Rock Cairns

[Sue Kenney]

Marion,

This is a beautiful description. Thankyou.

Sue

John Topping wrote:

> 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
> >