Camino choice and spirituality

[Oisin]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the bearing of the choice of camino taken on spirituality?

I undertook the walk from Seville last year and although I haven't walked the Frances I am sure that it is a completely different experience. For myself, I found the solitary stretches and wide open (and in September slightly austere!) countryside of Andalucia and Extramadura, lent itself to reflection in a way that the more crowded Frances could not. Everyones spirituality is different but what they all have in common is the need for space to allow thoughts on some of lifes bigger questions to grow and develope.

That said, what the Frances has is people. Sometimes they can be the greatest source of inspiration.

[Gazza]

I found that the comradery of the French Way extremely spiritual, you could walk with somebody or not the choice really is yours. This was lost a little from O'cebiebro this year when it did get busy, however prior to that there was all the open & quiet space you needed or people, if that was your days need.

If your looking for quiet & reflective time, walk the Meseta. This area from Burgos to Leon is absolutely special in all aspects.
People say it is boring & tedious but I totally disagree & now consider it my favourite area for think time & understanding ones self

[Leslie]

If we are talking about spiritual = being a better person, then it would have to be the Camino Frances for me.

My reasoning is quite simple. I am generally fairly intolerant of people - I have manged as life has went on to keep that in my head, so being somewhere there is lots of people and people I don't understand due to language helps me improve my "spirituality".

Anna my other half, who I met on the Camino, says I was the grumpiest person she met on the whole camino - but then again there must be something "nice" about me otherwise she would not still be with me.

One of the major things I discovered was that the personality type that annoyed me at home, also annoyed me in other languages on the Camino. Therefore I had to learn and change.

Walking alone on something like the Via de la Plata for me would be akin to heaven. I do quite well on my own, so no real challenge there for me, thought I know many others that would not want to spent a minute alone.

[ajahnchah]

From walking the Frances this year - holy year in August, where 80-90% of people (this was often quoted to me) were not doing it for spiritual reasons - I was - I found I was disappointed. Obviously there has been a massive marketing of the camino Frances in Europe as a cultural route and large and sometimes noisy groups do this. I am not at all against people doing the walk for whatever reasons they choose, but I feel that the 'organisers'/churches or whoever should then be honest and not promote it as a spiritual pilgrimage. Of course if one's mind is strong enough (mine is not) then any conditions provide a situation where spiritual contemplation can be accessed. for the majority of spiritual practioners, conducive conditions are however important.

I met many nice people on the camino Frances, and initially , despite enduring pain in the feet and knees with every step, I found just the quiet reflection and atmosphere in the churches very nourishing and heart warming - very moving. However as one moved weswtwards and out of Navarra, more and more (and definitely in Galicia) , the churches were shut. The hostels did not provide and quiet place for reflection and the larger were invariably very noisy. Of course it was nice to make contact with other 'pilgrims' but large parties, time spent in bars and drinking could cause quite a rowdy atmosphere.
In Muxia (really wonderful place - the most tranquil spot on the whole camino), I met a couple who had done the Via del Plata? from Seville and quite envied their experience - as the above writer says the solitary spretches would no doubt lead to 'better' reflection.
Perhaps amongst the most disappointing was the spiritual 'tourism' in Santiago - the noise - especially within the cathedral, the constant photo taking and priests requesting 'silencio' - even during a mass was the 'norm'. Once on arriving around 0830 I found a quiet bench, only to be invaded a few minutes later by a tour group who totally ignored the fact that here was someone doing what is normal in a church - reflecting quietly. If the churches are not sacred places - it feels very sad....

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Ajahn ~

Sorry to hear you were disappointed. I did the Via de la Plata this year (last 270 kms) and intentionally arrived in Santiago on July 25 in order to experience the crowds and excitement of Holy Year. I guess my expectations were different -- I was not disappointed in any way. I think people need to understand that the Holy Year at Santiago is a big deal in Spain (the King and Queen were there on July 25) and that Spanish tourists not only flock to the Camino, but they flock to Santiago via car, bus, train, airplane, etc. to be there for the special festivities.

I'm sad for folks who were looking for Santiago to be a quiet, reflective place this summer. That's just not the way it is in a Holy Year. There are, indeed, quiet times in Santiago -- almost anytime other than the summer months in a Holy Year. While the Cathedral is often busy at noon Pilgrim Mass there are many very quiet and beautiful churches all around Santiago's old city and they deserve a visit if one is looking for quiet.

I'm returning to the Camino Frances next year and will arrive in Santiago on or near June 15. I expect fewer than half the crowds of this July and I look forward to quiet strolls through the cathedral and the city's many parish churches. Then off to Finisterre and Muxia like you.

Don't give up on the Camino! Do try the Via de la Plata. You'll discover many quiet stretches, even as you near Santiago.

All the best ~
Sandy

[Leslie]

I have been in churches in various places in Spain and found the cultural differences quite significant. I had been used to churches in Ireland and Scotland were people talk quietly - however in most in Spain I found it more of a community where people would talk more and children would run around. And this was no-where near the Camino but rather in the southern parts of Spain.

Things are just different in different places.

[Oisin]

Hi ajahnchah - theres only one thing for it - go to Seville and walk north - very doable these days