5 Journeys to Reconnect The Faithful

written on October 12th, 2015 by Rafia Abubakar

Not all travels are for business or leisure. Another common travel is the “soul-searching” type, that moment when everyday life and work, responsibilities and obligations, is at a saturation point and you just want to take a break. The benefits of recharging and reconnecting oneself has proven to do a whole good for one’s well-being.

Some of the major Faiths in the world have that holy journey every faithful wants to take even once in their lifetime:

Papal Visit

Christians flock to Rome to explore the Vatican City and see the Pope. The visit to Rome can take you back to the time of St. Paul, St. Peter and the early Christian’s struggles and sacrifices. Sites worth seeing are the likes of St. Peter’s Basilica and Square, which was the spot where so many Christians were martyred – including Peter and the underground catacombs where the early martyrs were buried.

Pilgrimage to Makkah

Islam has The Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah. During the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, as determined by scholars, Muslims all around the world make the journey to Makkah, to commemorate the exodus of The Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Makkah to Medina.

Trip to Jerusalem

More than a parlor game, the trip to the holy land was a crucial point in history for three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The tales, bible stories and teachings of the early foundations of the religions can be traced in key points and sites.

Camino de Santiago

One of the greatest pilgrimage destinations in the Middle Ages, along with Jerusalem and Rome, is in Northwest Spain at Santiago de Compostela. It was in this site that the tomb of the Apostle, Saint James the Greater in Galicia, was discovered. Over the centuries the, Camino de Santiago continues to attract devotees from around the world.

Buddha’s Enlightenment

A trip to India to trace the life and footsteps of Buddha should be an insightful journey. See where he was born and where he attained his enlightenment. Visit the site where he delivered his first sermon too.

Apart from these religions, you can surely find your own personal faith journey. Every individual and Faiths have their own forms of recharging the soul. Sometimes one need not go too far.

Before you go on your re-awakening, here are quick tips and reminders while on your soul searching:

• Plan ahead. While some can take the risk of going on their sabbatical at a short notice, it is not as simple as that. With the likelihood of the pilgrimage to be abroad, it will be wiser and safer for you and your family to iron everything out.
• Consider that there will be a lot of pilgrims. There’s no guarantee that this holy journey of yours will be a serene and quiet one as far as crowd is concerned. So be ready to deal with it. Practice extra patience, besides that’s also part of your personal journey to a better you.
• Pack light. Only carry what is essential for the trip. This calls for so little of your worldly things anyway.
• And when you’re on your way going through the sites, remember to hydrate yourself. It is more than likely you will be doing a lot of walking and travelling on foot.

In the end no matter what your Faith is, the reconnection is a personal journey. Not all callings are the same and a personal reconnection with your Faith is between yourself and who or what you believe in.