archives: Spiritual Travel
Travel Escapism: Does Society Push People to ‘Check Out’?
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Every day, we are inundated with more news and technology that "disproves" everything which came before. Is the only sane option to reject it all and More »
Vanishing Silence: How Does Travel Noise Impact Our Well-Being?
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Audio ecologist Gordon Hempton fears that silent places will soon be extinct, mostly due to aircrafts. What does this mean for the conscious traveler? More »
Community Voices: Sacred Lessons of Time and Place
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Your voice at the Matador Community gives way to some of the best spiritual travel writing around. More »
15 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Choosing A Guru
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Ian MacKenzie shares his thoughts on finding authentic spiritual teachers, and how to tell the holy from the hubris. More »
How Did The Spiritual Journey Begin For You?
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The spiritual journey often begins from humble origins, and nobody can predict where the path with take you, who you'll encounter, or the place you'll More »
Photo Essay: The Unexpected Beauty Of ‘Your Hawaiian Retreat’
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Ian MacKenzie (with the help of fellow photographer Christian Bonanno), share scenes from the Puna District, on the Big Island of Hawaii. More »
Heroic Travel: How Has The Mythic Journey Acted In Your Life?
F. Daniel Harbecke follows up his series on Heroic Travel with real-world examples of the myth at work. More »
7 Wackiest Spiritual Stories of 2009
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Time to look back over 2009 and laugh at the fact that the world just keeps getting crazier. More »
How Travel Opens Your Heart
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Travel gives us a chance to let those protective walls come crumbling down around us. More »
The Importance of ‘Quiet Time’ During Travel
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Experiencing the bustle of a new place is one of the biggest reasons we travel. But even within all that excitement, finding time for reflection makes More »
Heroic Travel: The Mythic Art of Homecoming
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In this final installment of a three-part essay, the Hero’s Journey concludes with Joseph Campbell’s insight on how to reclaim home. More »
Heroic Travel: Navigating the Mythic Journey
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In part two of a three-part essay, Daniel Harbecke shows travelers how to find their way on the "Hero’s Journey" of Joseph Campbell. More »
Heroic Travel: Joseph Campbell and the Power of Mythic Journey
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In this three-part essay, Daniel Harbecke explores our potential for inner travel through the work of mythologist Joseph Campbell. More »
Travel Torture: Personal Implications of Cultural Consumption
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We've all experienced more than a few annoyances while traveling. But how often do we look at the 'why' of our continued need to travel? More »
Travel to India? It’s Like Going to Boot Camp
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When you want to bring the Westerners in, just sell them an expensive and intense way to lose weight. More »
Prophecy Watch: Exploring Your Own Destiny
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The book, 'The 11:11 Code: Secrets of the Convent,' looks at following signs in order to arrive at your destiny. Not a new concept, yet one many of us More »
Homeward Bound: How Travel Brings You Home Again
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Returning to a place that never quite felt like home can give us an appreciation for all of humanity. And maybe even our ourselves. More »
The Sisterhood of the Temazcal: Purification, Detoxification, and Rebirth
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This ancient Mayan tradition was used to cleanse the body and soul. Karin Leperi shows how Temazcal can also be used to bond those of differing backgr More »
Trust Your Instincts: Follow Your Nose Travel
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Many of us like to weigh the pros and cons of everything, including travel. Maybe it's time to let our bodies decide the best option. More »
The Ultimate Spiritual Awakening: How Going to the Moon Changed the Astronauts
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On the 40th Anniversary of the first moon landing, it is worth examining the spiritual implications of setting foot outside of this world. More »
5 (Legal) Ways To Get High While Traveling
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Christine Garvin counts down the best ways to get high on travel without getting arrested. More »
What Would You Ask A Spiritual Leader At 30,000 Feet?
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What life questions would you ask a minister, or a guru, rabbi, or Buddhist philosopher if you sat next to one on a plane? More »
Why So Serious? How The Trickster Teaches Us About Inner Travel
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The mythological trickster is beyond good and evil. They exist to shake up your world, much like the best inner journeys. More »
Quitters Unite: The Joys Of Complaint-Free Travel
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A new movement to stop complaining is sweeping the world, but how can it impact our travel? More »
Sacred Or Survival Dance: Risk Taking In Travel
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Each of us has to take part in the survival dance, but not forget our sacred dance - the reason we wanted to travel in the first place. More »
5 Smoking Hot Reasons You Should Walk On Fire
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The ancient ritual of firewalking can teach a person some very important life lessons. More »
How to Start a Travel Shrine
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Protection, meaning, power, healing, and pictures are all part of a transportable temple. More »
Hot Springs: Spiritual Oasis Or New-Age Pick Up Spot?
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Traditionally a spiritual and healing space, hot springs are becoming known for a different primal function. More »
Can Slum Tourism Be Done Right? Eric Weiner Says Yes.
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This type of tourism is on the rise, but is it ethical? Eric Weiner offers 4 criteria for saving slum tourism. More »
Buddha Booze: The Practice Of Mindful Drinking
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Controversial article says mindful drinking is possible. More »
The Travel Wisdom of Bruce Lee
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"It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials." More »
Kachin Christmas: Finding Faith In Myanmar
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Living among the Kachins opens Tim Patterson's eyes to the enduring power of religious faith. More »
Five Eastern Thinkers Who Understood Inner Travel
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A shortlist of canonical Eastern thinkers to help inspire the inner wanderlust in us all. More »
Witnessing The Divine In The Darkness
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From the Yogis to the Romantics, many have sought to live on the edge of society. More »
5 Ways Inner Travel Helps You See Other Cultures
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Inner travel helps you learn more about yourself - and just as importantly, other cultures. More »
Meditating In Mexico: Close Encounters Of The Guru Kind
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Dani Redd experiences the unorthodox techniques of a Mexican spiritual teacher. More »
5 (Western) Thinkers Who Understood Inner Travel
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The history of philosophy is a great big guide for travelers. More »
5 Real Techniques For Improving Inner Travel
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Cultivate your inner travel prowess with these concrete ways. More »
Holy War: How Conflict Shapes The Culture Of Israel
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An agnostic's visit to the homeland of her family. More »
10 Most Influential Spiritual Books Of The Past 50 Years
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Further your own spiritual journey with these classic books. More »
Interview: Benyamin Cohen Finds Jesus, Becomes a Better Jew
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An interview with the author of "My Jesus Year." More »
5 Barriers To Inner Travel (And How To Break Them)
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Kick-start your inner travel by breaking these mental barriers. More »
How Travel Helps Cultivate Empathy In A Globalized World
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"I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship." More »
How Changing Your Perspective Makes All Travel An Inner Journey
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Travel isn't as simple as it seems. More »
Interview: Jewish Artist Avraham Loewenthal On Capturing The Kabbalah
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In one of the holiest cities of the world, how can you paint mystical truths? More »
Have You Found Your Soul Place?
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We are inexplicably attracted to locations that we cannot readily explain. More »
The 5 Most Sacred Cities For The Spiritual Traveler
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Venture on your own pilgrimage to these sacred cities around the world. More »
Can You Move Between Worlds As A Perpetual Traveler?
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In the modern world, we are all "global souls" sharing multiple existences. More »
Why You’ll Never Find The Perfect Time To Meditate
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Because the "perfect time" just doesn't exist. More »
The Kung Fu Warrior’s Guide To Informal Fallacies
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Part II in the series of arguing with logic. More »
The Kung Fu Warrior’s Guide To Arguing With Logic
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Arm yourself with the intellect to deflect poorly constructed arguments. More »
The Tao Of Vagabond Travel
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When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
-Lao Tsu More »
Discovering The Hidden Nation Of Soul-Seekers
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Where there's no place to call home. More »
Finding Faith In The Healing Power Of Travel
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Can travel cure spiritual and physical ills? More »
What Would You Give For Your Traveler’s Moment?
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Your moment is out there - you just have to find it. More »
10 Things To Learn About Yourself When Traveling Alone
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To travel alone is to find the answers you’ve been seeking. More »
How To Embrace The Joys Of Human Experience
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Balancing our scales is the surest way to get the correct perspective on life. More »
The Traveler’s Guide To Enlightenment
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Ian MacKenzie shares one path to nirvana: Zen Buddhism. More »
Can You Develop Your Spirituality Without Visiting India?
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Christine Garvin shows you how to look locally. More »
How To Choose Your Perfect Yoga Retreat
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Choose wisely and discover the true depths of your yogic journey. More »
4 Lessons Learned From The Camino del Santiago Pilgrimage
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Over the past millennium, thousands of people, from all over Europe and all over the world, have made the pilgrimage to Santiago. Laurie Pickard is More »
4 Lessons Learned From The Vagabond Life
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I struggled to define myself. Was I a vagabond? An unemployed 20-something with no future?
The last 16 months of my life have been spent wandering.
A More »
Divine Inspiration: How Travel Teaches Us To Appreciate Humanity
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Knowing ourselves and our communities, and seeing them in unison, is the first step in fostering the divine world spirit.
A wise Indian man once said More »
The Last Article On The Traveler/Tourist Distinction You’ll Ever Read
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F. Daniel Harbecke tackles the traveler/tourist debate that never seems to die, and finally puts the issue to a much deserved rest.
“Tourist.&# More »
Finding Yourself Is Your True Destination
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Ekaterina rejects her Communist childhood, full of pressure to conform, and creates the life she always wanted. But first, she had to leave home to f More »
What Henry David Thoreau Taught Me About Travel
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Thoreau understood something that many of us modern day nomads would do well to recognize: travel is a matter of perspective, not location.
Henry D More »
Forget The Destination, Focus On The Journey
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“Every joke,” according to my wife, “has an element of joke in it.” The first time I heard it, I figured she’d confused More »
How To Respectfully Visit Holy Places Around The World
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Churches, temples, mosques, synagogues – whatever faith they belong to, and wherever they are in the world, these holy places almost always make More »
Defending the Dalai Lama
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I write for a newspaper, says Dan Gardner, in so many words.
When I author, I am relevant and topical. My vocabulary is college-approved, my messag More »
How To Travel With The Law of Attraction
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We create our own lives through our thoughts and emotions, even when we aren’t aware of it.
Do you dream of traveling to far away places, but More »
How Traveling Taught Me To Be Human
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“After spending all that time traveling half-way around the world, what have you learned?”
I lean back in my armchair and contemplate thi More »
Spiritual Fasting: How To Appreciate Life Through Temporary Deprivation
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The aim of Ramadan is to experience suffering, and to understand that we are no better than anyone else.
During the ninth month of the Muslim calender More »
The Rise Of The Conscientious Traveler
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Conscientious travelers are engaged, participants in travel with a passion for life. They are not merely observers, consumers to be entertained.
In More »
The Traveler’s Guide To Karma
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I usually don’t buy coffee from a shop. I buy it from the local IGA and brew it at home; or rather, my wife makes it before I wake up in the mor More »
How To Be A Mindful Traveler
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Do you ever arrive without knowing how you got there? Follow these steps to be more aware and appreciate the journey.
Much of the time we live our More »
All Roads Lead To Home
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This process of becoming lost in the world, the process of growing up, is repeated as a pattern throughout one’s life.
Lately, I have been busy More »
If There’s A Fork In The Road
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Experience is based on our personal choices, and we can bring as much or as little choice into the matter as we wish.
Life revolves; as the motion o More »
A Visit To The City Of Tomorrow
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The core of the experience for visitors to Auroville, a remarkable some 30-year-old “utopia” in the south of India, is a reinforcement of More »
Purify Your Body, Your Mind
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What the eyes are for the outer world, fasts are for the inner. -M.K. Gandhi
It’s Saturday. I’ve been fasting for over twenty-four hour More »
Have Money, Will Meditate
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A new breed of spiritual travelers are hitting other lands and cultures. And they have money. More »
With Awareness, You Are Never Alone
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During my first peace walk, walking and living for peace, within a community, each person had their story to tell.
I met her years ago. She was qui More »
Uncovering Your Inspiration In The Present Moment
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I’m traveling. I’m in the middle of nowhere, say the Indian countryside in the heat of the monsoon.
I’m soaked, damp, wet, sticki More »
The Art of Spiritual Travel
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You’re at home. Priorities, concerns, handling of money and dealing with the collection of physical accoutrements are placed before you. You More »
