How do you become a Sacred Travel Writer? To begin with, you must
completely immerse yourself in the land and the culture about which you
are writing. If you don't surround yourself with every aspect of the
culture, you can never completely understand the folklore or the
mythology behind what you are seeing and clearly convey this with
crackling clarity to your readers. If you are writing about the sacred
places of Ireland, for example, then without the proper preparation, Newgrange will be just a pile of rocks and Tara a bunch of green bumps on a hill top. Understanding is becoming. Nourish your love of all things from that era, religion or culture; embrace the traditional food
and beverages, the spirituality of the place, the great writers, the
music and artwork. Become a part of that culture. Learn to speak the
language if you can.
The first step is research, research and more research. Truly understanding a culture and the artifacts they leave behind takes months of painstaking research before you even begin the trip..Then, to really do your work justice, you need to live in the culture for much longer than just a quick weekend escape. It takes a stay of at least three months to even begin to understand a way of life. You must completely familiarize yourself with the sacred topography of the culture and actually understand the myths and legends associated with each. Otherwise, the sites, sacred and mundane, will fly by and you won't understand half of what you are seeing. So, sit still in a place and let it wash over you, actually see it and experience it. Don't waste time when you get there searching for things. Know the land like you were born there.
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.. If you have these pictures inscribed crystalline clear on your brain, then the words will flow naturally and they will bring greater joy and understanding to those who read your work. The authenticity of your work can then help prepare the next wave of voyagers to experience the culture at its most vibrant and inspire other spiritual travelers to greater mysteries. William Butler Yeats, one of the earlier writers about sacred travel said, "Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame." Shall we dance?
The first step is research, research and more research. Truly understanding a culture and the artifacts they leave behind takes months of painstaking research before you even begin the trip..Then, to really do your work justice, you need to live in the culture for much longer than just a quick weekend escape. It takes a stay of at least three months to even begin to understand a way of life. You must completely familiarize yourself with the sacred topography of the culture and actually understand the myths and legends associated with each. Otherwise, the sites, sacred and mundane, will fly by and you won't understand half of what you are seeing. So, sit still in a place and let it wash over you, actually see it and experience it. Don't waste time when you get there searching for things. Know the land like you were born there.
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.. If you have these pictures inscribed crystalline clear on your brain, then the words will flow naturally and they will bring greater joy and understanding to those who read your work. The authenticity of your work can then help prepare the next wave of voyagers to experience the culture at its most vibrant and inspire other spiritual travelers to greater mysteries. William Butler Yeats, one of the earlier writers about sacred travel said, "Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame." Shall we dance?
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