Pilgrimage: New Mexico
Sacred Center, Sacred Quest
Fri., October 13 - Tues., October 17, 2017
The Program
Pilgrimage: New Mexico involved a 6-week small group study that included a pilgrimage to Chaco Canyon, New Mexico during Fall Break. The course and pilgrimage helped students explore perennial wisdom questions and create or deepen their own spiritual practices through the lens of the sacred architecture and archaeoastronomy of the Chacoan culture. Our quest took us through a region whose architectural constructions blend the aesthetic, the scientific, the pragmatic, and the mystical in the planning of space. We explored why this ancient civilization constructed their buildings in perfect alignment with solstices and equinoxes, and the implications such intentionality may have for modern spiritual seekers. We journeyed to the ancient pilgrimage site of the Pueblo people to explore perennial wisdom questions in the light of the sacred architecture and mysteries of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.
- "Who am I?"
- "Where do I come from?"
- "Why am I here?"
- "How shall I live?"
In our small group study and during our time in this stark and challenging place, we learned from this ancient civilization ways to search for the "sacred center," looked to the stars to better discern our role on Earth (at the observatory and as we camp underneath the stars in this International Dark Sky Park), and explored ways to build our lives in harmony with the Heavens and Earth. Our quest was guided by readings from the philosophia perennis (Wisdom Tradition), including Native American spiritual teachings and practices, as well as other meditation and mindfulness practices.
The Leaders
The pilgrimage was co-led by Michael Sciretti Jr., Program Specialist for Spiritual Formation, and Craig Kocher, University Chaplain.