One of the most common questions that pilgrims ask each other when they are on the Camino is, “Are you walking for spiritual reasons or some other purpose?” My experience from the first time I walked a portion of the Camino Portuguese was that the results were split almost in half.
This walk originated about 1,200 years ago as a spiritual journey exclusively. Christians would walk “The Way” over the course of months to visit the tomb of the Apostle Saint James. In Spain, he is known as Santiago. This tradition continued for the entire time but was limited to very religious. Only recently, within the last 30 years or so, have pilgrims returned en masse to walk the way of St. James. In addition to pilgrims, all types of outdoor enthusiasts have joined the walk. Unlike other trails, over the centuries, accommodations known as albergues have popped up, providing a bed and a meal for weary travelers. So this path is perfect for any outdoor enthusiast due to the infrastructure created along the way.
There is cooperation between the two groups, and no bias or animus exists for one over the other. It is really quite beautiful. All are welcome, and everyone is reminded to “walk their own Camino.” This is an expression created out of a desire for each person to stay in their own lane and “judge not” the other travelers.
My spiritual preparation started last month. Actually, the first hint of a desire occurred twenty-five years ago when I first learned of this ancient pilgrimage. My desire has been a steady itch, one for which I was never able to reach due to little things like a career and raising a family. Taking five weeks for a solo adventure, regardless of the spiritual benefits, would have been completely selfish, and I could not even have thought about it.
I have written about the physical preparation multiple times, but how does one prepare for something of this sort, spiritually? I imagine that there is a proper way to do it. There must be. But like most things, I prefer to figure it out on my own. I have found a great resource on YouTube, but its focus is not necessarily on the spiritual side; they don’t shy away from it, but it is not their intent to guide pilgrims in a specific manner.
I have read books by pilgrims who all shared their insights and lessons, and these are helpful, but each person has a unique journey, and no two people will have the same experience. So these act as models for me, instead of rubrics, which I will follow.
Of course, I have spent time in quiet prayer and reflection, and I am learning that I still need to trust God and not my own abilities. This is one of the reasons that I am not freaking out about my wonky knees lasting for 500 miles.
I should add that if you are at all put off by my discussing my faith in this post, feel free to skip this one, and I will see you in a week. But as I mentioned in my Original Content Written by a Flawed Human Being post a few weeks ago, all I can promise you is my authentic self, and I wouldn’t be real with you to gloss over or omit my faith. That being said, and I just did, it is not my intention to recruit anyone to my faith or my deeply held beliefs.
I came across two books that have nothing to do with the pilgrimage but everything to do with spiritual preparation. Both are very helpful, and each is easy to read. The first is quite dense and challenging – Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, and the second is more contemporary – Discernment: Reading the Signs of Life by Henri Nouwen. I will finish both of these in the next month and have downloaded them each onto my e-reader to bring with me for encouragement and reading during breaks.
I will travel with two journals. One is written by the aforementioned YouTube couple and is loaded with prompts for each day. Since they have walked the same path multiple times, their insight into what the pilgrim is going through at various points will be very helpful. The other is a blank Moleskine notebook with thoughts and observations of my own making. I did this last time too, and the process of writing each day forced me to be more reflective than I otherwise would be. I am hopeful that this insight will help me to be more discerning along the way.
As it relates to the more formal religious practices, I plan on going to Mass as often as I am able, not just on Sundays. If it is anything like the last time, a pilgrim will pass close to a dozen churches each day. Last time, I managed to attend Mass four out of the seven days. My newly developing Spanish skills will be a help, but the liturgy itself is universal in all languages and recognizable even to someone with first-grade-level Spanish. I found the churches were very accustomed to strangers and transients, and I never felt unwelcome.
Finally, although the rosary has never been a favorite devotion of mine, I am feeling a pull in that direction. Over the years, I have learned to trust that pull, that quiet voice, that discreet nudge, so that is what I will do. To get in the habit, I will begin a daily rosary through Lent and carry that through my Camino.
The meditations on the life and works of Christ, mixed with the repetition of rote prayers, lend themselves very well to the rhythm of walking, with rhythm being the operative word. Walking multiple miles in silence without end is very contemplative. Breathing becomes a pattern, the sound of footfalls, with hiking poles adding a certain melody to the mix. Very little mental energy is necessary, but for the undulating terrain, which requires a modicum of attention. The last thing I need is to turn an ankle whilst praying.
For now, that is my plan and how I am preparing spiritually for this grand adventure. I will be open to modifications in the next few months, if I feel a change is required, but I feel good about my plan, and I am open to hearing whatever God has to say. I imagine that may be a post for next summer. Stay tuned.