GLOBETROTTERS WRITING PROMPT

Spiritual Places — The Finale

From churches, temples and mosques to mountains, rivers and the desert — our writers have found spirituality everywhere

I must begin this story with a huge thank you to all our writers and readers. You are all inspiring individuals creating this amazing society. You are supportive, creative and certainly passionate travelers.

A broad variety of topics, lifestyles, ways of travel and the most diverse destinations are being represented by you.

Stepping up our game by tightening the rules on which writers we accept and also providing more feedback and improvement suggestions on the submissions we receive has turned out, in our eyes, into an increase in the quality of articles published by us.

We thank you for understanding our suggestions and considering them. We do receive mostly positive feedback and see the results in an increase of boosted stories. Especially our challenge submissions have a very high level of quality and 10 of them were boosted this month.

As the year is coming to an end, I decided to write this introduction to the finale post more as a thank-you note than a summary of the submissions.

And while I mentioned our writers, I shouldn’t forget our readers as well. While of course, many of our writers participate actively as readers as well by engaging in other stories, we also do have a group of people in our community who are exclusively here to read.

We appreciate you just as much!

And before this gets too long, I wish you all the best for the new year, lots of strength for all the travels ahead and plenty of creativity to capture those experiences in words and pictures.

To an even better 2024!

And now back to the topic. Here you can see our choices of the monthly challenge on spiritual places.

Jillian Amatt

Well, here we go again. I sound like a broken record but trying to pick a favorite out of all of your submissions is just too daunting. Once again, we are ecstatic at the way you Globetrotters tackle these writing prompts. We have so much fun reading them all, and I for one, am always in awe of the incredible twists and turns that they take.

As many know, I am a staunch nature lover and find spirituality mostly when I am communing with nature. Because of this, I was thrilled to see so many articles that also leaned in this direction.

My favorite nature article was by Tara Torres. She visited the giant sequoia trees after a horrendous forest fire ripped through the area and threatened to take these behemoths out. Firefighters had to cover the base of General Sherman — the biggest Sequoia of them all — with fire blankets to protect it from burning. Thankfully their efforts paid off and Tara was able to visit it, then share it with us.

Years of drought in California made the land brittle, and the fire consumed all in its path with a voracious appetite. The fire didn’t care that the trees were thousands of years old and protected. It didn’t care that this is the only place in the world where they grow.

Nancy Oglesby already had me with her lead image. I can’t imagine a more spiritual pose:) I enjoyed the way she structured her article and explained to us just where it was that she found god. And it appears that we don’t always need to be in far-off locations around the globe to do so.

The chef and owner shared the history of Huitlacoche, also known as corn smut, and when we tried it we were hooked! In that tiny restaurant, with its kind and passionate owner, I found God there.

Matthew David shares his experience of being on a ten-day meditation course and experiencing 10 days of silence. I have heard of these experiences before from fellow travelers and am always intrigued by them. I can imagine the profound impact an experience like this would have on someone, and I hope that I get the courage to try it out myself someday. Matthew's story is certainly inspiring me to do so.

I start to think about how many of these dreadfully silent days remain, and how I will possibly maintain my sanity through all of them. The two hours here before dawn seem like an eternity, but by some miracle, the clock eventually strikes 6:30 and the bell rings for breakfast.

I must say, though, the one that surprised me the most was Monica Ray,’s article about the second-largest Hindu temple in the world. Of course, like most amazing temples, I assumed that it was located in some far-flung place of the world. However, this one is right here in North America! I am still amazed.

It’s the largest Hindu temple in the United States and is considered the 2nd largest Hindu temple in the entire world. It’s open to anyone from any faith or background. It’s more than a religious site; it’s a breathtaking marvel of human skill and endurance.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to give us your best! We are always thrilled with your enthusiasm for our prompts and know that they will just keep getting better and better!

Happy New Year! May 2024 bring you all good things:)

JoAnn Ryan

Thanks to everyone who offered a submission to this month’s challenge — enjoyed reading all the stories.

In particular, I loved this story by Erika Burkhalter: The Breath of the Glacier. Exploring Alaska is something many of us would like to do and both the photos and the writing are stellar.

And this story by Marianne O: Two Very Different Spiritual Places That Instill Awe and Connection with Nature. Writing about Arizona doesn’t automatically equate to a great story in my book but it sure doesn’t hurt. Not to say that this story wasn’t well written to boot.

Who didn’t thoroughly love reading Matthew David’s Ten Days of Silence or JonesPJ’s Padakshina — A Sunrise Walk Around Arunachala or Stephan Serfontein rather harrowing Escaping Danger: A Spiritual Encounter in West Virginia. All fab stories!

Ultimately though, I enjoyed this story by Erie Astin of an unlikely church located on a reservation in Montana… probably one of the last places you’d think you’d find just such a construction:

“It’s hard to equate the glorious art of the Mission Church with the culture whitewashing of the school. Spiritual places are complicated — vessels of the light, but also of the darkness.”

Yes, spiritual places can be quite complicated!

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this month’s challenge! See you all again, hopefully, in the New Year! 🎉

Adrienne Beaumont

I had no expectations for this month’s challenge and your stories have simply blown me away. There was not one that didn’t fascinate me in some way. Your photos as always were beautiful, but it was your words that touched me. So, my choices are based on the sincerity of your story.

Erika Burkhalter’s “The Breath of the Glacier”

Tara Torres’ “The Best And Worst Of Humans Is Found At The Giant Sequoias”

Carol Labuzzetta, MS Natural Resources, MS Nursing’s “Found During Travel: Places Of Spirituality In California And Austria”

Dan Carlson’s “Exploring a Norse Ruin in Greenland”

Caterina’s “An Unexpected Encounter With a Goddess”

Michele Maize

While I am not religious, I am not opposed to reading about religion. But, I would much rather read about spirituality, which is what many of the stories consisted of this month. I was pleased to read that many writers found their spirituality out in nature. Here are my two favorites.

Some stories could also infuriate and I felt that when I read this line in the story from Carol Labuzzetta, MS Natural Resources, MS Nursing:

“I did not need to “belong” to a church to worship. This was the conclusion I came to when the pastor of a Lutheran Church in Wisconsin refused to baptize my youngest son unless I became a member of “his” church.”

While infuriating, the result was positive. It led her to dive into other ways of being spiritual, through nature, which is where I find my solace, too. Great story, Carol!

I have been wanting to visit the sequoias and Tara Torres’s story solidified it for me. I need to plan my trip now thanks to Tara’s story!

This quote stuck out to me: Someone once asked where I want my ashes scattered after I die. Among the sequoias, I said without thought. They will look out for me, and I will watch out for them as they hopefully continue to grow for another thousand years after I’m gone.

These amazing trees have withstood tough fires and seeing them in person was a very spiritual experience for Tara. I know I would feel the same.

Anne Bonfert

Honestly, I had high expectations for this month’s challenge and yet you have surpassed them. The topic was represented in so many ways and angles, that I could not have imagined it. I loved every story. But here is my selection of outstanding pieces.

Spirituality in activity

While we have places of worship all around the world, most cultures construct certain buildings for those praying moments. And others find it in activity.

In walking the Camino.

In hiking to a certain base camp or peak.

Or in having lunch at the top of the mountains.

“We made the most of our good fortune and sat and enjoyed our lunch atop the pass. It was the best lunch I’ve ever had and for me, in those moments, I had found my place of worship.” — Warren Thurlow

Spirituality in silence

In some cultures, meditation retreats are more common than in others. And some of us who did not grow up with them, now long toward such an experience.

A silence retreat.

I’m sure you’ve heard about it but are not quite sure what it will be like to take part in one. I invite you to sit with Matthew as he endures his long retreat.

“The mind is like the ocean. As one delves below the surface level of the mind, one observes currents and secrets there, and a stillness that is not accessible at the surface.” — Matthew David

The lack of spirituality

While everyone tried to outdo oneself with a deeper or more spiritual place or experience, the next writer was a lot more grounded. And very honest.

He said in fact, he did not experience any deep spirituality while visiting Muslim, Hindu or Christian places of worship. I found this a very brave and authentic submission.

Gerad does not say he has never experienced deep spirituality, just not in one of these assigned, religious sites.

“What I began to find holy and profound when visiting religious sites is the fact that people have gathered together in these different places for countless years, united in their search for meaning, truth or transcendence.” — Gerad Carrier

Spirituality in nature and words

It was like I was floating in another world reading her poetic descriptions of the ice floating on the arctic waters. I could hear the dripping and dropping and was mesmerized by the various structures she captured of the ice.

Yes, I am talking about Erika. She had been absent most of the year due to issues with her eyesight and she didn't just come back slowly. She burst with creativity and prose she packed all into one powerful article.

Her story describes mostly how she found spirituality in nature but the essay itself is a masterpiece of spiritual writing.

"The glacier pulls at you. It breathes. It seems alive somehow. It creaks and groans and occasionally pops off like a rifle, slicing the stillness of the air." — Erika Burkhalter

Once again, we thank each and every writer who has contributed to this writing prompt. The stories were all interesting and inspiring. I loved hearing all those stories about different kinds of spiritual adventures.

If you missed the deadline and still want to share a travel story presenting spirituality, you can do so. The article will not be part of the challenge. We are always open to travel posts.

I also encourage you to stay tuned for our next writing prompt for the month of January. We will announce it here on Globetrotters on the 1st.

The team of editors also has contributed to the challenge with the following articles. These posts never join the contest.

JoAnn Ryan with “Getting Spiritual Can Happen Anytime, Anyplace in the World”

Jillian Amatt — Artistic Voyages with “We Snuck Through the Garden to Visit an Old Mosque During Lockdown” and “Listening To Mother Nature Through the Trees of Life” (BOOSTED)

Michele Maize with “The Healing Power of the Sedona Vortex”

Adrienne Beaumont with “The Journey Within: Navigating the Intersection of Travel and Spirituality”

Anne Bonfert with “The Spirit of Africa” (BOOSTED)

And now, please give credit to all participating writers and read these awesome submissions if you haven’t checked them out yet:

DJ Hopkins with “Kata Tjuta — Nature’s Rockstars of a Land Down Under”

Oksana Kukurudza's Sunflowers Rarely Break with “Mystical Walks” (BOOSTED)

Warren Thurlow with “The Road Less Travelled — Spiritual Journeys In The Wild”

Serhii Onkov with “Magic and Holiness of the Summer Evening”

Mario López-Goicoechea with “London: a Deep Well of Spirituality”

Matthew David with “Ten Days of Silence” (BOOSTED)

Tim Ward, Mature Flâneur with “The Amitabha Autumn Night Light Show in Kyoto” (BOOSTED)

Erie Astin with “An Old Italianate Church on a Montana Indian Reservation”

Brad Yonaka with “A Puja in Sikkim” (BOOSTED)

Carol Labuzzetta, MS Natural Resources, MS Nursing with “Found During Travel: Places Of Spirituality In California And Austria”

Scott-Ryan Abt with “A Spiritual Place, a Place of the Spirits”

Rhonda Carrier with “The Way of Tea: Life in Japan” and “Spiritual Traditions in Old Jerusalem”

Joe Guay - Dispatches From the Guay Life! with “Our Spiritual Secret Weapon? The Cemetery.”

Bell with “A Literal and Figurative Journey to Spirituality”

Stephan Serfontein with “Escaping Danger: A Spiritual Encounter in West Virginia” (BOOSTED)

JonesPJ with “Pradakshina — A Sunrise Walk Around Arunachala” (BOOSTED)

Nick Howard with “Finding a Crossroads of Faiths In Cordoba”

Brina Patel with “The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India: A Profoundly Spiritual Experience”

Monica Ray, M.Ed, MS with “Visiting the 2nd Largest Hindu Temple in the World”

Ronald Smit with “The Nature and Nurturing of Spirituality”

Gerad Carrier with “What is Holy?”

Bebe Nicholson with “The Spiritual Power of Cemeteries”

Nancy Oglesby with “Unexpected Encounters with God”

Dan Carlson with “Exploring a Norse Ruin in Greenland”

Caterina with “An Unexpected Encounter With a Goddess”

Sondra Singer - Still Vital with “Finding Spirit in Bats, Rocks, Sand, And Hot Springs”

Tara Torres with “The Best And Worst Of Humans Is Found At The Giant Sequoias”

Marianne O with “Two Very Different Spiritual Places That Instill Awe and Connection with Nature”

Mario López-Goicoechea with “Yuletide-driven Spiritual Moments”

Erika Burkhalter with “The Breath of the Glacier” (BOOSTED) and “Under the Bodhi Tree”

Anna Jim Lequenne with “Hong Kong: Sacred Peaks of the New Territories” (BOOSTED)

Your Globetrotters editing team (JoAnn, Adrienne, Jillian, Michele & Anne) is wishing you all the best for 2024.