Sacred Communication/Sacred Journey 2020

      In the first Chapter of the Phenomenology Of Prayer the author explains how prayers can represent the decentered self. He explains this concept through Mary the mother of God. In the bible it explains how an angel named Gabriel was sent down to tell Mary that she will bear a Son whom is holy. Mary's reply was "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:35-38) In this reply it shows a prayer of decentered self for she recognizes that God is her creator and the highest of power. In addition to this she recognizes that God is the writer of her story. In another example God prayers in a form of decentering self too when he was about to face his death on the cross. In this he says "My Father, if it is not possible this cup shall pass without my drinking it, you will be done".  In both of these examples God nor Mary knows the plan the Lord has for them yet they still are able to trust in the Lord and do as he ple...

 According to the chapter "Kenosis as Prayer" in the Phenomenology of Prayer book it defines Kenosis and how it relates to prayer. Kenosis is defined as an emptying of one self. Paul wrote that Jesus emptied himself when he sent down his son to be killed. If we are called to Jesus we are also called to spiritual emptying. This requires removing all worldly desires from your life and spending more time in prayer for other. In this chapter it reminds us to focus on praying for others first which remind me of the Pope's five finger prayer. Thumb: This is the finger closest to you, therefore you pray for everyone that is close to you. For example family and friends Index finger: We often times use this finger to teach therefore you pray for any spiritual guides in your life or those who lead you in general.  Middle finger: This is the tallest finger therefore your pray for world or church leaders Ring finger: This is surprisingly the weakest finger therefore we pray of all th...

 What do we feel in dreams. I don't remember mine mostly, by have a deja vu feeling about them. I cannot describe how they were and can recall dreams from long ago if I come across a situation that subconsciously reminds me of the dream. I wonder if other cognitive processes are like this.

 When I am at church, I get a feeling that is fulfilling. I just feel happy and have purpose I cannot describe it. This fulfilling feeling helps me keep focus in life and helps me keep my faith.

 Back in October the bathroom light went out in my dorm. I had to shower in the dark. I knew where everything was. I could not see so it was automatic. I knew what I did but could not recall it.

 Earlier this year I went to the beach for a weekend. I saw crabs, and fish and pelacans. This allowed me to see a prespective I don't usualy see. The sand at jockeys ridge and the view of both sides of the island. This alowed me a break from school and alowed me to connect with nature.

 In the the Landscapes of the Sacred chapter 8 it explains the problems in articulating an American sense of sacred space. Americans are so often accustomed to change that they are even constantly moving. In this chapter it describe that even though Americans are constantly moving they still desire a sense of belonging in one place. A place where they are supported, understood, and In community with others.  However, this notion is challenging to find in a individualistic society. Although according to this chapter it explained that Americans fail to realize that the sacred space they are longing for is right in front of them. It is at church, at home, and wherever you look with new eyes. This concept of looking with new eyes was explained as the ability to see the holy masked in ordinary things. Over the past couple years I have lived mostly at Christopher Newport University with many trips to my childhood home in Charlottesville, Va. As each year passed I would come with a d...

 https://www.dailyathlete.ca/hitchhiker/ In this article it explains a critical thinking problem using two hypothetical scenarios; Mr. Brown, almost never picks up hitchhikers. Yesterday he gave a man a ride and was robbed. Mr. Smith, frequently picks up hitchhikers. Yesterday he gave a man a rid an was robbed.  Following these two scenarios a group of people were who of the two will experience greater guilt of the scenario, majority of participants said Mr. Brown. This was because people often have higher feeling of regret when taking action as opposed to not. However in order to achieve great things we have to take risks. Many people plan to hike the entire Appalachian trail before they die however never get around it. This is most likely due to an inability to take risks instead they constantly say they will do it one day but never do. There is many excuses in doing something but there is no greater achievement than accomplishing something. In a different article I read on ...

 In a ted talk by Dan Gilbert, "The Surprising Science of Happiness" he explains that we are able to synthesize happiness. He defined synthetic happiness as what we make when we don't get what we want. However, he explained that many people instead chase happiness through the idea of Natural Happiness. This happiness is what we get when we get what we want however this becomes a never ending cycle of constantly wanting something new. According to Martin Buber "Those who experience do not participate for the world. For the experience is 'in them' and not between them and the world. The world does not participate in experience. It allows itself to be experienced, but it is not concerned, for it contributes nothing, and nothing happens to it". Therefore if we constantly are seeking an experience out of something in order to achieve happiness then we will never have real happiness. Instead we need to appreciate what we make out of the things we do not want, ...

 In the New American Bible 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 24-25 said: 24. for: "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; 25. but the word of the Lord remains forever." This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.  This passage paints an imagery of how we are like grass and all that is good in us is like the flower of field. However, we age and lose our glory but God remains. In my own life it reflects how no matter what changes occur in life the word of the Lord is always the same.  I chose to write on this passage to show an example of how the bible uses nature to offer a deeper meaning of our world. Taking this class reminded me of how important nature is for our soul. One thing I began to notice is how often the bible makes references to the nature as sort of a mask. However, I have never noticed my religions focus on the importance of why we as humans should appreciate nature and spend more time m...

 Chapter 7 explains how pilgrimage is more responsive to social change and popular moods than liturgical ritual. The pilgrimage system is more "limonoid" than "liminal" because is is more open and not as rotuine as normal religious practices. Limonoid acts are more voluntary and done in free time. I think by having them be more relaxed and done in free time, they may be enjoyed more.  What makes pilgrimages special, is that they usually are not required. Religious people do them by choice in order to gain both knowledge and growth in their faith. They are also less ritualistic than normal organized religion which can be refreshing to many.  However, as the Church gained more notoriety pilgrimages were given as punishment. So then, they were no longer liminal but limonoid. In the Catholic church, the earliest pilgrimages were to Jerusalem and Rome. They were seen as a special gift of faith. 

      In researching for the final paper I came across this book on removal of self in order to truly be at peace with God.  I believe this class assisted in my abilities to understand the meanings of this book. It discussed many deeper philosophical concepts that was also discussed in class. Mostly reflecting on the idea of emptying of one self, in relation to class concepts the author encouraged the to decenter oneself from the I and thou. In the book it made clear that God is the one and only to be worshipped therefore we should recognize him as such rather than using him. One thing that stuck with me following this reading was the idea that God created everything therefore all things belong to him, including us. In order to achieve full closeness with God one must completely empty of themselves and do everything for the will of God. This book was an interesting read through it left me with a lasting impression and many thoughts. This consisted of the following:...

 Through reading through this book, one idea that was presented in class and was mentioned in the book was liminality and liminal spaces. These ideas are that of a transitional period in which someone enters then comes out of that completely different. Life is filled with liminality and i never knew until I actually started to look around. I then discovered that there are many instances of liminality that can change someone forever. If liminality is so common, why is it not known and what are some examples? Liminality is a concept that is thrown around everywhere but under different names and tenses. Liminality is a period of change, and there are many periods in which someone can change in an instance. There are periods like bootcamp, where one is really pushed hard, even to where their body can't take it anymore. The mind is truly put to the test, and when one leaves bootcamp, they typically change into a different person, while keeping the same personality.

 Pilgrimages are very common for religious people in order for them to feel closer to their God and spirituality. Within this text, it explains that pilgrimages must occur with a historical context. This texts later goes on to explain all rites of passages. These are separation, limen, and aggression. The separation is your separation from your group or comfort, the second is the liminal phase where the passenger becomes ambiguous and passes through a dimension that has few or done of the attributes of the previous state, and the third aspect is when the passenger returns to its regular state. Liminality is a concept that is now applied to cultural change. It is important for people to be a passenger to see the view of other perspectives. 

 I was reading about pilgrims in the book and couldn't help but relate it to trails we learned about in class, like the Camino de Santiago. Those trails have pilgrims migrate through their trails at different years as a form of finding religious happiness and joining others in the holy year. The Camino is most known for the Santiago that is at the end of the trails, as well as the various cultures one encounters while hiking the trails. It's a very popular pilgrimage site as the Santiago has a lot of religious history and is important to many religions. Why do pilgrims feel the need to migrate? Migration and pilgrimage is how many find giving thanks to be most appropriate during holy years. The pilgrimage also shows how devout people truly are to their practices and religions, and can even cleanse some's souls. The walking, vistas, and various people met along the way enhance the experience, and many can get called to the pilgrimage. Like I researched before with the Appala...

An important part of the phenomenology of prayer is hermeneutics. This is the religious interpretation of the Bible as well as other religious texts. Many Christians interpret the Bible differently but interpretation can also affect your religious beliefs and spirituality. While some may see the Bible as literal, others see it as metaphorical.    Much of hermeneutics has to do with not only religious life but also with interpretation. The Bible is a sacred text but many Christian people and people of other religions have differing opinions on its validity as well as its truth.  Jews, Catholic, and Christians all use their texts mostly interpretively. They all believe that God's word is the truth but in differing ways. For example, Jews only read the Old Testament because they do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Catholics believe in Saints and pray to them while Protestants do not. 

      In a psychology class I learned that flow is being so engrossed in a task that we forget of all else. This is interesting to me because in this class the state of flow goes a lot deeper. It is an emptying of self, and you become less self conscious. As it relates to a spiritual journey flow is similar to waking up from a good dream. One can not force themselves to enter into a state of flow instead it just happens. Looking back I believe I entered into this state when I was hiking up to the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was a freezing cold day and on the outskirts of the trail was leftover snow from the night before. At first I was not enjoying the hike because it all I could think about was how cold I was. Once we got to one of the many shrines along this trail we were told to spend a few moments in silence. I then began to focus on other things like how the leaves crumbled under the snow when people walked on it, the sound of water running from...

 This text explains the study of prayer and how it relates to different cultures, and more specifically how people pray. Christian people tend to pray about what they need in the world while also thanking God for who He is. In order for them to let go of their grievances they give them to God. Part of the reason that they do this is because God is so powerful that He can encourage them to be better humans and can hold on to their grievances. As humans, we tend to want to express our worries to others because it is hard to keep that too ourselves and deal with it.  When praying to God most Christians start off by letting problems be known and clearing their own conscious. Prayer is a way for Christians to ask for help, thank God for who He is, and ask for forgiveness. This is important to all people of faith so they have a relationship with their God.  

 While reading the book, in chapter 8, the word hermeneutical came up a lot and I was curious to its definition. It basically means interpretation, which makes sense why it is related to phenomenology, which is the study of the experience of being self. Interpretation is used in all religions and forms of prayer. How one interprets their readings is how one prays and how one conducts their religious practices. Why aren't religious texts viewed as fact?  Religious texts are meant to be viewed in different ways as to keep it malleable for any kind of use. The religious texts are used often as references and not direct answers to problems. To instate a kind of fact to these texts would be meaningless and would destroy the use of the texts in many situations. The reasons these texts were created were to be used as reference. God cannot answer every question one has, but he can supply one with the resources to have an answer and get success. Hermeneutics are very important and cann...

      As the author was on the PCT, he describes his experiences of traveling there. He describes seeing the tall conifers in their beauty. There were lots of road blocks during his journey to Mount Rainer, but that did not stop him from enjoying the journey when he got there. Because this was a place sacred to the Native Americans, he did not want to leave because he saw how special it truly was to be there. He described all of the flora that was there and how the oxygen felt in his lungs. He even took off his shoes to feel the ground beneath him. The feeling of being there in the moment with all of the beauty of nature around him felt Holy. He put his arms out and yelled because he felt so free. This feeling is common when you are in a Holy space because there is something there that makes you feel so moved by what is around you. 

     Most often I tend to enjoy the adventure to place rather than what I get out of place. I am more of an adventurous person so I look for the joy and experiences that come in going from place to place. The poem by Rumi,  In Baghdad, Dreaming of Cairo; In Cairo, Dreaming of Baghdad , the journey the narrator goes on has a greater impact on him than when he gets to the location he intended to get to.     Traveling to locations usually have a greater impact on my life because the I tend to have a greater experience of communitas. While on trips, especially on band trips in high school, me and my friends tend to have a greater experience while on a journey to a location. This is because the experiences on the journey are more impactful than the initial location because the journey creates a sense of communitas through the shared experiences we all shared while on the trip.

 In my reading of this book, I discovered a section that has to do with collective prayer. In my religion, collective prayer is a very important method by which to communicate with God and strengthen your relationship. While we cannot do this currently, it was always a big part of religion. In many people pray in tangent to strengthen the prayer and to lift eachother up. It is fascinating how that idea is incorporated in so many religions, but why? And what is the difference between that and regular, singular prayer? Group prayer, like stated before, is viewed as more powerful. Each person lifts another up to pray in tangent, creating a group vibe. This group vibe also allows people to see better ways to pray by looking at others that are providing examples. Singular prayer is a very common method of prayer, as that is the most efficient and easy to pick up way of prayer. The book expresses group prayer as more important, which makes sense, as it is the most productive to making sp...

  In today's age, women are often a target for sexual assault. Young girls are taught from a young age to never go anywhere alone, especially at night. While this is a very valid concern, many women feel comfortable and safe hiking on the Appalachian Trail alone. Megan, a young thru hiker and blogger shared that her most popular response to her announcement about thru hiking the Appalachian trail was “You’re not going alone, are you?” Megan goes on to explain that she had done several short distance hikes in different terrains before embarking on her Appalachian trail thru hike and did not feel scared to hike alone. She wanted to hike alone for many different reasons. She wanted to be able to grow by forcing her own limits and being able to motivate herself. She also wanted to be able to do things her own way and call her own shots. If she had a hiking partner she would have to keep up with their pace which was not something that she wanted to do. Megan goes on to share safety tips...

The Appalachin trail is a diverse place for many, it is not particularly racially diverse or diverse by gender. In the 2005 study mentioned at the beginning of the paper, 18% of women were thru hikers on the Appalachian Trail. This percentage has been approved, but not exponentially.   Only about a quarter of thru-hikers are women, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy , and though there’s little information about the racial breakdown of thru-hikers, it’s safe to say that the vast majority of them are white. Last year, Rahawa Haile, a writer now based in Oakland, California became one of the very few black women to attempt to hike the entire trail. Not only did Haile hike the trail, she also left a book written by a Black author behind at each trail shelter. Halie decided that she wanted to do the thru hike because she is still young and lively. Haile remarks, “ I realized I was the most unencumbered I would be in my entire life. I didn’t have kids or a mortgage. No car p...

  During hikes on the Appalachian Trail, especially for through hikers, flow is something that many experience. Flow is defined as a state of experience that is engrossing, in itself rewarding, and “outside the parameters of worry and boredom.” Flow experiences suggest that the individual finds meaning from activities whenever engaged in a “sense of effortless action in moments that stand out as the best in their lives.”  In a study done by Virginia Commonwealth University professors in 2005, they found that men and women experienced flow differently. For most thru hikers, flow is experienced by walking alone. Interestingly enough, women were more likely to experience flow while experiencing a view. Although, when this activity was defined as one of the most important activities during which flow might occur, the significant difference between men and women disappeared. The findings of this study concluded that men and women did not have too many distinct differences when it c...

      During the course of the class and reading about all of the journeys of people have crossing the great trails of America, I wondered if there were any trails that went across the entire country. There are a few instances of people who have traversed the entirety of the United States coast to coast. Because the trek across America is long and intensive the end experiences must be drastically different than the other ones we went over. The trip is much more intensive and demands more dedication than many of the other trails. Once one takes off, it is harder to quit the journey because of the amount of promise that is lost on leaving the trail. For many of the people who take this adventure on, it usually is for a cause and ends with a dramatic life changing experience. This sort of expedition also tends to be a once in a life time endeavor due to the intense demands the trail would call for. To go on one of these trips woul...

 During my reading of this book for class, I stumbled upon an interesting idea. I have always known that different locales meant different things to different people, but was interested in reading about how cultures can mask these areas. This further develops Buber's I and thou quote, as the areas what the people make them to be. Death valley was an example used in the book, where the spanish referred to it as the palm of God. Why are some of these areas called and view as different things to different people? Different people views places differently because each place holds a certain level of importance and experience to each person. You may see a teddy bear but a child may see a friend that looks back at them. That same concept works with the ideas of areas, for example, a Burger King may be a very important place where somebody grew up eating from, but to another person it may be a run down piece of garbage that has slow service. One person maybe call it BK's, while another...

 In the beginning of the  semester one class discussion was spent deciphering Brian Wilson's song called "In My Room". We looked at how this song relates to the description of sacred place. A sacred place is place where you feel safe and are able to recognize God's presence there. In Brian Wilson's song he describes his room as a sacred place. Recently I related to this song when I was forced to stay in my room for three weeks.  "In My Room" (originally by The Beach Boys) There's a world where I can go and tell my secrets to  In my room, in my room In this world I lock out all my worries and my fears In my room, in my room Do my dreaming and my scheming Lie awake and pray Do my crying and my sighing Laugh at yesterday Now it's dark and I'm alone But I won't be afraid In my room, in my room In my room, in my room In my room, in my room During these three weeks my childhood room became all of these things Brian Wilson described above. In th...

 In Van Morrison's song, Brown Eyed Girl he talks about a sacred place that exists in Belfast, Ireland. This place is called "The Hollow." I find it really interesting all the references that he makes to this place. he describes his hometown and how special it is to him and his girlfriend.  I enjoyed listening to him reminisce about his hometown and coming of age. From all of the pictures that were shown of the hollow I could see the appeal. The mossy bridge was both stunning and peaceful at the same time.  This song holds a lot of meaning to me because my parents and grandparents grew up calling me their "Brown Eyed Girl", so not only is it my song but now I also know the deeper meaning behind it. 

      According to Turner, Pilgrimages can erupt at any given point in a person's life. At one point a person would be experiencing their normal life and then all of a sudden be shifted into this need to go on a traditional pilgrimage of self discovery. Many pilgrimages have no recognizable point of origin and tend to formulate over the course of time. Though I have never been on a pilgrimage I have had sudden impulses to do things in my life whether it be waking up early or to spontaneously sit down for no reason other than just to sit. I just find it pretty incredible, not much else to say.

 As we saw pictures and videos in class of the Camino de Santiago, I was surprised at how much it differed from the AT. I was first interested in all the history behind it and then impressed by the journey that the trail takes you on. The Camino differs a lot from the AT and PCT because the Camino is more religious because it is a true pilgrimage. I also found it interesting to hear about all of the sacred and religious rituals that go along with the trial. The sacred communication that occurred on the side of the highway with the locks in the chain-link fence to  symbolize being there and making a mark. I also found it really interesting that every hiker got a compostela certificate. You could get the certificate either religious or generic. I thought that it was really inclusive that they did that because everyone goes on the pilgrimage for religious and non-religious reasons.  There were a lot of symbolic things on the trail that make hikers excited to experience the C...

The most interesting part of this book by far are the axioms. The way you can use them is incredibly important in determining what kind of religious places are what. Identifying these dwellings and places allow for further research to be conducted on certain sacred lands. Why is research so important for these sacred lands? Why did the author express these axioms? I believe the author created this axioms to better identify sacred places as he may have struggled with researching them and giving reasons that they're sacred without some kind of classification. Research into this topic is important as many wish to know how these places are sacred and spiritual in the first place. The research would give answers upon how these lands are sacred and thus help further identify various areas as different levels as sacred.

 The longest hike that I have ever been on was Old Rag in Madison County, Virginia. I had a really wonderful time hiking it and although it was my hardest hike, I had a wonderful time hiking it. I had really meaningful conversations with my boyfriend at the time while we were hiking and admiring the beautiful views.  As Dr. Redick discussed the Pacific Crest trail, I was in awe by its beauty. I thought that the views from Old Rag and in Virginia were beautiful, but the views out west are spectacular. I find it so interesting to learn about the ever changing history of natural structures and their beauty.  In class we discussed Mt. Rainer and how beautiful and even sublime the views were. The Native Americans used to call the mountain, Tacoma which meant "mountain of God." This name really captures the Holy essence and sublime of the views on the Pacific Crest Trail. I liked learning about how the conditions of the mountains were so different from mountains here. I thought...

 I decided to read the novelization of the movie Hacksaw Ridge , and realized that it is a lot more spiritual than I remember. The book/movie consists of a lot of prayer and hope, which is a quiet contrast to the dark and religious undertone I use to think it had. The book/movie is about a young man that almost kills his brother and was raised in an uber religious and abusive household. This led him to enlist however pledge to never shoot a firearm, as it is against his moral and religious code to hurt and kill. I was reading this book and was thinking to myself, does war count as an axis mundi ?  War is often how many people have spiritual encounters, and is how many can change religions and start to pray more. Axis Mundi   is a concept that some place has connections to the spiritual realm, let it be because of history or experiences. War is not a place, rather its an action. When someone goes to war, they aren't going to a place, they're going to perform an action...

      It is incredible to see the difference in perspective a culture can have on a landscape. In the second part of the book where it talks about the ordinary mask landscapes have that conceal its mythic properties, it introduces the reader to the Catholic Spanish people's view of Death Valley. At first it just looked like an ordinary desert landscape, but after some time they eventually adopted it as the "palm of God's hand". How does a picture of a landscape drastically change from a land of no importance to being connected to the might of God? Similar instances are also introduced that directly relate with the landscapes of America and all in different ways.     It can be easy to get lost in the wonders of God if you assimilate yourself with its presence for enough time. For many, the natural beauty of God's world tends to entrance us with its untamed nature and majestic simplicity. By existing in the same space as these geographical loca...

Walking on the trail within my neighborhood as I have been home was a great way to escape from all of my work and finals. As I was walking, I closed my eyes and noticed all of the different noises that I heard. Because I was in my neighborhood, I heard children playing, birds chirping, and wind blowing. As I felt the wind on my face, I thought about how similar we as humans are to nature. As we approach winter, we are hopeful for the spring yet more reminiscent as ever. The holiday season makes me think about past Christmases', old friends and family, and lots of memories. It is a time to rest and recover. The trees, plants, animals and people even do the same. The trees heal from long seasons of holding leaves and fruit. The bears are hibernating and hiding from the harsh cold. Even some fish hide under mud. Nature protects itself much like we do. Winter is a difficult time for many because it is much darker earlier and colder to be outside. This is especially hard because of the ...

 I found it incredibly interesting how the author was perplexed by how Priests, explorers, and poets could see things that were Holy in sacred places. Not only did they have different perspectives on why they were Holy, but also how they were Holy. The author then went on to describe his experience on a lake when a tree fell that didn't feel exactly "Holy" but a different feeling than simply nothing. He references Martin Buber in I and thou by explaining that "all real living is meeting." That quote holds so much meaning itself. Everything that we experience is what we see as living and not living. I have very many experiences like that each day. As I walk my dog Stella in my neighborhood in the morning, I see myself as an alpha over all of the other living things that I come in contact with, when really we are the same. I walk my dog and am in control, but she is also living and experiencing her own life as a dog. This is a crazy thought process because it also...

 I have decided to read the book A walk in the woods , which is also a movie. It's about 2 friends that decide to hike the trail not only to rekindle their relationship, but discover their drives in life. The two guys had lost eachother a while ago and decide to hike together. They never made it through the whole trail, but I don't believe that was the point of the trip. What was this book trying to tell me? What was the book saying about the trail as a whole? The story had a lot of laughs, however a lot of deep looking moments. Throughout the book, the friends struggle and eventually realize that the trail whooped their ass. They're two older gentleman, yet they decided to try to hike the trail anyway. This told me that it doesn't matter your age, you should always try to accomplish new things in life, and to never give up hope on something you truly wish to do. The two interchange various dialogue about life and such, and about their passions. These exchanges truly sh...

       I have always known about hiking in general, but before this course, I never really thought about it as a therapeutic experience. What really piqued my interest were the stories that Dr. Redick told about military members and veterans braving the Appalachian Trail. It reminded me of a story that my girlfriend told me about having an interaction with a veteran on the trail. She is from northern Virginia and would frequent Three Ridges Loop in the Shenandoah Valley quite frequently. There are several trails there that intersect with the AT and that is where her interaction took place. In her senior year of high school, she would take every chance she could take to get out and hike a trail. On this particular day, she chose a trail that had a section shared with the AT. As she walked upon it, she met a through hiker making his way north. They walked together for a long while and he talked about his reasons for trying to hike the trail. He was just released from a...

Sometimes loving someone can be a religion. Love can be an investment, a devotion given with unconditionally blind faith, a promise of saintly adoration regardless of limitations and regulations. There are just certain people that make you abandon all other forms of interactions for a small piece of their Divinity. There are two examples I can think of in my most recent memory.  The first is from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The two characters fall deeply into each other, allowing the other to encompass their life and alter their behaviors, interactions, and even preferences. They have a caustic, tumultuous relationship that ends each of them getting the other erased from their mind. But what the viewer sees in the memories being erased and the main character fighting to keep them. Fighting for one more moment. “Please, let me keep this one.” He is actively pleading to keep the joy, keep the fulfillment, keep the promise of devotion. He is losing his religion by losing he...

      The Axioms are a neat concept in identifying sacred territory. They provide an in depth guideline into how a place is deemed as a sacred space. By using this simple and easily understood concept it could be used to detect places that seem to be sacred to certain cultures by analyzing the connection the people have with the land.     There are four of these axioms that are used to identify a sacred place: sacred place chooses and is not chosen, the normal place is made extraordinary through ritual, sacred place can be tred on without being entered, and it is both a centripetal and centrifugal location. By carrying these four values, a place may be qualified to be viewed as a sacred place.     With these axioms in mind, identifying sacred place becomes easy as well as a skill for those who seek for these cultural centers. Applying this knowledge to study any culture allows for the researcher to identify key locations i...

 When I was taking a hike in the Noland about 2 weeks ago, I really enjoyed being able to step off campus and enjoy being in nature. Newport News is a great place, but it doesn't have very many trees. Whenever I hike on the Noland trial I am always curious about the different types of trees and plants that are there. Because I live in Northern Virginia, there are different types of trees and plants so I find it interesting to see the differences. While I was on the Noland Trial, I saw a very interesting tree with bumps on it. I suspect that it was an infection that the tree had. It's crazy to think about how similar we are to nature and that every living thing has ailments of their own. 

       A few weeks ago, as a part of our ROTC commissioning requirement, needed to do a 12-mile ruck march under 35 pounds in under 4 hours. As a part of leadership, we planned this event to take place on Jamestown island, just a short drive from campus. The view was amazing, at certain points we were able to see the river and the old colonial sailboats sitting right off the coast. Luckily, it was a beautiful day as well, a slight overcast and temperatures staying in the mid-’70s all day. It was an individual ruck this time around, compared to the one I mentioned I completed at basic training which we had to do in a staggered formation. I am truly an introverted person and I completed the majority of the march alone, infrequently catching up to and passing some of my peers in which I talked to them for long stretches. But most of the strenuous exercise I did a lot of reflecting. This was the last significant event that we seniors had to complete in order to commissio...

The other day, I decided to think about my experience at Lion's Bridge in more depth and look at what nature was really telling me. Questions flooded to my head like, why were swans in the lake? Why were those trees really endangered? Most of all, what is nature really telling me about the world?  I came to the rapid conclusion that the swans were there for migration, as it was getting colder up north where they typically live during the summer months. This told me that not only were the swans tired, they were hungry and were at just about the end of their trip. Those species of swan typically stay in the Chesapeake Bay area in the winter time, as it is more comfortable and warm down here than their arctic habitat at this time of the year.  The trees were telling me about the travesties that man has committed over the years. While we may not have hurt those specific trees in the passing years, we have harmed many indigenous species in the land. The trees were telling me that w...

       A little background about me, I enlisted in the Army Reserves right out of high school, leaving for Basic Training at Fort Benning Georgia the September after I graduated. I am not going to take credit for this line, but I believe that one of my fellow Soldiers hit the nail on the head when he said that the experience was “the best fun I never want to have again.” Looking back, almost four years later and remembering all the stress, shenanigans, and friendships that I had made makes me both happy and proud of all I have been able to accomplish. One of the events that made me the proudest was the completion of our final 12-mile ruck. To give a little bit of context, we completed this during our last week of training exercises. We had stayed out in the field for a week, did a Night Infiltration Course, went back to the barracks for 3 hours of sleep, and then stepped off for this hike. Upon our return after 5 grueling hours of marching under combat load, I will n...

     Liminality is such a weird concept to wrap my head around. I understand the concepts of rite of passage and the changes that can occur in people who participate in ritual, but when it talks about removing one from their known world only to enter it again is quite odd. It talks about entering a whole other world separate from the one we are familiar with. I have gone through many "rite of passages" in my life such as Confirmation, learning to ride a bike, drive a car, and going through my education, but I have personally never felt unattached to the world I live in.     I can understand the reasoning for believing in the act but I do not see how the world we enter is different from the one we live in. Maybe by going through the transformation you are given a different view of the world so it appears different, but then you keep that knowledge with you as you come back to the same world.     I guess what it could be referring...

 I decided to read Ecotherapy: Healing with nature in mind   for my term paper on long-distance hiking being a form of therapy. This book greatly helped my essay as it was a good source of information regarding the natural part of the trails. It was interesting to see how nature can truly help heal one's soul and contribute to a growth of someone's characters. I was just curious on the methods on how it actually heals, as I do feel a sense of fulfillment and healing when I'm in nature, however I never knew how it came into effect. How does ecotherapy work? And what exactly is ecotherapy? Throughout the course, I've learned to be more open on how to communicate with the spiritual realm, as the course has taught me numerous ways to communicate via prayer, sacred lands, and etc. The book argues that the primitive nature of the wilderness allows one to connect to the deeper thought process. This connection to the inner mind was the way in which could heal their soul, which ...

      Decentralization is an incredible concept to learn about. By removing one's self from themselves and opening themselves up to God is an aspect I never though about before in prayer. Rather than us consciously calling on God it is us who approaches him after he has called upon us.     In the context of Samuel's prayer, it is Samuel who approaches God and asks him of what he seeks of him. I've only assumed that prayer was a way for God to listen to our pleads for assistance and thanks rather than an answer to the Lord's calling. However, this does make sense and does not dramatically alter my own faith, rather it sheds light on something I was not apparent of.     Prayer is not about one's self, it is about connecting with God and sustaining that crucial relationship between faith and the soul. Through our interaction in prayer we become closer with ourselves and God through the action of removing ourselves from our center and a...

       In the Phenomenology of Prayer,  there is a chapter called "Prayer as the Posture of the Decentered Self". In it, there is a section which talks about the master and slave relationship... which while originally talking about God,  it goes on to talk about that relationship in relation to authority. While mentioning Locke and Rousseau uses the model of Heteronomy and Assymentry as a symbol of political modernity, what is more, interesting is the comparison of religion and politics. It asks that if we compare God to a king or prime minister that we only need occasionally when in need, then why pray it all? What is there to gain from prayer, if we only ask for need when it suits us. My question is what is God's role in people's lives who only call for guidance when needed, and not ever for thanks?

       Dr. Redick very extensively talked about the people that he met on all of his travels with an almost unbelievable amount of detail. There were so many people that I learned about in his class, especially as he narrated his stories walking the Appalachian Trail and the Camino. The story about the student who lost his father while their class was hiking through Europe stuck out to me. I think the reason why is because I believe I would follow the same steps to come to terms with losing a loved one, I would want to continue along the trail and finish what I started with plenty of reflection. The culmination of all these stories brought back a very repressed memory that I had of reading the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer back in high school.  This novel was about a cast of pilgrims at Tabard Inn exchanging their stories and experiences on their journey. We hear from a Knight, Miller, Monk, Cook, Layer, and a few more, all coming from different walks of ...

  The room now after solely living there for the past few months feels like it has been creeping in, the walls slowly moving towards the center, becoming smaller and smaller. The books, papers, and gear just continue to pile up complete with the lack of desire to change or do anything about it. Through the small slit between the beige curtains came a thread of sunlight, a beckoning gesture from the beyond. It had been a considerable amount of time since I had left that place of solitude. Walking out onto the porch, a warm gust of wind caressed my face, a whisper so faint that I nearly missed it. A feeling of peace and freedom passed like a wave over me as I took my first steps towards the neighborhood trail. There was a rustle of the leaves in the branches above, spring was just arriving, and trees were starting to gain back their foliage. As I approached the trailhead, farther down a rabbit revealed itself from a bush. What a curious little creature, something so pure and innocent...

     While studying the aspect of folklore in relation to how cryptids and sacred space are affiliated, I was introduced to the culture of the loggers in Barre Toelkin's book, Dynamics of Folklore . It was really intriguing that there are entire cultures that surround people's professions. In the case of the loggers, they would have entire community events such as carnivals and parties. With these sorts of events, one would usually expect communities such as towns, neighborhoods, ethnic centers, and religious communities be some of the more common groups to participate. Instead, there are entire communities of people who share in similar professions and participate in community much like the episode from  The Office  where workers from every Dunder Mifflin office come together for large company get together.     It is interesting that people can form community between each other through profession. The only unifying aspect of these workers is that they...

    It is interesting how there exists a dynamic contrast between the Gardens of Versailles and Central Park in New York. In Dr. Redick's on aesthetic tourism, he brings up the stark contrast between the artificially constructed gardens of Versailles and how the wild and more natural grounds of central park acts as its antithesis. On the one hand, man has taken over nature because man fears it, on the other he lets it grow inside his land because he marvels at its beauty.     Though the Americas and Europe are considered Western culture, there seems to be a distinct difference in how both sides view nature. In Europe, according to what Dr. Redick had written, they are more fond of the contemporary and geometrically refined landscapes. Because Europe has a lot of human history it must be more uncommon for one who hikes on the trails in the continent to experience much untamed wilderness.  The opposite values can be found on the American continents where ther...

     I found it really interesting reading the trail journals in preparation for both the research project and assignment two. Although the site’s structure and design were a little dated, the sheer number of stories and experiences that it held was amazing. Everyone wrote about their encounters with the wilderness in a lot of different ways, everyone bringing a different perspective to their journals. I particularly enjoyed the function that allowed you to search by trail in a given year. Randomly, I chose 2001 as the first year and a considerable number of journals that I read from that year talked about the impact of 9/11. I always knew and understood the sheer weight that the tragedy had on this nation, as my father was actually a commercial pilot and was flying a different flight when those few flights were highjacked. But reading these entries, hearing about their thoughts, emotions, and feelings immediately following the disaster brought it into a new light for me....

 My dad and I went on a vacation to a small town in the mountains of North Carolina to go whitewater rafting. That destination was part of a road trip that would be the last one we would go on together before I went to college.  While in the small mountain town, we decided to go hiking on some of the trails with waterfalls. While hiking, we encountered one absolutely gorgeous waterfall that went over a steep, grey rocky incline. There was a couple crosses located all around the waterfall and one person was even praying. None of the other waterfalls were like this. What was special about this waterfall? Was this an example of an Axis Mundi? We decided to look around and ask some locals that were relaxing by the fall who were reading, listening to music, or etc about all the crosses. One older gentleman let us know that this waterfall has always been known to locals as a religious place, where prayer happens a lot due to the high amount of spiritual activity around it. From this...

 After going to Lion's Gate Bridge for class, my friends and I decided to go and see the sunset. I loved watching the sunset because of the colors of the water. Watching sunsets is always such a relaxing and beautiful experience, and I am so glad I got to spend this time with friends. The sun illuminates the water and projects its orange hues over the river, allowing for its colors to shine through. My favorite part about the experience was getting to sit on the rocks while the sun quickly sets. I was also able to listen to the waves crashing on the small beach, and the noises of nature. I cannot wait to go back to Lion's Gate Bridge in Spring semester.

 After reading the trail blogs for assignment two and the final research paper, I learned a lot about the effect of being outside on the brain and on someone's overall mood. According to many outside sources, walking and being outside can help decrease ruminative thinking. From this finding, I have decided to spend more time outdoors to positively impact my own mental health. For the past few days, I have been walking around the neighborhood when possible, because I have realized how important it is to be outside, even during the winter. I am good at being outside and active during the summer, as I live at the beach, however, when the weather changes, it is a lot harder for me to go outside and I notice a significant decrease in my mental health. In my essay, I talk about hiking as a form of therapy, and how important it is to spend quality time outdoors to increase someone's mood. I enjoyed writing my paper on this because I feel as though it helped motivate me to spend more t...

          Today there was something that came up when reading the book, The English and Their History.  The author Robert Tombs states that the English are rather a mindset than a people, and this I found to be odd. I could have sworn to see those British isles and their inhabitants when I went on a trip last summer, but reading further finally made me realize the truth. Those same people who I looked upon like any other were in fact more a mindset than a people, they culturally almost looked the same as any other person but in reality were actually people of all different ethnicities, faiths  and spiritualities that all just seemed to call those islands home. It is with this that I gave myself some much needed introspection... what is nationalism and pride in ones country and culture if in reality we are not all the same? What is the reasoning between divides in not only our faiths, cultures, and race? And most importantly will we ever learn from it?

    For my Research paper I did a lot of digging into the world of cryptozoology and discovering the connections they have in sacred place. One book I came across while doing my research was a book about a collection of fantastic creatures called Fearsome Critters . This "guide book" details many of the strange creatures that come from lumber jack folklore. I've always been intrigued by the world of the unknown and find it fascinating to read of accounts and dossiers of people documenting absurd encounters. Though I never used this source in my research paper, I find it interesting how the lumberjack culture adopted many of these myth and legends and the connection they have with the land they are attributed to.     Many of the cryptids that are recorded in this book have become very popular due to the fame this book received during an age when attractions of the Barmen and Baily variety were popular. Some of the more recognizable ones, such as the Hidebehi...

      Today, I came across a poem online while surfing the Internet. It is titled "Let Go" by  Charissa K. Cheuk. It can be seen as a reflection on God and on the experience of letting go of love and pain. This relates to RTSD through the how we think about communication to God and how he communicates with us.  "Let go," He says. "Let go." But my heart is stubborn, so I do not let go. "What if it hurts?" I say. "I know it will hurt," He says. "What if I fall?" I say louder. "I know you will fall," He says. "But what if I can't get up? What if I can't go on? What if my heart breaks into a thousand pieces?" "It's all right; just let go." "No. I can't. I want to, but I can't." "Let go." "How? My heart will break. It is breaking already." "So it will break. Let go." "I can't. It hurts." "Don't you know, my child? If you...

  The tapping of the rain on the hood of my truck echoes throughout the cap, sounding like hundreds of impatient fingers drumming on a desk. The windows begin to fog up, frosting over my view into the fall-taken woods, yellow and orange leaves dancing back and forth, moving to the wind and rain. I take a deep breath and turn the engine off as the truck sputters a little, then falls silent. Reaching over, I grab my raincoat and slip it on, then take off my shoes and trade them for my black rain boots. Opening the door, I am greeted by a gust of rain that comes into the truck, placing tiny spatters of water all over the grey steering wheel and worn-out seats. I jump out of the cab quickly, pulling my hood over my head and shutting the door behind me. Standing in the rain, I can feel the tension begin to drain out of me, creating a puddle underneath my boots and being washed away with the rain, running down the steep hill I just drove up. I take a deep breath and place my hands in my ...

 Today, I was reading the daily readings for the Memorial of St. John of the Cross, a priest and doctor of the church. The first reading today was from Numbers. I don't often find myself reading from this book of the bible, however, every time that I have, I have gained something from the Passage. Today's reading was Numbers 24: 2-7, 15-17. The particular versus that stuck out to me were 6-7. They said, They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the LORD. His wells shall yield free-flowing waters, he shall have the sea within reach I found these verses particularly striking today. God commonly speaks to us through nature, but today Israel is being compared to nature. They are being compared to the cedars. The cedars are mighty because God planted them. I can't help but to think how rooting myself into God's plans will help to shape me into a Cedar. I can allow my plans to become great through God's will. I can be mighty.

“There is no guarantee that we will be correct in belief, or that we will let a pull towards correctness have its way. Likewise, there is no guarantee that our dispositions will be correctly aligned or that we will let the pull towards love have its way (pg.56).”  Religion has the power to guide everything about someone’s life. It has the power to mold definitions of “good” and “bad”, “right” and “wrong”, and even “worthy” and “invalid”. Religion is a guiding force that alters the course of someone’s life and changes the way they conceptualize the world around them. But what if the voice they hear guiding their actions isn’t God? How are we to discern God’s voice from our own socialized perceptions and beliefs about what God wants? How are we able to remove ourselves from the beliefs that are indoctrinated and instilled in us from a young age and truly know God? Is God the same for everyone, or is God simply an accumulation of interpreted beliefs and hierarchies?  Religion has...

      I found an interesting notion while reading through the book, today... that the Puritans and their New England Villages, are in some ways an expression of their relationship to God. Now, I was skeptical at first, due to thinking "How can one be closer to God, through the placement of a few wooden shacks and hovels?" Though after closer reading, however, the truth of the matter became clear and focused. The truth is that the layout of the camp is one of the best ways to see the Puritan's devotion to God. While many think that proximity to God is only granted to those through extensive prayer, the Puritans showed that architectural layout could also be a symbol of proximity to God.      The chapter "Centripetal Focus of the New England Village," talks about how the Puritans constructed the layout of the villages through the Pentateuch text. This was seen in their eyes as the ultimate expression of the covenant love that was inherited in both their peopl...

 The first time I was introduced to the Appalachian Trail was in High School. I was on the distance running team all for years  and my world very much so revolved around my next run. One night my best friend and I were doing homework, and she decided that she wanted to watch a documentary on one of the ultra running attempts on the Appalachian Trail. While she was unsuccessful in setting the record, her attempts were so remarkable that they left an impression on me.  Now in college, I don't run like I used to, but trail running is still one of my favorite things. As is running in the rain. The hardest part about it is convincing yourself to go outside to do it. I have found that with a lot of things. We live in a very comfy world, and it is hard for us to face what is uncomfortable, but those are the things that are the most rewarding. While I may not be on the Appalachian Trail, I find that No rain, No pain, No Maine is a solid motto to live by, and who knows, I may find...

 I spend a lot of time watching movies and TV shows. There is something so fulfilling and healing about putting your attention and focus into watching life play out in front of you with no consequences or reactions-the entirety of the plot is predetermined and nothing you do will alter the events or character’s actions in any way. Even the most absurd actions, the most pointless reactions, and the tiniest of emotions can not be affected.  The movie itself is a locked time capsule, unchanging and permanently memorialized over and over and over again. At what point are our lives like this- predetermined to live out a certain way regardless of the ways in which we can change it?  There are certain elements that are undeniable about life. The first, is joy. No matter what events happen in our life, I truly do believe that each individual is predetermined to experience joy and the sheer light that comes with living. It can be fleeting moments of rapturous joy, but we are all d...

 Throughout the duration of this class, I have been reading Wild by Sheryl Strayed for another class. Wild is about Strayed's through hike on the Pacific Crest Trail and her journey to move on and process the death of her mother. While the narrative itself is really engaging, I have noticed some common themes that we have discussed in the class on her through hike. The first of which is 'communitas'. Strayed, while hiking primarily by herself, finds people on the trail who would look out for her, even people she has never met. At one point in the book she discusses how she hikes up on a person, but she recognizes him from the trail log. They greet each other like they have known each other their whole lives. The other theme I noticed was her reason for hiking the PCT. When we watched the documentary on the Camino de Santiago, It was shown how common it was for people to ask why you were hiking the Camino. Most people had a reason that typically had to do with them processin...