Pilgrimage The Sacred Art

Pilgrimage is a spiritual practice of nearly every major religion of the world. Christians travel to sites associated with the life of Jesus; Jews visit the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem and other sacred places in the Holy Land of Israel; Muslims participate in the Hajj, the journey to Mecca; Buddhists visit the sacred sites related to the life of Buddha. Not limited to those with religious roots, the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, and Lenin’s tomb in Moscow are considered national pilgrimage sites. As a spiritual practice, pilgrimage transcends religious, national, cultural and linguistic boundaries.

This fascinating look at the sacred art of pilgrimage integrates spirituality, practice, spiritual formation, psychology, world religions and historical resources. It examines how the world s religious pilgrimages evolved as central spiritual practices and the relationship between pilgrimage and transformation. It explains what makes a place holy, and why and how some sites are so compelling that they attract thousands, even millions of pilgrims each year. It also explores the relationship between holy places and pilgrimage and how they relate to the everyday search for the sacred in our midst.

Intended for both the novice and the experienced traveler, this spiritual resource provides guidelines for preparation, tips on how to organize pilgrimages and a list of resources to aid those called to the journey today.