I’ll never forget a moment I witnessed while leading a sacred journey in Bali, Indonesia. It was one of those experiences that stays with you long after you’ve returned home, revealing something about the power of human connection that words can barely express. I didn’t have a name for it then. Still, looking back, I recognize it as a beautiful example of what makes affinity group travel so meaningful: the extraordinary bonds that can emerge when people share a deep connection through their heritage, identity, or lived experience.
A Sacred Moment of Sisterhood in Bali
We were visiting Pura Goa Lawah, the Bat Cave Temple, a sacred place where families honor their ancestors and release the ashes of loved ones into the waters of the Indian Ocean.
Among our travelers was a group of African American women. During our ceremony with the temple priests, I watched them enter into a depth of reverence and connection that was extraordinary. They seemed connected not only to one another but also to their ancestral roots in a way that went beyond anything I could fully understand or experience myself in this lifetime.
One of the women had brought her mother’s ashes. Together, they crossed the street to the ocean, where they held vigil as she prepared to release them into the water. The priests also invited others to release a canang, a traditional Balinese flower offering, as part of the ceremony. There were tears, even wailing. And through it all, I witnessed the kind of love that makes room for every feeling, without anyone needing to explain or hold back.
It wasn’t lost on me that the Indian Ocean connects Bali to the continent of Africa. As I watched these women, I remembered artwork depicting African women holding hands at the river. They protected one another from harm as they gathered water.
That was the feeling I witnessed in Bali. These women were like ancient sisters, connected through their roots and their ancestors, holding sacred space for one another with a depth of trust and understanding that needed no words.
After the offerings, they gathered in a circle to pray, celebrate, and honor their ancestors and the cultural connections they shared.
I remember longing to experience a sisterhood like that myself. A sisterhood of humanity, grounded in love and the knowledge that each person would be held and protected.
Something profound happened at that ocean’s edge. And although it didn’t need to be spoken of again, I could feel that connection alive among the women throughout the rest of our journey.
My life is so blessed to bear witness to such a connection through deep affinity.
When Belonging Becomes a Sacred Experience
Over my years in ministry and leading sacred journeys around the world, I’ve seen many beautiful ways that travel brings people together. But that experience in Bali revealed something especially meaningful to me about the power of shared identity and lived experience.
There is a particular gift in being among people who understand an important part of who you are without needing it explained. A familiarity. A trust. A sense of belonging that allows something deeper to emerge.
And I’ve come to believe that this kind of connection can open extraordinary possibilities for spiritual transformation.
The Deeper Connections of Affinity Group Travel
Throughout my years with Spirit Tours, I’ve had the privilege of traveling with groups from New Thought spiritual communities across the country. On several occasions, these groups have been predominantly Black or African American travelers.
There is often a particular kinship, rhythm, humor, and connection that emerges within these groups. An unspoken understanding. A shared cultural experience that creates connection even among people who didn’t know one another before the journey began.
I’ve seen this same phenomenon throughout my years in ministry.
Some of the most powerful connections within spiritual communities have developed through what we call affinity circles. These include men’s, women’s, LGBTQIA+ circles, African American groups, groups for people over 50, and others who come together around a shared identity or life experience.
These communities don’t separate us from the larger whole. They often help us participate in that whole more fully. When we feel truly seen and understood, something within us opens. We become more willing to share, to be vulnerable, and to explore the deeper questions of our lives.
And that is fertile ground for spiritual transformation.
An Idea Whose Time Has Come
Earlier this year, we approached the People of African Descent New Thought Group about partnering with Spirit Tours to create sacred travel experiences together. There was genuine interest, but as a newer organization preparing for an important conference, the timing wasn’t quite right. Their response was essentially, “Not now.”
And then I had one of those moments when a new possibility suddenly becomes obvious. Why not now? Why not us?
We already knew the power of these experiences. And we recognized an opportunity to bring the intentional spiritual practices at the heart of Spirit Tours together with the deeper connections that affinity group travel can inspire.
Egypt: A Journey of Heritage and Spiritual Connection
And so, the vision for our Black New Thought Pilgrimage Through Sacred Egypt began to take shape.
We began imagining what it might mean for Black spiritual seekers from different New Thought communities to experience Egypt together—not only encountering its ancient sacred sites, but exploring the connections between African heritage, Kemetic wisdom, and the spiritual principles we practice today.
What might become possible when we bring our shared histories, our questions, and our understanding of the Divine into that experience together?
For travelers of African descent, Egypt can represent something far beyond visiting extraordinary ancient monuments.
One traveler who visited Egypt with Dr. Tracy Brown shared:
“As a Black person who was already proud of my culture and heritage, I was surprised how much more that pride expanded during my first visit to Egypt. It was validating to recognize the ever-present contributions made by people of African descent throughout all of time.“
Another traveler on one of Dr. Brown’s Egypt journeys expressed it this way:
“For Black travelers especially, going to Egypt is historical, cultural, personal and profoundly spiritual—all at the same time! Having the opportunity to honor Kemetic wisdom and witness the legacy of the Nubian kings and Nubian culture provides a link to the past that has been discouraged by Western civilization.”
These reflections speak to something profound. The temples and pyramids are extraordinary in their own right, but the community in which we experience them can add an entirely new dimension to the journey.
Costa Rica: Recovery, Connection, and Pura Vida
And then another opportunity appeared.
At the Centers for Spiritual Living Annual Conference, a friend and colleague approached me with an idea: What about creating a sacred journey to Costa Rica specifically for people in recovery who are connected to New Thought, along with their partners?
My answer was an immediate “YES!” I could see the possibilities.
Costa Rica’s Pura Vida philosophy—living with gratitude, simplicity, connection, and joy—speaks so beautifully to the spiritual practices of recovery. What a meaningful place to explore those principles together, one day and one moment at a time.
Imagine traveling through the lush rainforests of Costa Rica, surrounded by the beauty and abundance of nature, with others who understand the journey of recovery. People who know something about courage, surrender, commitment, and choosing a new way of living.
Here, people can understand and honor one another’s journey of recovery without anyone needing to explain themselves. Together, they can bring the principles of New Thought to life through the simple joys of connecting, exploring, and celebrating life.
And the New Thought Sober Journey to Costa Rica was born. Just like that, we had two new sacred journeys for 2027 where none had existed before.
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The Power of Sacred Containment
One of the philosophies at the heart of Spirit Tours is what I call sacred containment.
When we travel together, we are doing much more than organizing transportation, accommodations, and extraordinary experiences. We are creating a container—a space of intention, trust, compassion, and spiritual possibility.
We intentionally create opportunities for reflection, spiritual practice, meaningful conversation, and integration. Within that container, people can let go of some of everyday life’s demands. They become more present to themselves, to one another, and to the sacredness of the places we visit.
Affinity group travel adds another dimension to this sacred container. When travelers share a significant part of their identity or lived experience, a deeper sense of trust and understanding can emerge.
People may feel more comfortable speaking honestly and opening themselves to meaningful conversations. There may be healing, affirmation, laughter, tears, and moments of profound recognition. Each person has the freedom to experience the journey in their own way.
Of course, sharing an identity doesn’t mean everyone has the same story. Each person brings their own history, perspective, and understanding. That diversity within the community is itself a gift. But there is tremendous power in knowing that some part of your experience is already understood.
I believe this creates a beautiful foundation for transformational travel.
Oneness Does Not Mean Sameness
As an ordained Science of Mind minister, one of the foundational principles of my life is the recognition that there is One Life, One Presence, One Infinite Intelligence expressing through all creation. We are each individualized expressions of that One Life.
And here’s what I love about that teaching: Our Oneness does not erase our uniqueness. It celebrates it.
Sometimes, in our desire to emphasize unity, we can unintentionally overlook the very real differences in people’s experiences. But our shared divinity doesn’t mean we’ve all walked the same road. Our histories and cultures are different. So are the challenges we’ve faced, the triumphs we’ve celebrated, and the experiences that have shaped our lives.
And we can acknowledge, honor, and celebrate those differences.
To me, this is New Thought in action.
We recognize the inherent worth and divinity of every person while also creating spaces where particular communities can explore their own experiences more deeply.
In this way, traveling with an affinity group becomes another expression of Oneness. By honoring the experiences that make us unique, we deepen our appreciation for the Divine expressing through every one of us.
We don’t have to be the same to be One.
What We Bring Home
When I think about these new journeys, my greatest hope isn’t simply that our travelers will see magnificent places, although they certainly will!
My hope is that they will discover something more about themselves and experience a deeper sense of belonging. That they will feel the freedom of being fully themselves within a supportive, loving community and form relationships that continue long after the suitcases are unpacked.
Perhaps someone traveling through Egypt will return home with a renewed connection to their heritage, their spiritual identity, and the extraordinary legacy of those who came before them.
Perhaps someone traveling through Costa Rica will experience a deeper appreciation for their own journey of recovery, discover new friendships, or recognize just how much joy and possibility life still holds.
And perhaps all of them will return with an expanded understanding of what it means to be connected—to themselves, to one another, to the people of the sacred lands we visit, and to the Infinite Presence expressing through us all.
That’s what sacred travel means to me. Not simply going somewhere new but allowing the experience to awaken something new within us.
These two journeys are just the beginning. I hold a vision of affinity-based sacred journeys bringing other communities together, each with their own experiences, perspectives, and possibilities. We intend to listen, remain open, and respond as those possibilities emerge.
Because ultimately, sacred travel isn’t only about where we go.
It’s about who we become along the way—and the people who help us remember who we truly are.
We belong to one another. We belong to this magnificent world. And we belong to the One Life that expresses through us all.
Sometimes, all it takes is a journey together to remember.
About the Author
Rev. Karen Fry is an ordained minister, spiritual teacher, wildlife photographer, and the CEO of Spirit Tours. After a successful corporate career, Karen followed her deeper calling into ministry and, in 2022, acquired Spirit Tours to unite her love of travel with her devotion to spiritual awakening. Spirit Tours brings more than 25 years of experience to sacred travel, and Karen has personally led over 30 journeys worldwide. She brings authenticity, presen
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