PC #76 – What is it about the Camino?

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I did a walk.

I didn’t know why I wanted to do the walk, but I did it.

It hurt.

I still hurts.

Three months later it still hurts.

And I want to do it again.

And still I don’t know why.

Each day I write about it. Each day I think about it.

I got a ring. I’m writing a book. I’m taking a tour.

What is it about the Camino?

27 thoughts on “PC #76 – What is it about the Camino?”

  1. Bill,

    It is quite the phenomena!

    I walked the Camino last year, I am leaving for the Camino in a few short weeks. And I am Pilgriim Numero Uno on the PGS 2014 Tour. I think of the Camino while awake and I dream of Camino while asleep. It has become a passion of mine.

    Maybe the path is magical because it has been walked by hundreds of thousands for thousands of years.

    Maybe it is because the Camino runs along one of earth’s energy meridians (ley lines). Ley lines of the earth are said to correspond to the energy meridians of the human body.

    Maybe it is because the Camino is perfectly parallel to the Milky Way. It is believed to follow a path so powerfully charged with energy, one is more likely to have intensely spiritual/religious experiences.

    But the one thing I know for sure, the Camino is addictive.

    As I say – Once Bitten!

    Buen Camino,
    Arlene

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    • Arlene, all that and so much more,or as simple as finding ones true identity and living it and wanting to be that again and again. Hard to explain and put into words. It’s a feeling of oneness with all that is sacret. It will be interesting how this Camino is going to unfold. it is said,no matter how many times you walk, it will be different,because you are transformed already
      different,because you too are already transformed. Looking forward to walk along side

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  3. I was reminded the other day of a quote that reminds me about all of the people who walk the Camino….and the “pain” that people experience doing so: “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S. Lewis

    Is life too easy these days? Maybe we crave this honing of our spirits because we navigate a modern life that has been culled of any challenging experiences.

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    • yes me too please, commenting from my cell phone is a challenge, I cant scroll up and down to fix stuff.

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  5. But HOW is the Camino different to another long walk?

    Is it the people you meet, who are similarly drawn to it?

    Is it the soul imprint?

    Is it the ancient traditions?

    Is it the spirituality, the religiosity of it?

    Is it all of the above?

    Or is it something else – that right now at this point in our society, we need to believe in?

    That it’s an emptiness elsewhere that draws us to it?

    Bill

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    • To me, it was a known physical challenge, and beyond that I went open to whatever the Camino or the Universe wanted to give me. I had no preconceived notion and no expectations except that it would be physically demanding and a complete departure from the way I normally live my life. Like many others on here, I tended to be in control of my travels and planned everything out, but in this instance, I planned nothing beyond arriving in SJPP. I never did. Yet I enjoyed the adventure of it and the people that I met along the way. I had no overriding obsession to walk the Camino and still don’t. It is an event in my life, yes, probably to be repeated, yet it is not my life. The most beautiful thing to the Camino for me was being away from every bit of my normal day to day life and I had nothing to focus on except putting one foot in front of the other. That is what I miss the most. That is why I will do it again. For me, there is nothing any more esoteric than that. I find it very interesting hearing how so many others have a much deeper meaning from the experience, or the anticipated experience. We are all unique. Steve

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      • Bill,

        You are constantly contradicting me on my attachment to the Camino. Of course, you are the resident Camino guru, so who knows. You may be right :-). But honestly, I really don’t give it much thought. If it had a profound effect on me, and you consistently say it did, it was not because of my expectations, it was because of my complete openness. I find myself even more relaxed and even more open to whatever life brings. Of course, I might have my preferences, but actually, I am just happy to go around the next corner or over the next hill to see what adventure is in store for me. Kind of like walking the Camino where I had no idea what or who was coming up next. I just tried to show up, let go, and let God.

        Steve

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      • Hate to contradict you again…

        πŸ™‚

        But a guru is a teacher. A guru knows things.

        I learn.

        And I know nothing.

        (You teach me things Steve!)

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        • I think you are a teacher, and thus a guru, ableit a contradicting one. You have a following. You know an amazing amount. And have enormous capabilities as proven by what you have accomplished in front of our eyes.

          Steve

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  7. Ok, Bill……………you are getting answers, but not liking them? ha ha no fair!

    Here are my answers to your questions:

    But HOW is the Camino different to another long walk?

    **I became interested in long walks after attending a walking workshop at the National Wellness Conference in 2007. The gentleman had walked across the US a couple of times and had also walked winding through each of the 48 contiguous US states. He was the first person to introduce me to walking poles. NOW, I wasn’t particularly impressed by him as a person. He was arrogant and basically had the attitude, “I did something none of you EVER will do, so I am better than you.” Despite that, the romantic idea of just setting out and doing a long walk was seeded deep in my soul. When I first read about the Camino in Ken Follett’s book, Pillars of the Earth, I was fascinated with the idea of doing a religious pilgrimage.**

    Is it the people you meet, who are similarly drawn to it?

    **Yes, I am totally about the bonding that can happen among people who have a shared experience. I am also attracted to people who go against the flow of society and carve out their own way. I am also looking forward to being with people who may share a similar spiritual vision*

    Is it the soul imprint?

    **Knowing that people have done this before me is interesting, yes. It is also compelling for me to do something that most people I know haven’t done or even heard about….it is still unique in my circle of family and friends.**

    Is it the ancient traditions?

    **I am interested in the history, and will soak it up along the way. It all certainly adds color to the journey, but I don’t necessarily think it is my primary motive.**

    Is it the spirituality, the religiosity of it?

    **Yes, yes, yes….I am drawn to the Camino as I read about others’ spiritual experiences, including transformations, and also the possibility that I can attend Mass frequently, if not daily, on the pilgrimage.”

    Or is it something else – that right now at this point in our society, we need to believe in?

    **I do sense that there is a convergence of interest in pilgrimages including the Camino. Maybe it is the time of life my friends/family and I are in. Maybe it is the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Maybe it is an attraction of people to ley lines as more New Age spiritualists might say. I guess that is something I hope to see more clearly as time goes on.**

    Finally, I would like to reflect on what Steve has said…I am not sure I have focused on the why….the deep seated need to do this just “is,” and to me feels like falling in love all over again………….you know the feeling of where you just have to be with someone no matter what……….I feel like I have to do this no matter what. To dissect it isn’t necessary for me. But I tried, just for you Bill. πŸ˜‰

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    • Dear Julie –

      wow, you HAVE tried!

      (I hope it’s not because you think I’m a guru!! πŸ™‚ )

      I think all those reasons you’ve given are really solid –

      The timing of this upswing in interest in the Camino fascinates me – why now, or at least in the last 20-25 years or so. and why is it gaining popularity so fast?

      As we all know, it’s not easy, walking the Camino. there’s got to be strong reasons.

      thank you for taking this effort Julie.

      (By the way, spoke to Greg the other day. He’s working on the book cover at the moment. Thank you for that intro!)

      Bill

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  8. Maybe it’s just because you – anyone – CAN? Age or your sex doesn’t matter; material status doesn’t matter; marital status doesn’t matter; health (almost) doesn’t matter; being blind might make it hard, but certainly being deaf or mute would not stop you. There are so many barriers in today’s fast-paced, judgmental 21st century world stopping many people doing many things, so maybe being part of The Way is just something you CAN DO? πŸ™‚

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    • That’s so very true Britta –

      and there is nothing so fundamental to our very being than walking.

      Nothing more natural.

      And everyone walking one way, in one direction. towards one goal.

      Bill

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