Name: Pilgrimage Audiobook
Brand: The Creative Penn
SKU: PIL_Audio
Price: 10.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

£10.00

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Do you enjoy travel memoirs with a combination of personal reflection and practical tips? Are you interested in solo walking, or are you considering walking the Camino de Santiago or other multi-day walks?

Are you a seeker? Or did you enjoy the movie, The Way?

If yes, Pilgrimage is for you.

Audiobook, delivered by Bookfunnel, listen on any device.

JFPenn · Why Pilgrimage? Written and narrated by J.F. Penn

In mid-2020, I was not okay — and I didn't know how to find my way out of that darkness.

But I could put one foot in front of the other until I figured it out.

So, after tackling my fears of what might happen, I walked the Pilgrims’ Way from Southwark Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England.

The following year, in October 2021, as I recovered from COVID-19, I walked the St Cuthbert’s Way from Melrose in Scotland to Lindisfarne, Holy Island, on the north-east coast of England.

In September 2022, I walked the Camino de Santiago along the coastal route from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. A life goal I have had for over twenty years.

Together, these three solo pilgrimages helped me through a dark time and changed how I see the way ahead, and I want to share these lessons with you.

In this book, I share my lessons learned and insights from walking these ancient ways, as well as historical, religious and cultural aspects, and plenty of tips. There are also questions for you to consider around your own journey.

Part 1 goes into practical and spiritual preparation before pilgrimage, including how to make decisions about the route and whether to walk solo, as well as what to take with you, and how to face the fears that might hold you back.

Part 2 covers the journey itself with the practicalities of the pilgrim’s day, as well as how walking the path of history and facing the challenge of the way can give you much-needed perspective on life — and perhaps even a glimpse of the divine.

Part 3 addresses the arrival at your destination, and how to leave room for the gifts of pilgrimage to emerge after your return home, as well as how my three walks impacted my experience of mid-life.

At the end, you’ll find appendices with practical tips for each of the three ways, as well as a gear list and bibliography for further reading.

Whether you feel a call to pilgrimage or a need for change in your life, Pilgrimage might be the perfect guide to help you embark on a journey of self-discovery, and discover the transformative power of walking solo.

Audiobook, delivered by Bookfunnel, listen on any device.

Buy on other stores.

Print books shipped from my independent printer in the UK. Paperbacks and some hardbacks are also shipped from the US, Canada and Australia. Shipping times may vary.

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Reviews

★★★★★
This book on pilgrimage reads quickly, like a guided meditation almost. It’s full of small exercises to trigger reflection, and personal stories to ground the experience in reality. It’s a great companion to an actual pilgrimage, I think, as well as a primer for the uninitiated. Really enjoyed the read.
Timothy Mathis
5 star Amazon review

★★★★★
If you're interested in the idea of pilgrimage, this is the book for you. Penn mixes her own interests and experiences with useful advice for anyone considering a pilgrimage, religious or otherwise. Well-written and intriguing.
Neil S. Plakcy, author of mystery and MM romance novels
5 star Amazon review

★★★★★
I love listening to JF/Joanna Penn's podcast, which is how I heard of this book. I really enjoyed reading it, even though I haven't walked any pilgrim routes yet and am not imminently planning to! But it certainly renewed the idea for me. There's something about the idea of this solitary pursuit, the meditative quality of it, that is really intriguing, and I think that's exactly what the author tapped into here. I appreciated the mix of practical and personal elements, and opened up an interesting perspective on what is, after all, one of the most ancient human practices across religions.

CJ Ailey
5 star Amazon review

★★★★★
A beautiful and inspiring account of the author's experience undertaking three different pilgrimages. There are a ton of practical tips and great advice for anyone wanting to do this. But the book also satisfies on a deeper level. She shares honestly about her struggles with spirituality, mid-life, and depression. I felt like I was walking these journeys with her, and I wanted to shout for joy when she finished!
Christy E.
5 star Goodreads review

★★★★★
What an excellent book! I'm an avid walker, and I really enjoyed Joanna's perspective on her experiences. I learned a lot about pilgrimage as opposed to just walking a random trail or route, and I'm inspired to try pilgrimage myself. It's not just for religious people! I highly recommend this book.
Holly
5 star Goodreads review

This book may have changed my life

I came across this book via Kickstarter having never once given thought to the idea of a "Pilgrimage." As I read through the details, I was overcome by this new desire: "I want to go to The Place." More than a want, this is something I need to do. I'm now in the early stages of planning my first Pilgrimage.

Not only did this book introduce me to the idea of pilgrimage, it's packed full of practical guidance, and deep introspective thoughts and questions. After having read it, I feel like I've had a crash course in what to expect, how to prepare, even down to what kind of gear to bring.

There are many touching points in the book, too, where the author relays her personal story, struggles, difficulties and triumphs, all that occurred before, during, and after her three pilgrimages. It's these personal touches that make this a special book to read. Not only do I feel more logistically prepared for my first pilgrimage, but I'm much more emotionally and even spiritually prepared than I knew possible.

Cheers to J.F. Penn for sharing her journey and inspiring us to begin our own.

What a find!

I backed the Kickstarter on a whim because I had recently enjoyed an audio version of Rachel Joyce's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and so the word was in my mind—I hadn't realized that pilgrimage was a thing!

When I started listening to this one, it moved to the top of my listening list, and I didn't listen to anything else until I'd finished it. I felt like I was listening to a friend I never knew I had share touching details of her life and experiences as I accompanied her through the countryside and cityscapes.

And like with the best of friends, the conversation is interspersed with advice and details in case I ever want to do it myself.

If you have the urge to pick this one up, go for it!

Honest and interesting part memoir, part travel guide

I bought the audio book and enjoyed listening over a couple of days on daily walks. Joanna has a lovely speaking voice, narrating her own audio book and it was an immersive, often personal and thought provoking journey along with her.

Honest and Inspiring

I was so moved by this very personal account of three different pilgrimages as well as the spiritual and emotional journey TO the pilgrimages. As a middle aged woman myself, I also connected strongly with so many of the things the author shared about this season of life. A beautifully written and narrated travel memoir. Highly recommended!