is it us being nostalgic for an ever rosier past or has the Camino really become less than it was? ...
surely the Camino is still the Camino ...
when did the Camino as pilgrimage become a returning thing? Wasn't it once that one did it just once?
That's a very good point, and food for thought for us returnees. Maybe we are the ones "taking advantage" of the camino!
Thanks everyone to help me think further... All the following post is IMHO
The Camino is a changing thing in itself...
It's had many designs, many purposes and many faces through time... I often think of it as a reflection of societies through History. The nowadays Camino has
nothing to do with what it was 5, 10 , 50 or 100 years ago. And before that, the Camino as we understand it today just simply didn't exist... And I won't even talk about the pre-15th century "Camino", as it is so mixed up with legends and so far from our modern conception of the Way that it's a true headache to think about!
Still, today, the Camino is the Camino, but our perceptions of it and our expectations toward it do change through time. I believe the Camino only reflects that fact and, as things change faster nowadays, we returnees do see a change in the features of the Camino... whether in good or bad, whether we like it or not!
We are nostalgic, but the Camino just
is.
I now think it's quite irrelevant to compare the Now-Way to the Before-Way in the hope to make sense of it. It helps to understand how things came up and changed, but that's about it: to have a slight grasp at what happens, we need to think at a bigger scale.
Today, many worry about the mercantile/capitalist/touristic aspect of the Camino. But isn't it the perfect reflect of the way our society works today? Just like the 12th c. "Camino" reflected the pro-Reconquista propaganda or like the 1940s rebirth of the Compostelan tradition under Franco reflected his ambition to reconnect with Spain "glorious" past. Most obviously don't like what is going on now, but aren't we all a bit responsible of it, as members of the pilgrim community in a whole?
Then at the same time, we have opportunities today that are unprecedented in History (popularized freedom and rights, transportation, means, etc.) as well as a great thirst for spirituality. This is also reflected on the Camino: we are
a lot coming to walk it, we are a lot to seek "something" there, we do return on the Way, we do enjoy it several time if we please, we do experiment/share/like the spiritual dimension it offers today...
When I stop to consider it, I think that nowadays Camino is actually amazing. It's a living testimony of our search of a "spiritual something" as well as an opportunity to face our flows, as a society. It's attracting many kind of people, who are either open to "something else" or pressing "normal ways". It shows us to what point we like and stand for nowadays ways. It's offering a chance to increase awareness and to do it in a cooperative way. It's pointing out what doesn't work for humanity and what we could become tomorrow.
David's story is a perfect part and example of this... From before he arrived on the Way to after he left it, he reflected through himself and his time on the Camino the story of our time.
Can we take advantage of the best aspects of our societies and ourselves? Yes, I believe we can and should. Can we cry over a "better" Before and blame the dark sides of our societies and ourselves? Yes, I believe we can... but shouldn't! We are all Davids and Suzys. We all have a part to play. We all contribute to Now right now. We can all make Tomorrow a place we love... or a place we want to leave.
Just some thoughts...
Thanks again everyone to help me think further
Buen Camino!