Spirituality While Traveling

Most countries are rife with official houses of worship, and you can find churches, mosques, synagogues, and even Wiccan communities in a lot of unlikely locations if you look.  Remember not to assume that just because you are of a particular faith, that the faith is accepted or widespread in a particular country; if your faith is important to you, actually, I strongly suggest reconsidering the places you decide to settle down.  As a Vagabonder, you can much more easily pick and choose where you want to make your home, so it may not necessarily make sense to live somewhere if your faith is in the abject minority, and you really enjoy going to church/synagogue/mosque to meet others like you.  This is not to say that you CAN’T live somewhere, just investigate your priorities.

If you are generically spiritual or prefer to practice your faith individually rather than communally, getting in touch with this side of yourself while you’re on the road can be grounding and a beacon of consistency in a potentially inconsistent lifestyle.  Consider taking an important book with you (the Tao Te Ching and SARK are particularly nice all-purpose spiritually wise books to have along), no matter how heavy it is.  Set aside a specific time to write observations in your journal.  Practice yoga or meditation.  Make yourself a pocket shrine.  Most importantly, manifest the truth behind your spirituality: if you believe in an optimistic outlook, have it.  If your religion preaches loving others, offer to volunteer, or at least move mindfully through your daily interactions with others.

The overused Gandhi quote is: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”  In this case, be the spirituality you wish to represent to others.  You get to be an ambassador for your faith or your spirituality.