“When such a load can no longer be borne, it is time to take
the road as a pilgrim?
Thus far in Image and Pilgrimage Turner has been discussing
the beginnings of the pilgrim lifestyle. On our last day of class we discussed
the difference between being a Tourist and a Pilgrim. A tourist takes a journey
for pleasure, recreation, and leisure, or for aesthetics. A pilgrim is just the
opposite. A symbolic load burdens the back of a person and they finally decide
to leave all that they know and become a pilgrim. On this journey they discover
themselves and the load is lightened.
The tourist journeys to please himself, to buy things,
strictly shallow reasons. But the pilgrim is searching for something that is beyond
our ability to control. I think the pilgrim recognizes that the load cannot be
bore without the help of another so they journey to find help from the holy.
In relation to my own life I think most times I am a
tourist. I walk around checking out the sites, and focusing on the aesthetics
instead of the inner most parts. I wonder. I tour for pleasure but after this
class I desire to become a pilgrim in the world. Encountering the depths of my
being and becoming one with the holy.
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