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I absolutely blubbed in the pilgrim office when I received my Compostela! It was the question "and why did you walk the Camino" - took me by surprise and pierced me straight to the heart and one is unable to lie or be flippant - absolutely blubbed, red face, tissues - almost embarrassing, especially as two women next to me had just casually picked up theirs, still chatting to each other, as if they had collected their dry-cleaning ... oh dear, it is coming back now!
I had so many tearful moments on the Camino this past summer. The first was in the pilgrim's office in Saint Jean Pied de Port as I received my first stamp on my Credencial. I was so overwhelmed by the realization that there I was, after a year of planning, following in the footsteps of the millions that had walked before me. The second was that evening in Orisson, surrounded by fellow pilgrims and sharing food, wine, and conversations with would-be strangers that were already becoming my friends, the third was...I, too, am very moved by these posts. Thank you very much for such wonderful stories.
I was reading with much engagement a blog by Solitary Walker and it struck a chord. A number of pilgrims have told me of this experience of finding ourselves in tears. "It's quite normal" his friend said.
What about you?
There's a post in my camino spirituality blog about the gift of tears, http://www.the-raft-of-corks.com/blog/gift-tears/
Well I cried under the aurora in Abisko 2 weeks ago as well. I simply cries when I'm touched by something. I though I would cry when I came to the cathedral after CF but no, not after Finisterre/Muxía either but after CI as some parts of me didn't want to go home again. I wanted to start over again and again. I'll be back next summer. But not for 5 weeks but a shorter one. But I don't think I came there with a "hurt" I came for the possibility to spend 5 weeks with me, myself and I. 5 weeks of doing the best I know, walking. And to have time to think of where I'm in a religious perspective. But yes it touched my soul and gave me an addict I wasn't prepared forBea - you are NOT a "cry baby." You are a strong woman who persevered through all her accumulated burdens until the Camino helped you heal. I would be willing to venture a guess that you felt MUCH better afterwards - right? If we walk, simply walk, with no notion of how it SHOULD be, the Camino will change us from within. I found that is just the way it seems to work.
Even if you can only do a Camino once in your life, it will affect you for the better. Once you return to your "other life" you will have the mark of the Camino on your psyche - your soul (if you will) forever.
I consider myself blessed that I am able to attempt at least one Camino per year. There are other contributors on this forum who do at least that many. In fact, there is one "mature" woman who has done the Camino Frances in full or in segments NINE times. Philip Wren had done eleven segments, and completed three full Camino Frances treks before he passed... Personally, I would be satisfied to "live" along the Camino, perpetually on Camino...but that is another story...
I am humbled among the greatness and accomplishments of others in this forum... And so, I simply place one foot in front of the other and repeat approximately one-million times...
"The journey IS the destination."
Ok.
Stop it now.
I'm exhausted from trying to hold my 'manly' tears back.
SOB!
"Ever had a memory that sneaks out of your eye, and rolls down your cheek ....."
What a lovely thing to write, and, YES, I have had several memories just like that which you described Petro..."Ever had a memory that sneaks out of your eye, and rolls down your cheek ....."
Thank you, Viranani, for re-renewing this thread! Maybe it will become a yearly thing. I've enjoyed re-reading for the third time!Searching for something else...and this thread came up. Not what I intended but it's gorgeous...and deserves re-airing and renewing. Especially now when we are quite understandably focused on recent unsettling events and their affects on the Camino..........
Hi Petro - thanks for sharing your feelings when in the church at Rabanal. There's something so special about this church - being there for Vespers - and to hear the beautiful chanting by the monks - especially Father Javier who has the most wonderful chanting voice - is something that brought me to tears and still has the power to do so. It's stayed with me ever since that time and the memory is so clear.Viranani - when I walked into the church at Rabanal - the same thing happened to me, I started weeping and weeping. Maybe I was already thinking about and preparing myself for the moment I would put down my stone at the foot of the cross.
I filled up with emotion while talking to the two Irish Amigos after receiving my Compostela in September 2012. I was delighted to see Sheila again when in the Pilgrim's Office last September and at the English Mass.
I'm so glad someone pulled this up again.
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