Together we will learn how to be attentive to the Divine and the Sacred at work in our lives through deep listening, patience, the gifts that arise in the midst of discomfort, and going out to our own inner, wild edges to explore new frontiers. Whether we are on the road going to an unknown destination, or just heading out into our own back yard, learning these skills will serve us well on the journey.

Chanting, meditation, invocation, poetry, breaking into small groups for sharing, and small ceremonies will be woven into the course to help us integrate the intellectual material into our daily lives in a soulful way. We will begin with the sharing of our personal stories in relation to the topic of pilgrimage, or what brings us to this moment of desiring to travel to a foreign country to seek mystery and an experience of the Divine Feminine. The course will be limited to a maximum of 9 women, so although we will be meeting virtually, we will have a chance to really get to know one another, as though we were sitting together in the same room.

You don't have to commit to the trip to sign up for the courses, but they have been created as preparation for the pilgrimage and to offer a chance for you to get to know me and create a sense of community with one another beforehand; also giving you a chance to "sit" in virtual circle with me, and those who are drawn to the topics of "Pilgrimage"," Return of the Goddess", "The Black Madonna, Mary Magdalene" and to the trip itself. I will also offer teaching pieces on Chartres Cathedral and The Labyrinth that is found there. This is a repeat of what I did in the past two years, which culminated in successful and wonderful pilgrimages in October 2022 and 2023. There were also several women who participated in the courses, even all three of them, but did not go with me to France.

If you would like to sign up for the course, you may mail your check made out to "Pomegranate Seed Productions" (for the amount of anywhere between $135 and $185, sliding scale) to Marilyn Strong, P.O. Box, 522, Clinton, WA 98236-0522.

The Art of Pilgrimage: Cultivating the Sacred in Everyday Life

A 10-Week Journey into the Heart of the Sacred

Sept. 18 - Nov. 20, 2024

Wednesday Evenings, 7:00 - 9:00pm

$135 - $185 (sliding scale)

This class is the first in a series of three 10-week courses that I will offer in the next 9 months in preparation for traveling with a small group of women in pilgrimage to the Black Madonnas of Northern France and to explore the topic of "Reclaiming the Divine Feminine in the Western Spiritual Tradition: Rediscovering and Honoring our Feminine Spiritual Legacy."

The intention of this first class is to unpack and explore the notion of pilgrimage as an inner as well as an outer journey.

To stimulate our discussions, I will be drawing on content from Phil Cousineau's The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker's Guide to Making Travel Sacred, exploring the following topics:

  • The Longing

  • The Call

  • Departure

  • The Pilgrim's Way

  • The Labyrinth

  • Arrival

  • Bringing Back the Boon

Participants are encouraged to buy Cousineau's book, to deepen one's experience of the course, but that is not required. I will also be drawing from Christine Vaulters Painter's book, The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within.