Slow inspirational journeys:
where routes are as direct as possible
to destinations worth achieving
‘Pilgrim journeys’ providing exploration, surprise, effort and delight along specially created routes
These pilgrimages are practical, directness is an important principle and the acquisition of something ‘good’ is a major aim.
The ‘good’ of a pilgrimage is different than just satisfaction of physical need (eg ‘food’). These Pilgrim Journeys aim to assist human development and understanding and ultimately to be ‘inspirational – to ‘raise the spirit’ of each participant.
Purposeful journeys with the requirement to reach an agreed worthwhile destination places a pilgrim on a similar ‘charge’ to that given to someone purchasing food. It requires one continuous action and to be as direct as possible. Not a journey to be completed in multiple, time separated stages. It is immediate: ‘of now’.
The result of holding such a view about pilgrimage is that the route, from its origin to its destination, requires to be accepting of whatever conditions exist along the way.
There is one variation, that created by the mode of travel – walking. Major roads are avoided. Thus in choosing walking as a means of transport (the most natural) it is reasonable to ensure that the route is suitable for the means.
However even this has precise parallels with everyday experience. Certain types of vehicle and driver are prevented by law from using the quickest routes – motorways.
This type of pilgrimage is a practical journey using a natural means of transportation and never performed simply for physical recreation or as a means of escaping everyday reality. It is centred on the principle of ‘going somewhere specific’ and of providing participants with an opportunity to ask serious questions about the manner in which they live their lives and to consider where they may, with their own lives, being ‘going’.
Inspirational Pathways 