Post-Camino Sanctuary: Opinions Needed

[Priscillian]

Ivar and other Mods: I do realise I am multi-posting. I hope you will allow me to just this once for my reasons are very genuine ones... Thank you, gracias, and how do you say thank you in Norwegian? Googled it: takk skal du ha ? Tracy

From the thread Post-Camino Blues:

I have a question for all of you; not just those who have already posted but the 2000 or so who have clicked on this post so far. It is a serious question as it affects my future.
I am currently trying to buy a little house near Muxia. It is a 15 klm GORGEOUS walk through eucalyptus and pine woods or even along the most beautiful beach I have ever seen.
If I were to offer a "Post-Camino" sanctuary for 2 or 3 pilgrims to stay for 2 to 5 days - somewhere to stay and write, to read, or sketch, or play the guitar, or commune with the corn fields (or the donkey next door). Somewhere to reflect, talk about your experiences with a four time pilgrim (who won't tell you all about her Camino: it's Yours that is important) and therapist (and hypnotherapist): me. Or, to simply be silent. Somewhere practical to arrange homeward arrangements, talk to friends on Skype. Eat good food and try local wines. Or just sleep! In short, a "refugio" de verdad.
What do you all think? Would it work? I would have room for a maximum of five.
Muxia is 90 klms north west of Santiago and reachable by bus as is the nearest town. Finisterre to Muxia is 30 klms and a wonderful walk. I personally much prefer Muxia (which remains unspoiled) to Finisterre.
The house is small, stone and wood, 100 years old and in a small village near a larger river town. It has no garden but is surrounded by fields, woods, and a trout stream (which doesn't surround it - that's a moat. You KNOW what I mean!) The sea is 3 klms walk (that beach!)
Would you welcome a chance to stay at a place like this? (There will be a job jar though. Work is part of the Post Camino Therapy!) I am thinking of a minimum of two days, a maximum of five, on a "donativo" basis.
Please continue this thread and post me a PM.
Many thanks
Tracy Saunders
http://www.headstartcentres.org (my therapy site)
http://www.pilgrimagetoheresy.com
http://www.pilgrimagetoheresy.blogspot.com
Priscillian

 

[sharon w]

Dear Tracey,
It sounds beautiful. Would love to stay there.
Sharon

 

[Br. David]

"if you build it they will come"

You could also use it as a pre-camino halt - hypnotise them to believe that they had already done it ?
:wink:

Mind you - it is 60 miles away from the Camino .... so you would need something 'Caminoish' to draw them - a saints relics comes to mind, or a newly discovered codex that proves that a miracle happened there ...... hhmm .... or a famous pilgrimager stayed there ..... hhmm ......

 

[methodist.pilgrim.98]

I've already sent some some thoughts to Tracy by PM but Br David raises an interesting point. Why would we continue to Muxia? Why would we go to Tracy's pad?

Part of the answer is that many of us who arrive at SDC are not yet ready to let go of our journey.

Secondly after the crowding of the Sarria (León?) to SDC route we are glad to get into a more peaceful and less crowded part of Galicia.

I also note both from numbers and personal experience that the number of people walking to Finisterre is significantly up even from 2004 when I first walked there.

More pilgrims will walk to Muxia simply as an antidote to the crowding and commercialisation of the latter part of the Camino.

If we know that there is something there will walk to it; if it's not there we wont because we can't.

In 2007 I walked Logrono to Burgos to stop at Granon because in 2004, not knowing of its significance, I walked on past.

I doubt if Tracy would see large numbers and, indeed, that would undermine her purpose.

She also needs to get her sello ordered.

 

[Br. David]

Agree with all you say - I was just being jokey really .. saints relics, etc.

I do really think that if it is built then people will go to it - I think you hit on the point, the 'not wanting to let go of it' ... advertising and then feedback from visitors and it should go well I would have thought, depending on the ambiance of course.
also a place for feet to go back to their former size :wink:

also, it would be the easiest thing in the world to create a few local walks - to churches, each with their own history, for the religious amongst us. The connections to the Camino will be there, in the churches.

I like the idea of a sello!

 

[Priscillian]

"if you build it they will come"

You could also use it as a pre-camino halt - hypnotise them to believe that they had already done it ?
:wink:

LOVE IT!
How about I invite Martin Sheen? I interviewed him once. He was filming The Dead Zone in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. It was in his pre-teetotal days so I doubt he will remember it!

 

[Priscillian]

The history in this area is fascinating. The churches at Moraime and Cereixo alone are full of history. Both were built in the 11th and 12th centuries by builders who got "laid off" in Compostela because there was no bishop - and work stopped on the cathedral - between 1088 and 1100 (or at least 2 bishops only for two very short periods: read my new book!) You can even see the similarity in the builders' marks.

"If you build it, they will come": Field of Dreams. Yes, this is my field of long held dreams.

 

[Br. David]

Your 'field of dreams' - So I thought :wink:

 

[Priscillian]

Dear All,
To make things easier I have created a separate thread with a LINK to a questionnaire about this idea of a "Post Camino Sanctuary". The new thread is here in Miscellaneous and is called Post Camino Questionnaire. It only has 9 multiple choice questions and will take you less than five minutes.
PLEASE, do take that time and complete it for me, whether you have ever experienced Post Camino Blues or not. The more interest I can generate the better chance I have in convincing the bank that I am not a nutter! Banks, as you know, lack vision, and although this is certainly not designed to be a main source of income (for that I have my writing and my teaching) and kind of Free-lance or "autonomo" (Self-Employed) work here in Spain is looked upon as a risky bet.
So please be a sweetie, and make your voice count.
Thanks a big bunch.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MNQ93PN

 

[Br. David]

:shock: :wink:

 

[Priscillian]

Post removed by Priscillian. Point has been made.
http://www.headstartcentres.org my therapy/counselling/learning centre site

 

[Priscillian]

I think I need to make it very clear here that I am considering opening my home to pilgrims who have completed their Camino but aren't quite ready to go home just yet. I am a clinical psychotherapist and counsellor willing to offer group or one-on-one session if anyone needs them. Or stay out of their way if not. My buying this house has NOTHING to do with any kind of financial venture based on pilgrim support. I will be supporting myself, as I have done for MANY years through my teaching, writing and more recently my therapy practice. I am simply finding it difficult to convince some people that there are many reasons for this purchase.

http://www.headstartcentres.org
My counselling and hypnotherapy site.

 

[jpflavin1]

In my opinion, I do not see any need for a Post-Camino sanctuary. My post Camino time is spent visiting European friends. Maybe stop somewhere I have never been but most of all arranging to head home. Having been gone for 35-40 days I looked forward to seeing family and friends again even if they do not understand my Camino addiction.

Ultreya,
Joe

P.S. By the way I did fill out your survey.

 

[Priscillian]

Thank you to everyone who has filled out the survey. The response has been overwhelming: so much positive energy and some great ideas too. The community is composed mostly of aging farmers and their wives. If you have travelled through Galicia at all you will have seen how hard they work: those little old ladies in their blue uniforms out there with pick and hoe. It occurred to me that one way to "give back" to the Camino (quite apart from the regular job jar which is simply sharing work within the refuge) would be for pilgrims who WISH to, to help out these people. For example, help with that crop, mending that fence or that old chair, checking that electrical circuit, or even mucking out that donkey! A massive 71% have said they agree with me that work is an integral part of the necessary "meditation" to re-integrate Camino and self back into the "normal" world. Sure, you can sit Za Zen if you want to and no-one will disturb you. But for those who don't mind, this might be a wonderful way for villagers (there are 280 + one) to learn a bit about pilgrims, and teach us all something about LIFE.
PLEASE, as of this morning we are at 171. If you go to my blogspot and scroll down two posts you will find the questionnaire. It'll take you 3 mins. Tops! I REALLY DO NEED YOUR HELP. Can you help me get to 200 by Monday???Tracy Saunders
http://www.pilgrimagetoheresy.blogspot.com