What is the wild goose?


One day, while on a monastic silent retreat in Belgium, I was reading a book about Celtic history and came across the Wild Goose as a metaphor for the Spirit of God. It just clicked—I thought, "Yes! That’s exactly what a pilgrimage feels like!" There’s always this sense of adventure, and sometimes, it even feels like a wild goose chase. 


In Celtic tradition, the Wild Goose, unlike the peaceful dove, captures the wild, untamed nature of God’s Spirit, always guiding us in unexpected ways toward a deeper, more authentic spiritual experience. It’s a reminder that the Spirit can’t be tamed—it leads us into transformative, soul-deep journeys filled with surprises. Follow the Wild Goose, and you’re in for an adventure like no other!