08/06/2026
P I L G R I M A G E
🥾 Not a mountain in sight! I’ve had a different weekend of walking on the banks of the River Thames joining the last two days of the Memorial Pilgrimage. The team of pilgrims began at the source of the Thames and had been walking for ten days when I met them.
🥇It’s the first time I’ve intentionally walked as a pilgrim and it’s a great conversation starter!
❓Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? Why go on a pilgrimage? What actually is a pilgrim?
🐾 I met lots of interesting folk along the way during my two days of journeying along the Thames. Plus lots of great dogs as well! It’s been a different and special way to walk over the last couple of days and great to have the opportunity to connect with my Zen family in person.
🎉 Following the flow with them and the river we arrived at the for a special celebration to commemorate the life and teaching of Shinzan Roshi.
🖋️ Scroll to the final picture to see one of the calligraphies penned by Shinzan that caught my eye. They’re all part of an exhibition of his work there this week.
💙 I’m not sad to leave the frantic pace of the city but the steady stream of the river and our shared experience of walking together as pilgrims will stay with me once I’m back home. And although it’s seems like an overused cliche, this weekend was all about the journey, absolutely literally! 👣
⛰️ Want to walk with us? We have a three day Zen Mountain Walking Retreat in the Cairngorms in September - full details and booking at www.zenways.org