Before flying to my Santa Fe, N.M., resort, I received a list of at least 20 activities available during my stay. Yoga Nidra. Zen Qi Flow. Sound Healing Journey. Meditation in Motion. Temazcal Sweat Lodge. Petroglyph Art Hike. Awakening the Elements Within. Chicken Chats.
I circled the boxes for hiking, chi gong, visual arts _ and put a question mark next to chicken chats. I was laying the groundwork for my first foray into spiritual tourism, to explore what is one of the fast-growing segments of the travel industry _ and maybe return more rested and centered.
Spiritual tourism encompasses not just traditional pilgrimages, but also trips designed to restore gratitude and calm, to explore inner life _ to touch the soul.
Searching for answers to life's big questions, travelers increasingly are setting forth on journeys within. These seekers are a 21st century version of the religious pilgrims of old, but instead of heading to Jerusalem or Mecca, they are flying to specialty retreat and wellness centers, monasteries, natural wonders and beyond.
Countries across the globe are eyeing spiritual and religious tourism with intense interest. The United Nations World Tourism Organization held its first conference on "spiritual tourism for sustainable development" in 2013. It estimates that 330 million people visit religious sites each year, and spiritual tourists are among the ranks.
"We can see this burgeoning growth (in spiritual tourism)," said Daniel Olsen, a professor of geography at Brigham Young University who researches religious tourism. "People have always traveled for spiritual reasons but it's been tied to religion. Today people are seeking purpose in life, but not always within that religious structure."
That analysis resonated with what I learned from seekers I met during my New Mexico stay.
"I've always taken care of other people, now I need to find out about myself," explained a woman I met at my resort, Sunrise Springs Spa Resort. "What's my next step in life? Where do I go from here?"
As a religion reporter, I was curious about this trend. But where to go? I'm wary of New Age wu wu such as crystal or aura readings. I'm incapable of countless hours of meditation or yoga. And I needed to stay in the United States for budget reasons. (Although "Monk for a Month" in Thailand was tempting.) So I scouted online for "best spiritual retreats" and boom. Options galore.
The Sunrise Springs Spa caught my eye. The tranquil 70-acre resort outside Santa Fe is described online as a "sacred, nurturing destination spa where you define the experience you want."
I arrived on a heavenly November day of clear blue skies and cottonwood trees ablaze in autumn gold. After checking me in, a Sunrise worker explained the lay of the land. In front of us was a landscaped "medicine wheel" _ circular walking paths laid out in the design of this Native American sacred symbol. To the left was a large "ceremonial circle" and a sweat lodge. Ahead were a dozen small buildings holding a cooking studio, meditation and yoga rooms, horticulture classes, two restaurants, a full-service spa and four "repose pools" fed by natural hot springs. Guest rooms were in earth-tone buildings that blended into the landscape. Guests were a mix of regular vacationers and spiritual explorers.
I decided to get a close spiritual encounter with those repose pools as soon as possible. But first, I needed to explore. With a resort map in hand, I peeked in the "Sages" library and found a woman quietly reading a book about fairies. I checked out a secluded patio, where a woman sat alone, writing in a journal. I discovered lovely hiking trails. And then I spotted a sign, "Cat Corral."
I approached the trailer next to it. A woman inside opened the door and asked "Did you want to come in?" Inside were a frisky group of kittens. Their keeper explained that the resort offers kitten play, puppy play and chicken "interactions" to its guests.
I asked how that meshed with exploring spirituality. She looked up and said, "Anytime you are interacting with another species, it's a spiritual experience."
Hmm. A second resort staffer described it this way: "Kittens are about innocence, about unconditional love. Isn't that what we seek?"
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