I’ve traveled my whole life, 42 countries by the time I hit 17. By then I’d seen so many cathedrals in Europe that I didn’t care if I ever saw another one. I’d seen so much heart-breaking disparity between rich and poor, that I crossed a whole regions off my travel list. Yet, because I still yearned to experience the surprising beauty of nature, art, people and culture, I was drawn to a Spirit Tours’ Bali Tour in 2006, which offered sacred travel both in the local culture and using travel itself as an opportunity for growth.
The Power of Sacred intention
Sacred travel that includes actual meditation in local temples, sacred dance & music performances, and an informed spiritual guide transforms travel into a magical, deepening, and awakening experience. Sitting in our daily meetings in Costa Rica, mediating on nature, we also discussed the idea “wherever you go, there are you.” I’ve always wished I could be as open, insightful, and aware in my regular life as I am on vacation. What I learned is that the opportunity to see and be in life differently, is always available, even at home. The insight conversations and deep-sharing times built community and created a sacred container for all of us to have personal insights and explore new perspectives. I always come home expanded and more awake.
Sacred Spaces as Teachers
Travel today is mostly consumption. See the sight, take the picture, post it on social media, and then move on to the next. Planning to see any place in 2-3 days has become the norm. Truthfully, it felt the same as the way we traveled when I was a kid. Spirituality, on the other hand, teaches us to be mindful, connect, and be present in the moment—something we all desperately need.
Sitting in meditation at sites of spiritual significance is so different from merely viewing them. To take the time to sit and breathe and feel what’s there with respect, openness, and humility allows us a life-altering opportunity. My first meditation and chanting in a sacred stone circle in Ireland connected me to the land, the history, and the ancient people in a way that I had never experienced before. I could sense the intimacy between stone, land, sky, and all of us.
Coming Home Changed
Sacred travel changes us in many ways. I see when I am impatient, as often happens when traveling, that it never really helps. Practicing being open to new ways of thinking abroad has helped me be less judgmental and more accepting at home. I have felt oneness in Ireland, clarity of mind in Hathor’s Temple in Egypt, and wholeness in the rainforests of Costa Rica. These moments are always available to recall and experience today. Sacred travel is so much more than taking a picture and saying you’ve been there. Sacred travel invites you to deeply embrace and celebrate the world, others, and yourself everywhere.
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.