Most people imagine a sacred journey begins when they board the airplane. At Spirit Tours, I believe it begins the moment someone says yes. Long before the passport is stamped or the airplane lifts off, something much deeper has already begun. I call that moment your Sacred YES.
It’s the point where you move from wondering to committing—from thinking about a journey to choosing it. From that moment on, practical preparation and spiritual preparation become one and the same. Preparing passports, travel insurance, your body, your relationships, and your heart are all part of the pilgrimage. They create the freedom to be fully present for the transformation that awaits.
I’ve watched this happen hundreds of times. Someone reaches out with questions. They’re excited, curious, and often a little uncertain. They wonder if they’re ready, they’ll fit in, this is really the right time.
Then something shifts. They send in their deposit. And I know that something far deeper than a travel reservation has just taken place. They’ve made a decision about who they want to become.
In my experience, whenever we take a stand within ourselves, the Universe responds with its own Sacred YES. It’s as though Life Itself begins quietly arranging Itself in support of the journey we’ve chosen. “As within, so without.” Sacred travel is no exception.
That’s why I’ve never seen preparation as something separate from the pilgrimage itself. The preparation is part of the pilgrimage.
Supporting the Sacred YES
Spirit Tours is actively engaged with our travelers from the moment they contact us, answering questions, giving guidance, and encouraging those who feel afraid. This way we demonstrate the care they will receive while on the journey itself.
Our role isn’t simply to organize remarkable journeys around the world. Our role is to walk beside our travelers from the moment they first contact us until they return home transformed. That means answering questions, listening to fears, offering guidance, and providing encouragement.
Sometimes it means reminding someone to renew a passport before it’s too late. You see, we don’t separate the practical from the spiritual because every one of those conversations says the same thing: “We’ve got you.”
An Internal Shift
Also, once someone has reached out to us and made their sacred yes by sending in their deposit, we know that an internal shift has taken place. They are going! And our job is to help make sure they do!
I remember one traveler preparing to join us in Bali. Her family was deeply concerned about her traveling halfway around the world. News headlines and distance had created real fear for the people who loved her, even though the concerns had nothing to do with where we would actually be traveling.
I called her because I knew she was uncertain and overwhelmed. What followed wasn’t a sales conversation. Instead, it was simply an honest, open-hearted discussion.
There was no pressure to convince her to come. I simply gave her space to process her own feelings, answered every question she had, and respected whatever decision she would ultimately make.
She chose to go and during our sacred journey in Bali she shared something I’ll never forget. “I can’t believe I almost missed this life-changing experience,” she told me. And something else I’ll never forget – at eighty she decided to get her FIRST tattoo.
Moments like that remind me why preparation matters so much. Sometimes the greatest support we offer isn’t logistical at all. It’s helping someone trust themselves enough to step into the unknown.
Practical Preparation Creates Spiritual Freedom
Many of our travelers are seasoned world explorers and yet others have never traveled outside their home country. Some are traveling completely alone for the very first time.
No matter where our sacred travelers begin, we’ve learned something important over the years – freedom from worry comes from thoughtful preparation.
That’s why we guide travelers through every document they need, from passport requirements and visas to emergency contacts and important forms. We send timely reminders, answer questions, and do our best to make sure nothing becomes a last-minute surprise. When practical details are handled with care, something beautiful happens – people relax. Instead of worrying about what they may have forgotten, they begin imagining what they’re about to experience.
One of our Spirit Tours’ Team Members, Monica Evon, says, “By the time they board the plane, I want them to feel confident, prepared, and excited—not wondering if they forgot something important.”
That kind of peace doesn’t happen accidentally. It’s created one thoughtful step at a time.
The preparation is part of the pilgrimage — Rev Karen Fry
Preparing for the Unexpected
People often ask me, “Do I really need travel insurance?” My answer is always the same, “Absolutely.” Not because we want to sell a policy or expect something to go wrong, but because we honor both the preciousness and unpredictability of life. To me, purchasing travel insurance isn’t an act of fear; rather, it’s an act of stewardship.
Over the years, we’ve seen travelers reimbursed after unexpected illness, family emergencies, weather delays, and even flooded homes. Life happens.
Travel insurance simply allows everyone – our travelers, their loved ones, and our team – to breathe a little easier, knowing that if the unexpected occurs, they’re protected. Ironically, one practical decision removes an enormous amount of fear and when fear is gone, you can be fully present to the priceless experiences.
Community Begins Before Departure
One of my favorite parts of every journey actually happens months before anyone boards an airplane. It takes place during our Zoom gatherings. Over three online meetings, something remarkable begins unfolding as people introduce themselves and share why their sacred YES came through. They ask questions, laugh, discover unexpected connections. Sometimes they even discover their future roommate. By the time our travelers arrive at the airport, they’re no longer strangers. They’re simply friends becoming and then meeting in person for the first time.
One traveler, Donnamarie, met Monica through our pre-trip Zoom gatherings. Their conversations continued outside our meetings, and they decided to travel together on a post-tour excursion after our Uganda Tour. That’s what sacred community looks like in practice. And it begins long before the journey itself.
Preparing the Body Is Preparing the Journey
Preparation also includes something we sometimes overlook: preparing ourselves physically. Before one of our Egypt journeys, several travelers expressed concern about the amount of walking and climbing they would encounter. Rather than worry about it, they decided to do something together. Months before departure, they began walking four or five days each week. As a result, they become stronger physically. In addition, they encouraged one another, built friendships, and arrived in Egypt ready to embrace every experience. I love that their preparation became part of their transformation.
We also encourage travelers to hydrate before flying, speak with their physicians when appropriate, review Dr. Dan’s wellness recommendations, gather any needed supplements, and use our detailed packing lists. We believe that these aren’t merely travel tips – they are spiritual practices of self-care.
Each one says, “I’m honoring this experience before it even begins.”
Preparing Your Heart
At Spirit Tours, I’ve never believed that practical preparation, physical preparation, and spiritual preparation are separate things. They’re simply different expressions of the same intention.
Every passport renewed and every Zoom conversation. Each thoughtfully packed suitcase and every question answered. Every form completed and every intention spoken aloud.
Each one is another step toward becoming the person who will stand before the pyramids, meditate in an ancient temple, watch the sunrise over sacred mountains, or experience the quiet wonder of a place that changes them forever.
The Sacred YES began that journey and everything afterward is simply preparing the way. And that is why, from the moment you say YES until the moment you return home, Spirit Tours is honored to walk beside you—every practical step, every spiritual step, and every beautiful step in between.
Before You Go: Five Things to Remember
- Your journey begins when you say yes.
- Practical preparation creates spiritual freedom.
- Community starts before departure.
- Caring for your body honors the journey.
- Preparation is part of the pilgrimage.
Questions We Hear Often
Because we believe the journey begins long before the airplane takes off. Every conversation, document, Zoom gathering, and practical step removes uncertainty and helps you arrive fully present—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Travel insurance isn’t about expecting something to go wrong. It’s about caring wisely for your investment, your health, and your peace of mind. It allows you to travel with greater confidence, knowing you’re prepared if plans unexpectedly change.
No, not really. We will ask for key information from you that helps us support you before and during your journey. From dietary needs to emergency contacts, every detail allows us to care for you more thoughtfully.
Our pre-trip gatherings help transform a group of strangers into a supportive travel community. You’ll meet your fellow travelers, ask questions, learn what to expect, and begin forming the relationships that become such an important part of the journey.
International travel can feel overwhelming. We’re here to hold your hand every step-of-the-way. We guide you through the practical steps so you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time preparing inwardly for the experience ahead.
Preparing your body is just as important as preparing your heart. Depending on your destination, this may include walking, staying hydrated, reviewing medications, and consulting your physician.
Long before the airplane takes off, it begins the moment you are clear on your Sacred YES. Every conversation, every preparation, every intention becomes part of the journey itself.
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. With more than 25 years of Spirit Tours’ legacy and her own over 30 trips led worldwide, Karen’s leadership is marked by authenticity, presence, meticulous care, and a profound reverence for the natural world.
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