One of the Order’s sacraments is that of Journey. In modern parlance this would manifest as travel and whilst it is now an industry to itself, the core sentiment remains. We are broadened when we move out of our comfort zone and embrace the alien. In western cultures it has been a rites of passage for young people to undertake some version of journey to come to understand the self. But journey is not the realm of youth. At every stage of life we should take to the road and throw ourselves to the mercy of happenstance.
Pilgrimage via the camino routes of Europe has been in resurgence for some time. Some pilgrims are driven by spirituality, some for the food and wine, some for the personal challenge. What is important is to be out there moving, experiencing and transforming. You cannot journey and there be no transformation.
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
― Heraclitus
Journeys do not have to be epic international affairs, indeed one can reap the rewards of journey in your local geography. Here in Australia, we have a developing network of rail trails that provide day and multiday adventures. These rail trails are serviced by the small towns that sprouted when the rail came through. Today, the tourism from travellers contributes to the local economy via accommodation and food. These rail corridors offer a safe and serene walking experience as you wander country from town to town. You can pack a 50 litre rucksack and travel self contained, camping along the way or pack a 20 litre rucksack with the essentials and enjoy domiciled lodgings and local food. Using coach and train services, an end to end walking experience is easy to plan and you can have your own pilgrimage of sorts.
“There is an intense but simple thrill in setting off in the morning on a mountain trail, knowing that everything you need is on your back. It is a confidence in having left the inessentials behind and of entering a world of natural beauty that has not been violated, where money has no value, and possessions are a dead weight. The person with the fewest possessions is the freest. Thoreau was right.”
– Paul Theroux. The happy isles of Oceania
A journey is not a holiday. When you journey you are returning to the classroom. It will be physical. It will be reflective. You will be open to the flora and fauna, open to the local history, open to the weather, open to the stark passage of time. This sort of wayfaring is addictive. The beautiful exhaustion at the end of a day’s walking is the perfect tonic for a solid sleep. To depart with only the essentials on your back is liberating. To be confronted with what you actually need to get by will give you pause. The kindness of strangers will re-balance a sullied view of humanity. Yes, it can be leisurely like a holiday, but that is because you are the master of your time. You can have that second cup of coffee, you can stop and marvel at the depth of a rail cutting that was cut by hand and explosives.
If you are new to distance walking you are blessed to have the mystery of journey awaiting you. Time to pore over maps and submit a leave application.
