Camino.
The Journey
Preparation Phase
- Four virtual group sessions (one per month leading up to the Camino)
- One individual coaching session
The Liminal
The Final Push
(Sample Itinerary)
Day 1: Meet at starting point in Spain
Day 2-4: Clarifying intention and release of challenges with gratitude (various stops on the way to Sarria)
Walking Threshold
Days 5-10: The Walk: Sarria to Compostela
Integration
Day 11: Santiago and Fisterra
Day 12: Day of departure
Two walking coaching sessions during the Camino and daily group circle gatherings.
The Return
- One day guided retreat in Finesterra for reflection and creation of incorporation plan.
- Two incorporation support calls upon return from Pilgrimage.
- Discounted ongoing individual coaching for returning pilgrims
What people are saying
The Pilgrimage on the Camino was an incredible adventure for my body, mind and spirit! I felt fully supported and at the same time fully free to have the experience that was meant for me. I highly recommend the Way of the Beloved if you want to walk the Camino in an intentional, meaningful way. ~Jennifer, The Way of the Beloved Pilgrim 2022
Thank you so very much. You were thoughtful, attentive and welcoming, encouraging us each step of the way on this journey, inwards and outwards. I especially loved the scarf we carried each day and along the way. Very meaningful to me.
~Debbie, The Way of the Beloved Pilgrim 2022
Camino thoughts:
Rituals from the anointing of our feet at the bridge on the first long walking day
To the reminder of who encouraged us
To the slow walk with our stone that we left on the hill
To the daily prayer/ thoughts that Charis shared each morning
To the sharing circle at night to debrief and think about our journey
To the Breakfast and dinners together
To History sharing along the way
To the Ceremonies at Santiago de Compostela, and Finisterra.
These all were appreciated and felt.
But more importantly, you lead with thought, foresight, planning, kindness, and direction.
All was appreciated.
-Mary, The Way of the Beloved Pilgrim 2022
Together the Peregrinas walked.
Through dark dawns, drizzle, and beaming brightness.
Across numinous landscapes, kitten-strewn farmyards, and moss-padded paths.
They leapt chuckling streams, scuffled through slick, wild woodland,
and wept openly at the sheer beauty they encountered along the way.
And as we walked the way of a million pilgrim feet before us, every step wearing the path deeper into Mother Earth, each of us felt her own self-knowing carving toward the core of her.
Each of us leaned closer to our own Beloved Identity — and returned to the Top World changed.
I have never been happier than I was during my camino experience with Maria and Charis — and my experience of myself still continues to shift in ways I never could have predicted. If you know you're ready to step into the magic that's your birthright, then grab your boots and backpack, and join the Peregrinas — you've never known joy like this.
-Gin Walker, The Way of the Beloved Pilgrim 2022
