Rock Cairns

[John Topping]

I am unaware of the significance of the rock cairns along the camino.  We
did have experience of them in Nepal when travelling the Everest Circuit,
especially at Tugla the memorial to the Everest dead.  There were many large
"chortens" or cairns commemorating those who had perished on the mountain -
such as Rob Hall, Scott Fisher and the many others. Surrounding these were
many smaller piles of rocks placed one on top of the other.  Several of our
sheraps stopped an placed another rock on top of a particular one - we were
told these were the memorials of sherpa guides that they had known who had
perished supporting those who were attempting to climb Everest.  There were
chortens all along the route many with prayer shawls or the traditional
prayer flags draped on them.  We made one for our son, our daughter and our
best friends - all living - we placed our prayer flags on each one with a
special prayer believing as the Nepalese do that whenever with wind blew our
prayers would be blown on the wind to God.
Marion.

----- Original Message -----
From: Sue Kenney <sue.kenneyaSYMPATICO.CA>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:40 AM
Subject: Rock Cairns


> 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
>