Since ancient times, pilgrims have been visiting places of special spiritual significance. Taking a meaningful trip to a place where strong connections are felt with Deity or to ancient sites of worship can be a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, and is often the catalyst for deep personal change.

In more recent times, the notion of pilgrimage has evolved into the concept of the ‘sacred journey’ – which seems to allude to the special nature of the whole process of the trip, from the point of departure to that of return.  

Participants in today’s sacred journeys often feel that the people they meet, the routes they travel and the anecdotal experiences that arise all play a part in their spiritual development, perhaps even reconnecting them in some way with situations they once encountered in mysterious previous incarnations.

Others simply feel a greater sense of connection, an increased appreciation of the beauty of nature and that invaluable sense of freedom that facilitates clearer self reflection, personal insights and more intense spiritual experiences.

Nibal Sulaiman was so inspired by his sacred journey to Mount Kailash, Tibet, in 2006 that he recently launched Parishanta Travel to help others realise their dreams of visiting Tibet, Nepal, India and Bhutan.

Mount Kailash, known as Kang Rinpoche in Tibetan or ‘precious jewel of snow’ holds a special place in the hearts of the region’s four major religions: Hindu, Buddhist, Jains, and the shamanic Bön tradition of pre-Buddhist Tibet.

It is said to be the Earth’s crown chakra, and the abode of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati, as well as that of Demchok, a wrathful manifestation of Buddha Sakyamuni. It cuts an intriguing figure against the snowy and unforgiving terrain of Western Tibet. 

‘In late 2005, a thought suddenly came into my mind that I needed to visit Mount Kailash. I didn’t know why but I knew I had to. So in May 2006 I flew out to Kathmandu, Nepal, to meet my guide before flying to Lhasa’ writes Nibal.

‘The first night in Kathmandu I had a vision where I was ‘transported’ to the base of Mount Kailash to meet its guardian who questioned my credentials three times and only embraced me on the third positive response. After gathering some provisions, we visited Pashupatinath Temple on what later I found out was Lord Shiva’s day. This felt like we had received His permission and blessings. From Lhasa we slowly began travelling west to get fully acclimatised. Along the way we visited many Buddhist monasteries. I recall the Maitreya Buddha statues in particular seem to stand out – like they were communicating with their eyes.

Upon arrival at Mount Kailash, the energy felt so, so familiar. I can only describe it as akin to seeing an old friend again after a very long time. The following day we began the Kalish kora – walking round the mountain in a clockwise direction. I recall walking at a great pace as if I had a multitude of invisible beings behind me. This prompted my Tibetan guide to comment that I ‘walk like a Tibetan’! After three days, we completed the kora. The felt exhaustion but complete peace and tranquillity. It felt like a cycle in my life had just ended and a new one started.

Till this day this sacred journey is one I look back on with such reverence and awe and I thank the universe for an amazing, life changing experience.’

It’s easy to empathise with Nibal’s sentiment and the depth of feeling with which he writes about this journey.

For me, the ‘sacred journey’ has been more significant than I ever realised.  From the regular, short pilgrimages I make to Avebury and Stonehenge that serve to reaffirm my connection with the Divine Feminine and the ancient Be-ings I acknowledge as part of my soul group, to one-off visits I have enjoyed to the West of Ireland and parts of Devon and Cornwall, the energy experiences I’ve had in sacred places have  triggered the sense of inner knowledge and remembering that has shaped  the woman I am today.

More recently, travels to parts of Europe and to the beloved land of Egypt have profoundly influenced both my personal spiritual practice and the core values I bring to my healing and divination work.

The sacred journey in the way I know it is, perhaps, a privilege mainly enjoyed by spiritual seekers from developed societies to which car, boat and plane travel has become affordable and accessible. However, it’s clear that spiritual tourism offers valuable economic support to a number of less affluent countries, and as long as modern day pilgrims are happy to immerse themselves in the cultural diversity they encounter, local businesses and tour guides are usually happy to welcome them.

For my part, I’m totally hooked. Every travel opportunity serves as a sacred journey for me, and I’m always drawn to new places to enhance my path of reconnection both here in the UK and further afield.

Rhian Gibbings

With little regard for the grey skies and persistent rain, a very Heart-centred gathering took place at Avebury on Saturday to celebrate the Spring Equinox.  

Adrian Mieras held the space and led a gentle meditation in the Sun Circle, setting the group intention for World peace.

The focus of this intent was held around a huge, impressive Shiva Lingham stone that Adrian holds for the project Peace Across The Planet.

Shiva Lingham stones have an ancient role in sacred ceremony in the temples of India, and were traditionally gathered by monks from the bed of the Narmada River who would prepare them with wax or oil before giving them pride of place within the temple. 

Peace Across the Planet has placed a number of large Shiva Lingham stones with caretakers across the Globe who will hold sacred ceremonies to anchor a shared intent for Peace.

The powerful moment of Equinox at 5.32pm brought a sense of stillness and connectedness to the circle at Avebury and it seemed appropriate that the intense Divine Feminine vortex of the Henge was enhanced by the balancing masculine energy of the large Shiva Lingham.

After a short break, there was an evening of meditation and sound healing offered by a number of ‘Gong Masters’ who had brought together an impressive set of Paiste Planet Gongs. Each performance stilled the occupants of the room into a profound state of inner peace, evocative of a breathtaking personal journey through the Solar system.

Experiencing the gong is both intense and emotional, as it seems to penetrate every atom of the body and activate the human energy system in an all-encompassing way.

A trance-like, meditative state is very easily achieved with the gong and any sense of time and place is almost immediately suspended. This feeling of complete interconnectedness with the Universe reminds us that we are indeed an aspect of Creator and that there is a gateway within each of us to the infinite space and limitlessness mirrored in the stars, if we choose to find it. It is from this space that we can draw down pure Light from Source to assist with our Spiritual journey in this human incarnation.

The presence of the mysterious Spirit Orbs apparent in the photographs taken at this amazing Spring Equinox gathering is no real surprise, given the immense Spiritual energy at Avebury coupled with the resonance created by the gongs and the simple presence of so many Light and Energy aware people in one place with an aligned purpose.

Lets welcome the next quarter of this already eventful year with positive anticipation and embrace the changes that flow with the gift of the Spring Equinox – the creative energy of awakening.

Rhian Gibbings