inner and outer pilgrimage for women
Nine days of walking In wonder
on the ancient pilgrimage routes of the Kumano Kodo
“The wilderness pilgrim’s step-by-step, breath-by-breath walk up a trail...carrying all on the back, is so ancient a set of gestures as to bring a profound sense of body-mind joy.”
No matter the location, spiritual tradition or group you travel with, a pilgrimage is an opportunity to step out of the busy world of constant activity and to drop into a spacious container to refresh, reconnect, and renew. A pilgrimage can be deeply transformative.
THe Outer Pilgrimage:
“No-one is traveling
Here along this way, but I
This Autumn Evening”
Kumano is the ancient name for the Southern region of the Kii Peninsula, a sacred site steeped in mystery and legend. Since ancient times, this lush, rugged, and densely forested environment has nurtured a profound form of nature worship in which mountains, rocks, waterfalls, trees, and rivers are deified and revered. Kumano’s sacred mountains were a major pilgrimage destination for the Imperial and aristocratic families in the Heian period with several pilgrimage routes together forming the Kumano Kodo or Old Road of Kumano. At that time, it was an arduous trip filled with strict spiritual training to purify the mind, body, and spirit to the three grand shrines of Kumano (Hongu, Nachi, and Hayatama). On our pilgrimage, we will be traveling the Kii Mountain range from West to East, starting at Tanabe, the gateway to Kumano. Weaving through forested mountains and small villages, we will reach the three major shrines at Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha.
The Inner Pilgrimage
“And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long,
but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful,
by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet, and learn to be at home. ”
Imagine waking up in your tatami room to the bell of a buddhist temple calling for the morning service, walking on a rugged ancient sacred trail surrounded by Japanese cedar trees only accompanied by the song of a nightingale, or having a wonderful exchange of laughter and gestures with a Japanese lady in the hot springs. This is what the experience of walking in rural Japan is like: a slower pace of life, infinite natural beauty, spiritually infused settings and welcoming hosts. And these are just examples of the wonders that you are likely to encounter on this pilgrimage: from the first day on the trail, you will be transported into a different world, allowing your soul to soar, your mind to let go, and your body to relax through the demands of the hike.
As part of a small group of women walking the ancient Kumano Kodo under the guidance of an experienced local guide and a life coach, you will explore what it means to move through life as a pilgrim by becoming one for nine days. Through a carefully crafted daily schedule of walks, contemplative moments, guided meditations, personal reflection and group conversations, we will adopt practices that will allow us to fully embrace every moment of this wonderful journey. Examples of these pilgrim’s practices include: - crossing the threshold, -letting go, -making the way by walking, -leaning into discomfort with grace and acceptance, -embracing the unknown, and finally -coming home.
If you need to find yourself again, this may just be the break your soul, body and mind have been longing for.
You’ll feel at home in this pilgrimage if you
Enjoy walking or hiking in nature
Appreciate times of stillness and silence
Are committed to supporting the development and wellbeing of yourself and others
Are willing to try new ways of being and surprise yourself and others along the way
Are (or want to fall) in love with Japanese culture
What to expect:
An authentic introduction to rural Japan with a knowledgeable local mountain guide
A profoundly restorative connection with wilderness
A serious time-out from the distractions and demands of modern life including digital detox
Meaningful time in group settings balanced with solo time to enjoy hiking trails, hot spring baths, and temples
Guidance from Anne-Marie, as your life coach before, during and after the trip
Practices to take home with you to support your continuing development
Your Guides: ALena and Anne-Marie
Click on the pictures for bios
LENGTH:9 days
Meeting Point: Osaka KIX International Airport. You should plan your arrival in Osaka no later than Monday October 18. We will start with an informal (optional) welcome dinner that evening and begin walking the following morning.
Departure Point: Osaka KIX International Airport. Plan you departure from Osaka KIX no earlier than Wednesday October 27 in the late afternoon.
walking Level: challenging
This pilgrimage involves consecutive days of walking on the Kumano Kodo trails for six hours or more and with significant ascent and/or descent. Some days involve hiking with vertical elevation gains/losses of three thousand feet on rugged terrain. Check the day by day itinerary for details about each hike.
cost: $3,850
What’s included For the trip:
Intimate group of 5 to 8 women including Alena and Anne-Marie
Experienced bilingual mountain guide for the entire duration of the trip
Eight nights of shared accommodation in traditional Japanese guesthouses, ryokans with onsen, minshukus or hotels.
Eight breakfasts (at accommodations), seven lunches (in local restaurants or as bento boxes for the trails) and eight dinners (at accommodations)
All ground transportation (train and bus) from/to Osaka KIX Airport
Daily guided opportunities for contemplation, reflection, and inquiry for your inner journey
Three 1:1 (optional) coaching sessions with Anne-Marie: before, during and after the pilgrimage
What’s Not included:
Airfare to/from Osaka KIX
Travel insurance (required)
Luggage transfers (luggage transfers can be purchased separately at the accommodations for about yen 3,000 per piece of luggage per transfer)
Accommodation and dinner at KIX (Day 0)
One breakfast (Day 1)
Two lunches (Day 4, our rest day and Day 9, our departure day)
