Ideas for Making the Most of the Camino's Spirituality

[HuskyNerd]

Part One -- Introduction to Pilgrimage

For those open to it, every single step of the Camino de Santiago is a spiritual experience. The experience occurs on many levels -- the discipline of walking even when it hurts, the camaraderie and joy of community with other pilgrims, the beautiful and inspiring scenery, the rich history of the pilgrimage, and a palpable sense of being surrounded by pilgrims of centuries long past.

If a person chooses it, the Camino de Santiago can also include elements of the classic pilgrimage event even now, centuries after its establishment as one of the primary pilgrimage routes in Christianity. A classic pilgrimage involves certain elements:

• A journey fraught with difficulty, an ordeal;
• The carrying of a burden and the burden’s release; and
• The anticipation of an experience of awe during the journey and at the journey’s end.

Many pilgrims choose to walk the Camino de Santiago as an intentionally spiritual experience. Others walk the Camino as exercise or to sort out life issues or as a holiday from home or work. All reasons for walking the Camino are equally legitimate. In this thread I hope to offer and learn some suggestions about how to make the most of the Camino's spirituality, aiming specifically at those who walk the Camino to experience its religious and spiritual rewards, with special attention to those who want to experience the Camino as a pilgrimage.

I'm thinking about this for a number of reasons -- I was a Medieval History major in college, I'm a Protestant pastor who's walked to Santiago three times, I'm now preparing a devotional guide for use by future pilgrims, I'm still trying to find out why the Camino has captivated my imagination so fully over the last many years, and whenever I've led spiritual study excursions over the past 20 years (Israel/Palestine, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Italy) I've hoped to provide my fellow travelers with tools to help them get the most out of their experience.

So here are some thoughts, put in Q&A format, that I hope will be helpful and encourage discussion :

What role do religious, linguistic and cultural issues play in the Camino's spirituality?
The spiritual and religious aspects of the modern Camino de Santiago are partially hidden to non-Catholics and non-Spanish speakers. Many secular pilgrims are not that interested in these aspects anyway, so the deeper levels of the Camino are not necessarily missed. A Spanish speaker, though, will recognize the religious aspects right away. Each year in July/August busloads of Spanish Catholic youths fill the last 100 kms of the Camino, earning their compostelas as part of their Catholic education. Sermons (in Spanish, of course) by Catholic priests at pilgrim masses along the way are heavily laden with advice for pilgrims and dedication to the ideals of the Camino. A modern, Catholic pilgrim even today earns a Plenary Indulgence -- forgiveness of all past sins -- for completing the pilgrimage under the right circumstances. In 2010 the Pope, the King and Queen of Spain, and many Spanish governmental leaders honored the Camino with their presence at a mass in Santiago during the 2010 Holy Year (these are years in which St. James Day -- July 25 -- lands on a Sunday). Of course, the completion certificate itself, the compostela, is given out by the Cathedral of Santiago, a rather Catholic organization, to say the least. According to the Santiago cathedral office's statistics, the vast majority of pilgrims identify religion as the primary purpose for their camino. Still, most of these aspects are invisible to a non-Spanish speaker or to a person who doesn't understand or appreciate (or like) the Catholic faith.

As an English-speaking, Protestant pilgrim I've lamented my previous inability to penetrate the religious depths of the Camino. To deepen my experience, I recently returned to university to enhance my Spanish language skills. This coming camino I will be joined by my sister, a professional Spanish-English interpreter, who'll help as a cultural and linguistic guide. On this year's camino I want to know what every sign says, what every Spanish graffiti tag says, what every priest in every pilgrim mass says. I love the English-speaking pilgrim families that I've joined over the years but I've come to believe we English speakers are having a great time, but are missing a lot of what the Camino offers. I'm anxious to dip my toes even deeper into this broad river.

Continued below .....

[HuskyNerd]

Part Two -- Inner Reflection and Self-Understanding

What historical details about the Camino will help me better understand its spirituality?
It's important to remember that today's Camino de Santiago is a dim reflection of the historic Santiago pilgrimages of the Middle Ages, in which upwards of 500,000 people per year made the pilgrimage. A pilgrimage was a huge investment of time and money and was undertaken at great risk of illness, wild animals, and bandits. It included a walk both there and back, doubling the distance compared to ours. The Camino Frances today is marked by dozens of albergues, but in medieval times there were hundreds of inns and hospitals that served the pilgrims. Today the ruins of the buildings of these ancient institutions dot the camino landscapes, but the infrastructure of the medieval camino is largely invisible to our eyes, except for the many church buildings that have been lovingly (or not) preserved by the citizens of their villages or cities. Churches are almost all that is left of the original infrastructure, and they hold many clues of the importance of the Camino in the Middle Ages.

Scholars tell us that pilgrimage was part of medieval religious practice for a variety of reasons -- for veneration of ancient religious relics as acts of worship, to receive the healings and miracles associated with the relics, for penance due to a crime or sin committed, for love of a relative who'd died and was left in limbo for years or centuries before advancing into heaven. the draw of the Camino de Santiago was exceeded only by the draw to Rome and Jerusalem. Santiago de Compostela represented a powerful tie to God and a pilgrimage was undertaken to receive the blessings of God for the self, community, and family.

A pilgrim was typically fitted out for the Camino by his or her village. A credencial was secured from the local bishop or priest that announced the pilgrim as a Peregrino de Santiago or a Pelerin St. Jacques or by whatever name Santiago's pilgrims were known in that country. The pilgrim was given a staff for walking and a gourd for drinking, and a mantle for keeping off the rain and a scallop shell to mark him or her as a Santiago pilgrim. Then pilgrims proceeded to Santiago de Compostela entrusting themselves to the network of missions and religious orders who sponsored inns and hospitals to care for them. Though they were protected by semi-military religious knights like The Order of St. James, they still sometimes fell prey to wolves, bandits and disease. When they arrived at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela they engaged in days long gatherings of singing and healings and religious festivities. Then they returned on a reverse Camino and faced the same challenges again until they made their return to their native town.

In comparison, our caminos are solitary enterprises taken up by personal choice with little involvement by family or community. But as we walk we experience the same rhythm of foot to path that marked every pilgrim in every time. We forge the same bonds between fellow pilgrims. We see the same mountains and cross the same rivers and if we listen we hear echoes of the many voices who preceded us on the Way of St. James. Undertaking a modern day Camino is like launching our boat in a mighty and ancient river. The waters have changed completely and its channels has moved over centuries, but still, the ancient river flows to its destination. To me this historical depth itself enhances the spiritual aspect of the pilgrimage. I'm walking the path of countless others over many, many centuries.

How can pilgrims prepare at home in order to get the most out of their upcoming Camino?
Books about the Camino fill my bookshelves. I enjoy reading the accounts of pilgrims who've made the trip, learned new lessons in life, and taken the time to offer their thoughts. Each offers its own hints about ways to prepare the heart. Some of my favorites:

• The Pilgrimage, by Paolo Coelho. This is a magical tale told by a celebrity storyteller who has put together a mystical/magical camino of swords and demonic wild dogs and spiritual exercises. I'd say roughly 25% of pilgrims I've met have read this book. It was what first got me interested in the Camino many years ago.
• I'm Off Then, by Hape Kerkeling. This author is a prominent comedian in Germany and his Camino account was a bestseller there for years. In 2009 it was finally translated into English and to me is one of the most genuine and human Camino accounts I've ever read. If you have time for only one Camino book, to me this is the one.
• To the Field of Stars, by Fr. Kevin Codd. A poetically written camino book by a priest who shows both his weaknesses and his strength of character. We see ourselves in his love of things superfluous, like his Thermos bottle, and his spot-on descriptions of albergue living.

I hope each of the books you read will help you have a conversation with yourself about why you have chosen to walk the Camino. Here are some questions you might consider, in fact, perhaps you would want to write these on a sheet of paper and keep it with you as you walk:

• Why am I willing to deprive myself of comforts for a few weeks or more and endure an ordeal?
• What burden do I carry that I hope will be lifted?
• Is there part of my life I hope to change, to leave behind me?
• Is there a new part of myself I hope to discover?
• What commitments will I make for my spiritual practice while I walk?
• What decision is pressing on me for which I could use wisdom and guidance?
• What will I offer other pilgrims as my unique gift for their pilgrimage?
• What important person(s) from my life will I keep closest to my heart as I walk?
• When I return, how will I say "thanks" to those who made this pilgrimage possible for me?
• How will this pilgrimage help me in my larger purpose of loving God and neighbor?

Having clarity in advance of the walk is certain to give deeper meaning each step of the way. And it could be that your personal clarity will enrich the lives of other pilgrims who stumble onto you as a they look for clarity in their quest.

And one other thing: don't forget to bring your personal rock from home to leave at Cruce de Ferro between Rabanal and El Acebo. You'll be surprised at the importance for many pilgrims of this mound of rocks with a cross at the top that represents the giving over of sins or griefs or hopes to God.

Continued below .....

[HuskyNerd]

Part Three -- A Spiritual Practice

What daily steps can a spiritual pilgrim take to deepen their experience?
Every true spirituality begins in humility. If we are to hope to learn great things we must first understand that we are desperately small and weak. Pilgrims can easily succumb to an ironic "pilgrim pride" that ranks pilgrims based on how far they have walked toward the goal of Santiago de Compostela. Someone starting at the doorstep in Brussels is held in higher esteem than someone starting at Le Puy, who carries themselves proudly in comparison to someone who has merely started at St Jean Pied-de-Port. Someone starting in Burgos or Leon is to stand in awe of someone who started in France. Someone who uses a pack service is not as true a pilgrim as someone who walks with a pack. Lowest of all are those who walk only the last 100 kms and whose lunches are brought to them in a van and who carry no packs at all! These are "mini pilgrims" or "van pilgrims," not True Pilgrims like us. So, since pride separates us from God and neighbor our first spiritual commitment would be to practice the discipline of seeing ourselves as no better than anyone else.

Thankfully, spirituality gets much easier after that. Here are some practices to consider:

• Practice the discipline of awareness. Rather than race through this walk, slow down and become aware of your surroundings. The world is full of wonder. Notice the flowers. Listen for the sounds of church bells in the distance, bells that called workers to reverence and worship for the last hundreds of years. Taste the local wine -- it carries the flavor of this region. Talk to people. Pilgrims, of course, but also the locals. Try to learn their stories.
• Breathe your prayer. The Camino is about walking mostly, a practice that can be either tedious or prayerful. Mystics in many religions focus their thoughts through "breath prayers" in which a prayer is offered in each inhalation and exhalation. As we walk and breathe and pray our pilgrimage becomes a meditation.
• Keep a journal and make entries each day. I'm so glad I carried a small, black book with me for journaling on my first Camino. I would often stop at a particularly scenic or spiritual place along the walk and write a narrative of people I'd met, of my feelings, of my thoughts about the Camino and about life. The most intimate moments in my journal are my written prayers.
• Consider dedicating each day to a loved one or an important figure in your life. When you walk for 5-6 hours you have a lot of time for introspection. If you can hold one particular person in your mind through the day you have an opportunity to surround that person with your prayers. We pray thankfully for what they've offered in our lives. We pray with care for their particular needs. We express our love for them in acts of love to other pilgrims and to strangers.
• Take the time to visit churches along the way. Medieval church buildings are usually our closest tie to pilgrims of past centuries, as well as being our closest ties to the culture and community of the towns we traverse. Every church holds secrets to be discovered: Where is Santiago represented in the church's liturgical art? To what saint is the church dedicated and why? From what century are the reredos or statuary or paintings? What legends surround the church (resurrected hens or soldier monks?)
• Listen to your body. I've just finished running my first marathon and have come to appreciate the lessons our bodies are trying to tell us. Nutrition and hydration are demands made on us by our bodies and we must listen or pay the price. But deeper than that, our bodies carry the story of our pilgrimage. Honor the gift of our bodies by listening, obeying and pushing them only as far as they can go without getting hurt. When our day is done and our journal is in our hands, take time to feel ourselves back into each part of our body. To know what we are feeling is to be in touch with the world and, as a result, to be in touch with God.
• Look for a pilgrim mass. There often is one, and in some Camino towns it is a central feature of the experience. Don't miss the pilgrim mass at Roncesvalles or the one at tiny monastery at Rabanal. For heaven's sake don't miss the daily noon pilgrim mass at Santiago. In between Roncesvalles and Santiago are many churches who know you're there, understand your pilgrimage, and have been reaching out to pilgrims for centuries.

Most of all, relax and enjoy the experience. Breathe it in every day because it will end too soon. Give thanks for legs to walk with and lungs to absorb the air. Give thanks as you see true Spanish Lavender growing in the wild. Rejoice in the redness of the lowly Poppy. The world is beautiful and you are alive just now to drink it in.

When I arrive in Santiago, what are traditional and contemporary ways of completing my pilgrimage?
Nearly everyone immediately goes to the Cathedral pilgrim office upon arrival in Santiago to present their credencial and be awarded their compostela. Congratulations! There are a few other ancient customs that religious and spiritual pilgrims also do:

• If it is possible, touch the left foot of the Santiago statue at the central nave (west) door. This has been closed off to pilgrims the last two times I've been to Santiago, but perhaps it has now been reopened. The tradition of touching this statue's foot goes so far back that the statue is creased with a groove where millions of hands have touched it.
• Go hug the statue of Santiago that is located above and behind the altar. This is accessed from a stairway that leads up behind the altar. Sometimes the line is quite long to get there, but when you've arrived you'll be looking over Santiago's shoulder into the the main nave of the church. Here people put their arm around Santiago's neck and chest and thank him for being here to greet them a the end of their journey.
• See the silver box that holds the relics. Just below the main floor level and below the statue of Santiago is a glass enclosed vault in which Santiago [presumed] bones are kept. Here you have a few moments for prayer, and sometimes for solitude as this is a much quieter venue than Santiago's statue above.
• Attend the pilgrim mass. This is held every noon year round at the Santiago Cathedral. In the summer you'll want to arrive early as pilgrims of all stripes -- walkers, riders, bus tourists, etc. -- will get there early to get a seat. The countries of those who've registered their camino at the office will be read aloud (in Spanish) by a priest or lay reader, so you have a moment of pride as you hear your nation (and perhaps surprise when you realize there are others from your native land who you hadn't known were with you). The famous swinging censer -- the botafumiero -- is used quite often nowadays, but it's always at the end of the mass, so make certain you stay until it's all over. The Pilgrim Mass can be cluttered and noisy and sometimes a little chaotic, so expect that. If you're looking for quiet introspection, come to the cathedral again at another time.

These are the traditional observances of the end of a camino. To these you might want also to add some time to enjoy the museums of Santiago, its many churches, a big plate of paella, and perhaps an extended walk to Finisterre to see its beautiful cape and lighthouse and to enjoy the serenity of the Atlantic Ocean.

After my Camino, what kind of post-Camino feelings might I have and what can I do with them?
The Camino de Santiago is a spiritual high and I have found myself sitting alone in the cathedral after my pilgrim family has dispersed to all parts of the globe, sadly realizing that I once again am no longer a pilgrim. After praying prayers of thanksgiving for my friends and for the joy of the Camino I slowly let go of the sadness and make my way back home.

One of the challenges of coming back from the Camino is trying to explain to people what actually happened. They'll be amazed at the walking of many miles and they'll ask questions like "where did you stay" and "what did you eat," but none of their questions can really help them penetrate the deeper feelings of the pilgrimage.

You've had a major life experience and it's important to try to tell someone. Write a letter to a loved one explaining your camino experience or give a slideshow at your church as a way to express in your own words what your own camino meant to you. After your credencial and compostela are framed and hung on the wall there should be some token of its ongoing meaning in your life. Consider also:

• Helping someone else make the pilgrimage. For me it was first my wife then my son. This year I'm going with my sister. I feel if I can spread the word I can help recover this ancient pathway for pilgrims today and help them in their spiritual journey. I love to see the joy of the Camino de Santiago fill a person's heart and in their camino I relive my own.
• Giving your scallop shell to a new pilgrim Why keep it for yourself? Find someone to carry your shell on their pilgrimage. Share the love.
• Sharing your experiences and advice on Forums like this. Over 100,000 pilgrims will walk to Santiago this year. Your tips and advice can make a big difference for them. Now that you've made the pilgrimage your words of encouragement and support will mean a lot.
• Returning to the Camino as a hospitalero. You'll see the Camino from a very different perspective and by volunteering will make an important contribution to the pilgrimages of others.
• Contributing to your country's confraternity. Many countries have their own camino organizations. They'd benefit greatly from your help.

Continued below .....

[HuskyNerd]

Conclusion

The Camino de Santiago is a unique and amazing spiritual and religious treasure. With roots in the Middle Ages and set in historic Northern Spain the Camino holds vast opportunities for encounter with God and God's world. Its treasures are in the friendships made across cultures and continents, the silent thoughts and prayers offered as we move toward Santiago, and in the flow of the mighty river of pilgrims who hope to find their way toward a deeper faith and a fuller experience of the divine.

--Rev. Sandy Brown, Seattle WA, USA
YouTube - Camino de Santiago 2008

Some other thoughts . . . .

Is the Camino "spiritual" or "religious"?
The modern Camino de Santiago has whatever spirituality or religion we individual pilgrims bring with us. There is enough natural beauty to satisfy those who desire to see the Camino as an inspiring walk. There is enough community with fellow pilgrims who hope to find the spiritual in the faces and laughter of new friendships. There is a rich religious tradition as well for those who care to dig into the Spanish language and culture and who find comfort and hope in the wealth of spirituality available in the Catholic faith. In my own experience the Camino is not likely to change a pilgrim's mind and make them more or less spiritual, or more or less Catholic. The Camino is more likely to solidify whatever religion or spirituality we bring to it -- we see it through our own eyes after all. In my mind, though, all pilgrims gain by understanding its many facets more fully and seeing what it has meant, what it means to others, and how it expresses the breadth of human experience of the sacred.

The origins of the Camino de Santiago are explicitly religious, rather than more generically spiritual. The Camino began as one of hundreds of medieval Christian pilgrimages oriented around the veneration of sacred relics, in this case the remains of St. James the Greater (Santiago). It achieved prominence through brilliant marketing by the Church and because of its strategic value in promoting Christian culture in Northern Spain as Christians sought to retake the Iberian peninsula in the Reconquista in the mid- to late Middle Ages and solidify their gains. The Roman Catholic notion of Plenary Indulgence, the geographic accessibility of Santiago de Compostela to Northern Europe, and the prominence of St. James' relics made it a top pilgrimage destination in a Western European culture that was hungry to heal the soul and prepare for the next life.

Some argue that the Camino was originally a non-sectarian spiritual experience, oriented around Finisterre as an ancient pilgrimage destination. While pre-Catholic origins of the walk across Spain to Finisterre are credible, there is little or no actual historical evidence of their prominence and, even if they are true, they likely suggest a religious orientation as well. After all, just because a spiritual practice is pre-Catholic doesn't make it pre-religious. The Celts and Druids had a long and lively religious tradition before Catholicism and it's perfectly credible to believe that a pilgrimage to Finisterre was part of their practice. Modern categories of secular or religious spirituality are just that -- modern -- and don't fit ancient traditions and customs.


Are spiritual/religious pilgrims a minority on the Camino?
English-speaking pilgrims will find companionship with English-speakers from around the world which, since much of the Camino's religiousity and spirit is in Spanish, will make English-speaking religious pilgrims feel in the minority. In past caminos, though, I was blessed to meet pilgrims from non-Western European places, like Quebec, Poland, and Estonia who were upfront about their religious motivations which had led them to make their Camino as a pilgrimage.

The spiritual/religious pilgrim needs to understand that pilgrims walk the Camino de Santiago for many reasons. Some of the less-spiritual reasons I've heard for doing the Camino were: a) we've just retired and were looking for a way to exercise; b) the albergues are cheap and where else can you have a day in a foreign country for under about 25E, including lodging; c) I want to lose weight and had some extra time off.

Some of the more heartfelt reasons for the Camino I've heard were: a) I've finished addiction recovery and I'm trying to forgive myself for things I've done; b) I'm starting a new career and want to clear my thoughts first; c) I've just divorced and I want to do something for myself; d) I've never had a long trip and I want time away from my job to find out who I am.

Some of the more spiritual reasons I've heard for the Camino: a) I want to open myself to God and see what God wants of me; b) I'm searching for meaning and purpose in my life; c) I heard or read about the Camino and had to find out about it for myself.

Some of the religious reasons I've heard: a) I want to walk in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims who've gone before me; b) I see it as a retreat in which I can get away and find time to pray; b) I want a deeper experience of my faith, to worship at churches along the way and experience the joy of the culmination at the cathedral in Santiago where I will confess, receive forgiveness, and receive the sacrament.

All reasons for walking the Camino are legitimate and good. We pilgrims are a diverse lot and my hope is we will always appreciate and respect each others' unique motivations.

[cindy]

I think you won´t be disappointed. I have been living here in Spain for 2 years now and the spanish are very religious and it showes in their daily life. They are also open for spirituality in many different forms. If it isn´t their cup of tea, they usually find your way of looking at things valid and will respect that. I say usually, because they also LOVE to discuss things. And they will do that in a way that you think the are having a fight. For example, i had a friend over and one morning he overheard 2 older ladies having a ´fight´in the street... As he doesn´t understand spanish, he felt bad about it. But the truth of the matter was that these two ´fighting´ladies were telling each other where to go for the best priced veggies and fruits.... My point is: Knowing the language makes a HUGES difference. Although younger generations are now starting to speak more spanish, most spanish aren´t very comfortable in expressing themselves in english. If you can communicate it is a blessing as they are helpfull, open and happy to share knowlegde and experiences.

[unadara]

Rev Sandy Brown
What a great sounding name-Thanks for all the hard work you've put into this and other posts. I am a real magical/mystical sceptic? I tried one of Coehlo's other books, didn't get it. Will see can I get a copy of the good Irish Fr's book though. Are there any blog accounts you could recommend that deal with day to day accounts ?. Your list is great-I love you for leaving your phone behind! BUT will your sister have one ? haha. If you stay in a hotel once a week is it random ? where you land ? because if you book in advance then you have to walk a "planned" distance ?. We have 9 days this year and already are thinking of May next year. Hope the relationship of 28yrs survives!
Una

[HuskyNerd]

On my first Camino I stayed at random hotels, not knowing where I might want to land since I hadn't been there before. This time I'm pretty sure where I want to stay. Even so, in May/June I won't worry about making reservations.

I've read many, many camino blogs. Here's one that sticks out in my mind. Pilgrimage of Gratitude: My Camino . You reminded me of another book, too: Amazon.com: Among the Pilgrims: Journeys to Santiago de Compostela (9781412007962): Mary Victoria Wallis: Books is by a woman who first biked then walked the Camino. She provides a super narrative with thoughts about history, architecture and culture along the way. Nicely written, too.

Yep, my sister's bringing a phone, but I know she won't use it much. My son is bringing his, too, in order to record his music. He's planning on buying a cheap guitar once we get there and loves to write music, which he'll continue to do each evening. I'm afraid we'll be a conspicuous bunch -- the American pastor, his sister, and his guitar-playing son.

Buen camino, Una!
--Sandy

[unadara]

the American pastor, his sister, and his guitar-playing son.
a song title perhaps, a good folk tune..ordered some books today from amazon, read the reviews and know I will enjoy, wish we could meet everyone who posts on the forum but we'll meet others, that's for sure. Your time is getting near now...the more we read this forum and other books collected the more we think maybe we could try and do the whole camino this year in one go ??? we are retired and my husband (who is not THE hillwalker) has now got the "bug" and see's himself walking on and on...watch this space.
I praise your intent in learning Spanish..that may be a future goal for me, have made many attempts but lost most of it.
Una

[unadara]

What daily steps can a spiritual pilgrim take to deepen their experience?
Am reading Kevin Codd's book now "To the field of Stars" (am a librarian-compulsion must be satisfied).
He had an interesting view on the rosary and the recitation of same to assist the mind to switch off from daily niggles. For some time now I have used the "Hail Mary, Holy Mary" as a aid to steps while walking up hill, try it ..it is a good pace...also good one for aiding the sleep to come, same as counting the sheep but a bit more content. Hope I don't offend anyone by this comment, we did learn our prayers by rote and never paid much attention to them. There is a group of priests here in ireland called the Divine Word missionaries who publish a small set of prayers and thoughts of the day and I hope to bring some of these with me too.
Una

[ken huocj]

i started and near the end of days walk, decades of Hail Mary was my attempt to get closer to be a Peregrinos on the centuries gone by. The chapels and churches in the smaller villages i found more conducive to quieter moments of recollections and contemplation. Vivat Jesus

[Lipka149]

Wow Sandy ... you sure put some thought and effort into THIS thread !

I think I took more an inside-out approach to my own spiritual experience on the Way. Rather than trying to "make it spiritual" or "practice spiritual things", I took something of a let-it-be-done-unto-me attitude. This was a challenge in itself, as I am a planner/organizer with perfectionist tendencies. (Some who know me well might call that an understatement.)

Almost all of what you write about is familiar to me. Over the years, my faith walk has introduced me to the concepts of Pilgrimage, Inner-Reflection, Self-Understanding and Spiritual Practices. Life experiences and a desire to apply these concepts to them have helped me internalize them to a point where they just happen almost without thought. When they are lacking ... and human nature being what it is, they often are ... it becomes a wake up call to change.

That being said, I did not start with the questions you pose in Post #2. As I read them however, I found I could answer every one of them. What a great feeling that was, to see what had been done-unto-me !

Again, thank you for the insights. Ultreya !

~ Alan

[backiej]

Hi Sandy

you have me in tears reading your post. Thank you. I went with my Bible but not for orthodox religion. I had a few amazing things happen though and my God came to the fore.


Jackie

[unadara]

Sandy and Others
I returned from my first Camino last Wed, 19th Oct. I walked with my husband (some of the time!) and we left St Jean on the 13th Sept. We loved the Masses, the Holy Communion processions with the ladies singing beside us , the special pilgrim blessings, the beautiful churches, altars, Cathedrals, and ancient monuments, bell towers, crosses, statues etc etc. We walked to Muxia and on arrival at the Church we were invited to attend the rosary, this to me was the real completion of my Camino and my heart felt so light leaving this town. The spiritual is everywhere, a german boy said one night "the ocean is my god" and I replied yes I can understand that. I too worship the ocean and swim in it every day of the year. The beauty of the villages we walked through, the same farming habits for centuries?. The thoughts of pilgrims being here before you, on one path I thought I could see places where pilgrims might have taken shelter or stayed the night. It is hard to leave the camino behind and I hope that I have gained an inner peace that will assist me in life. I was sick for a few days and struggled with the distances and knew at one stage I needed extra strength to go on. So I asked God to throw whatever he could at me and I would accept it! (think I might have been a bit "unwell") BUT hey it worked ... I stopped struggling and started to get better, other pilgrims were a constant source of aid also, just the company was enough to keep you on the way.
I didn't read the prayers I had planned, all my prayers came from daily events. I hope the peace of the Camino stays with me until next year! May, maybe..Camino Norte-Sandy?
Thanks Again

[HuskyNerd]

Congratulations on completing your camino, Una. Hooray! I'm very glad you found it to be a good experience and agree wholeheartedly that fellow pilgrims are the greatest treasure. No surprise! I'm looking forward to reading your blog and walking your way with you.

I'm pretty well set on Camino del Norte in late May through June of next year. Likely starting at Bilbao and perhaps heading down to Camino Primitivo depending on weather and company. Maybe we'll meet, Una!

[HuskyNerd]

I enjoyed your blog, Una. Thanks so much for sharing it. And great photos, too!

[unadara]

Thanks so much Sandy. I found it difficult after the first 2 weeks to write down my thoughts on a "blog". I would not do it again, though it is a good way to let everyone know you are suffering! My daughter mis-read and thought I was resting in "hospital" after the food poisoning, not the beautiful Convent Alberque (hostal) I was actually in in Leon. Also I left my camera battery behind in Villafranca and found it released me from the "did you get that" mentality as I passed all the dry corn stores and km markers etc etc. Someone else took a photo of us in Santiago and the memories will be forever in my mind. I am writing a little more in my notebook now for future use! and for advice if anyone needs it.

[Atlantic]

My idea for making the most of the camino is:

Be Here Now.

[unadara]

Atlantic
To be able to experience every moment is the opportunity the Camino presents us with. We met a young Czech couple who are "wandering" and living rough. They were asked "where have you been", "where are you going" with "we are here now"!!
A young Czech girl thought this was "not nice" but I saw their point, they were here now, what else mattered?
Enjoy each moment.

[Atlantic]

Atlantic
To be able to experience every moment is the opportunity the Camino presents us with. We met a young Czech couple who are "wandering" and living rough. They were asked "where have you been", "where are you going" with "we are here now"!!
A young Czech girl thought this was "not nice" but I saw their point, they were here now, what else mattered?
Enjoy each moment.

Yes, Una

On my first camino, I thought the goal was to reach Santiago. Only when I got there I realised that the important thing was the first step I took from Le Puy, and every step after. I realised that to be in the present was the goal. But I'm a slow learner, and it took 1600 kms to get the point!

Then the hard bit was to apply that to 'ordinary' living. I have not achieved that yet, after 21 years of walking caminos (not continuously!). When I return to normal living, I do not apply the benefits of my caminos. That is my eternal issue. I want (but can't get) the feeling of camino in ordinary life. That would be the ultimate achievement.

Yet if I think of the different caminos I liked most, they were the ones where I was in harmony with my body and mind, thinking of little but the day ahead. I was as tired as I would be anywhere, but despite that, the moment was the key thing. I suspect that for many it is the same, tho' many describe it differently. I loved my first camino and will never forget it, but now I can't go back. The numbers are too much; from 5000 a year then, it has increased to 250,000 now. My last camino had maybe 300 a year, my next has less.

I miss the company of the people I met in such numbers, yet I still meet marvellous people on these little used ways. It is a never ending source of joy. And if for some days on the long, empty trails I am alone, that is in itself something wonderful.

That I return so often to caminos is actually a failure on my part; once should be enough. But I go on. My camino becomes more and more away from the superhighway of the Frances, and towards the more empty, contemplative trails. My needs are fewer, I am content with less.

And I am rewarded more, I am happy to say.

[Atlantic]

I had a little more to say, but I was timed out......c'est la vie!

[HuskyNerd]

My idea for making the most of the camino is: Be Here Now.

Funny thing about this Forum. Most of us are "here" online now because we would love to be "there" on the camino right now. So we're here but not here and there but not there.

I guess I've adjusted to that for myself so that now I'm either on the camino, recovering from the camino or planning for the camino at all times!

[Atlantic]

Funny thing about this Forum. Most of us are "here" online now because we would love to be "there" on the camino right now. So we're here but not here and there but not there.

I guess I've adjusted to that for myself so that now I'm either on the camino, recovering from the camino or planning for the camino at all times!

Absolutely!

[unadara]

I found this poem in my bedside book shelf before I left for the Camino.
"To know the Way,
We go The Way;
We do the Way
the way we do
the things we do.
It's all there in front of you,
But if you try too hard to see it,
You'll only become Confused.
I am me, And you are you, As you can see;
But when you do
The things that you can do,
You will find the Way,
And the Way will follow you."
The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff, Metuen, 1982 Chapter 5 "The Pooh Way".
The Way is following me..

[unadara]

I had a little more to say, but I was timed out......c'est la vie!

Thanks so much for taking the time to say this, I was surprised by the amount of time I did get to be alone, on the Meseta I have photos of only us on very long stretches, so we got the best of both worlds you describe, the peace and the opportunity to meet people. I am sure I can read about your adventures somewhere ?
Regards

[backiej]

I found this poem in my bedside book shelf before I left for the Camino.
"To know the Way,
We go The Way;
We do the Way
the way we do
the things we do.
It's all there in front of you,
But if you try too hard to see it,
You'll only become Confused.
I am me, And you are you, As you can see;
But when you do
The things that you can do,
You will find the Way,
And the Way will follow you."
The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff, Metuen, 1982 Chapter 5 "The Pooh Way".
The Way is following me..

Thank you for this. It's lovely.

[Lipka149]

... the hard bit was to apply that to 'ordinary' living. I have not achieved that yet, after 21 years of walking caminos (not continuously!). When I return to normal living, I do not apply the benefits of my caminos. That is my eternal issue. I want (but can't get) the feeling of camino in ordinary life. That would be the ultimate achievement.

Oh my dear Atlantic !

How difficult this must be for you. I wish that there was a way to offer advice that was as simple as how to avoid blisters. Clearly, the disconnect between the Camino experience and applying it to "ordinary" living is something that is of great concern to you. I suspect that you are not alone in feeling this way.

IMHO, for however wonderful the Camino experience is, its true value is in "bringing it home". Defining that "value" and applying it on a daily basis is something that requires guidance from those who have been successful in doing so. While I must stop short of saying it cannot be done alone, I feel safe in expressing the opinion that it is a lot easier to do with the help of others who are actually doing it successfully.

I would encourage you by pointing out that 21 years of following the Way is enough to ensure that the Camino has some how, some way, infused itself in you to the extent that you are different for having walked. I trust that if you examine your actions, rather than your feelings, you will find that you are indeed living the Camino every day.

Ultreya, mi amigo !

[Lipka149]

We loved the Masses, the Holy Communion processions with the ladies singing beside us, the special pilgrim blessings, the beautiful churches, altars, Cathedrals, and ancient monuments, bell towers, crosses, statues etc etc ...

We walked to Muxia and on arrival at the Church we were invited to attend the rosary, this to me was the real completion of my Camino ...

... it is hard to leave the camino behind and I hope that I have gained an inner peace that will assist me in life ...

... all my prayers came from daily events. I hope the peace of the Camino stays with me.

Dear Una -

You are one of the few Roman Catholics that has posted their Camino experience from the perspective of a solid foundation of Catholic practice and Tradition. I, too, come from that background. Just as your Marian devotion was so special to you, one of my closest moments to Christ was participating in the readings at a pilgrim Mass. Seven of us read the same Scripture in our native language. How wonderful that was ! Another was when we took the detour to visit the church of Santa Maria de Eunate. A wedding ceremony had just been performed and the Blessed Sacrament was still in repose. As I genuflected on one knee, I sort of collapsed to both knees, and ended up with my forehead pressed to the stone. Tears came freely and without regard as I paid homage to my Lord. It would not be the last time I gave praise this way.

It has been over two years now since my return and I can honestly say I have not left my Camino behind. It remains with me like a pebble in my shoe, reminding me to listen more, talk less ... slow down, trust more ... be aware of God in everything, and know that everything I accomplish is by His Grace. Walking 780 kilometers in 34 days sure did drive home the truth that I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me !



I derive a great deal of inner peace from that.

I must admit, however, that I find the peace of the Camino to be something of a fiction. In all honesty, my Camino was NOT fun. It was WORK. If peace comes from the satisfaction of a job well done, then I suppose I found peace. After all, I did finish. But after returning home, the Grace that sustained me then was clearly saying now that "the harvest is great and the laborers few, so here's what I want you to do, Al".

Given this, I think that God intended my Camino to be a means of opening my mind to the service of His truth. Ample time was given to consider the offer. Except for the distraction of snoring by my fellow pilgrims, the given time was peaceful.

In the end, I agreed to His call and since then life has been anything but peaceful. The world still presents all of the conflicts that I went on the Camino to escape ... and my response has been tempered by the challenges of the day. Some days are better than others, and I try my best ... but the fact is ... it is NOT fun, it's WORK. My comfort lies in the knowledge that I might run the good race ... and return Home ... and find eternal peace.

Still ... for some reason ... I am happier now than I have ever been in my life.

What's up with that ???!!!

[Atlantic]

Thanks Lipka

Actually you have a very good point when you say the camino must have infused itself into my life. You are right, it has, and I failed to recognise that. I do apply some lessons of the Way to normal life, in my dealings with people. Probably I feel that I have not done this with the same spirit as on way; but that I suppose is natural. Maybe I'm just naive in expecting life to be as fulfilling as a camino, and I'm being unrealistic. Possibly this is one reason why I keep returning.

Thanks for your comments!

Buen camino

Oh my dear Atlantic !

How difficult this must be for you. I wish that there was a way to offer advice that was as simple as how to avoid blisters. Clearly, the disconnect between the Camino experience and applying it to "ordinary" living is something that is of great concern to you. I suspect that you are not alone in feeling this way.

IMHO, for however wonderful the Camino experience is, its true value is in "bringing it home". Defining that "value" and applying it on a daily basis is something that requires guidance from those who have been successful in doing so. While I must stop short of saying it cannot be done alone, I feel safe in expressing the opinion that it is a lot easier to do with the help of others who are actually doing it successfully.

I would encourage you by pointing out that 21 years of following the Way is enough to ensure that the Camino has some how, some way, infused itself in you to the extent that you are different for having walked. I trust that if you examine your actions, rather than your feelings, you will find that you are indeed living the Camino every day.

Ultreya, mi amigo !

[unadara]

Alan
It is hard to reply to your message without a detailed history, I am reluctant to do that. Small hints, many Irish people of my age have issues with the Roman Catholic Church, and have not been practicing in the recent past. I had a Convent education and a very strong childhood belief. Recently a dear friend said she was going to Lourdes on pilgrimage and I went with her. I went directly on to the Camino. I believe that my heart and mind was open and I was called to ask myself was I able for this "task". The task was dual-finishing the Camino and of working hard at returning to my faith and trying to be true to myself and my abilities. I have to work harder as you say and I am now being called to work harder than I could have imagined on return home to my family.
I was blessed by meeting a devout pilgrim who walked with us most of the Way. We went together to Eunate, the Abbey at Canas (if Judy had not been so for it, my husband would not have agreed to the detour), we fell behind our group. Because we fell behind we met another devout pilgrim who chose his place to live in Spain based on the Community and it's Christian beliefs. We all finished the Camino together in Santiago. The Rosary was a complete surprise as it was my husband who received the invite and ushered us in the church to stay (I was hoping for a celebratory drink at that stage). I pray that I will retain the peace and keep the faith I have regained.
Thank You so much for the opportunity to put this into words.