What's in Your Camino Library?

Still on the book theme, I wanted to pass along some of my thoughts on what you might want to read before you go on your Camino.

My new book aside...(Sorry, a little ego showing here AND A BIG LAUGH PLEASE) I would caution you about what you read.  There are books written about the comino that no longer serve their purpose.  What I mean about this is that they were written before -  let's say 2000, 2005.  When I started my reading before my first Camino, I was struck by the sad tales of trash along the way, nasty or unfriendly people (locals) and untrustworthy pilgrims.  In addition, I was almost deterred by the reports of unavailable accommodation.

To my surprise, 2 of the 3 books I read were by people of the church who had ventured out and reported back.

So, let me say this about that - don't go there.  Today we have a great selection of memoirs.  These books are partially objective but of course they are mostly subjective in nature.  Some are really funny and some are too serious for me.  Many still talk about the graffiti and the garbage along the way.  You will find happy and sad situations being reported and some still commend or blame the host country.

Might I suggest that you take all of this in your stride.  I find that I need to respect the author because the stories they write about are obviously true for them, and I understand that they write about their own experience as they see or remember it.  I love the diversity of experiences and I love the way the experiences are reported.  This century's books on the Camino are alive with a variety of experiences that make you laugh, cry, say OMG, or "get real!"

I may upset some readers by these comments because we all have different tastes in books.  However, the Camino memoirs we buy off the Internet or from the bookstore shelves, contain that pilgrim's, his or her own experience and I will not take it on as mine.

On the Camino forum some people have been disillusioned by some threads that are posted by Pilgrims who have been there - done that.  Each time that happens, other experienced Pilgrims come to the aid of the one who is disillusioned by sending messages of encouragement.  No one wants to put a downer on someone else's Camino.  I, nor the Forum Pilgrims will be there to help you should you come across an upsetting or negative narrative of someone else's experience.  So keep an open mind as you read and always remember

YOUR CAMINO WILL BE YOUR CAMINO!

P.S., the guide and map books are excellent!  Look for the newer editions before you buy!

The Camino Never Ends

I have been inspired by a recent e-mail from (you know who you are) to talk about "finishing your camino".

We all have great expectations for our Journey on the Camino de Santiago.  Along with those expectations are fears and concerns for our safety, our ability to do what we set out to do, and perhaps being alone in a strange land.

Let's be reminded that Camino means journey.  We make journeys every day.  We go to work, we shop, we travel to see friends and relatives.  Some times those journeys do not meet our expectations. But - no matter what happens, we always complete our journey of the moment.  Generally that means we come home again.  Good job, that journey is done.

Now let's re-think that.  For as soon as that journey is done the next one starts.  We might take a nap or read a book or start making dinner or call a friend on the phone.  Our journey, our life.

When walking the Camino de Santiago, many people return home without reaching their geographic goal on foot.   On my first Camino, Denise, my dear sister-in-law, truly wanted to walk every step.  She found that that was not possible due to a foot injury.  What a warrior she was, and is.  She suffered such pain from what later we realized was due to shoes that were too small.  My darling Anne was held back from time to time because of the heat and was wise enough to take a taxi to the next Albergue.  Both pilgrims persevered and made it to Santiago.

However, some pilgrims have to leave the Camino before their planned time.  That is their Camino.  The Camino de Santiago give us whatever we wish to make of it.  Even if we don't arrive at our expected end point as we planned, we always bring back our Camino experience.  The Camino never ends.  Even when we return home we just enter the next phase.  My first Camino ended up back here with 15 puppies to take care of and it was very different from the peacefullness of the way.  It was joy of a different kind. 

Be brave throughout it all and take what comes.  Every minute of every day is a Camino.

My Passion

This day is special for me as you know, it is about my book, Planning Your Camino - Preparing the Way.

I want to tell you again why I wrote this little book.  I want to share my passion for the Camino De Santiago with whom ever will listen.  Your Camino will be whatever you make it.  My Caminos have been spectacular. 

I would guess that the reason is my love of walking.  In addition, my love for that intangible sense of well being and being grounded.  I love being away.   I love being with nature and feeling that I am fending for myself while at the same time absorbing the beauty of people around me.  Walking the Camino de Santiago is liberating for me.  I know that at the end of the trip I will be safe and secure in the City of Santiago de Compostella.  I know that the exertion that got me to Santiago is about facing my later years with trust and love.  At almost 63 years old I do not envy young bodies.  I love my wrinkles and accept myself for who I am.

Do you know Lady Gaga?  I was so touched by an interview of her I saw recently as she spoke at length about her message to her fans (she calls them her little monsters).  She said that she wants her fans to know they can be anything they want to be and she wants them to be secure in who they are.

If you knew me you might say, how did you get here?  How is it that love is the greatest treasure in your life after all you have been through.  I would say that somehow I accepted a blessing from the universe and as a result, I extend a little love to you in this book and in this blog. 

To be love is an amazing thing.  To me your authentic self is worth chasing after.  At 63, I have fulfilled a dream.  Take it on, you will too.

Much love comes with this blog and with the book.

Make your dreams happen.

This is a photo of me with my dear nephew Chris when we were in Ponte de Lima.  He too is love.

MY BIG DAY

Happy Valentines day every one.  My husband just came home with roses and a lovely card.  I feel very appreciated here.
The biggest surprise today is that my book, Planning Your Camino- Preparing the Way is now available from the Publisher.  I don't have any copies yet but I want to share this news with you.

You can go to

http://www.authorhouse.com/

and do a search for the title, Planning Your Camino.

The e-book version is not on the site yet, that will be the easiest and quickest way for you to get the information for your trip.

Thanks for your interest and enjoy the book.

Bev

Beautiful Video on the Camino Frances

Treat yourself to this beautiful video.  You will be inspired and your memories will come alive!

http://albergue.caminodesantiago.me/video/camino-de-santiago

Stats for Pilgrims On the Camino

After a little digging, the American Pilgrim Site was the best I could find regarding statistics for the numbers of Pilgrims per year.  Please note, that these numbers represent those Pilgrims that received a credential not the numbers who walked.  The reason is that many people do sections of the various trails and do not necessarily end up in Santiago.

Here is the website and I have borrowed some of the information for you.

http://www.americanpilgrims.com/camino/statistics.html

The numbers are below but the page is much more pretty if you go to it.  So click on the link and you will have all the info you need.  You can increase the size of the graphs by cllicking on them.

Year Count Year Count Year Count

1986 2,491                     1998 30,126                    2010 272,313

1987 2,905                     1999 154,613

1988 3,501                     2000 55,004

1989 5,760                     2001 61,418

1990 4,918                     2002 68,952

1991 7,274                     2003 74,614

1992 9,764                     2004 179,944

1993 99,436                   2005 93,924

1994 15,863                   2006 100,377

1995 19,821                   2007 114,026

1996 23,218                   2008 125,141

1997 25,179                   2009 145,877

2010 was a Holy Year and the numbers sky-rocked.  The next Holy year is 2014

Cheers,  Bev

Mindfulness on life's Camino

On Wednesday evening I returned to Yoga classes after a few years away from them.  It was good to be back and to feel my body moving through the vinyasas.  During my drive home I was inspired to write about mindfulness on the blog.  I only "sort" of know what is meant by mindfulness and I was struck about how unmindful I can be.

Sometimes I am driving and I arrive at my destination without really being mindful of the journey.  (Some say aliens are the cause - abduction!!!)  But I know that I have not been conscious of my "in the moment".

Life is full of unconscious acts.  Recently there has been quite a conversation going on on the Forum about toilets or lack there of on the Camino and how people deal with that issue.  That conversation had led into discussions of garbage along The Way.  While mindfulness is about being in the moment, I believe that mindfulness is also part of the golden rule, Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.  The people who leave their stuff behind without burying it are not being mindful of the earth or of others.  Garbage stuffed into stone walls or just left on the trail is not a mindful act.  To be mindful about these things would be to take the garbage with you and to leave behind nothing but footprints on the belly of the mother earth.

Our life is one long Camino.  Being mindful all the time is not easy because we think too much about too many things that distract from the moment.  Being on the Camino Santiago is like life.  We live each moment, each step, each restful sleep and each Pilgrim greeting without question or second guessing the experience.

I borrowed the test below from this website  http://dharma.ncf.ca/introduction/instructions/sati.html

Mindfulness (Sati) is mirror-thought. It reflects only what is presently happening and in exactly the way it is happening. There are no biases.
Mindfulness (Sati) is non-judgmental observation. It is that ability of the mind to observe without criticism. With this ability, one sees things without condemnation or judgment. One is surprised by nothing. One simply takes a balanced interest in things exactly as they are in their natural states. One does not decide and does not judge. One just observes.

I hope to improve my mindfulness so that I am more conscious in my activities and thoughts and so that I can also be mindful of others.

Namaste

Camino Popularity Growing - Then So Is Joy

On the weekend I met a woman who wants to walk the Camino Frances.  We had a lovely talk about it and then she said that she was "worried" about the increase in the numbers of pilgrims as the popularity of the Camino is growing.
The Camino Frances is popular, no doubt.  If crowds are a thing that might keep you from an incredible life experience of walking El Camino, then look for an alternative to the Camino Frances.  The numbers are growing on all caminos, last year alone, being a Holy Year, saw a jump in May of about 13,000 Pilgrims from the previous Holy Year in 2004.  The September stats show about a 9,000 increase from Holy Year to Holy Year.
(I am looking for access to better stats for you to review if you are interested and will post the link when I get it.)
In the meantime, here is what I said to my "worried" friend.  "We must remember that the Camino crowds are not like a shopping mall crowds or downtown city street crowds.  These people are there with joy in their hearts.  They want to be there and they share the cause of walking the Camino with every Pilgrim they see.  Albergues and hotels get busy but there is always a place to stay and always something to eat.  Do not let "worry" stop you from enjoying your life to the fullest no matter what you need or want."
Some where along these past few years, I discovered that "worry" is not worth the trouble.  I have no idea how this happened but I just stopped worrying.  How sweet it is!
The growing popularity of the Camino de Santiago is a blessing to us all.  For those of you reading this who walked and came back a changed-for-the-better person,  do you not agree the more Pilgrims that walk, the more joy and peace we might have in the world?

At a recent seminar a wonderful Reiki Master told us to remember these words and to live by them as best we can.

Just for today...

I will not be angry

I will not worry

I will be grateful

I will be kind

I will work on my meditation practice.

Each day is a new start.