The journey of the Soul
Traveling as a spiritual practice or
The speedway to evolve
Once I read an interesting study about the number of people traveling, flying, walking, driving from place to place, year by year. I don’t remember exactly how fast this industry grows, but I remember wondering: why? How come so many people are going to so many places? What are we searching for or running away from?
I’was born a traveler. I walked to the corner store when I was 5, just for the sake of going somewhere. I left home at a very young age and have seen countless places on our beloved Earth since. Once I walked 800 kms in Spain just to find out that I can.
If I had a magic wand I would send everyone to see the sunset in Indonesia, but not just see it… hear it’s sound! To walk the cobble stones of Prague, not just see them on a picture… feel them under their feet! The goats chasing each other on the cliffs in Croatia. Don't just see them on a video, but smell them!
Traveling gives me perspective of my own size and problems, it humbles me and teaches me most about People of the World. How different we are… and at the same time, exactly the same. I feel transformed each time. I leave the way I am today and always come back a little bit transformed. Or sometimes actually, majorly transformed.
Stepping out of the repetition of daily life, one can only surrender to LIFE as it is.
Here is what I have learned over the years about this process. May it be a short weekend getaway with a lover, or a strenuous hike throughout the Himalayas, the stages of transformation are always there. Is it possible to look at traveling is landmarks of our inner evolution? One of the Soul’s many ways to initiate and grow? Do you also feel slightly changed whenever you return from somewhere?
Stage 1. The idea. - When the Heart responds to The Call.
There are so many invitations. Commercials, promotions, posters on the street, stories of friends. None of their journeys speak to you.. “I wouldn’t do that…’ That sounds boring”.. “ not for me, thanks”… One day however that ONE image awakens the heart! It just beats a little faster for a minute, and the mind is second to react. The Hero (my nickname for the Traveling Soul) always knocks on the door of the heart first. That is how I know that THIS journey is the one to take next.
Sometimes the mind says: nope, you can’t do it. Too long, too far, you are too busy, this is too expensive. However, the Call has been answered, the heart will flutter over and over again, this is how The Journey starts.
Stage 2. Preparations - Anticipation and Imagination
At one point the reality of the Journey begins. It’s not just an idea anymore. There are things to do. Book the flight, find a hotel, do a little research, etc. While the organizing nature of the Mind is really happy, our Hero deep down is tapping with her fingers. The question at this stage is: How much can I leave for faith to arrange? Do I trust the Universe? How much control do I need to have? These are always very useful questions for self reflection at this stage.
Stage 3. Leaving - Letting go
Saying good bye to our family and friends is always a little practice of Death. What am I taking with me, what stays behind? These are the questions to ponder. This is a very short, intense stage. Emotions are always involved. The Mind may be confused a little, just for a few minutes. The play of Life, or let’s just say it: Some Greater Forces are at play now. The Mind has no choice but to surrender control. The flight takes off. The Journey begins.
Stage 4. The journey itself - Presence and faith
We are on auto pilot no more. The known, the comfortable, the safe is all behind. Every site is new. Even if I have been somewhere before, the site is new again. A different season, or perhaps buildings changed since I last visited. We can not help but become and remain (!) present during the Journey. Decisions to make at every crossroad, can I trust this person? investigating every new bite of food. Will my body absorb this well? Impulses, impressions, truly: a sensory overload. How do we handle the stress of DIFFERENCE? This is the major question all along the way.
Stage 5. The Challenge - Transformation
Some of these different impressions will be breathtaking and mind-blowing, but others, (and there is always a few of these on every journey) will be challenging. Maybe a little bit uncomfortable, sometimes life threatening. Anything from missing a bus connection to being kidnapped (which happened to a friend of mine, not me, wink wink:) There will certainly be something at some point that we do not like about the Journey. Let’s call it: The Lesson. This is where true transformation starts to take place. This is the real reason for this trip.
Stage 6. The Hero returns - Conclusions
If we manage to survive the challenge (and let’s imagine a less dramatic lesson for now) we will start our journey back home. A bit perhaps shaken. Most of the time overwhelmed. What this means is that we have been tested and pushed to the limits. We have a story to tell and the story includes all good and bad.
A lesson was learned. One time I have faced the question: How much I allow the weather to influence my moods? Another time I had to reevaluate what is more important: to be popular by pleasing others, or to be myself” The conclusion is always clear and concise. We know the answer now. We learned it first hand, with all of our senses involved.
Stage 7. Returning to home - Re-connecting
Have you ever had the experience to walk in someone else’s shoes? Some say we can never do that. However, on the way home I feel exactly just that. As if my shoes or clothes don’t fit the same. Or my skin changed, somehow got tighter or shape shifted. The longer, more intense the journey has been, the change in me is more obvious and relevant. I always feel FULL. Complete. Looking back at the trip the challenging aspect starts to fade away and nicer memories surface. Those are easier to show on the pictures we take. And that is all we are able to share answering the question: “How was your trip?” The other part, the transformation remains deeply intimate and private most of the time.
Stage 8. Reflections - The story to tell
As weeks, months and years go by, the dust of the experience settles. Even our ability to share about the journey improves. That weekend getaway with my family? That was so memorable! Just perfect. That time when I climbed the Pyrenees? Crazy man! What was I thinking? … and so on..
There is one thing in common in all the journeys of all people though:
Those are the ones we TELL when we get old. We will pull out the photo albums, reminisce about them around the dinner table.
We won't remember the day to day, going to work, cleaning the house, paying the bills days.
We will look back and remember our journeys as clear and outstanding landmarks of our own evolution.
They will stand out, fuel, shape, grow and change us.
The speedway to evolve
Once I read an interesting study about the number of people traveling, flying, walking, driving from place to place, year by year. I don’t remember exactly how fast this industry grows, but I remember wondering: why? How come so many people are going to so many places? What are we searching for or running away from?
I’was born a traveler. I walked to the corner store when I was 5, just for the sake of going somewhere. I left home at a very young age and have seen countless places on our beloved Earth since. Once I walked 800 kms in Spain just to find out that I can.
If I had a magic wand I would send everyone to see the sunset in Indonesia, but not just see it… hear it’s sound! To walk the cobble stones of Prague, not just see them on a picture… feel them under their feet! The goats chasing each other on the cliffs in Croatia. Don't just see them on a video, but smell them!
Traveling gives me perspective of my own size and problems, it humbles me and teaches me most about People of the World. How different we are… and at the same time, exactly the same. I feel transformed each time. I leave the way I am today and always come back a little bit transformed. Or sometimes actually, majorly transformed.
Stepping out of the repetition of daily life, one can only surrender to LIFE as it is.
Here is what I have learned over the years about this process. May it be a short weekend getaway with a lover, or a strenuous hike throughout the Himalayas, the stages of transformation are always there. Is it possible to look at traveling is landmarks of our inner evolution? One of the Soul’s many ways to initiate and grow? Do you also feel slightly changed whenever you return from somewhere?
Stage 1. The idea. - When the Heart responds to The Call.
There are so many invitations. Commercials, promotions, posters on the street, stories of friends. None of their journeys speak to you.. “I wouldn’t do that…’ That sounds boring”.. “ not for me, thanks”… One day however that ONE image awakens the heart! It just beats a little faster for a minute, and the mind is second to react. The Hero (my nickname for the Traveling Soul) always knocks on the door of the heart first. That is how I know that THIS journey is the one to take next.
Sometimes the mind says: nope, you can’t do it. Too long, too far, you are too busy, this is too expensive. However, the Call has been answered, the heart will flutter over and over again, this is how The Journey starts.
Stage 2. Preparations - Anticipation and Imagination
At one point the reality of the Journey begins. It’s not just an idea anymore. There are things to do. Book the flight, find a hotel, do a little research, etc. While the organizing nature of the Mind is really happy, our Hero deep down is tapping with her fingers. The question at this stage is: How much can I leave for faith to arrange? Do I trust the Universe? How much control do I need to have? These are always very useful questions for self reflection at this stage.
Stage 3. Leaving - Letting go
Saying good bye to our family and friends is always a little practice of Death. What am I taking with me, what stays behind? These are the questions to ponder. This is a very short, intense stage. Emotions are always involved. The Mind may be confused a little, just for a few minutes. The play of Life, or let’s just say it: Some Greater Forces are at play now. The Mind has no choice but to surrender control. The flight takes off. The Journey begins.
Stage 4. The journey itself - Presence and faith
We are on auto pilot no more. The known, the comfortable, the safe is all behind. Every site is new. Even if I have been somewhere before, the site is new again. A different season, or perhaps buildings changed since I last visited. We can not help but become and remain (!) present during the Journey. Decisions to make at every crossroad, can I trust this person? investigating every new bite of food. Will my body absorb this well? Impulses, impressions, truly: a sensory overload. How do we handle the stress of DIFFERENCE? This is the major question all along the way.
Stage 5. The Challenge - Transformation
Some of these different impressions will be breathtaking and mind-blowing, but others, (and there is always a few of these on every journey) will be challenging. Maybe a little bit uncomfortable, sometimes life threatening. Anything from missing a bus connection to being kidnapped (which happened to a friend of mine, not me, wink wink:) There will certainly be something at some point that we do not like about the Journey. Let’s call it: The Lesson. This is where true transformation starts to take place. This is the real reason for this trip.
Stage 6. The Hero returns - Conclusions
If we manage to survive the challenge (and let’s imagine a less dramatic lesson for now) we will start our journey back home. A bit perhaps shaken. Most of the time overwhelmed. What this means is that we have been tested and pushed to the limits. We have a story to tell and the story includes all good and bad.
A lesson was learned. One time I have faced the question: How much I allow the weather to influence my moods? Another time I had to reevaluate what is more important: to be popular by pleasing others, or to be myself” The conclusion is always clear and concise. We know the answer now. We learned it first hand, with all of our senses involved.
Stage 7. Returning to home - Re-connecting
Have you ever had the experience to walk in someone else’s shoes? Some say we can never do that. However, on the way home I feel exactly just that. As if my shoes or clothes don’t fit the same. Or my skin changed, somehow got tighter or shape shifted. The longer, more intense the journey has been, the change in me is more obvious and relevant. I always feel FULL. Complete. Looking back at the trip the challenging aspect starts to fade away and nicer memories surface. Those are easier to show on the pictures we take. And that is all we are able to share answering the question: “How was your trip?” The other part, the transformation remains deeply intimate and private most of the time.
Stage 8. Reflections - The story to tell
As weeks, months and years go by, the dust of the experience settles. Even our ability to share about the journey improves. That weekend getaway with my family? That was so memorable! Just perfect. That time when I climbed the Pyrenees? Crazy man! What was I thinking? … and so on..
There is one thing in common in all the journeys of all people though:
Those are the ones we TELL when we get old. We will pull out the photo albums, reminisce about them around the dinner table.
We won't remember the day to day, going to work, cleaning the house, paying the bills days.
We will look back and remember our journeys as clear and outstanding landmarks of our own evolution.
They will stand out, fuel, shape, grow and change us.
