The natural environment constitutes a vital yet often underappreciated aspect in the academic study of pilgrimage. In recent years, individuals and communities have increasingly engaged in pilgrimages that deviate from traditional religious models and transcend touristic experiences, while still holding significant spiritual meaning. A prominent feature of many of these contemporary journeys is their deep connection to nature, whether at well-known sacred sites or in more marginally lesser-known locations disconnected from mainstream circles. Scholars have primarily analyzed this phenomenon through frameworks centered on rituals, embodiment, mobility, sacredness, and transformative processes, but little attention has been given to the natural environments in which these journeys occur. Pilgrimage Studies have mainly concentrated on the human dimension, overlooking the more-than-human world that underpins and gives substance to the phenomenon. This gap is particularly evident in contemporary pilgrimage practices, where individuals steadily turn to nature for personal spirituality, religious expression, and transformative experiences. Both traditional and non-traditional forms of pilgrimage, including tourism and nature-based spiritual practices, demonstrate the significant role that nature plays in the pilgrim’s journey, even though this aspect remains underexplored in academic literature. As more individuals in the United States and worldwide continue to seek solace, healing, meaning, and purpose in nature, it is important to examine an emerging trend in which people and groups pursue spirituality outside of institutional religious structures. Contemporary Pagan Studies, which focus on the sanctity of nature and its significance in spiritual experiences, offer valuable insights on how nature-based practices can reframe pilgrimage and emphasize the interconnectedness between humans and more-than-human persons.
In New Age and modern Pagan movements, as well as among certain segments of the “spiritual but not religious” demographic, nature is viewed as sacred. It is not merely a backdrop to spiritual practices but an active source of spiritual wisdom, energy, and personal transformation, thereby challenging conventional understandings of pilgrimage. This development warrants a reexamination of pilgrimage practices to include the natural environment’s influence on individuals’ spiritual experiences, especially within the context of reciprocity between human and more-than-human beings. It also raises important questions, 1) How does the natural environment facilitate the transformative experiences of pilgrims in emerging alternative spiritual communities? 2) In what ways do modern Pagan ontologies expand traditional concepts of pilgrimage, particularly concerning the sacredness of nature and the human and more-than-human relationship? 3) How do some modern Pagan rituals and practices, when considered as pilgrimage, re-enchant the relational dynamics between humans, nature, and the sacred. Furthermore, how can pilgrimage enrich the broader discourse on contemporary Paganism?
This paper addresses these questions and the evolving understanding of pilgrimage within eco-spiritual movements as well as more-than-human ethnography. It explores how the land and natural elements are actively engaged in shaping the pilgrim’s journey, offering new insights into Pilgrimage Studies. To investigate these contemporary forms of pilgrimage, the paper employs an interdisciplinary approach that integrates Anthropology, Religious Studies, and environmental perspectives. These disciplines allow for an analysis of how more-than-human beings play a central role in contemporary pilgrimage practices.
The paper draws on Graham Harvey’s concept of neo-animism from Animism: Respecting the Living World and Susan Greenwood’s notion of “magical consciousness” from The Nature of Magic: An Anthropology of Consciousness to analyze the relationality, consciousness, participatory aspects, and sacredness concerning nature and all its living subjects. These theoretical frameworks are essential for understanding how modern Pagan practices and eco-spiritual movements challenge traditional definitions of the sacred. By emphasizing the active participation of the natural environment and the more-than-human world in the pilgrim’s journey, this paper argues that contemporary spiritual practices expand the boundaries of pilgrimage beyond conventional religious paradigms.
To support this argument, the paper incorporates a collection of anecdotes from blog posts that resonate with Harvey’s theory of neo-animism and Greenwood’s concept of magical consciousness. These narratives provide a nuanced interpretation of sacred journeys, such as walking labyrinths, attending festivals, visiting nature sanctuaries, and engaging in rituals within marginalized sacred geographies. They highlight the active involvement of more-than-human participants, including fairies and nature spirits, rather than adhering to traditional pilgrimage archetypes. In doing so, the paper proposes a framework for rethinking the role of nature in modern Pagan and new eco-spiritual pilgrimages. This shift not only expands the conceptual boundaries of pilgrimage in a secularizing world but also redefines how the sacred is experienced in contemporary spiritual practices. By positioning the natural world as a key participant in the pilgrimage process, these practices challenge institutional religious frameworks and offer a broader, more inclusive approach to Pilgrimage Studies.
Through this research, the paper aims to illustrate the significance of nature-based spiritual practices, particularly those found in modern Paganism and among the “spiritual but not religious” population. By incorporating the more-than-human world into the pilgrimage experience, this study enriches Religious Studies scholars’ understanding of sacredness, persons, and spiritual practices that transcend religious affiliation. Moreover, the reciprocal relationship between humans and the natural world, when examined through the lens of pilgrimage, carries the potential for fostering deeper ecological awareness. Ultimately, this research contributes to ongoing discussions on sustainability, interconnectedness, and the sacredness of nature, thereby offering new perspectives on both Pilgrimage Studies and environmental consciousness.
This paper explores the intersection of nature and spirituality in contemporary pilgrimage practices, particularly within modern Pagan and eco-spiritual movements. While traditional Pilgrimage Studies have largely focused on human rituals, this research highlights the often-looked involvement of the more-than-human world and its role in shaping spiritual experiences. By examining alternative spiritual practices, including modern Paganism and nature-based rituals, the paper investigates how nature is actively engaged and a sacred participant in the pilgrim’s journey. Drawing on frameworks such as Graham Harvey’s neo-animism and Susan Greenwood’s magical consciousness, the study emphasizes the transformative and participatory dimensions of these journeys. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the paper offers new perspectives on Pilgrimage Studies, Neo-Paganism, and eco-spirituality, challenging traditional religious frameworks and contributing to a heightened ecological consciousness.