A Pilgrimage to Nepal
As I begin to reacclimate back into everyday life I now have some amazing memories that have created a collage in my mind from the pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is a very interesting word, and it holds so many meanings if you look energetically deeper into it. Honestly before this trip I had no clue what the word truly meant. Yes, I understood the Webster dictionary of its definition what I learned was its greater spiritual meaning. What I have come to understand about the word is what it is not. It is not a vacation, or a retreat, or even a journey to a different land sightseeing and going to all the places it has to offer. It is about purification, learning what you are made of, soaking in the sacred energy of a land that at times felt ancient. It is about meeting people and creating connections and bonds. It is about karma and choices. It is about touching and opening up the very places in your heart and soul that have been closed off due to any number of things that life dishes out to us. It is about rebirth, a rejuvenation of spirit and soul, about connecting to a sacred energy that goes beyond any explanation or expectation.
This pilgrimage took me to Nepal with an amazing group of people, from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds, each on their own journey. There was lots of laughter, tears, struggles, and triumphs. There were sacred caves, ceremonies, dances, singing, visits to monasteries and even an audience with his Eminence. We had time with the rain, nature and even some encounters with leeches. Roaming cows in the street that seemed to be leading the way looking for food and the street dogs that slept anywhere they choose was part of the daily scene. Nepalese people are kind, gentle, and super friendly always trying to make everyone feel comfortable. I also cannot say enough about the great group of guides from Responsible Trekking team. These men were amazing, guiding us through the different towns we visited and keeping us safe. Always watching out for us and encouraging us to be our best. Their commitment to their jobs and the place they call home was truly amazing and created a bond that made the group feel like family. I gained new words like Nepalese flat which means walking straight up and down a side of a mountain at an angle that only mountain goats enjoy. I saw a culture where prayer and devotion to their Gods was built into the very fabric of who they were. It was not just going to church every Sunday; it was infused in every aspect of their daily life. I saw things that made my heart cry and also gained a better understanding of what it means to see with your eyes and heart open with out judgment and the perceptions we see through.
Nepal is a land that holds its own natural beauty and ancient sacred energy. This pilgrimage has allowed me to shed things that no longer serve my spiritual growth. It has allowed me to see through the heart with love and compassion not only for others, for myself. It has made me stronger and has deepened my connection to the Bon practices. I feel so grateful to have had an opportunity to visit and connect to such an amazing place and people. Nepal, till we meet again.
