A VOICE ON THE ROAD

By Barbara Lyghtel Rohrer “To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from.” — Terry Tempest Williams     “What do you carry?” That was the question that Cheryl, our guide, asked before beginning the pilgrimage along Scotland’s St. Cuthbert’s Way. I had no answer. Instead, I had a lump of clay. Cheryl had given clay to each of us –– Andrea, Fiona and me, three older women joining Cheryl

By Fiona Ball In Australian Indigenous culture people are sung in and out of life….and so it was I was sung into the next part of mine. Walking barefoot through tidal sand, mud, seaweed, shells and shallow cold clean sea water, the seals sang. The sound was otherworldly, like the call of dogs to each other, carried by the wind. The sound carried me for the the mile journey on a brightly overcast day to Lindisfarne, the Holy Island in north east England. My arrival to this pla

By Cheryl Murfin Food made with heart and served with joy—the small gifts of pilgrimage. I was tired. Walking 10 miles, the 14 miles, then 10 again. After two months of walking seven, then 10, then 12 at least once a week. It wasn't hard walking; this path has its ups and downs, but we don't scramble or hoist ourselves over large rocks. But add in the steep-ish ascents, a few intense downhill rolls, rocks underfoot, unfamiliar beds every night, the energy of deep listening, m

By Cheryl Murfin Day one of watching We used many different prompts to get to the writing on these journeys. Some come from the things we see on the path, others we bring with us—small art exercises that lead us to questions that lead us to words. One of my favorites on this walk came from my longtime friend, Andrea. Near the beginning of the walk, she invited each of us to find a single, simple item, look closely at it for 10 minutes, and describe in full detail exactly what