Why anyone decides to walk 799 kilometer trek across northern Spain’s historical pilgrimage known as the Camino de Santiago has been documented in books, “YouTube” films, and movies. For many it starts out as a hiking trip, but as I was told by an older man from Boston walking his seventh Camino, “many start out hikers and end up pilgrims”. There are as many reasons to walk the Camino as there are footprints on the path of the El Camino : To find purpose or new direction in one’s life, to honor a loved one who has passed, to let go of life’s burdens which have laden your life with suffering and loss.
The essence of the walk is a collective purpose each day to walk the distance. Interestingly no matter why you walk the Camino, there is this strong connection to the present moment which connects the pilgrims to each other; a connection which transcends culture, language, knowledge, wealth, wellness and gender. There is a knowing by each pilgrim of the purpose without even a word of discussion.
The Camino Frances is the most traveled present day Camino to Santiago de Compostela. (There are other starting points.) This century old pilgrimage starts in a small European postcard of a French village, St Jean Pied de Port and ends at grand Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at the front of the Cathedral. It is estimated that over 250,000 people will walk the Camino each year.
Based upon a general understanding of the Camino journey. It is broken down into three distinct but related phases physical, mental and spiritual. The first two weeks is all about the body. No matter how fit you think you are, the first two weeks are grueling. Your back hurts, legs burn, your blisters start to form your feet swell and burn from the pain. You notice every step, every incline or decline in terrain. In addition, the weather can beat on you. The cold of the mountains penetrates your bones and makes your hands and feet feel brittle. However, each day you get stronger. Within the next two weeks you enter the next phase – mental. Your body has adjusted to the routine. Now the terrain is less punishing. It becomes flat, generic, and nondescript. Your mind begins to wander. Scenes from your past began to roll across your mind’s eye. This is where your unfinished mental business begins to come into focus. This phase is not for the faint of heart or the non-reflective. Past events playout in your mind, for example, during my husband’s decline the daily stress was taxing. A level of suppressed anger and resentment would crop up in my attitude. The pain of that memory and his understanding was crushing to relive. But relive I did and eventually came to forgiveness. After you have completed all your homework from your unfinished mental business, you pass into the final phase – spiritual understanding. Through the pain of mental exercises of past behaviors or acknowledgement of yours and others human short comings comes forgiveness and understanding not only of yourself but of others as well. A beautiful state of acceptance and peace is obtained. An openness to what ” is” is now available to you.
,,,,,,,,,,The next posting reveals why and how I came to walk the Camino and all the adventures in between,,,,,,,,
