tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523768879604689510.post1870964235539395157..comments2023-07-21T07:29:52.876-07:00Comments on The Progress of Pilgrimage: What is it like to be back? Footprints of PilgrimageMartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12374576843562876501noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523768879604689510.post-13080870820793033322009-10-08T10:17:49.127-07:002009-10-08T10:17:49.127-07:00Claire! You're a real Caminista! Your experi...Claire! You're a real Caminista! Your experience is rich and deep, and you identify some of the answers to the question: "Why do they walk?" Cleansing, sorting out, a walking retreat, a spiritual quest, a religious rhythm. And the "zone"! We felt we were there just as we walked into Santiago -- it made it very hard to stop.<br />Blessings to you as you head for the Camino again.<br />MartyMartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12374576843562876501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523768879604689510.post-53488342726312976742009-10-08T10:11:27.301-07:002009-10-08T10:11:27.301-07:00My experience is that once we reach Compostela, on...My experience is that once we reach Compostela, once we finish the Camino, the Camino starts 'walking us.'<br />I first did the Camino in 2005, leaving from Le Puy, in France. 2006, 7, and 8, we returned, starting in Roncesvalles, Somport, and Burgos. Next Tuesday, we fly back to Burgos to walk once again to Santiago.<br />Every time, the Camino is both the same and different. One reaches the 'zone' faster. The challenges, the difficulties still are there. But once again, at least for me, it is a cleansing, a sorting out, a walking retreat, a spiritual quest, a religious rhythm.<br />Then I will have to come back to daily life, a bit transformed, calmer, healed -- with the great longing of going back again, as long as my feet, legs, back are willing.<br />Thank you for your blog. It is a delight. I have just discovered it thanks to a friend who has the blog Amawalker...<br />Blessings.claire bangasserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12380558962103134334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523768879604689510.post-14586370820181758412009-10-04T17:59:35.558-07:002009-10-04T17:59:35.558-07:00Hi, Sandy! Thanks for being one of our travelers....Hi, Sandy! Thanks for being one of our travelers. And thanks for these questions. I realize I've been wondering some of the same things, but I haven't put them so clearly. You're right: reaching Santiago was both anti-climatic and undesired. We'd so fallen into a rhythm that we didn't want to stop walking. So we reached our "destination" with mixed feelings.<br />So here's what I wonder: destination is the initial motivator, but the point is the journey itself. The way was crowded, luminous, hard, surprising.<br />So here's the question: how can we integrate these "pilgrim" rhythms and "pilgrim" insights into ordinary life? We can't spend our lives on pilgrimage -- but then, we already do. Any ideas? From you or anyone else out there.<br />Thanks to you all for being with us!Martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12374576843562876501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523768879604689510.post-31319815006039274742009-10-04T16:38:10.509-07:002009-10-04T16:38:10.509-07:00This feels like kind of a stupid question, but as ...This feels like kind of a stupid question, but as I mull over both your and Lisa's blog postings about your pilgrimage experience, I find myself wondering about how important "destination" is (or isn't?) when speaking of, or living in, pilgrimage. Your blogs highlighted the physical challenges as well as the rhythm of life on the way, and much value seemed to come from the journey itself (hearing the stories of others, relationships--a "pilgrim bond"--with folks you might never have met and will likely never meet again, and related insights), but reaching your "destination" seemed almost anti-climactic! How much does the idea of a destination play into keeping the pilgrim moving? While the lessons may really come from the journey, how does the idea/dream of a destination motivate the pilgrim? Would the trip still qualify as pilgrimage if there is/was no clear idea of destination? I guess I ask this question both historically and as it might apply to our modern-day life "journeys"--can a person be a pilgrim if they don't know where they are going?Sandy Knoreply@blogger.com