There is nothing in the world that is more freeing and yet intimately vulnerable than the thrill of embarking on new adventures, which, coupled with the fear of the unknown, manifests into some sort of trepidation that fuels your passions and also holds you back somewhat.
Travel is a joy, but it’s also something that takes you away from what anchors you, exposing you to the world in different ways that you might not be wholly ready for, despite what you tell yourself.
It’s this reason that many people often have little rituals, habits, and actions they use to keep themselves safe and grounded. Some call them charms, others call them superstitions, and some think of them as habits solely. However you label them, they all have the same focus: to deliver little acts of protection that bring you comfort and familiarity.
Let’s take a little look at some of the rituals and habits people have in place when they travel that bring them exactly what they need at that moment.
The Pause Before Leaving
If you’ve ever stopped at any point in your travels before moving on, you’ll know this pause well. It’s that moment when you stop at the front door or before getting in your Uber to the airport. It’s that extra second you wait on the plane before disembarking, where you savour what’s yet to come and what life on the other side of the plane door offers you. It’s that moment of hesitation where you know everything is about to change, and you’re readying yourself in preparation for your journey, protecting your energy, getting in the right headspace. It’s the momentary pause where you simultaneously thank the gods for your life right now and pray to them or whoever you believe in to make sure the next journey not only meets but exceeds your expectations.
In Russia, this is a custom, and before leaving for a long journey, those leaving and the people seeing them off must sit for a moment in silence before they leave the house, while another superstition sees them sitting for a short while on their suitcase.
The Things You Carry With You
Some people travel with a lucky coin their nan gave them or a pebble their goddaughter she picked up in the park. Others wear those lucky socks that have never let them down when they’ve worn them for special occasions. And for the people who trust the energy these items give out, they’re more than just objects; they’re anchors. A small token they can take with them wherever they go to give them a familiar peace of mind and, of course, a bit of good luck.
And across cultures, these items will look different for different people. They are shields, or armour, to protect them from anything untoward that might be coming their way as they move across unfamiliar lands.
Some traditions keep charms to protect from bad spirits, in voodoo practices, amulets or gris-gris bags, which originated from West Africa, and some cultures associate gris-gris bags with negative connotations, while for others, like in Haiti, they are thought to be a good amulet, and many think these can ward off curses too. Although if you feel you have already been marked for misfortune, rituals of voodoo curse removal are often seen as a way to release that weight so you can move forward freely.
Small Unnoticed Rituals
Not every ritual is loud and obvious; sometimes, the most beneficial ones fly under the radar. Knocking on wood when you don’t want anything to go wrong,or holding your breath as the plane leaves the runway and you climb into the air, the crossed fingers when you desperately want something to go your way.
These are the small things people pick up that have been passed down from generations. They don’t need logic or years of tradition beyond them. That’s not why they’re used. They’re not actions taken in the form of religion or spiritual practice; they’re picked up from parents, grandparents, teachers, people you notice in the street doing it one time, and it sticks with you.
So whether you tap something three times to bring good luck wherever you go or perform the movement to draw a cross over your chest even though you’re not religious, they’re the little things that protect you from anything and everything and make it all right with the world.
When Rituals Meet Wellness
Sometimes it’s not what you carry with you, it’s the habits you have in place to protect your mind, body, and spirit. It’s in how you hold yourself, it’s in the way you move, the way you get people, and more importantly, how you engage with the world around you.
Travel can throw you into some unsettling spaces, some confusing rhythms, and a completely different way of life. A meditative hike after a stressful travel journey can be deeply restorative. That cold water swim as you recover from jet lag can be invigorating and restore your mental clarity. That yoga pose you hold for an additional few minutes while you clear your mind before bed is a way of making sense of what you’ve experienced that day and committing it to memory.
Wellness trends and travel go hand in hand. If you find the benefits of them at home, then it’s likely you’ll feel the benefits when travelling too, so you absolutely should take these with you wherever you go. And let’s be honest, the traveller dipping their toe into a mountain spring isn’t vastly different from the pilgrim cleansing themselves in holy water. After all, the end point is the same: to restore yourself and give yourself an energy reset.
Travel isn’t always predictable; it isn’t always easy either. Many things can go amiss, even stepping outside your front door. But having rituals that help you keep your peace and sanity can push you through times of stress, worry, and fear, and be an essential part of your luggage, even if it doesn’t need to go in your carry-on.
