What is Pilgrimage? 15 Pilgrims from Around the World Describe Their Personal Experiences
Updated on April 12, 2025 by Meg Pier
Unlock with PatreonWhat is pilgrimage? Spiritual seekers share their experiences of El Camino, Hajj, Shraddha, Shikoku temples, Israel birthright, and more.
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Fascinating and helpful information! So appreciative of your wisdom, insights, and outstanding details!
C. Pollard
Thanks so much! I am so pleased that the explanations were useful to you! Pilgrimage is an important dimension of so many beliefs!
A pilgrimage is of course the framing story for the Canterbury Tales. What’s interesting is that although the pilgrims are engaging in a devotional exercise, the stories are quite irreverent.
Yes indeed, I think often spiritural seekers are only too aware of their human foiobles and hence the motivation to “connect”!
I love this article. It really helps bring me a new perspective to my travel goals. It is helpful
for me spiritually and, concretely very useful with the Cultural Creators/Stewards listed at the end.
I am pleased you enjoyed this piece and found it helpful! Whatever your beliefs, connecting with the spirituality of a place and its history is meaningful!
I found this article to be very meaningful. I do believe that there is something about a connection with one’s spirituality when visiting in a sacred place and hearing about other beliefs. When we were in Hawaii our local guide led us quietly through the grounds of Hindu Temple in his own neighborhood. We were not allowed inside the temple, as they were have services that that time. However, we learned so much about their rituals and their way of life through our guide. Upon leaving, there was a peace and calmness that I had never experienced before. Thank you again for another wonderful article.
Carol, I am so pleased this resonated with you. Thank you for your thoughtful reflections. I, too, enjoy learning about the spiritual beliefs of the destinations I visit. You raise an important point, which is that guides really enhance any tourism experience of a sacred site because they can share the history and context that we can’t know intuitively.
thank you for this very important information i appreciate it for my re class on these topics
thank you for the information, it was very useful for my re lesson on these topics.
I am so pleased you found this article helpful Noah!
Hi,
I am grieving the recent loss of my husband of 52 years. Unexpectedly, and not fully understanding the why, I have book a trip to Sicily, and especially Palermo, where my husband visited in 1966 while serving in the US Navy. It was one of many ports of call for them. I’d like to hear more about secular pilgrimages as they relate to the passing of loved ones.
Thank you,
Linda
Linda, my condolences on the loss of your husband. 52 years is a very long time and I am sure you are feeling his absence acutely. What a meaningful way to connect with his past by making your trip to Sicily. I myself took a trip to the Dingle Peninsula to scatter my mother’s ashes. It was not a request she made and her people were not from Dingle but further north. But she and I visited there and had a particularly good time with many laughs and nice moments of connection. I was called to do it, and I am so glad I listened to my intuition. I hope your trip is as memorable and moving a mine was!