[Gocamino] Pondering...

[Sue Kenney]

Kathy

I would love to add to the replies. Right now I am on a deadline so I don't 
have much time
to dedicate to this but I am reading the replies.

I went on a totally spiritual journey the first time and the way I prepared 
was by doing a year long program to
develop my sense of being. I worked on how I could create my own reality and 
let go of past behaviours. I did a lot
of meditation, yoga and competed in the sport of rowing. (I think rowing was 
the biggest preparation for the journey not just
physically, but emotionally.  If you want to hear part of my Camino/rowing 
story go to http://godboxcafe.com)

Catholic upbringing was triggered. I had what I call my own miracle on Mont 
Cebreiro. I believe the preparation I did
led to a profound journey that ultimately changed my life.

The second walk on the Portuguese route I did just before Easter weekend. I 
was sent with an Eagle Feather given
to me by a native who had a dream about me. I managed to connect my 
spirituality with religion and the Creator. I walked immediately
after finishing writing the manuscript for my first book. This was my 
preparation.

Also, I did a 7-day grape fast before each walk to cleanse my body.

I think that preparing spiritually had a direct impact on my journey.

Sue
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kathy Gower" <kathygower at hotmail.com>
To: <goCamino at oakapple.net>
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] Pondering...


>I have received a few responses already (!) and I can see why people might
> not want to reply to this very personal posting regarding spiritual
> experiences (not religious)  in a wider forum.  I chose goCamino rather 
> than
> a larger group for that purpose.
>
> When I thought of preparation for a pilgrimage, it meant to me, with a 
> great
> deal of naivete and enthusiasm, packing lists, maps, bits of history,
> cultural orientation and logistics. I searched list serves (at that time 
> the
> UCLA group that preceded this goCamino) and thought I was prepared.
>
> Years later, I see that it was my whole background as a catholic  that may
> have been one of the biggest preparations as I easily fell into the 
> pilgrim
> masses, staying at religious hostels (Roncesvalles to begin with!), and 
> for
> the small insights that accompanied sitting in the still quiet of some of
> the chapels, etc.  It doesn't mean to say that there is where I had my
> deeply spiritual experiences...those hapened between people and in 
> solitude
> under the roof of the sky without the religious trappings.
>
> However, I was on a path that had been tread for centuries for primarily
> religious reasons, "Wife of Bath" and other Chauncerian pilgrims aside. 
> It
> was a karmic path probably before that as well, in pre-Christian times.
>
> I guess my question has to do with preparation, or lack of it.  I did not
> consciously prepare in the manner of say Joyce Rupp or Lee Honaicki, and 
> yet
> my pilgrimage has altered all aspects of my life since.  Is there a
> correlation bewteen spiritual preparation (something often overlooked) and
> spiritual experience, or does that often come unbidden in these times?
>
> Is spiritual preparation also a necessity or is it enough to be truly open
> without any studied or prescribed approach?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Gocamino mailing list
> Gocamino at oakapple.net
> http://mailman.oakapple.net/mailman/listinfo/gocamino
>