HolaPeregrina
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Aug 2023
Hi all. I recently finished the Camino Frances and hesitated to post this (because I truly did enjoy my time, meet wonderful people and have some life-changing insights) but have decided to go for it, as I'd like to see how I can get more out of the Camino in the future and am also wondering if anyone had a similar experience as I did.
So here's the thing (while reiterating the caveat above) -- I think I expected to find a lot of people on the Camino who are doing soul searching, asking big questions, seeking meaningful conversations and connections, and overall doing the Camino because they are seeking a deeper experience than that which normal life / routine often provides. I guess I was expecting a similar vibe you get on say a healing type of retreat, but on foot. Instead, I was surprised by how many conversations often revolved around things like - starting point and date, KMs done per day (sometimes in a fairly competitive way), albergue details, food, drink, etc. This is of course normal small talk to an extent, but it often didn't go deeper and, at many points, the Camino reminded me more of traveling the hostel circuit in my twenties or just adventure travel than a soul journey. I don't know what I expected but maybe more... sitting alongside the Camino and taking it in instead of racing to the next place, meditating, journaling, soul-baring conversations, soaking in milestone moments instead of snapping a selfie and running on? It also seemed many people formed groups and sort of partied their way through the Camino, creating Camino "families", though I spent time with some of these and found the interactions to be fairly superficial.
I did end up having a meaningful journey as I found people I connected with, sought out deeper/spiritual experiences as the weeks went on and my feelings about the above turned into a sort of reflection for me - letting go of judgments (still working on this, and another reason I almost didn't post), learning to walk my own Camino and pace even if I don't feel I "belong" at times, etc. I think, actually, as a somewhat introverted, sensitive person, I can feel out of synch with our often fast-moving, achievement-oriented, eat-drink-and-be-merry culture... and I suppose I expected the Camino to be a departure from this. Instead, I found those elements very much present on the Camino and my journey became about learning to be okay with being out of synch with my surroundings, to find those with whom I do connect deeply, spend powerful time alone, and know that I am enough. These are lessons I'm familiar with, though I'm grateful for them being hammered home, and the Camino did provide
But I'm also wondering - did anyone else experience this? Is this related to doing the Frances during a busy time of year / are there other Caminos or times of year that may be better suited to what I'm seeking? Or perhaps what I'm seeking (a deep internal journey and people seeking same) is better suited to something like a meditation retreat or more remote nature hiking? Gracias
So here's the thing (while reiterating the caveat above) -- I think I expected to find a lot of people on the Camino who are doing soul searching, asking big questions, seeking meaningful conversations and connections, and overall doing the Camino because they are seeking a deeper experience than that which normal life / routine often provides. I guess I was expecting a similar vibe you get on say a healing type of retreat, but on foot. Instead, I was surprised by how many conversations often revolved around things like - starting point and date, KMs done per day (sometimes in a fairly competitive way), albergue details, food, drink, etc. This is of course normal small talk to an extent, but it often didn't go deeper and, at many points, the Camino reminded me more of traveling the hostel circuit in my twenties or just adventure travel than a soul journey. I don't know what I expected but maybe more... sitting alongside the Camino and taking it in instead of racing to the next place, meditating, journaling, soul-baring conversations, soaking in milestone moments instead of snapping a selfie and running on? It also seemed many people formed groups and sort of partied their way through the Camino, creating Camino "families", though I spent time with some of these and found the interactions to be fairly superficial.
I did end up having a meaningful journey as I found people I connected with, sought out deeper/spiritual experiences as the weeks went on and my feelings about the above turned into a sort of reflection for me - letting go of judgments (still working on this, and another reason I almost didn't post), learning to walk my own Camino and pace even if I don't feel I "belong" at times, etc. I think, actually, as a somewhat introverted, sensitive person, I can feel out of synch with our often fast-moving, achievement-oriented, eat-drink-and-be-merry culture... and I suppose I expected the Camino to be a departure from this. Instead, I found those elements very much present on the Camino and my journey became about learning to be okay with being out of synch with my surroundings, to find those with whom I do connect deeply, spend powerful time alone, and know that I am enough. These are lessons I'm familiar with, though I'm grateful for them being hammered home, and the Camino did provide
But I'm also wondering - did anyone else experience this? Is this related to doing the Frances during a busy time of year / are there other Caminos or times of year that may be better suited to what I'm seeking? Or perhaps what I'm seeking (a deep internal journey and people seeking same) is better suited to something like a meditation retreat or more remote nature hiking? Gracias