Lonely to Camino?

[sorina]

Hi Everyone! Is it a must to go alone on this way? I mean what about if you go with somebody you need to be with? Is it allowed? Is is useful?

 

[wayfarer]

Your Camino, your way. Either way you will never be alone.

 

[David]

Sorina, you have started a thread that I think will be bombarded by replies. For me, well, it depends upon ones motivation. To walk alone means that one has hours and hours, days and days, of silent introspection, for contact one has to reach outwards, to new people and new situations - to me, that walking alone is an absolute necessity if making pilgrimage.
If, however, it is a long walk then go with a friend - with a friend what would have been silent hours and days - passing through fear and loneliness to peace and courage - will be filled with talk about home, what Steve or Sue did at the last picnic, what work is like, what colour to paint the sitting room .... instead of internalising the pain of tired legs one will tell the other person - introspection is gone, personal progress is gone.

Your choice - it is all pilgrimage.

Buen Camino

 

[nellpilgrim]

Hi Everyone! Is it a must to go alone on this way? I mean what about to go with somebody you need to be with? Is it allowed? is is useful?

Hi Sorina,
It's your Camino so you can go when, how and with whoever you like.... including yourself. You are the person who decides what to 'allow' or 'forbid' on your journey. Ivor does not award forum Trophy points one way or the other There are no 'Camino Police' (officially anyway).......but in our boundless enthusiasm we (pilgrims old and new) can sometimes sound a little dogmatic. Advice is just that advice- not a prescription for a perfect Camino.
Perhaps do a bit more research, read around the topic and let your decision on walking alone or not evolve? And you can always change your mind. If worried about isolation remember you won't be alone once you start walking as you'll meet new friends everyday-certainly on the CF and walking between April and Oct.
I walked the CF, my first long distance pilgrimage, with my best friend (and we're still best friends) and it was a super experience but since then my pilgrimage journeys have been solo which is also wonderful........

 

[karenfromcali]

The good thing about walking with a friend or loved one is that you generally know each other well enough to be able to walk in companionable silence when needed, but also be there to share the beauty/struggles as well. I choose to walk alone but there are no set rules either way. It's just my personal choice. Your camino, your way.

 

[StuartM]

The beauty of the Camino is if you want to be alone then just keep walking. If you want company sit down and wait ten minutes.

There are tons of people walking in pairs right up to big groups. One thing that wasn't unusual was for the individuals in a group to split off or set their own pace for a while then meet up again at a stopping point. Best of all worlds.