Live it to Give it Interview with Lacy Ellman (Part 2) + Free Book Giveaway!

facilitated by Kayce Stevens Hughlett

I met Lacy Clark Ellman in 2010 when she was still Lacy Clark. Since that time she's gotten married, completed her Masters in Theology and Culture, moved across the country (a time or two), launched her website, A Sacred Journey, and most recently completed her wonderful new book,Pilgrim Principles.  This week we continue her interview with what's up next?, superpowers, sidekicks, and living it to give it. 

KAYCE: What’s next up as far as traveling adventures go? Or I guess I might ask, has a future destination picked you?

LACY: Well, aside from the adventure of moving back to Seattle in the coming months, I have two trips to new places that I’m really looking forward to, each of which will play a huge role in the future of my work with A Sacred Journey. In less than two weeks, I head to the desert in Tucson, AZ for two weeks of spiritual direction training through the Heyschia School of Spiritual Direction. I think it will be so appropriate to do this training in the beautiful desert of the Southwest; I haven’t spent much time there, but Kyle and I drove through on our way to San Diego and I was struck by how spiritually inspiring it was.

Just a month after I return from my spiritual direction training, I’m heading to Ireland for the first time to join Christine Valters Paintner of Abbey of the Arts on her first Ireland pilgrimage along the theme of the Abbey’s Monk Manifesto. (Christine has been an amazing resource and guide as I’ve developed A Sacred Journey, and she also wrote the foreword for Pilgrim Principles.) When I first found out about the pilgrimage last summer, I asked Christine if I could come along as an apprentice since I hope to lead pilgrimages through A Sacred Journey in the future, and I’m so glad she said yes!

KAYCE: Congratulations on those exciting adventures! You know Christine is one of my favorites and I have a hunch that I introduced the two of you... I love how we are all connected which leads me to my next question.

I am fascinated with the uniqueness that each of us brings to the world and our innate ability to impact the world for good. So, please tell me… what is your super power and do you have a sidekick?

LACY: I feel like I’m in job interview-mode (“My creative problem-solving!” “My work ethic!”), so I referred to my husband on this one. He said my pilgrim glasses (a term I use in Pilgrim Principles)—the way in which I view travels, everyday life, and stories through the lens of pilgrimage. I suppose it is unique (I made up the term after all—should I trademark that thing?), and it’s something I can offer to others as a filter through which they can see the themes of journey—of departure, arrival, and return—in their own lives, and be transformed for it.

Since we’re talking super power, let’s pretend these are real glasses, and since my husband suggested it, I suppose he needs to be my sidekick. And in a genuine way, he is—my wandering has both light and dark sides (as many of our passions do), and has often been done on my own, but his presence in my life is teaching me to journey—and wander—with another.

KAYCE: Hurray for sidekick husbands!! (and vice versa, of course).

I personally can’t end without mentioning your reference to lip gloss in Week 3: Possessions. In this chapter you write about what’s in the pilgrim’s pack and refer to lip gloss as a possible way for the pilgrim to “forget that they haven’t showered in five days.” I absolutely adored that reference and it confirmed that we are indeed kindred spirits. (Lipstick is my personal anytime pick-me-up!)

LACY: You know, that’s something that flowed out naturally in my initial draft, and when I returned to it, I thought about taking it out—the voices in my head were saying things like “that’s too vain and impractical,” or “don’t say that—what a waste of an ounce when you’re walking for days.” The truth is, I don’t even wear lip gloss! (I’m becoming a lipstick girl, too.) But once I realized those voices were the same ones who shout to me my “shoulds,” I stopped listening and realized how much I loved and believed in the meaning behind that reference—it’s all about taking action (there’s that word again) and doing what you can in the moment to feel your best, and that’s an important part of the journey, too, isn’t it?

KAYCE: Absolutely!! I know I offer my best to the world when I'm feeling grounded in my own life.

In closing, I’d love for you to tell the readers what live it to give it means to you?

LACY: When I think of the phrase “live it to give it,” I think of self-care. I think of filling up so I can overflow. As an introvert, I think of valuing time alone so I have more energy to give to others. I think of enriching my own spiritual life so I can guide others in doing the same. And I think of doing the hard work of getting to know my truest self so that I can in turn offer it to my community, my future family, and to the world.

KAYCE: Brilliant!! Thank you so much, Lacy. And Readers, I hope you'll take this opportunity to share this post or leave a comment. If you already own Lacy's book, it would make a wonderful gift for someone else in your life! Perhaps a token to carry in your own pilgrim's pack? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lacy Clark Ellman is a lover of food, books, spirituality, growing and making things, far off places, and lovely spaces. She writes about intentional travel and living and shares stories of other pilgrim’s journeys at asacredjourney.net.

Lacy’s new book, Pilgrim Principles: Journeying with Intention in Everyday Life, is available in print at barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com and also available for Kindle. Learn more about the book at pilgrimprinciples.com.