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First some back story before my philosophical question to the forum.
Like many others, I watched the movie, The Way, and was intrigued and motivated to someday venture on a Camino. The movie came out shortly after my son returned from an attempt on the PCT here on the West Coast of the USA, where he was on the trail for many months. His adventure sparked my desire for a long distance trek and the "luxury" accommodations of the Camino structure were more to my liking than carrying my food and shelter on my back for months.
So in 2015, when same son invited me to join him on a bike trek that ended in Santiago, I flew to Madrid and joined him in Pamplona to cycle to SdC. That "Camino" adventure was wonderful, but left me still wanting for a trek by foot.
In 2017 I flew to Lisbon with a friend and began on foot from Porto. Unfortunately, a severe case of shin splints set in on day 3, and my walking was limited to 1-5km/day; the balance of that Camino by bus, taxi or train to eventually end in SdC, without a Compostela.
I find myself still longing for a Camino, the walking of a long distance.
I have been reading a bit about other long distance treks throughout the world, though there does not seem to be nearly as much support or infrastructure as there is in Spain. And if my travel funds are limited, one could make a case for expanding exposure to other areas of this big globe; as I have been to Spain twice now. and yet... here I am, reading the Forums each week and still longing.
So my question that I hope others might help me answer:
Why the Camino de Santiago? Why do others return again and again? How do you explain to others this desire? What is this calling?
Thank you, @davebugg . This is essentially why I walked. I discovered so much I did not know, both internally and externally.For many, a pilgrimage is the seeking of something missing inside of ourselves.
I have a long history of backpacking, including thru hiking the PCT and the Colorado trails. I spend hundreds of miles during the spring-fall seasons in the Cascades, Olympics, and the Rockies.
To me, the Camino is no more like wilderness backpacking than baking cookies is like running a commercial bakery. Sure, there are crossover commonalities; but, in the end, there is a world of difference.
In the movie you watched (The Way), the walk was not the main focus; the main focus of the movie was why each of the characters were doing Camino, and how the Camino changed them.
The walk.... the 800 kms to Santiago de Compostela and then onto Muxia .... was just the backdrop for their stories. Yes, they enjoyed the scenery, the architecture, the culture, the traditions, the ambiance, etc; but all of that was way to the back of the bus as far as why they did Camino.
Many, like myself, have spiritual and religious reasons for doing Camino. Others are dealing with emotions, such as grief at the loss of loved ones, jobs, or relationships. Some do it as an expression of gratitude to a higher power for how their life has turned out. Some, because it brings them closer to their God as they make their way to the shrine of St James to pay their respects.
For many, a pilgrimage is the seeking of something missing inside of ourselves.
The Camino has been brilliantly described as "a walking meditation" and as "praying with your feet, each step a prayer".
As you said, there are lots of tourist-based long distance walks around the globe. What is sad is that increasingly, tourists are looking at Camino as a cheap vacation infrastructure and not as an instrument to help them deal with some spiritual or inward goal or turmoil. This increasing tourist traffic makes it difficult for pilgrims, who rely on the inexpensive Camino infrastructure, to find the inexpensive accomodations that they depend on to help them afford to be on a pilgrimage.
For me the Camino was like the perfect storm of my interests. I've been interested in medieval history and culture since my teens. My interest in Spain came a bit later - I lived there for about a year and a half when I was 25. Later still, my interests turned to the more spiritual. The Camino combines all three. Others will have completely different reasons for being attracted to the Camino: Christian religious motivations, a desire for a physical challenge or a long walk with good supporting infrastructure, a cheap European holiday, etc., etc., etc.
But what originally calls one to the Camino isn't necessarily what keeps one coming back again and again. I think that is more likely to be things like: a desire to leave the "regular world" and enter a space of simplicity and routine, activity and purpose; looking forward to the society of the Camino - other pilgrims, hospitaleros and friendly supportive locals and the camaraderie and mutual support that pilgrim society affords; the opportunity to free and open your mind and spirit to thoughts, feelings and experiences that will help one grow.
To "enter a space of simplicity and routine, activity and purpose" that right there says it all for me! The only thing I would add is Gratitude - so looking forward to my first Camino to experience all of this ! May 31st here I come!
blogging at: mycaminosresolve.com
I love this!enter a space of simplicity and routine, activity and purpose; looking forward to the society of the Camino - other pilgrims, hospitaleros and friendly supportive locals and the camaraderie and mutual support that pilgrim society affords; the opportunity to free and open your mind and spirit to thoughts, feelings and experiences that will help one grow.
Because Santiago is there!!! And for some is very important to go to Santiago de Compostela to pay respect to the Apostolo. Wy you go to the cinema?First some back story before my philosophical question to the forum.
Like many others, I watched the movie, The Way, and was intrigued and motivated to someday venture on a Camino. The movie came out shortly after my son returned from an attempt on the PCT here on the West Coast of the USA, where he was on the trail for many months. His adventure sparked my desire for a long distance trek and the "luxury" accommodations of the Camino structure were more to my liking than carrying my food and shelter on my back for months.
So in 2015, when same son invited me to join him on a bike trek that ended in Santiago, I flew to Madrid and joined him in Pamplona to cycle to SdC. That "Camino" adventure was wonderful, but left me still wanting for a trek by foot.
In 2017 I flew to Lisbon with a friend and began on foot from Porto. Unfortunately, a severe case of shin splints set in on day 3, and my walking was limited to 1-5km/day; the balance of that Camino by bus, taxi or train to eventually end in SdC, without a Compostela.
I find myself still longing for a Camino, the walking of a long distance.
I have been reading a bit about other long distance treks throughout the world, though there does not seem to be nearly as much support or infrastructure as there is in Spain. And if my travel funds are limited, one could make a case for expanding exposure to other areas of this big globe; as I have been to Spain twice now. and yet... here I am, reading the Forums each week and still longing.
So my question that I hope others might help me answer:
Why the Camino de Santiago? Why do others return again and again? How do you explain to others this desire? What is this calling?
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