The Practice of Wandering
In ancient times, perhaps as far back as the fourth century, the monks would practice perigrinato*. Loosely translated into English, meaning to wander for the love of God.
The monks would leave their cherished place and set out with only their intuitive knowledge that God would show them where they were to settle. They left behind many possessions, community, and attachments they may have had to wander intuitively, letting God show them the way.
Perigrinato is the ultimate form of not holding on to possessions, relationships, communities, and any preconceived ideas of your life.
In our society, we have been trained to set goals, strive for accomplishments and reach our financial potential, all the while feeling the stress and strain to meet expectations designed and placed on us by others.
If you don’t meet the criteria for moving ahead in particular, ways you are considered an outsider not in line with the plan put before you mostly when you were a youngster.
If this is you at the moment, you might ask yourself, “Am I satisfied with where I am?”
If the answer is a negative one, then what are your considerations?
Perhaps you might consider taking up the practice of perigrinato in the modern sense.
It is not for the love of God. You stop holding on but for the love of yourself and your life and all it could be. Then you decide to stop grasping at the old ideals of what you think you should be and do in a paradigm that you did not make up but live in anyway.
I worked to stop holding on to old ideas. I have consciously let go of things that were taking up space in my basement for twenty-five years. I put them first in boxes and set them in the middle of the floor. Every day I would walk passed them determined to take give them away. Finally, I did. A blast of fresh air filled the vacant space.
I am in Chartres, France, at a retreat studying the sacred feminine and the sacred masculine. It is my perigrinato, seeking to answer questions as to my next stage of life. There are no preconceived notions of what will unfold. There is just an openness in my heart to allow the experience.
If you are going to create a renewed life, you need to create space.
It means letting go of people, places, and things that are clogging up and blocking your path.
Open your heart to the essence of perigrinato, and you encounter the presence and love of your essential self.
In your daily meditation, ask for your heart mind to guide you on your next step.
Then watch for clues as they show up on your journey.
The practice of wandering may take you to places you have never been, and when you get there, you feel so grateful to feel the fulfillment, joy, and warmth flooding your body and soul.
I bid you happy wandering. May you discover all that fulfills your heart.
All my best
Howard
Change your thoughts..change your life coaching
P. S. My book recommendation this week is:
* The Soul’s Slow Ripening by Christine Painter.
It is a beautiful book on discovering your soul’s purpose and guiding you on an introspective journey. Buy it here