If you plan to walk the long road to Santiago, I’m sure you’ve heard all about the legendary Camino spirit. Ask any pilgrim to tell you all about their Camino de Santiago and you will see their eyes light up, as they share their tales of adventure.
The Camino de Santiago is a network of trails that cross the whole of Europe and end at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
What is the Camino spirit in reality? Well, the life of a pilgrim is a mundane one. Eat, sleep, walk, and repeat is the daily life of a pilgrim. while talking to your fellow pilgrims, of course.
Most pilgrims will say that walking the Camino takes them far out of their comfort zone, especially if they choose to stay in shared rooms in an albergue.
The peace and tranquillity of walking in nature is the perfect opportunity to reflect on life. I like to say that the Camino demands that you give your troubles over to the path, as the walk has a way of pushing up all the problems of yesterday until you are left with a hollow feeling inside. An emptiness which creates space for the Camino spirit to rise within.
The Camino spirit is joy, pure and simple. Joy gives a person the ability to see the world through a different lens and experience the magical in the mundane in everyday living.
The mundane life of a pilgrim creates space for the magic to happen. You experience pleasure in the very simple things in life. You find the magical in the mundane in the deep, blue skies, the stunning countryside, the simple cuisine, and companionship along the way.
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This Camino spirit is mirrored in the pilgrims around you, creating an environment of peace, acceptance, and kindness towards one another, as you walk yourself and each other to Santiago.
The Camino spirit is priceless for this reason. Once you connect with your inner joy and experience the magic in the mundane, the Camino experience shows you a different way of being. The real test is to live the Camino spirit in everyday life.
The Camino spirit really is that crazy little thing called joy.
Check out my e-book, A Wild Woman’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago for practical advice on preparing to walk the Camino de Santiago including snippets from my journey and stories from Camino pilgrims. Click the link to download your copy.
(c) Samantha Wilson 2020. All Rights Reserved.
