Beyond Tourism: The Transformational Power of Sacred Travel

For as long as I can remember, travel has been food for my soul. Some of my fondest memories as a child trace back to afternoons in Paris’s beautiful Luxembourg gardens with my parents- feeding pigeons, renting vintage toy boats to sail across the octagonal pond and experiencing the magic of a world far from home. Every time I left the US, a light was sparked within me-a creative fire, curiosity, and childlike joy in exploring new places.

Many of my most profound life moments unfolded while living abroad. In Paris, I experienced the duality of light and shadow, discovering the beauty of romantic love and later returning to grieve the loss of my father. In Israel, I was cracked open by a deep spiritual awakening-and my first intense heartbreak. China taught me about leadership and authority, pushing me to step into my power. As I grew and evolved, my notion of travel shifted, becoming more intentional and sacred. I came to understand that each place held a unique energy, mirroring back to me the exact lessons and medicine that my soul needed in that moment.

Some of my most memorable learnings around the transformational power of travel happened in India. For my first trip, I had initially planned to go to Dharamshala for a Reiki Master training- but a few weeks prior began to have the nagging feeling that I should go to Rishikesh instead. I tried to ignore it, but the universe had other plans.

Everything that could go wrong did. My Air India flight was cancelled. I was rerouted through Thailand, missed my connecting flight and ended up having to spend the night in Delhi. There I was scammed, propositioned and eventually redirected to Rishikesh. I found myself alone, with absolutely no plan. For a woman used to structure, security and organization, this was completely outside of my comfort zone.

I’ll never forget my first day in Rishikesh, venturing out of my hotel in search of a place to practice yoga. Within a few minutes I was lost, overwhelmed by the cacophony of traffic and leering stares of Indian men-yet simultaneously intrigued by the wandering cows and monkeys weaving through the bustling streets. While attempting to cross the Ram Jhula bridge amidst shouts of people and honks of mopeds, I experienced a moment of panic, wondering why I’d felt drawn to a country that seemed so chaotic.

Yet the chaos of India was exactly what my soul needed in that moment, teaching me one of the greatest lessons in self-trust. I had no choice but to release control, surrender to the present moment and have faith that my higher self would lead me where I needed to go.

And that’s precisely what happened. A few moments later, I serendipitously met a kindred spirit staying at my hotel. As I had no plans, I joined him on a tour to visit the Sadhus (Hindu holy men living in caves and ashrams).  From there, the magic unfolded. I discovered the perfect place to practice Kundalini yoga, an experience that awakened my shakti (life force energy) and helped to quiet my overactive mind. I found peace and presence in my body through daily Ayurvedic massages and Shirodhara (the dripping of warm oil on your forehead). The universe even offered me romance and adventure after meeting an Indian tour guide, who whisked me around on daily scooter rides. He later proposed, but that’s a story for another time.

India provided my spirit with the very medicine it was craving in that moment of my life. The land became a sacred mirror, revealing the parts of me ready to be healed and transformed: self-doubt, self-judgment, and a tender heart needing to mend after a year of profound loss and heartbreak.

More than anything, my time in India taught me the importance of creating a relationship of reciprocity with the land. Each evening I attended fire ceremonies on the sacred Ganga river, offering pujas to the water and sending blessings to the earth and to my loved ones. I connected deeply with the gentle cows peacefully wandering the streets and made the conscious decision to become a vegetarian. Witnessing the immense poverty-children begging in the streets-was a stark reminder of my privilege, and of the responsibility to use my resources in service to others.

Many people seem to have a love-hate relationship with India. I’ve noticed that this often relates to where you are in your life path. India is a powerful mirror to the soul and a potent catalyst for change. Its energy can feel harsh, raw and uprooting. Yet often, this is exactly what we need to break free from old cycles, to transform and evolve. Trust that certain places will call to you when your soul is ready to experience the lessons that they hold.

As you reflect on your own travels, what places in the world have you felt drawn to explore? What truths did the land mirror back to your soul on its journey?

If the topic of sacred travel resonates with you, I invite you to explore Return to Wholeness, my retreat in Portugal this September. Together, we’ll weave personal healing with land healing, gathering in ceremony, connecting with the magic of nature, and creating space for profound transformation. If you’re ready to journey deeper into your own becoming, you can learn more about this special experience here.

Stay tuned for my next article, where we will explore the magic of land healing.