Written on August 14, 2010 by CB Driver in Personal Growth, Spirituality
“Once we begin to see travel as an inner journey, it is possible to turn every trip we take into a spiritual practice—a hero’s adventure that enlivens our hearts and enlarges our souls. Travel becomes a spiritual experience for us when we are conscious at every moment that our physical transportation from place to place has a metaphysical counterpart. Understanding that, the road takes us inexorably to an encounter with the ‘stranger’ at the heart of the journey—the transformed self.”
—Joseph Dispenza, The Way of the Traveler
Sure, you’re hopping on a plane and flying several thousand miles away—or maybe just a couple hundred—and leaving home and your comfort zone. On the surface, it might seem like you’re going outside of yourself. And in some ways, you are. But in reality, you’re taking an inner journey—one that takes you further into who you are.
Most of the trips I’ve taken have not merely supplemented, but actually served as some sort of spiritual practice. Sometimes heavy (if we’re talking San Pedro cactus in South America). Sometimes light (a goofy chicken bus ride with a busload of characters). And often, a just-right sort of blend of the light and the deep stuff…inner journeys where I put myself out there on the beaten path and get into the moment, the flow, and let the magic happen.
Light of Aleppo (C) 2010, L. Egle
And it’s an incredible thing.
I love every word of the quote by J Dispenza. I do believe that, when approached from the right place within (soul? psyche? self?), a trip can “enliven our hearts” and “enlarge our souls.” I’ve connected with people of other cultures and felt their tremendous love so many times, I’ve lost count. And these experiences have had profound effects on me….nourishing my soul, bringing unexpected joy into my life, etc.. And I hope and think I’ve had an effect on the people I’ve met, too, showing them how open I am to their culture, especially in countries where that might not always be the case.
Transportation: Physical & Metaphysical
How about the idea of the metaphysical counterpart of the physical transportation? I buy into that, too. You’re moving, you’re traveling on the physical plane. But something else is happening, too, on a much deeper level. The road you’re taking, especially when it’s a road that you might not normally take, leads you right back to yourself. And that’s a good thing, I believe.
Can you actually “transform” yourself via travel? I believe you can–if you truly want to and you’re ready for to. But I can only speak from personal experience. In my case, I’ve been able tap into something unique via my travel experiences to:
–face fear and overcome it –live in the moment more –work on some patterns I wanted to change –motivate and inspire myself to break out of a rut
–move forward, with less looking back
In each case, doing this had something to do with events that occurred or people I met during a trip. In some cases, I knew what I wanted and was looking for. At other times, I wasn’t so clear; I simply knew I was ready for something…
Have you ever had this experience? If so, what was your situation before the trip? What occurred during it? And how were you transformed by it? Were the effects lasting?
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