Community Chat

[Kachina624]

Before I moved to New Mexico, I'd never lived where people undertook pilgrimages.  I was just thinking about it and wonder if they happen elsewhere.  Are there any in your area?

We have two, both done in connection with Easter.  One is near Albuquerque  which involves climbing a steep hill, called Tome Hill, which rises in the middle of the otherwise flat Middle Rio Grande Valley.  There are crosses at the top and people climb the hill in honor of relatives, usually deceased.

The other involves people trekking often considerable distances to El Santuario de Chimayo, a very old picturesque mission church located in the foothills North of Santa Fe.  It's known for having healing dirt.  People began arriving there early this morning and many will get there throughout the day today. 

The weather is picture perfect.  Both of these pilgramages have been held for years and thousands of people participate.

El Santuario de Chimayo

[Goldengate8361]

I’m not sure what makes a particular trip/destination a “pilgrimage.” People travel to Nashville all the time to visit the Ryman Auditorium, Wildhorse Saloon, and other Honky Tonks. It’s a religious experience for many. 😁

[phoenixbrd]

  El Camino de Santiago in Spain more of a spiritual journey than picturesque as most of it takes place next to a road.

[Ms tyrion2]

Sedona, AZ is said to be a spiritual vortex. I imagine many people go there for that. It is a breathtaking place.

[phoenixbrd]

@Ms tyrion2  I enjoyed the vortex in Sedona....but found the city itself so full of tourists/commercialism. Sacred ground if you journey into the landscape surrounding Sedona.

[goldensrbest]

Been to that little village,several times in the past .went to the weavers.

[phoenixbrd]

@Kachina624  I found Mt. Shasta to be a personal pilgrimage, but I think this endeavor is highly personal.

[SilleeMee]

Here in Colorado Springs, The Garden of the Gods was a place of sacred Native American gatherings, the Ute tribe in particular, but other Pueblo Nation tribes also participated. I believe it is no longer being done because of pressure to stop the crowding of the park.

[Ms tyrion2]

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@phoenixbrdwrote:

@Ms tyrion2  I enjoyed the vortex in Sedona....but found the city itself so full of tourists/commercialism. Sacred ground if you journey into the landscape surrounding Sedona.

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That's true @phoenixbrd.

I usually go in the summer when there are fewer tourists. It's only about a 3 hour drive for me. 

[Kachina624]

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@Ms tyrion2wrote:

Sedona, AZ is said to be a spiritual vortex. I imagine many people go there for that. It is a breathtaking place.

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@Ms tyrion2  @phoenixbrd.   Isn't it a shame that Sedona couldn't have been made into a national park?  It's got to be one of the most beautiful places in the US.  Makes me sick to see houses backed up to some of those rock formations.  I never experienced any vortex when I've been there.  The thing that amazes me is that the average plot of land in the "country" looks like it was done by a landscape architect.