Virtual Pilgrimages
Virtual pilgrimages are pilgrimages with no physical travel, using the Pilgrimage of the Word WhatsApp group. This page describes the current virtual pilgrimage.
Look at this page for more information about virtual pilgrimage, or send a WhatsApp message to Dave Smith or an email to davidborrowdale54@hotmail.com
Shimmering virtual pilgrimage
This is an invitation to come on a “Shimmering Pilgrimage”.
This will take place at any time convenient for you between
Saturday 6th December 2025, 9 am UK time, until
Saturday 20th December 4 pm UK time
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 for the pilgrimage.
At some time, or times, during the period, make a prayerful, contemplative journey. Depending on your circumstances, this could be a virtual pilgrimage (more details here) or a physical one (more details here).
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 your pilgrimage, reflect on any Scripture, thoughts or experiences they are on your heart.
Pay attention to things that ‘shimmer’, things that you notice on your Journey that shine and glisten in a tremulous light. They may gently reflect the light and seem to move slightly.
Be open to what you sense 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 you journey, you are invited to share your images and thoughts on the Pilgrimage of the Word WhatsApp group. However, it must be stressed there is no compulsion to share anything. Please only share if you would like to.
However, if it is appropriate, we would love to hear about your journey. Afterwards, this could be incorporated, suitably anonymised, into a gallery on the Pilgrimage of the Word website.
And with regards to shimmering, don't forget it will be the Season of Advent and Christmas!
I hope you can join us on this pilgrimage.
If you would like more information, or if you would like to join the Pilgrimage of the Word WhatsApp Group, please do contact me on
Dave
David Smith
Previous Virtual Pilgrimaages
Windows of the Soul consisted of five virtual pilgrimages published in August and September 2025. A new page was added to this website each week and participants shared their thoughts on the Pilgrimage of the Word WhatsApp group.
This page introduces the pilgrimages and contains links to each individual pilgrimage page.
Faithbook was a pilgrimage through a book, a form of virtual pilgrimage in which participants did not make a physical journey
It ran in June and July 2025 on the Pilgrimage of the Word WhatsApp group; click here to read about the pilgrimage.
Each Sunday in Advent 2024, a new journey was published on the Pilgrimage of the Word WhatsApp group and here on the website. Visit this page for links to each of the four journeys.
A virtual pilgrimage along the Pilgrims Way took place on 7th and 8th September 2024. It’s described on this page.
A virtual pilgrimage to Bardsey Island in North Wales took place in May 2024. It can be found on this page.
If you would like more information about these journeys, or anything else, please email me at davidborrowdale54@hotmail.com
I look forward to hearing from you!
Dave