Being in Practice: A State of Spirituality with a side of Travel

In the beginning

Spirituality, is the connection between you and the divine, in its everyday pursuit. This has always felt like the most tangible and graspable way for me to fully understand this way of life. Growing up in the 90s to a set of interracial parents, I was shoved into Catholicism early. After school CCD, being in the choir, communion; the whole nine yards. My mom remembers, after my communion, when I asked why can’t I just have a relationship with God on my own and in my own space? I don’t wanna get confirmed. She’s told me that this moment sticks out for her most in my childhood because, well, why hadn’t she said the same to her own mother?

For me, it was the lowest key start of a different journey. I was confused and uncertain, but committed to figuring out what the hell the point of all this LIFE was. Look, this didn’t happen just at eight years old, but it was the seed that slowly blossomed throughout my adolescence, into college and is finally starting to solidify.

A life of backpacks

My first time on an airplane, was at four months old to Florida. A few months later, my second jaunt was to Istanbul. That mom of mine instilled a life and love of travel in me since those womb days, let me tell you. I had no chance to do anything else, I truly believe! Having exposure to so many cultures and traditions, for as long as I can recall, provided some of the fodder I needed to piece together my own personal connections. To myself, to the Earth, to the divine, to a community → to all of it. Having the privilege to respectfully observe how others do it, is in my opinion, imperative to navigating your own internal waters. Particularly if you don’t even know where to begin [like moi].

For example, I was invited to a traditional, Mexican Toltec spirit cleansing. I’ve completed several dietas followed by ayahuasca ceremonies with shamans from Nicaragua to Peru. I’ve gleaned wisdom from shamans in Malaysia; doused myself with the water of dozens of limes to cleanse my aura and any demons. I’ve trekked through Chile to find a particular woman that communed in a particular way with the guides for my past life regression. I mean, I’ve intentionally sought out the ways in which spirituality is practiced as far as my feet have carried me. I am drawn to Indigenous cultures, ways of life and bringing attention back to Mother Earth. The purest way for me to ensure my intention, has and will always be through travel.

My life in these years, included a cobblestone path of spiritual puzzle pieces I’d tossed together through my observations. Having an altar in my room, journaling, walking barefoot [earthing], dancing, heeding my intuition, receiving readings of all types, and eventually getting pulled to tarot. These became important, grounding aspects in honoring myself. When in a state of practice, I noticeably felt lighter and more connected to the cosmos than I did when I went to CCD after school all those years ago. Let’s face it.

Van life

Pandemic 2020. I’d been stuck inside, like everyone else, for long enough that I started to feel like I’d get actually sucked into my laptop screen. I found a van to purchase and live in full time online, so my man and I restructured our lives to make this adventure happen. We sold most of our items, acquired jobs that suited the lifestyle and got on with it. Within a few months, I was highly unstable. Living in the van full time for us, was not how it was depicted across every social platform. It was constant micro decision making, it was constant alertness, it was constantly wack sleep, it was constant bickering, it was less constant explosions, it was inability to work well; it was exceedingly difficult for us to maintain. I had started to unravel and felt myself incapable of getting a damn grip [as I’d typically, always, been able to do]. I could always count on me and slowly, I started to lose trust in myself. I became completely disconnected from my body, my intuition felt buried, my tarot decks were shelved and hidden, my community was nowhere near me and every aspect of living began to feel dimmed and uncontrollable.

I started feeling guilty because I knew that my man was emotionally holding us together and it was a bit of a smack in the face; a trigger. I saw myself in his eyes and truly, was appalled. As was my thing those days, I cried and cried. In truth, I wept. Where in the good f*ck, had I gone? Who even, was I anymore?

With the help of a healer and all the homework she’d give me, I started to rebuild. First step, get grounded. Second step, quit van life.

And here’s the difference → van life wasn’t travel, it was actually me living in my home but, everywhere. Whereas with travel, it was done in spurts and I was able to maintain a semblance of a spirituality practice that aimed to keep me grounded.

Practice

2018 | Joshua Tree National Park

As I see it, at the end of the day, the purpose of a spirituality practice is to maintain your grounding. It’s to keep you connected to the earth and the divine like a lightning rod of pure energy. Travel reinvigorates me, adds to my light; whereas van living was a dense and heavy experience that kept me low as hell. Not it. Most importantly, I have learned that I am in control. I had a moment of unravel, but we all have the capacity to re shape ourselves. There’s nothing easy about it, but what helps to transform my mindset is that, this is why it’s called a practice. It’s three steps forward, two steps back, one step forward, two steps back. It’s a daily commitment of micro steps that keep your head up, your energy light and your bodies [physical, emotional, spiritual] at their prime.

With all that being said, give yourself the grace always. Give yourself the space to have wobbly steps, to fall down, to be reinvigorated unexpectedly, to give yourself back claps, to be silent, to feel magnificent. So, create a protective, waxed on waxed off, self shield, and take it with you everywhere. Luckily, it doesn’t need a suitcase or backpack of its own, because with practice, you will be able to simply heed your gut and tap in any and every time. You are in control.

On the road

Give any of these a try and see how they fit on you:

Stay Closer to Locals by literally choosing to situate yourself just outside of the center of the city [or wherever you’re headed] and in a neighborhood. Research! Surround yourself with locals, not tourists.
Engage with Locals by scheduling a homestay or even, going on a date!
Be Sensate
- Dive into the most local cuisine you can find and relish in it.
- Sit on a bench and people watch, bird watch, or observe the kids playing. Be present.
- Get a massage.
  - Research to see if where you’re headed, has an organization that rehabilitates the blind or deaf to be top notch massage therapists.
- Breathe in all those fragrances, spices, soil.
- Listen to music, chanting, or a meditation that gets you to that place. Ensure it’s fully downloaded on your device so you can tap in, with or without wifi. [I get it].
- Have your talisman on you. Maybe it’s a small crystal in a pocket, a charm in your wallet, a mass card for someone you love, or anything small that has infinite meaning for just you.
- Dis connect from your devices every once in a while and set up your ritual. Maybe your morning hot beverage with a journal is the ticket. Maybe a guided or mantra meditation is your go to. Possibly, a hot or cold shower with your favorite essential oil. Take some time to get back to your favored routine, even though you’re not home.
- Anchor by baring those feet and rooting them in the grass! Sit/lay on the floor or ground for a few minutes.

**2015 | Dancing with the owners of a local Turkish Spice shop**

These are examples that you can take with you at face value or tailor to your idealized self. By staying in a state of practice, you may begin to find yourself expressing more awareness and open mindedness in your travels [and inevitably daily life]. Your gratitude, intentionality, lovingkindness, and empathy will subtly increase. You may find, you like who you see in the mirror and it was thanks to not one thing in your makeup or grooming bag! There is no more important pursuit than that of introspection and awareness; it is a selfish practice that translates seamlessly into selflessness as your being may naturally inspire those around you. Now that, is the damn ticket!