MINDFULNESS AND SUNFLOWER FIELDS
Tuesday, September 5 - Friday the 8th
Estella, Torres del Rio and Logroño
43.84km/27.24mi (627.63kms/389.99miles
to Santiago de Compostela)
The soundtracks in my head, ever present when I begin my mornings, can be very interesting and telling because it’s a spontaneous, non-chosen, observational experience of the mind. This morning, I alternated between George Michael’s “Freedom” and “Maniac” from the movie Flashdance! Curious combo, to say the least. I finally, and actively, settled on Michael Gott’s “Amazing Things”, which has deep meaning in my life for moments when it has been particularly and singularly present.
Walking the Camino can be whatever you make of it: a physical experience; a group venture; something you need to prove to yourself and/or others; or a meditative journey that takes you deeper with each passing boot step. And while I’m not out to prove anything, there are a lot of the others present on my walk.
“Your soul belongs to the universe. Your mind is an outlet through which the Creative Intelligence of the universe seeks fulfillment. This is the starting point for investigating the meaning of those impulses, longings and desires which accompany you through life.” - This Thing Called You, page 4
There is something about leaving a city, town or village before the sun rises that is so peaceful and quiet. Occasional roosters pierce the quiet, as do cars heading to drop their drivers off at work. And then I hit ruts in the gravel camino, lending an air of extreme focus and consciousness to my walk. The dichotomy is that as focused as I am on every step, every rock, and every rut on the path I’m on, the deeper I move into my thoughts and inner conversation. In between heavy breaths, the questions I pose myself are equally as “heavy”: What is my next step and where should I place it?
Those questions find a home whenever I step into local cathedrals, be they ornate and grand or small and rustic. Of course, a space is just a space until we imbue it with meaning. But, you must admit that there’s an obvious “fit”. I step inside, dab myself with holy water (if there’s any in the granite bowl), genuflect before sitting on a wooden pew, lay my open palms on my knees…and meditate. I pray for my father and his recovery from the effects of blood on the brain. I pray for my mother and her continuing rehabilitation from a gall bladder procedure. I pray for my family and for Terry. And I pray for myself, affirming that I answered the “Camino call” to take this deep dive of the soul (and feet) for a reason. With each step, the questions go out…and I remain open for answers or direction.
"Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except yourself." - Buddha
“Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all we need the right view that transcends all notions including of being and non-being, creator and creature, mind and spirit. That kind of insight is crucial for transformation and healing.” - Thich Nhat Hahn
I hit my stride somewhere between Villamayor de Monjardín and Los Arcos. Let me explain. During last year’s training along the beach, I power walked 18kms/11mes every morning (while I power-visioned this Camino) in order to strengthen my joints, feet pads and leg muscles. And while I’m not currently hiking at that speed, due to my backpack’s weight and contours of the trail, I have hit a comfortable stride of about 5.5kms/hour. I breath comfortably, passing others (while being passed by peregrino-cyclists) and making good time each day while remaining present for each step, each moment, each beautiful sunrise and mid-day vista, each passing thought, and every single “Buen Camino” along the way.
After a wonderfully inspirational conversation with an Italian camino friend, I set out from Torres del Rio with an amazing sunrise as my visual backdrop. One of my “Camino Lessons” is to occasionally stop and look at where I’ve been. This morning’s sunrise was so deep and rich in colors that my heart space opened so wide that it took my breath away.
“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!” - John Muir
Today’s walk, to my “day of rest” city of Logroño, is about graffiti and tunnels. While I’m not a fan of scribbles and markings on way markers that obscure important signs of mileage and arrows, I’ve always loved the artistic bent of graffiti on underpasses and sides of buildings. (Of course, it’s always in the eye of the beholder!)
“Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don't come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they're having a piss.” - Banksy
And no day would be complete without the friends you make along the way. Books, blogs and peregrino alumni have all talked about the camino family you create along the way. I thought it was about finding that one group of new friends that you carry with you (or, that carries you) from city to city. In reality, I’ve found that it is individuals you meet today, click with, and then meet again a day, or week later on. But no matter when you meet again, or where (in city, village, hilltop, rut or gravel path), you are both so glad to see each other that you embrace and quickly catch up.
My camino family is a tapestry of many colors; each person a thread. We weave back and forth into each other’s lives…maybe at the front end and then maybe much later on near the middle…all the while adding color, texture, humor and intimate humanity into the most challenging physical experience in my life. From 24 year olds to older retirees like myself; from solo peregrinos to groups from the same country. From adventure seekers to recovering addicts (like yours truly) knowing the blessings and miracles that come with sobriety, we are all of us ONE. One Camino Family.
“Since no two persons are alike there must be a unique place for you in the scheme of things. The Divine Pattern would be incomplete without you. Dare to be yourself. Stand in wonder before the majesty and might, the beauty and power of that Divine Presence which seeks expression through your individual life. Accept all the good there is.” - This Thing Called You, page 57
