Pilgrimage And Healing

Bikers converge at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Thousands flock to a Nevada desert to burn a towering effigy. And the hopeless but hopeful ill journey to Lourdes as they have for centuries. Although pilgrimage may seem an antiquated religious ritual, it remains a vibrant activity in the modern world as pilgrims combine traditional motives—such as seeking a cure for physical or spiritual problems—with contemporary searches for identity or interpersonal connection. That pilgrimage continues to exercise such a strong attraction is testimony to the power it continues to hold for those who undertake these sacred journeys. This volume brings together anthropological and interdisciplinary perspectives on these persistent forms of popular religion to expand our understanding of the role of the traditional practice of pilgrimage in what many believe to be an increasingly secular world. Focusing on the healing dimensions of pilgrimage, the authors present case studies grounded in specific cultures and pilgrimage traditions to help readers understand the many therapeutic resources pilgrimage provides for people around the world. The chapters examine a variety of pilgrimage forms, both religious and non-religious, from Nepalese and Huichol shamanism pilgrimage to Catholic journeys to shrines and feast days to Nevada’s Burning Man festival. These diverse cases suggest a range of meanings embodied in the concept of healing itself, from curing physical ailments and redefining the self to redressing social suffering and healing the wounds of the past. Collectively and individually, the chapters raise important questions about the nature of ritual in general, and healing through pilgrimage in particular, and seek to illuminate why so many participants find pilgrimage a compelling way to address the problem of suffering. They also illustrate how pilgrimage exerts its social and political influence at the personal, local, and national levels, as well as providing symbols and processes that link people across social and spiritual boundaries. By examining the persistence of pilgrimage as a significant source of personal engagement with spirituality, Pilgrimage and Healing shows that the power of pilgrimage lies in its broad transformative powers. As our world increasingly adopts a secular and atheistic perspective in many domains of experience, it reminds us that, for many, spiritual quest remains a potent force.

This book creatively brings together the two literatures on pilgrimage and on ritual healing in a way neither set of books does on its own. It also adds a contemporary flair, with articles on Burning Man and on the Run to the Vietnam Memorial....A solid piece of scholarship with an exquisite introduction and collection of well-documented and engagingly written articles

"Scott has written a magnificent book on the realities of religious healing. He brings sensibility, reason, impressive insight, and the best information to bear—qualities seldom manifested in the centuries of claim, cynicism, and controversy on the topic. His analysis is destined to raise the level of discourse on dramatic religious experiences."—Neil Smelser, author of The Odyssey Experience

Pilgrimage in Practice: Narration, Reclamation and Healing provides an interdisciplinary approach to the topic. It reveals many aspects of the practice of pilgrimage, from its nationalistic facets to its effect on economic development; from the impact of the internet to questions of globalization; from pilgrimage as protest to pilgrimage as creative expression in such media as film, art and literature. Perhaps best understood as a form of heritage tourism or tourism with a conscience, pilgrimage (as with touristic travel) contains a measure of transformation that is often deep and enduring, making it a fascinating area of study. Reviewing social justice in the context of pilgrimage and featuring a diverse collection of interdisciplinary voices from across the globe, this book is a rich collection of papers for researchers of pilgrimage and religious and heritage tourism.

A new approach to using walking to heal emotional trauma and bring forth optimal mental functioning • Explores why and how we carry emotional wounds, and how they can be healed and resolved • Shows how walking stimulates both sides of the brain to promote and restore mental health • Provides simple, yet potent, mental exercises to use while walking Our bodies usually heal rapidly from an illness, injury, or wound. Yet our minds and hearts often suffer for years with debilitating symptoms of distress or upset. Why is it so hard for our minds and hearts to heal? The key to healing them is simple and can be just a short walk away. Walking--a bilateral therapy that has been a part of human life throughout history--allows people to heal emotionally as quickly as they do physically. Bilateral therapies engage both sides of the brain and unlock natural states of optimal function and creativity. Thom Hartmann examines how memory works and why emotional shock can resist normal healing. He found that the simple act of walking is effective in treating emotional disturbances ranging from temporary upsets and problems to chronic conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Case studies have shown dramatic results. Walking consciously, while holding a distress or desire in mind, can rapidly dissolve the rigidity of a traumatic memory or negative mind state, dispersing its unpleasant associations in as little as a half hour’s time. While walking has always been a natural part of life, its importance in promoting and maintaining mental health is only recently being rediscovered. Hartmann’s simple yet potent exercises allow us to create our own walking journeys to restore our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being as well as rejuvenate our body’s health.

"...a searingly honest memoir..." Dr. Kenny Lin, Deputy Editor, American Family Physician "She gently opens her heart and our eyes to the healing power of self-reflection, prayer, and self-care." Rev. Dr. Lisa Banks-Williams "...extraordinary..." Dr. Janelle Goetcheus, Cofounder, Christ House, Washington, DC On the outside, it looked like Dr. Chacko had it all-lucrative and rewarding career, beautiful family, comfortable home. But inside, Donna was in turmoil. Her marriage was on the brink, crises were brewing, and her home felt like her heart- about to break. In Pilgrimage, Donna describes her desperation. She felt like she was clinging to the edge of a dark pit that threatened her and her daughters. Not knowing what to do, she finally turned to God and started searching for answers. She lays her life bare as she digs into her upbringing, relationships, life choices, and fears in a deeply personal journey toward healing and wholeness. Join her as she surrenders her control and discovers that serenity and health are most easily grasped when our hands and hearts are open to what God longs to give us. As you walk alongside Donna through struggles that will likely feel all too familiar, you'll discover that your own path to health of body, mind, and spirit is laid out before you. You just have to take that first step.

Rabbit Warrior is a captivating memoir of a transformative journey of renewal and discovery. Disoriented by intense mourning over the loss of both her mother and sister within a short time span, the author found consolation and reconciliation on a pilgrimage of solace to her beloved Cape Cod home. Emotionally overwhelmed, Janet turned inward for personal healing and wholeness. As she quietly contemplated the meaning of life and death, the Cape’s wildlife became a voice for inspiration and revelation. Horseshoe crabs, lobsters, a great blue heron, and rabbits “spoke” to her of life: change and evolution, pain and suffering, death and dying. Supported on her journey by daily journal writing that exposed persons, places and memories stored deep within, she unmasked falsehoods, gave up protective “magical thinking,” and examined relationships in an effort to live a more authentic life. Writers and fellow soul-searching travelers helped Janet dispel guilt, expunge destructive messages and peel away emotional layers accumulated over decades. As she traversed her soul, Janet resolved to move ever deeper towards her core, her spiritual center. A summer that began with overwhelming sorrow mixed with angry confusion, ended with transformative feelings of enlightenment, forgiveness, love and rebirth. Janet hopes that both her memoir, as well as her summer reading list, will provide a template for other Rabbit Warriors who might wish to undertake their own liberating journey as well.