Pilgrimage

©Cindy Thomson

Today a pilgrimage is a physical journey to a place of spiritual significance, like a journey to Israel or Mecca. But for the ancient Celts, the pilgrimage was the journey itself, the process, the learning, the growing. That is why the actual place one journeyed to was not all that important. What was important was to go with Christ.

A popular ancient Irish saying, translated by Kuno Meyer says it well:

To go to Rome
Is much of trouble, little of profit:
The King whom thou seekest here,
Unless thou bring Him with thee, thou wilt not find.

From my book, Celtic Wisdom:

I wish, O Son of the living God, O ancient, eternal King,
For a hidden little hut in the wilderness that it may be my dwelling,
An all-grey lithe little lark to be by its side,
A clear pool to wash away sins through the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Quite near, a beautiful wood around it on every side,
To nurse many-voiced birds, hiding it with its shelter.
--From THE HERMITS' SONG

Celtic Pilgrimage

I don't see this program listed on my local PBS station. I hope I get to see it. You should check yours. It started airing this month. Two years ago John O'Donohue unexpectedly passed away. He is the author of the best selling book Anam Cara. His web site is still maintained, and you can visit it here.