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Wisdom Walking: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life
Over the course of countless miles and numerous days, we will mine the golden wisdom hidden within our pilgrimage experience.
"Everyone has taken a pilgrimage," says author Gil Stafford "Some pilgrimages are I walked across Ireland. Some are I walked my mother through the final days of her life. Life is a pilgrimage. But, do we walk intentionally, embracing the transformational process?"
Stafford begins Wisdom Walking with the idea that life is a pilgrimage and uses this to guide readers on their own pilgrimage towards wisdom. He layers onto that idea the notion that on our pilgrimages of life we can be gaining wisdom about our lives. Stafford then adds the Jungian typology for gaining wisdom and tells all of this through stories of his own and others' pilgrimages in a very readable fashion. Life is a pilgrimage; make yours one that leads to greater wisdom!
"Everyone has taken a pilgrimage," says author Gil Stafford "Some pilgrimages are I walked across Ireland. Some are I walked my mother through the final days of her life. Life is a pilgrimage. But, do we walk intentionally, embracing the transformational process?"
Stafford begins Wisdom Walking with the idea that life is a pilgrimage and uses this to guide readers on their own pilgrimage towards wisdom. He layers onto that idea the notion that on our pilgrimages of life we can be gaining wisdom about our lives. Stafford then adds the Jungian typology for gaining wisdom and tells all of this through stories of his own and others' pilgrimages in a very readable fashion. Life is a pilgrimage; make yours one that leads to greater wisdom!
- GenresSpirituality
216 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2017
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15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 14, 2018
I like a good pilgrimage. I've read books on it and have friends who have gone a sojourning. But despite my interest, I have never gone on such a pilgrimage, outside of a couple of backpacking trips in the mountains.
In Wisdom Walking: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life, Gil Stafford weaves together a story of a pilgrimage across Ireland coast-to-coast along the Wicklow Way. Stafford was a guide for a group of singing pilgrims, the Vox Peregrini. He weaves together his experience of walking, his own life journey from Conservative Southern Baptist College president to Episcopal priest-spiritual-wanderer, his family of origin, insights of Carl Jung's depth psychology and alchemy as an archetype for spiritual transformation. Stafford writes, "To be on pilgrimage is to embrace the mission of a personal renaissance, to claim the inner beauty, the haunting, the frightening, the hated, the adored, the soft, the cruel, the humorous, the damaged, the hilarious, the pitiful—every sliver of conscious and unconscious—and a claim our self as our own who we are who we are becoming transformed into" (28).
Stafford invites us to this sort of journey toward spiritual transformation. Chapters 1 through 4. Chapter 1 is about preparation and how the pilgrimage begins before we begin our walking, Chapter 2 describes the movement from the exuberant beginning of a pilgrimage to the 'mundane ways of walking' as the issues we carry come with us on our journey(18). Chapter 3 explores the experience of the pilgrim community, and how after 3 or 4 days of walking our defenses are down and we are vulnerable. Chapter four discusses the pilgrim at their most fragile when they feel like quitting (and this is the moment where spiritual transformation can happen).
These four chapters are broken up with 'Interludes'—suggestions for equipment and physical, mental, and spiritual preparation of pilgrimage; Ahmad, imam at the Islamic Cultural Center in Tempe, Arizona relates the story of his pilgrimage to Mecca; Crystal, (Stafford's wife's friend from high school), describes her Pilgrimage in Nepal; Greg's transgendered pilgrimage as he journeyed toward becoming a transgendered woman (now Gwen).
In chapter 5, Stafford relates the story of his sister Dinah and his family's pilgrimage with her as she lives with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Chapter 6 explores the experience of life, post-pilgrimage (Stafford describes this as a cross between a lovely afterglow and a bad-hangover), and the continuing journey of inner transformation.
Through the lens of Jungian psychology, Stafford's description of pilgrimage focuses on this inner work of pilgrimage. The outer journey—tiredness and blisters, hunger and thirst and mundane walking, gives a context for a similar inner pilgrimage of transformation. Alchemy and the transmutation of base elements to gold become a poignant metaphor for the type of spiritual transformation envisioned by the pilgrim way. Stafford notes also, as a repeat pilgrim, that the inner process starts over with each pilgrimage because the process is cyclical. Though like a spiral staircase, we begin each journey upward at the same coordinates but with a new vantage point.
This was an enjoyable read. Stafford is a priest and a Christian and writes from a perspective of faith; however because the focus is on spiritual transformation, archetypes and inner work in a Jungian key, much of the insights that he explores here, are broadly applicable to anyone on a spiritual journey. You don't actually have to go to Ireland (or wherever) to go on this sort of pilgrimage. I give this four stars -★★★★
Notice of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from the Publisher or Author via SpeakEasy in exchange for my meandering review.
In Wisdom Walking: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life, Gil Stafford weaves together a story of a pilgrimage across Ireland coast-to-coast along the Wicklow Way. Stafford was a guide for a group of singing pilgrims, the Vox Peregrini. He weaves together his experience of walking, his own life journey from Conservative Southern Baptist College president to Episcopal priest-spiritual-wanderer, his family of origin, insights of Carl Jung's depth psychology and alchemy as an archetype for spiritual transformation. Stafford writes, "To be on pilgrimage is to embrace the mission of a personal renaissance, to claim the inner beauty, the haunting, the frightening, the hated, the adored, the soft, the cruel, the humorous, the damaged, the hilarious, the pitiful—every sliver of conscious and unconscious—and a claim our self as our own who we are who we are becoming transformed into" (28).
Stafford invites us to this sort of journey toward spiritual transformation. Chapters 1 through 4. Chapter 1 is about preparation and how the pilgrimage begins before we begin our walking, Chapter 2 describes the movement from the exuberant beginning of a pilgrimage to the 'mundane ways of walking' as the issues we carry come with us on our journey(18). Chapter 3 explores the experience of the pilgrim community, and how after 3 or 4 days of walking our defenses are down and we are vulnerable. Chapter four discusses the pilgrim at their most fragile when they feel like quitting (and this is the moment where spiritual transformation can happen).
These four chapters are broken up with 'Interludes'—suggestions for equipment and physical, mental, and spiritual preparation of pilgrimage; Ahmad, imam at the Islamic Cultural Center in Tempe, Arizona relates the story of his pilgrimage to Mecca; Crystal, (Stafford's wife's friend from high school), describes her Pilgrimage in Nepal; Greg's transgendered pilgrimage as he journeyed toward becoming a transgendered woman (now Gwen).
In chapter 5, Stafford relates the story of his sister Dinah and his family's pilgrimage with her as she lives with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Chapter 6 explores the experience of life, post-pilgrimage (Stafford describes this as a cross between a lovely afterglow and a bad-hangover), and the continuing journey of inner transformation.
Through the lens of Jungian psychology, Stafford's description of pilgrimage focuses on this inner work of pilgrimage. The outer journey—tiredness and blisters, hunger and thirst and mundane walking, gives a context for a similar inner pilgrimage of transformation. Alchemy and the transmutation of base elements to gold become a poignant metaphor for the type of spiritual transformation envisioned by the pilgrim way. Stafford notes also, as a repeat pilgrim, that the inner process starts over with each pilgrimage because the process is cyclical. Though like a spiral staircase, we begin each journey upward at the same coordinates but with a new vantage point.
This was an enjoyable read. Stafford is a priest and a Christian and writes from a perspective of faith; however because the focus is on spiritual transformation, archetypes and inner work in a Jungian key, much of the insights that he explores here, are broadly applicable to anyone on a spiritual journey. You don't actually have to go to Ireland (or wherever) to go on this sort of pilgrimage. I give this four stars -★★★★
Notice of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from the Publisher or Author via SpeakEasy in exchange for my meandering review.
February 17, 2019
Wisdom Walking: Pilgrimage As A Way of Life by Gil Stafford
Im Memory of Frosty, 1999-2017
Gil Stafford writes of pilgrimage and his journey on the road of life. One of the quotes that touched me was to in a quote from Brene Brown in which she said "I try to hide a way the imperfections and fret over the mistakes here and there. I work hard never to let people see me sweat. .. .I couldn't hide them any more. People saw me sweat and it was hard."
Today has been a day of humor, of struggle, and of pain. We served food and gave out presents in the Haight and on Polk. When I came back to the church and was sitting, one person who has known me for a long time, came up to me and told me she would like to have lunch with me if I was no longer "contagious, " and when I came home I had an email from a friend whom I have laid down my life for, saying "I would like to see you, if you are not contagious," what is strange is I have never been contagious just ill from an infection from some crowns.
I felt very tired, very tired, of struggling with people who I have given a lot to, and can not even call and ask me what is wrong; tired of trying not to sweat, trying to be clean, and perfect. And my mind turned to four relationships who have seen me sweat.
First was Dana, former rector of St. Luke's the only pastor, and the last I will have had since child hood. She invited me into the church, she showed me so much respect, in my craziness,and trusted her kids and her house to me. On my desk lies the Bible she gave me, with her inscription, each day it reminds me of her love.
Second is Matthew, whom I have known for over three years, since he was 15. From the moment we met there was a sense that we had a lot in common, in the last five months, I find myself wondering where we are different. He has walked with me during this illness, he has always said he liked me because I did not judge him, and the truth is he has never judged me. Last night we went to a concert and he asked me if I was having fun, and the truth is I always have fun with him, it was a crazy and fun concert. In Amsterdam with my fever high at night I found it hard to figure out directions, I forgot things, and he tolerated me. Outside of my parents and my brother, no one has ever accepted me as he has. I have sweated a lot in front of him. I have tried to push him a way, and he stays. Matt is always telling me basically what to do, and I follow his suggestions; last night he was put off because I was not listening to him, about something and the truth is I was, just trying to work it out tactfully. We are so much a like it is scary. I am going to his house for Christmas tomorrow, and he talks of gifts, and the truth is he has given me the best gift of all--taking me for me, screwed up as I am;
And then we have Jacob, who went to Amsterdam, and who takes me for me as well. He has my health care power of attorney because like Matthew, he accepts me for me.
And finally we come to Frosty, whose photo, along with Matt and Jacob's sit on my desk. I met Frosty in Sacramento three years ago walking on the River Walk. He was 15, and every month I would see him. He would test me, he would fight with me, and one day he knocked me in the river, and jumped in and I said to him, "You little fucker I am going to kill you" and we both started laughing, and I new he was simply testing me, trying to prove my friendship, as I do my friends. Frosty came to San Francisco, and his mother called me, and sent me money to help him. He was from a small town in the Mississippi and never fit in, and left suddenly. She did not understand why. I met his fourteen year old brother who started texting me and now snap chats me. Frosty helped me on my dissertation, reading it, getting people for me to talk to. One day he commented, "This is as much about you as us, you are one of us--one of the "lost boys," and I laughed and said "yea, it is our story." Several weeks ago he wanted to go skating and we spent the day skating, laughing, just having fun, and it was a great day, and he spent the night. The next morning he told me he had decided to go home, "I am tired of the city, I simply want to be with my mom and don't fit in here either. " San Francisco is a great city, but ultimately to fit in you must conform, and lost boys do not conform. And he had one favor to ask of me--to baptize him, and as I did I found much joy.
Two nights ago I received a snap chat, that was disturbing, "Hey man, remember to come to hell and we will party for ever, but bring Jesus to cool the fires," and than the next day his mom called to tell me he had committed suicide. As we talked I told her the reality was he never really fitted in any where, as I do not, and that was a struggle he could not over come.
And so tonight around a fire in the Park, we celebrated the Eucharist, we remembered Frosty, and I will go in February to Mississippi to have his memorial service, and his brother will come in August for us to take his ashes and scatter them at the Rave in Joshua Tree. Frosty was one of my best friends, ever loyal, always present, testing me as I tested him, but we sweated together. And so my friend, "May God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, bless preserve and keep you, now and forever, and may you shine with the stars in glory." Amen.
And for us who continue the pilgrimage on this Christmas
Day let us remember that the Jesus whose birth we celebrate was one of the "lost boys," he never fitted in, and he fought for those who no one cared for, and he died for them, and rose to call all of us to move out of our safety zones to love everyone.
And as for me, when the time comes, I will go to hell taking Jesus with me to party with my friend, and I will always remember his love for me--as we both sweated together, and continue this pilgrimage until I enter the great Communion of Saints where I will see my friend again. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
Fr. River Damien Sims, D.Min., D.S.T.\
www.temenos.org
415-305-2124
punkpriest1@gmail.com
May 4, 2019
Well-worn hiking boots filling over half the front cover enticed me to order Wisdom Walking. I've long resonated with the concept of life as pilgrimage or peregrination, so the title also helped. From the start I knew I'd love to meet author Gil Stafford, converse over lunch with him and a few other kindred pilgrims. However, when I realized how much of the content focused on actual walking pilgrimages of days or weeks over vast distances, I knew that wasn't for me and wondered how useful the book would be. I'm more into trekking up an easy urban hill, exploring a nearby canyon, spending an afternoon along an ocean shore.
But I had enough wisdom to think beyond other aspects of the book I couldn't relate to:
(1) Stafford frequently refers to Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist that has become somewhat of a cult book in a positive way. At the strong suggestion of one of my first ever online friends I met long before Facebook was a reality in any format, I read The Alchemist, didn't get its message at all, and donated it to the library book sale.
(2) Gil references James Hillman many times. When I returned to the east coast at the end of the last century and temporarily was staying in extremely sparse circumstances, an acquaintance stopped by with a copy of one of Hillman's books so I'd have something to do. I read whatever book it was slowly and thoughtfully, didn't get what it said, and returned it to the owner with polite thanks.
(3) Carl Jung is a third author who's influenced Gil Stafford. I'm only barely familiar with his work, though I have a slight claim to fame with a paper I wrote on a chapter from Jung's The Tower for my school's version of a Varieties of Religious Experience course. The instructor liked my paper a (whole) lot, commented I hadn't developed a couple of points well enough, but then admitted I'd had a limit of "only 15 pages," since she'd specified maximum length in order to deal with many undergrads going on endlessly and aimlessly while in the end saying nothing at all.
The central idea of Wisdom Walking is similar to an alchemist's literal trials to convert base metal into gold; each person's trials, disappointments, struggles, and surprises during their years walking this earth help transmute more base, unhelpful characteristics into refined, polished, traits in service to all creation. I know I complained about the chapters including so much about people's experiences on their own formal pilgrimages, yet a reader can learn how trudging through nature alone or with a group transformed those individuals.
Gil Stafford is an Episcopal priest and therefore Christian. Like many in the general tradition of Anglicanism, he's far from doctrinally orthodox, but open, enquiring, and convinced no single spiritual or religious tradition or practice has the corner of every possible way to connect with the divine. Although I describe my theology as "reformational," I easily relate to paganism, Celtic spirituality, and other ways of being and living that at first glance appear to be more earth-oriented than Christianity does (at first glance). Yet Christianity envisions the possibility and the hope that encourage us to live as co-creators of a new creation. Martin Luther insisted the Divine Presence was everywhere—in, with, and under every blade of grass, each drop of water, grain of sand. I've been informed neither ubiquity nor panentheism quite describes Luther's position, but human words always have limits, and they're probably close enough.
Of necessity the 16th century Reformers emphasized redemption of human creatures, but in time probably would have moved on to emphasizing the integrity of all creation, as many within mainline Christianity now are doing in an urgent attempt to revitalize, reclaim, and resurrect planet earth, not for its utility to humanity, but to celebrate its inherent worthiness and worth. In baptism we participate in the first birth and the rebirth of creation; the Eucharist is a microcosm of all creation fully restored, completely redeemed.
My Wisdom Walking ratings: for relevance to where I find myself today, 3 stars. For possibilities I discovered after I got over my initial disappointment and opened my eyes, 5 stars. Average: 4 stars.
Notice of material connection: I received a copy of this book from The Speakeasy with no obligation to write a positive review. As always, my opinions are my very own and I wouldn't have it any other way.
But I had enough wisdom to think beyond other aspects of the book I couldn't relate to:
(1) Stafford frequently refers to Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist that has become somewhat of a cult book in a positive way. At the strong suggestion of one of my first ever online friends I met long before Facebook was a reality in any format, I read The Alchemist, didn't get its message at all, and donated it to the library book sale.
(2) Gil references James Hillman many times. When I returned to the east coast at the end of the last century and temporarily was staying in extremely sparse circumstances, an acquaintance stopped by with a copy of one of Hillman's books so I'd have something to do. I read whatever book it was slowly and thoughtfully, didn't get what it said, and returned it to the owner with polite thanks.
(3) Carl Jung is a third author who's influenced Gil Stafford. I'm only barely familiar with his work, though I have a slight claim to fame with a paper I wrote on a chapter from Jung's The Tower for my school's version of a Varieties of Religious Experience course. The instructor liked my paper a (whole) lot, commented I hadn't developed a couple of points well enough, but then admitted I'd had a limit of "only 15 pages," since she'd specified maximum length in order to deal with many undergrads going on endlessly and aimlessly while in the end saying nothing at all.
The central idea of Wisdom Walking is similar to an alchemist's literal trials to convert base metal into gold; each person's trials, disappointments, struggles, and surprises during their years walking this earth help transmute more base, unhelpful characteristics into refined, polished, traits in service to all creation. I know I complained about the chapters including so much about people's experiences on their own formal pilgrimages, yet a reader can learn how trudging through nature alone or with a group transformed those individuals.
Gil Stafford is an Episcopal priest and therefore Christian. Like many in the general tradition of Anglicanism, he's far from doctrinally orthodox, but open, enquiring, and convinced no single spiritual or religious tradition or practice has the corner of every possible way to connect with the divine. Although I describe my theology as "reformational," I easily relate to paganism, Celtic spirituality, and other ways of being and living that at first glance appear to be more earth-oriented than Christianity does (at first glance). Yet Christianity envisions the possibility and the hope that encourage us to live as co-creators of a new creation. Martin Luther insisted the Divine Presence was everywhere—in, with, and under every blade of grass, each drop of water, grain of sand. I've been informed neither ubiquity nor panentheism quite describes Luther's position, but human words always have limits, and they're probably close enough.
Of necessity the 16th century Reformers emphasized redemption of human creatures, but in time probably would have moved on to emphasizing the integrity of all creation, as many within mainline Christianity now are doing in an urgent attempt to revitalize, reclaim, and resurrect planet earth, not for its utility to humanity, but to celebrate its inherent worthiness and worth. In baptism we participate in the first birth and the rebirth of creation; the Eucharist is a microcosm of all creation fully restored, completely redeemed.
My Wisdom Walking ratings: for relevance to where I find myself today, 3 stars. For possibilities I discovered after I got over my initial disappointment and opened my eyes, 5 stars. Average: 4 stars.
Notice of material connection: I received a copy of this book from The Speakeasy with no obligation to write a positive review. As always, my opinions are my very own and I wouldn't have it any other way.
February 8, 2020
This book, written by the mentor of a dear friend who led a pilgrimage she experienced over this summer, stirred my spirit and imagination and reconnected me to some of the reasons why I deeply enjoy walking in a meditative, quiet way. The life lessons Stafford distills from his own experience of both being on pilgrimage and making his way through daily life urged me to ponder more deeply the spiritual signs that I might overlook in the every day, as well as the deeper wisdom of creation all around me. As with Richard Rohr's book on Christ, this is one to which I hope to return.
September 24, 2017
Interesting and inspiring book on life as pilgramage. Lots of Gil's self-disclosure with insight. Jungian approach to life thru sensing, feeling and thinking, opening and releasing to the imagination on our journeys, growing in wisdom and becoming more ourselves...
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July 2, 2018review forthcoming
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