My Great Big Spiritual Hike

[niektete]

In just one week, it begins. On Monday next, that is, the 27th, I begin my three week hike from Trysil to Trondheim. I will walk, on average, 20 km (or 12 miles) a day for seventeen days, all alone. Just me, the trees and the occasional moose. In fact, I'll walk all the way to the Nidaros cathedral, along one of the old pilgrim trails;

Comments

[hazeltea]

I think that everyone should be able to observe their religion as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others. People who are offended by you just trying to be a good person in your own way are just pushing too far in the other direction. Militant atheists annoy me as much as pushy religious people do. Everyone should be able to do what is best for them without being criticized.

[little_seahorse]

Thanks so much for sharing this. I find it valuable to hear how people's faith manifests, and how they experience their spirituality on a day to day basis.

I dated a girl briefly last year who was a militant atheist, and I couldn't help feeling that she was filling a part of herself as a human being that needs something larger than itself, with scorn and hatred for religion.

Personally, my religious and spiritual self is focused on the earth, as it was for my ancestors thousands upon thousands of years ago.

I wish you all the best for your upcoming pilgrimage - I hope you enjoy yourself and keep well :)

xx

[storyfan]

If I had three weeks all in a row to do something like that, I'd do it. My reasons would be different, but in the end this is something you do to either prove something to yourself or to affirm what you already know to be true.

I wish you well on your journey, and I hope you write and let us know how it went.

[soul_bonnie]

Oh, that's why you asked on twitter if gospelmusic was obligatory on a pilgramage! :D I was wondering. (If I translated that correctly.)

I'm an atheist, but I understand. There are many things that can give you a sense of belonging, a feeling that there's a point to your life. If you're doing this to get into better contact with it, I think it's a marvellous idea.

I'd say "Have fun", but maybe that's a bit too trivial. So: I hope you find what you're looking for and many things more that you weren't looking for!

[shewillfall]

When asked some time ago by a very aggressive atheist to describe my faith, I told him that every single day, I feel a strong sense of being safe, loved and looked after. This isn't a reasonable idea, or something I've rationalized into being; this is the same feeling that I've always had, no matter what was going on elsewhere in my life and the world. I felt like that when I was five years old and I feel like that at the age of twenty-three. This sounds like cheesier than a bowl of Cheetos, but that feeling makes me feel like bursting at the seams with joy. Vakkert!

Kult at du skal gå så langt! Minner meg litt om en bok av Tomas Espedal ("Å gå eller kunsten å leve et vilt og poetisk liv")- den type vandring fører jo til mange tanker. Men ja, kult! Jeg vil gjerne vite mer etter reisen!