On an October day, 12 students gathered in the desert Southwest for a period of silence. When they returned 24 hours later, they discussed a question posed by Jamie Lynn Haskins, chaplain for spiritual life: “What did you hear in the silence?”

The contemplative silence exercise — along with meditation and yoga — was part of a suite of spiritual tools Haskins and Waleed Ilyas, Muslim life chaplain, offered during Pilgrimage: Arizona. The four-day trip, set amid the Santa Catalina Mountains, was a way to practice reflective thinking and help students find their own ways of considering life’s big questions.

Pilgrimage: Arizona is one of several travel experiences planned by the Chaplaincy this year. Others include studying the historical significance of the Holy Land and its influence on present-day New York and exploring the heritage and diversity of Christian faith through travel to Cody, Wyoming.

Location is a key consideration, and in the case of the trip to Arizona, the desolate openness creates the right conditions for awareness and grounding. The group also met with a member of the Tohono O’odham tribe to understand spirituality already present on the land, and how to practice contemplative disciplines with integrity.

“The vastness of the desert and the wide-open space allow for deep reflection, particularly in spaces of silence,” Haskins said.

Ally Osterberg wanted to participate in the pilgrimage to step back from the stress of senior year and reflect on life after graduation. Being on a ranch in the desert with no cell service revealed just how much of a distraction her phone could be, and she wants to find more ways to unplug back at home. 

Another participant, junior John Collier, is a frequent hiker, but the weather, overgrowth, and terrain made Oracle State Park one of his most difficult hikes. However, the addition of contemplative silence also made it one of his best. 

“There’s something to be said about completing a really hard task while only having your thoughts,” he said. “It drives you to be focused on one goal. When that is accomplished, the feeling is unbeatable.”

By introducing a variety of practices, Haskins hopes the participants will find an approach that resonates and continue to create space for self-care, healing, and contemplation.

Underneath an inky black sky, as shooting stars streaked the night, sophomore Abby Dalton connected with Haskins over the challenges of transitioning from a difficult childhood to a healthy and stable adulthood.

“The work for my chemistry [degree] is easy,” Dalton said. “The work to heal my inner traumas is not as simple. Talking with [Jamie] felt like becoming a healthy adult is not only possible but probable with all of the inner healing I am committing to.”