Emotional Support Packing

Like many of my blogs, this one has been a long time coming. But not as long as the tantra blog which I’m currently avoiding finishing/editing and choosing to write about something way less heady…packing for travel in an intentional and “spiritual” way!

Well sort of...

But first, this post was originally inspired by a friend I met in Costa Rica in December 2023 who couldn’t help but notice my arsenal of supplies I brought with me for a 10-day Thai massage training. As a naturally flighty and anxious person, I’ve learned the necessity of grounding myself when traveling and I bring a variety of tools to help. This particular trip proved to be extra unique in its needs and triggers - which I won’t reopen here without proper warning but it was a doozy - which required a lovingly fierce commitment to a daily routine of caring for my body, mind, heart, and spirit. 

Perhaps it was the sun setting at 5:30pm and me feeling done-done by 8pm or maybe it also the terrible beds that were provided by the massage school, but I would wake up (without an alarm) between 4am and 6am everyday, and would take the 5 minute walk to the beach with a pre-packed bag of goodies. The Pacific side of Costa Rica isn’t known for its sunrises, but this particular lil slice of beach had a sideways view of the east and the sun would crest over a hilly landscape. My wake up time creeped earlier and earlier each day and I became fixated on the solitude of the empty and dark beach with the multitude of stars - and sure, it didn’t hurt that there was also a passing meteor shower to entice me.

I would roll out my yoga towel, set out my oracle cards, ganesha statue and crystals, and have my journal prepped and ready with pens and coloring pencils nearby. I sat in silence until the sun peaked and then I would “act like a beach dog” which looked like running around and having the absolute time of my life - changing direction often, spinning in circles, splashing through the waves and sure, added some sun salutations for good measures. I pulled cards, journaled, and got myself in a good space to begin our rigorous day of giving (and receiving) bodywork. 

Sidenote: my version of PTSD combines hypermobility pain issues to my times of stress - which is a super common combo. During this trip, I quickly discovered the need to be extra protective of my body while being stretched as my joints were feeling extra spicy from all the things. This correlation is still being revealed in my own personal journey and requires A LOT of self compassion. 

Sometimes people would join me for sunrise but sometimes it was just me a few dog friends who would be on their own early morning dog business routine and would stop to sit for a bit. When my friend suggested that I “should write a blog on ‘How to Pack for a Spiritual Journey’”. I laughed because the cheeky asshat in me decided the blog could potentially be anti-climactical and answer the question with one word: YOURSELF

The end - fin - no mas palabras

Because truly that’s all one needs to have a spiritual journey. Eff your spiritual capitalism and need to check a list or consume.

And what she had noticed is that I worked really hard to maintain a sense of normalcy (and rootedness) within a week of intensity (and tragedy) and thought that others could benefit from my intentional packing list. In the 2+ years since then I’ve been fortunate enough to have many more “spiritual” journeys that have taken me all across the world - which has opened me up to more than a few opportunites for my triggers to travel with me. At this point, I would almost consider my packing list more for emotional support than for a spiritual journey, but also maybe what's the difference?!

I have noticed a major contrast in my overall well-being when I do the things that I KNOW support me versus when I don’t. And yes, sometimes I still don’t do the things that I KNOW support me, and I’m quickly reminded of my WHY. 🙂

So OK, here we go! This one is for you, Melony!! 

While there may be a solid argument for minimalist packing on our “spiritual” trip, I’m in my 40’s and I need a few more comforts. I also don’t believe in checking bags (except when the airlines have different rules due to storage space on smaller planes) so I am mindful of how much weight I’m carrying on my back, literally. AND I find these following items to be essential to my well-being:

• Portable fan - this became a necessity after attending a wedding in Rome in July 2024 on a budget airline with strict bag rules and no app so I had to wait in line at the airport with little airflow and wearing wayyyy too many clothes (and high heels). Luckily, we had received some paper fans, and I had decided to NOT throw it away. My rechargeable fan has been an all-time MVP in immigration lines, planes before takeoff with zero airflow, waiting on ferries with no breeze and berating sun, and in more recent times it times of feeling car sick (or extra turbulence coming back from Tokyo). 

• Alarmed door stopper - as a solo female traveler, safety is always #1. For me it looks like mostly being “home” or close to home after dark. And having some extra locks when I sleep. The one I have takes a battery and while I have never felt like I needed to set the alarm (it’s real loud), I have used the door stopper when a chain doesn’t exist. The caveat is that the door must swing in for this door stop method to work - usually the case, except this one time in a small town in Peru. I’ve seen other options for extra door locks, but they mostly were specific for certain locks or door handles that aren’t as universal from country to country. 

• Yoga towel - this can be multi purposeful, not just for yoga! Some options: beach sitting, airplane warming, barrier between you and really any ground that you may want to sit on. But also, yoga - airports, beaches, hotels. Sure, it’s not super thick but it still creates a little sacred space to intentionally move and takes up wayyy less space than a mat.

• Fanny pack - my general rule is that if I participated in a trend the first time around, I probably won’t be joining in when it comes back around. Except for fanny packs - and well ok, bellbottoms which I truly believe never actually go out of style. I use my fanny pack as my secret third bag on airplanes and it never comes unattached while I’m in airport mode. I keep my essentials close to me so I’m not having to be in and out of my other bags, and ya know, for those every 30 second pass port checks that soothe my anxiety. Also included are essential oils, headphones, wallet, at least 1 crystal, hand sanitizer, chapstick, and it’s where I usually put my phone for easy access.

• Kindle - I never thought I would be a kindle person but here we are. I love bringing my kindle because I don’t have to decide what kind of books I’m going to want to read in the future. I also read rather quickly so I can knock out several books depending on the length of flights, duration of travel, and waves of my anxiety. My range of interests is rather wide and I often don’t remember book titles or authors. Sorry, no recommendations or ratings. 

• Portable battery charger - I learned this lesson in Italy when I quickly had to move rooms for my last night and my new spot’s charging options didn’t match my cords and plugs. I was able to find a store and purchase a portable charger (and then had to go back and buy a different cord) that saved the day and allowed me to continue to safely explore the city with gps leading the way.

• Bag of cords - anytime I’ve tried to bring less cords, I’ve regretted it. (see above) Now I just bring them all and keep them together in a small makeup bag in my under the seat bag. Although I did just replace my portable charger that I bought in Italy for one that already has lots of cord options, so I may reconsider my bag of cords going forward but also maybe not. tbd…

• Oils and potions - following my trend of “this may vary” but may include cbd (check local laws to make sure it’s legal), banyan botanicals tinctures, essential oil that makes me happy, some version of 4 thieves oil (not the one that was trademarked because it’s an old remedy that doesn’t belong to a corporation) that contains the powerful combo of rosemary, cloves, lemon, eucalyptus, and cinnamon that is used for boosting immune systems. (protip: place on the bottoms of your feet at the hint of sickness)

  

  Tincture for my belly, oil for my skin, and oil for my nasal passageways (tend to dry out when traveling)

• Journal + pens and pencils - sometimes I need to write, sometimes I need to draw or color, but regardless having writing utensils and paper is a nonnegotiable. I usually place these items in my purse so I can be ready to write whenever the notion appears. If I choose to bring my ipad, I also have procreate and an apple pencil that can serve the same role(s). 

• Electrolytes - never leave home without them. I learned this after visiting the Galapagos Islands where I had planned my packing based on the temperatures but forgot to take into account the humidity. I chose to pack light as it was my large Cotopaxi’s first adventure and there was a bit of a walk from the bus to Charles Darwin Avenue and I didn’t want to overload. What I discovered is that even though I’m not typically what I would call a sweat-er AND I somehow managed to sweat through every single piece of clothing I ventured out in (see next bullet point for what saved the day). After a day out and about, I was extremely exhausted and even took a covid test before showing up to my tattoo appointment just to be considerate. Just trust me when I say, “bring electrolytes”. It’s not worth it.

• Laundry sheets - I’m starting to learn the joy of paying others to do my laundry while traveling and I stand by bringing a few laundry sheets. First, I place 1 in each packing cube that helps keep things smelling fresh. And also, sink (or bathtub) laundry is sometimes all I’ve got and these laundry sheets dissolve with ease. And sure, when possible, an airbnb with laundry facilities can be well-timed on longer adventures but don’t count on detergent being readily available. 

• Snacks - every spiritual journey needs physical fuel. Differently worded, no hangry person has ever obtained enlightenment. And yeah ok there’s more than a few traditions that promote fasting as a tool. But when I travel, I usually take wayyyy more steps whether city or nature, try out adrenaline pumping excursions, and if possible I will put to use my newly obtained open water scuba certification and go swim with the fishes. My point is that I’m usually expending more energy so I find that I usually also need to eat more. Having high protein and nutrient dense snacks helps me stay energized between meals and in awkward situations where meal times are delayed. My favorites are cliff bars, dried mangos, meat sticks (make sure that meat isn’t a banned item), fruit gummies, baked chickpeas, and nuts/trailmix. 

Brief pause in the packing list to talk about what bags I pack or alternatively titled “How much do I love Cotopaxi, let me count the ways”. I would buy every bag in every style in their brand (and probably most of their outerwear) if money wasn’t an issue. Alas, I’m (mostly) honoring my budget and holding strong at 3 bags. Yes, they are still a little pricey AND they have a lifetime warranty and do offer some sales throughout the year. I have the AllPa in both 42L and 20L and an “older” variation of the del dia bag. I LOVE my first two bags and usually carry both of them when I travel for more than a week and they serve as a balancing act on my back and front. I use my 20L when flying on a budget airline or ones with different specifications for carry-ons as this slides effortlessly under most seats (don’t over pack the front pocket). Both open like a suitcase. #protip: use packing cubes that can be double zipped (compressed) for ease of organizing (I learned this the hard way after meticulously packing and then having it all “ruined” by TSA when my snacks were setting off their alarms and I was searched). The 3rd one could use more pockets so my smaller things don’t get lost - or maybe I need a purse version of compression cubes. I use it sometimes - like now when I just wore out my most recent purse and I’m not feeling inclined to buy anything new - and I’m constantly losing my keys in the vast pockets. 

If you have been thinking...none of that really is what I was I expecting from this blog, everything listed so far has been far too practical, then I bet this next part probably is....

My biggest travel “hack” is to create an altar* space that I fill with an arrangement of things. After searching online for what I nicknamed my “pocket altar”, I finally just decided to create my own. (This has been a natural evolution since 2023)

No actual photos of my travels altars exist so please enjoy this flower mandala from Bagus Jati in Bali to break up all the words ;)

While what I bring may vary from time to time and season to season, it usually consists of: 

• some type of cloth that serves as a base. I’ve used cloths purchased from spiritual stores that draw out geometric patterns or cloth that belonged to my great grand-ma

• crystal(s). Whatever I’m feeling. I usually travel with a few in my fanny pack (more on that later) like black tourmaline and this raw piece of serpentine I bought at Machu Picchu that just feels really good in my hand, and then 1-2 others that call to me as I’m packing. 

• Oracle cards. I’ve got more than a few options to choose from, so I opt for whatever I’m feeling + amount of space that is available. I have some cute lil pocket sized ones and some larger ones that have less cards and some medium sized ones with 50+ cards. These help me connect to my own wisdom, re-presence myself to a daily intention or gives me a place to focus my energy. 

• Other things. This can vary (again) depending on how I’m feeling. I could bring things or I could find things wherever I am. These tend to be natural or sentimental (or both). Recently, I’ve been bringing a photo of my dad, a shell that I found on the beach the day of his celebration of life that looks like a wing/half a heart, and a mini Ganesha statue that was a gift and has been super glued back together multiple times. It also looked like leaves or sticks or acorns or other treasures that I may find while out wandering.

• Candle + something that smells good. I like the mini-candles and usually bring both incense and palo santo. Can also vary by available space and current mood/needs. Can be used as a meditative/grounding tool and/or to mitigate any unwanted smells of your place of habitation. 

*Note: if the word altar freaks you out then try substituting “grounding station” or “power spot” or “home base” or literally any other word(s) that don’t freak you out.

When unpacking, I prioritize finding a space to set up my altar. Ideally, it’s a place that I can take a seat in front of and often there’s no such space. My second best option is literally anywhere else that I can find to set something up. Bed side table, random ledge, window. All it takes is a few intentional minutes (or breaths) in a specific place to help ground me. Sometimes, it’s even enough to know that this anchor exists. 

And believe or not, I still have plenty of room for clothes ;)

Whether you see me as committed to my spirituality or just trying to do my bestest in a strange yet beautiful world makes no difference to me. My packing list has evolved out of necessity to not dip or disrupt my mental well-being when things go wonky while away from my home. It’s useful to have a variety of tools that can keep me grounded because if there’s one thing I know to be true about travel is that the unexpected WILL happen which WILL impact my routine. If I’m not intentionally prepared with the proper tools then eventually I go down. It’s wayyyyy better to choose preventative care as it may take some time (and tender lovin’ care) for me to come back up. 

Admittedly, it feels trite to be writing about packing lists with <gestures broadly>

So it case you weren’t sure…

No one is illegal on stolen land.

Fuck ICE.

Chinga la migra.

Happy travels, my friends.

Posing on the Ping River in Chiang Mai after a street food tour and wearing my new favorite travel shirt "Will Trade Racists for Refugees"