Reflections on the first Sacred Awakening Pilgrimage, October 10–21, 2026
What if creating a nonviolent world requires us to confront not only the violence around us, but also the violence we carry within?
This October, participants from different parts of the world came together in Palestine for the first Sacred Awakening Pilgrimage, a twelve-day journey exploring the teachings of Jesus as a path of personal and collective transformation.
This was not a traditional religious pilgrimage or a political fact-finding tour. Drawing on the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, we explored how fear, identity, judgment, and the desire for control shape our lives, and how we can begin to embody a different consciousness rooted in love, dignity, justice, and nonviolence.
Our journey took us from the wilderness, where silence, fasting, and personal reflection invited us to confront our fears and attachments, to Galilee, where we explored the Beatitudes as a living practice. What does meekness mean in a world that celebrates domination? How do we see others without judgment? How do we respond with mercy when challenged or hurt?
Toward the end of the pilgrimage, participants entered Palestinian communities in small groups, including the Southern Hebron Hills, where they joined the olive harvest and encountered Israeli soldiers and settlers. These experiences brought our inner work into direct relationship with the realities of occupation and resistance.
The invitation was not to arrive as observers or rescuers, but to practice presence, deep listening, compassion, and solidarity while confronting injustice.
In Jerusalem, we explored the relationship between religion, empire, and political power, asking how the liberating teachings of Jesus have sometimes been transformed into institutions of control.
Throughout the journey, one understanding remained central:
Nonviolence is not only what we do when confronting injustice. It is also the consciousness from which we act.
We cannot build a world free from domination while reproducing domination in our relationships, movements, and communities. Inner transformation and collective liberation must become part of the same struggle.
Reflecting on the pilgrimage, participant Alan Levin described it as a profound experience for those seeking to understand the relationship between spiritual awakening and action for social justice.
The pilgrimage was deeply meaningful, reminding us that the work of nonviolence is not simply about changing systems, but also about transforming how we live, relate, and engage with the world.
Join the Next Sacred Awakening Pilgrimage
Following the success of our first pilgrimage, we are exploring opportunities to welcome another group to Palestine.
If you are interested in experiencing this journey of inner transformation, nonviolence, and courageous engagement with the world, we would love to hear from you. You can visit https://www.holyland360.tours/sacred-awakening-retreat to express your interest in joining the next journey.
The pilgrimage is inspired by Sami Awad's book, The Sacred Awakening: Reclaiming Christ Consciousness, and is open to people of all faith traditions or none.
