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Cruz de Ferro - Your Stone

martin1ws

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2018; (2020); 2021; 2022; 2023
Has your stone for the Cruz de Ferro a story?

The story of mine is this: In the last summer I was with my family in the Toscana. We visited the Abbey of Sant'Antimo...
as several times before. We like the scenery and the abbey.
It is near the Via Francigena (about 10km in the west of Bagno Vignoni). I thought it would be nice to find a stone there... and a few minutes later I saw it. I liked the stone and as I picked it up I was surprised how less weight it had... I think it is 'tufa'.

Now it is on my desk and waits for the Camino.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_of_Sant'Antimo


 
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Mine is one that I picked up as a child. I was about five years old and kept it in the pocket of my winter jacket for a while, like many children do at that age. When my mom was about to put my jacket in the washing machine, she found the little stone and wanted to throw it out. I remember getting angry and I put the rock in a box of what I called treasures. Just found that box a couple of weeks ago and remembered that rock. It aas still there. Thought it would be the perfect stone to bring. By throwing away that particular stone I can maybe loose some old fears.
 

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Altus 24 Liters daypack (DENON 24 H30)
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There is already a stone there from Jerusalem, another from the Sea of Galilee, and yet another from the Tabor Mountain site of the Transfiguration in which Saint James participated-placed by yours truly. Two small comments, 1) just before your arrival to the Cruz de Ferro/Hierro there is a small monument to those who fell 1936-1939 - do stop for a minute there for a moment of contemplation. No pasarán! may no longer be relevant but 500,000 Spanish people died then and should be remembered. 2) By all means leave your stone but resist the temptation to also leave notes, photos, mementos, post cards, toys, plastic anything, or inspiring thoughts on paper. After a day or two of hard rainstorms the climb up often sadly resembles a trash heap - not why you have come.
 
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Abbey de Sant' Antimo in Val d'Orcia...? Wonderful spot!
 
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Transport luggage-passengers.
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Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles
Camino Jewellery
A selection of Camino Jewellery
I realised that I had so very many burdens that I could never manage to carry enough stones to represent them all . A film canister filled with sand from my local beach seemed to hold enough 'pebbles' to do the job
 
Peg brought a stone taken from the foundation of our house. I carried three! From home I had a stone pulled from a deep hole that our dog dug under some bushes and a smooth white one taken from a beach on Cape Cod. At Monserrat I picked up a black stone to bring for my brother who was dying of cancer. At the Cruz de Ferro I decided to take the white stone with me all the way to Finisterre. I left it at a western beach so if it wanted to go back home it could swim.
 
I made up my "stone"... A couple months ago. Found some railroad spikes while doing some practice/training hikes along an abandoned railroad line. I saved them for my stone/burden, because they reminded me of the nails of Jesus. I then got some VERY old barb wire from our original family ranch to wrap around the spikes to represent the crown of thorns. I'll see if I can figure out how to attach a photo... I plan to start walking on Monday, God willing, I'll place it at Cruz de Ferro in a few weeks!!!
 

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Shortly after my late-wife Kim was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 we met a Romany lady near Canterbury Cathedral who gave us a small glass pebble as a symbol of hope. I carried it to every session of chemo and radiotherapy we attended together where we held it for luck. I knew come the end that I would have to find some way to part with it. Early in 2016 I came across the history of the various Caminos and in particular the story where, for centuries, pilgrims had carried a stone from their homeland and deposited it at the base of the Cruz Ferro. It seemed like the right thing to do with our little pebble and I discussed it with Kim in her final hours. Before she lost consciousness for the last time she kissed the pebble and wished it Buen Camino for its journey. I committed my pilgrimage along the Camino Frances in 2017 to honour Kim’s life.
 
I did not do the Camino Frances - so the Cruz de Hierro was not on my journey. But a friend was really struggling while I was away, so I picked up a stone and brought it home to give to her, as a reminder that her burden was shared and she did not have to carry it alone. Perhaps one day she can place her own stone...
 
Picked up my stone a few years back and engraved my late wife's name on it. Year of birth and year she passed, grief knows no time line, my symbol to move on is to place the stone at the Cruz do ferro to honor her and move on. Wish I could remember where I picked it up, but doesn't matter. Cheers
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
I carried 2 stones picked from a dear friend’s (Kathie) yard. The first stone I cut a small picture of my parents, decoupaged it on the stone to preserve the photo. The second stone I placed the name of Kathie’s son who sadly, committed suicide in 2012. I was at the Cruz de Ferro with only a few people present so for me it was a wonderful time for reflection and prayer.
 

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I carried six stones. Mine was a beautiful piece of quartz crystal given to me by a woman who told me about my past lives and the spirits who guide and protect me. That one carried the weight of a problem I had been burdened with for the previous 4 months.

I carried one for my parents and brother, plus another four large ones at the request of my mother. Those ones were for friends of the family who were unwell. It was nice finally to be unburdened.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I brought a beautiful shining chestnut. When I return in 20 years, I will rest under the shade of my chestnut tree – and everybody will be welcome
 
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