Having spent most of my professional career working in the travel industry, I’ve met a lot of travellers. Some of them have even become my friends. What I found over and over again was that, to many, travel was like a drug. These people would travel merely for the sake of crossing another destination off their list. There was no satiating this addiction. They would not truly relish their time in a foreign land, getting to know the people, the culture, or the history. They would simply wander around aimlessly, maybe pick up a few souvenirs along the way, and then it would be off to the next place. I find this to be very sad because when you fail to be present in the actual place you are, how could you ever really connect with others, and isn’t that really the whole point of travel – discovering, exploring, connecting?

This is why sacred journeys are so important. Not only do they allow you to really learn about a new place and its people, but they allow you to fully embrace and live into the destination you are visiting. On a sacred journey you’ll not only discover all that is to be found in this fascinating world, but you might even rediscover yourself, the one that you buried under life, work, family, and responsibilities. Imagine how rewarding a journey like this could be. Just think of the cherished gifts and “souvenirs” you would carry home with you and the dead weight you could possibly leave behind you. A sacred journey can help do all this for you and more.

So, the next time you hear someone rambling on and on about all the places they’ve checked into and feel a tinge of envy, ask them what they really embraced about their journey, what they learned, how they connected. What’s more important to you – a checklist of crossed off destinations, or one deeply moving and transformational voyage that helps you to live your life journey with real passion?

~ Daniela Masaro