Physical Pilgrimages
“Physical pilgrimages” are pilgrimages that include travel. This page describes three options for physical pilgrimages: moving around a home or garden, moving around a neighbourhood, or travelling further afield. Additionally, premises other than a home can be used, such as a church as described on this page.
Shimmering pilgrimage
The most recent physical pilgrimage was a “Shimmering Pilgrimage” that took place between Saturday 6th and Saturday 20th December 2025.
With the Bible as our foundation, there are numerous ways in which God can use Creation to speak to us. For example, Jesus urged his listeners to "consider the lilies of the field, how they grow" (Matthew 6.28-30), inviting them to consider what they could learn.
I came across the idea of "shimmering" in a book entitled "The Soul's Slow Ripening" by Christine Valters Paintner, in a section entitled Contemplative Photography or Visio divina ('sacred seeing’).
Shimmering is described as follows:
A way of seeing the world with the eyes of the heart, which is the place of receptivity and openness, rather than with the mind, which is often the place of grasping and planning.
Here are suggestions that were made for the pilgrimage:
At some time, or times, during the period, make a prayerful, contemplative journey.
As you travel, be very open to how God may choose to speak to you through His creation.
Take a camera with you, or any other form of making a visual record such as a sketchbook.
As you journey, try and cultivate a state of not staring too hard. Instead, simply become aware of what is happening around you.
During the pilgrimage, participants were encouraged to reflect on any Scripture, thoughts or experiences that were on their hearts. Depending on their circumstances, participants could instead make a virtual pilgrimage (more details here), reflecting on images from the Internet, a mobile device, a book or perhaps a photo album.
The aim was to pay attention to things that ‘shimmered’, things noticed on the journey that shone and glistened in a tremulous light. They may have gently reflected light and seemed to move slightly.
Particpants were encouraged to be open to what they sensed as ‘shimmering’.
It might be a natural object like a flower, as noted earlier.
Or perhaps a tree with its roots and branches:
Continue to live your lives in Christ Jesus, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2.6-7)
It might be an advertisement; this one reminded me of this verse:
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins. (Mark 2.22)
I saw this sign whilst leaving a platform in Waterloo railway station, whilst on my mobility scooter!
I found it ironic as I reflected on the following:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction. (Matthew 7.13)!
A shimmering light may bring to mind something new or important.
As participants undertook their journeys, they were invited to share images and thoughts on the Pilgrimage of the Word WhatsApp group. However, there was no compulsion to share anything, people only shared if they wished to.
And with regards to shimmering, the pilgrimage took place in the Season of Advent and Christmas so there were plenty of lights and glittering things!
If you would like more information, or if you would like to join the Pilgrimage of the Word WhatsApp Group, please do contact Dave on
Dave
David Smith