Learnings from Camino, Immediate vs. Later

[Kathy Gower]

Ah Richard, I'm not laughing, but I am grinning...

When I did my PhD dissertation of the Camino, it was on how people
incorporate their pilgrimage experiences into their daily lives....and much
of that learning does not show up until one can express to others the
essence of that experience.

Some knowledge comes through experience, such as doing the Camino, by
whatever form.  Other learning comes from reflecting on those
experiences-propositional knowing, if you will...learning that takes on more
as it is reflected upon, connected to other events, etc.  It deepens still
more when people can actually present to others what that experience
is---and this doesn't need to be "just" storytelling--but also drawing,
painting, poetry, etc. and have it received by them

My premise is that when an individual can actually go out and do something
meaningful (to them) with the knowledge or learning that they've made, then
they have incorporated that experience...in corp-orate meaning to make it
part of their body, so to speak.

Sounds like you've had some of that experience...









>From: Richard Ferguson <peregrinoaATT.NET>
>Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
>To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
>Subject: Learnings from Camino, Immediate vs. Later
>Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 20:34:26 +0000
>
>When I made my solo pilgrimage to Santiago, I was a little disappointed.  I
>did
>not receive a great flash of knowledge or wisdom or spirituality during the
>camino.
>
>I talked to my aunt about this when I got home.  (She is also my spiritual
>advisor with a PHD in theology.)  She told me not to worry about it, that
>some of
>the benefits would show up later.  I was skeptical.
>
>Six months later, I finally figured out what I had learned from the Camino.
>Don't laugh, but I learned that I should ask for help when I needed it, and
>that
>I would receive help if I asked.  That may not sound very profound, but for
>someone who has always been ultra self-reliant, this was a big thing to
>learn,
>and probably worth the trip.
>
>I was wondering if other people had similar things happen to them, that the
>most
>important benefit from the pilgrimage only became apparent long after you
>got
>home.
>
>Richard

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