Rock Cairns

[Sue Kenney]

Wondering if anyone can enlighten me about the significance and history
of the rock cairns along the Camino. I was told these stones were
sometimes referred to as "sorrow stones. At the monestary in Samos, the
Mother Superior told us to carry a stone and place your anger or fear
"into" a stone.  The same can be done by putting your sorrow "into" a
stone. The stone is then placed on a rock cairn,  with the intent that
you leave some of your sorrow behind.

I was so impressed by this idea that each day I left a little of my
sorrow on the Camino, as well as a little of the sorrow of many people
in my life. After 29 days of this, I didn't have a lot of sorrow left to
deal with when I came home. Upon my return I told my friends and family
what I had done for them. I noticed they began to believe that some of
their sorrow was gone, left on the Camino. What a wonderful gift.

It's my understanding the Inuits and the Vikings had a similar ritual.

If anyone can help me to understand more about this I would be very
grateful.

Sue