why the camino?

Why pilgrimage? The advent of Covid 19 has brought this question to the fore. Do I not find spiritual satisfaction during my daily walks in nearby parks, natural reserves and even urban areas? The answer is: yes, it is true that I usually do experience some overwhelming and inspiring...

I hope to complete my CF this spring, and my thoughts are turning to whether I might honestly apply for a compostela, assuming I make it. It's not a question of distance /stamp rules, but of meeting the requirements about purpose. I started my Camino for no reason other that a friend asked me...

It is with hesitation that I write on a topic that has been bothering me over many years of forum membership, and that is the equating of the desire to walk the Way again with addiction. I live in a country that, in rural areas, as well as major cities is bedevilled by the social and personal...

Hi, I wonder if this is thought of as an 'OK' thing to do when walking the Camino. I'll be starting my first - Camino Frances - at the end of May and wondered whether anyone else has used this personal experience of walking as a way to also fund raise for charity? Last year, my husband and I...

This may relate to the never ending debate on what exactly makes a pilgrimage a pilgrimage, but I need to get some opinions. In our day and age, many see themselves as "spiritual" rather than "religious." Is there a place for a pilgrimage route like the Camino de Santiago? Do we just call it a...

Hello, I'm planning to do my first Camino this April 09 starting from SJDP; I really don't know why I'm doing this . I don't think I have prepared for the Camino mentally; Currently I see my Camino going to be a long walks for few weeks than a pilgrimage. I'm not a religious person, hence...

Hi! I’m a high school student from Oregon taking an IB World Religions class and as the topic for my Internal Assessment I’m comparing the reasons why pilgrims walk the Camino now vs when it first became popular in the 9th century. I’m having trouble finding information regarding the percentages...

Here's an old post from another forum that may interest you: https://tomallen.info/adventure-snobs-hate-camino-de-santiago/

When I walked the CF I met a man who was walking the CF for the third time. The first two times were with his wife. After she passed away here he was walking for the third time, but by himself. He was not particularly talkative. Once I met him deep in thought sitting on a seat and I was about...

The question probably goes a lot deeper than walking a Camino, but it's the Camino that gets me thinking about it. This post is not meant to be any kind of self therapy or plea for forgiveness or anything else. So please just take it at face value. It's just a ramble and only from my...

Hi all, It's been a wonderful month filming this thing! I went out to capture and understand the experience of the Camino, and the people behind it. Almost twenty-interviews (some with returning subjects), a month of walking and a magical return to the French way...

With “It's about time” the author has accomplished a difficult task, writing a Camino book that is at the same time interesting for those that never have even heard of the Camino as well as those who have walked many. Short paragraphs explain the history of the Camino as well as practical...

Dear All I'm interested in the transformational nature of the pilgrimage experience, as I've walked a number of pilgrimages myself in the past. So now I'm researching this for my dissertation on the MSc in Psychological Trauma at the University of Chester. Amazingly, this aspect of pilgrimage...

Is the camino a curse? I have walked in pouring rain, with every part of my body in pain, tired to the point of exhaustion. I have been foot-sore, bone weary, and pleading for this to end. I have had blisters that burst, then shed their skin, then turned into a bloody mess of raw flesh. But...

Feeling trapped and frustrated in work and life, the author set out to walk the Camino de Santiago - the ancient Christian pilgrimage to the shrine of St James in Spain. On the way, he explored what it means to be a person of faith, a scientist and to live a compassionate life. In this book of...

Some people (like me) get drawn to the Camino several times, others wonder why they d ever do again (like me sometimes) others still are on it and wonder whether they should leave (like me, two days ago) have made a mistake or what (I never make mistakes? ha,). So how do we know? This is a quote...

I don't know about you, but I'm (intermittently) still trying to figure out what exactly got me hooked on walking caminos, being an atheïst and all. Especially shortly after walking part of the St. Olavsleden with my wife, where it became clear that she didn't share my enthusiasm for walking a...

My topic of discussion is INTENTION as I am in the process of fine tuning mine even though the original intention to commit to walking this year arose quite spontaneously. I awoke from a deep sleep on January 4th, 2018 as an inner voice boldly announced. "I'm walking the Camino!" I gathered...

Have You experienced any kind of personal transformation during Your Camino? Was it related with solitude or other things? What makes Camino important personal experience for You that makes a difference when You come back home? I had my own transformative experience on Camino and met couple...

As a new member, I greatly appreciate the insights of others on how to prepare for the practical aspects of the Camino (lodging, packing, routes, etc). Thank you! I know not everyone does the Camino for reasons of faith, yet for those who are on a faith journey, how do you prepare for the...