I was standing in silent awe on a path through an ancient cemetery in the mountains of Japan, surrounded by trees so tall and graves so beautiful it felt like standing in the heart of the world. The wind rustled prayerful decorations, and for a moment, I felt wholly at peace and connected across the centuries.
Then my phone buzzed — Breaking News: Wildfires Rage Across Multiple Continents.
The serenity shattered, transporting me back home, as if the peace I had experienced moments before was the illusion. The contrast was stark: how could I seek spiritual joy when so much was unraveling? The question lingered — is it selfish to pursue my joy when the world is in crisis?
The Paralysis of Collective Anxiety
We live in a time of relentless crisis — wars, climate disasters, political unrest. Every scroll, click, or headline brings a new reason to despair. This constant exposure breeds not just awareness, but emotional exhaustion. Psychologists call it “compassion fatigue,” where our ability to care is dulled by overwhelm. And yet, turning away—even briefly—can spark guilt. Are we abdicating responsibility?
Research shows that prolonged exposure to societal stressors can lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout. But counterintuitively, this same research supports the need for intentional breaks. To sustain engagement with the world’s problems, we must first sustain ourselves. This raises a profound possibility: maybe stepping away isn’t abandoning the world, but preparing to return stronger.
Driving through the mountains of New Zealand, my vision was expanded by the deepest valleys and longest ridges I’d ever seen. The vastness was humbling. The crisis I’d been obsessing over suddenly felt smaller — not less important, but part of a longer story. It reframed time itself, revealing how change, even catastrophe, is cyclical.
Reframing Travel as Spiritual Practice
Throughout history, people have embarked on pilgrimages during dark times — not to escape, but to seek clarity. These journeys weren’t indulgent; they were sacred rites of renewal. The difference between escapism and intentional travel lies in purpose. Escapism avoids, but pilgrimage engages — turning the outer journey inward.
Sacred sites have long served as thresholds for transformation, offering space to recalibrate. Modern science echoes this: research shows awe, particularly in nature, reduces ego and enhances empathy. Even brief exposure to natural beauty or contemplative silence can lower stress and increase meaning.
The journey, then, becomes less about leaving the world behind and more about returning with gifts — insights, strength, and a steadier heart — to share. In this light, spiritual travel is not luxury; it’s responsibility.
In Bali, I joined a meditation ritual at an ancient temple. Each movement was deliberate, each chant purposeful. I didn’t fully understand the language, but the intention was universal: release, deepen, begin again. I left with a deeper appreciation for bringing meditation into my daily life — not as a means of relaxation, but as an anchor within the swirl.
From Sanctuary to Service
These moments shifted how I relate to current events — less reactive, more rooted. They taught me that sanctuary doesn’t disconnect us; it equips us. For those unable to travel, even local walks, silent mornings, or visiting places of personal meaning can offer similar renewal.
But with that restoration comes responsibility: a revived spirit is not an endpoint, but a tool for deeper, sustained engagement with a world still in need.
Returning with Purpose
I remember that ancient graveyard differently now. Not as an escape into the past, but as preparation for the future. That peace wasn’t withdrawal — it was a foundation.
Mindful travel doesn’t separate us from the world’s pain; it fortifies us to meet it with compassion, resilience, and the clarity that true change begins from within.
About the Author
Rev. Dr. Petra Weldes, spiritual leader of CSLDallas since 1998, is a dynamic speaker, teacher, and
interfaith leader whose transformative work spans over three decades. An award-winning minister
and author, she has led workshops, retreats, and seminars internationally, focusing on spiritual
growth and personal transformation. Dr. Petra has authored numerous courses on spirituality and
meditation and co-authored three journals on joyous living. Her interactive teaching style creates
safe, sacred spaces for exploration and growth.