[Gocamino] lessons, insights on camino?

[Kathy Gower]

I have been on a few different pilgrimages and each one is unique, yet all 
share a few similarities..

For me there is a sense of comraderie with all of those who have traveled 
before me and with those who will some day.  The openess one feels while on 
pilgrimage is refreshing and a great "souvenir" to carry once home again.  I 
searched constantly for faith and that inquiry led to the most amazing 
meetings, whether with a companion (or my sisters) or alone.

Like you, Wendy, I never felt truly alone, even when physically solo, and 
yet the solitude was one of the Camino gifts.  My last pilgrimage on the 200 
miles between Moissac and StJPP was a challenge in that accomodations were 
few and far between and the time of year, while absolutely glorious, made 
for few pilgrims on the trail.  That particular area is one of the most 
isolated I found in France--not so many towns of any size and spectacular 
churches like Conques just didn't exist.

However, I think the kindness of strangers was heartwarming, as it always 
is, and one of my ponderings now concerns my probing if I am that kind, 
cheerful and helpful to strangers in my very urban town.

Perhaps one of the reasons we cling to our experiences of the Camino is 
because they are so special in that bracketed, slowed down time...they are 
able to be appreciated and savored and we have taken the time to attend to 
and listen to what's around us.

Here's to keeping that way of being alive when we're "home" again.


From: "Wendy MORRIS" <wendy.morris at ecu.edu.au>
To: <gocamino at oakapple.net>
Subject: [Gocamino] lessons, insights on camino?
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:03:10 +0800

Hello all,



I've just returned from the most wonderful and the most difficult
experience of my life...my first Camino (Frances). And I did it alone!



I found every second an absolute wonder; even the seemingly dreadful
situations I found myself in from time to time, ie walking beside a
highway in wind and hail with buses and trucks belting past on one side,
a ploughed field  (potter's clay!) on the other side, shoe lace undone
and dying for a pee!! Also didn't expect it so didn't pack my stuff in
plastic.....I found myself just stopping and laughing.....very
hard!After all I'd decided to do this!!!!



It's quite difficult to put into words (as you all would know), however
a few things I think I learnt and developed along the way were
flexibility and innovation......... and to trust and believe in my
INTUITION!  This latter has been a great gift. I found following my
intuition very easy for some reason and it never failed to amaze me how
things turned out just "right"....when I listened and followed the
promptings. I also found an open attitude to all experiences was another
gift I seemed to be blessed with from the beginning (even an over
friendly monk and a man who tried to get too familiar in a church!!). In
fact I felt all along that somehow, even though I was walking alone...I
wasn't really. It was the strangest and most mystical thing......



Has anyone out there found this to be the case on their Caminos??

Did any of you find you learn some profound lessons, gained insights?



A big thankyou to all for encouragement and help especially Kathy G.,
Rosina, Grant, Javier, Sue.



Warmest wishes to all





Wendy Morris

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