A pilgrimage to see the didactic Dali Lama might be just what you need to soothe your spirit after dropping off your screaming daughter at daycare. It’s not the screaming from your darling that caused it, all the screaming did was let you know how badly you need a healing trip.
    Trips that heal the spirit seem to come in five varieties. First there is the simply trip to a day spa, or a long spa vacation complete with twice daily massages with exotic herbal concoctions, soothing aromas and healing hands. Second there are trips to sacred places where ancient people found the presence of god in nature so strong that the place itself is holy.
    Then there are places that have special meaning to you because they have spiritual importance in your own life. A trip to ancestral home lands is an example. There are shrines all over the earth that have special meaning and many of them are places that everyone says you should visit at least once to bathe in the spiritual tradition and the history. Or you might know or have heard of places where the sun sets, the snowy mountains or the beach fill you with so much awe that your spirit heals.
    The way we move these days, the body isn’t a temple anymore; it’s a heavily manned factory. And one of the ways to shut down those sweaty, tired steel workers is to take a few steps away from them and reconnect with the spirit of the universe. Smell the sea air in the distance as you step out of the forest with your arms outstretched and your eyes tightly clamped. Feel the clouds scuttle overhead as the sun settles on your forehead like an orange melon at the bottom of a smoothie.
    Take off your burden and walk around a little, stretch out your legs and let your spirit free. Walk aimlessly. The spirit seems to need the change of scenery to restore itself.