Why do we do it?

[Qwertyberty]

Well, I'm sure this has been addressed many times before, but.....
Why do we do it?? Why do we keep on coming back to the camino, despite (in my case, vowing "never again") ?
Next September (planning already) will be my 11th walk on various camino paths - this must be some kind of treatable addiction, surely? (I confess my initial introductory post on here may have been somewhat misleading)
Should I see my GP, or more like, my counsellor?
Well, for me, for all that I am not "religious", I do feel a strong spiritual connection with The Way; the millions of previous pilgrims walking those paths over the last thousand years must surely have left some kind of aura.. or prescense. Hard to explain. Whilst trekking up a dire hill in the pouring rain, I try to imagine some poor medieval pilgrim in his cloak and sandals with just a hard straw palliasse to lie on at the day's end, and no chance of a menu del dia con vino.
Undoubtably, the Camino de Santiago does carry a much wider swatch than, for example, The Pennine Way. OK, the AT/PCT in the US would come close, I guess, but my experience is that everyone you talk to has heard of the camino, more so of course since the film.
I have walked the Frances 3 times now, and still need to do it again.
Is this sad?

 

[SYates]

A well know poem by Eugenio Garibay Baños from a wall in Najera (CF), reads, in translation:

Dust, mud, sun and rain,
is the Way of Saint James;
thousands of pilgrims and more than a thousand years.

Pilgrim, who calls you?
What hidden force brings you here?
Nor the Way of the Stars,
nor the grand cathedrals.

Neither is it the courage of Navarra,
nor the Rioja wine.
Nor the seafood of Galicia,
nor the fields of Castilla.

Pilgrim, who calls you?
What hidden force attracts you?
It is not the people of the way
nor their rural customs.

Nor their history and culture.
Nor the cockerel of la Calzada,
nor Gaudi's palace,
nor the castle in Ponferrada.

Everything I see in passing is a joy,
but the voice which calls me,
I feel much deeper.

The force which pulls me,
that attracts me,
I cannot explain.
Only the one above knows why.

 

[alexwalker]

Why do we do it?? Why do we keep on coming back to the camino, despite (in my case, vowing "never again") ?
Next September (planning already) will be my 11th walk on various camino paths - this must be some kind of treatable addiction, surely?

Incurable. Sorry. (Not really...)

 

[Levi]

Well, I'm sure this has been addressed many times before, but.....
Why do we do it?? Why do we keep on coming back to the camino, despite (in my case, vowing "never again") ?
Next September (planning already) will be my 11th walk on various camino paths - this must be some kind of treatable addiction, surely? (I confess my initial introductory post on here may have been somewhat misleading)
Should I see my GP, or more like, my counsellor?
Well, for me, for all that I am not "religious", I do feel a strong spiritual connection with The Way; the millions of previous pilgrims walking those paths over the last thousand years must surely have left some kind of aura.. or prescense. Hard to explain. Whilst trekking up a dire hill in the pouring rain, I try to imagine some poor medieval pilgrim in his cloak and sandals with just a hard straw palliasse to lie on at the day's end, and no chance of a menu del dia con vino.
Undoubtably, the Camino de Santiago does carry a much wider swatch than, for example, The Pennine Way. OK, the AT/PCT in the US would come close, I guess, but my experience is that everyone you talk to has heard of the camino, more so of course since the film.
I have walked the Frances 3 times now, and still need to do it again.
Is this sad?

Edit. Dare I add this? A peregrina companion would be welcomed for a Frances walk next Sept. PM if interested

Well, I'm sure this has been addressed many times before, but.....
Why do we do it?? Why do we keep on coming back to the camino, despite (in my case, vowing "never again") ?
Next September (planning already) will be my 11th walk on various camino paths - this must be some kind of treatable addiction, surely? (I confess my initial introductory post on here may have been somewhat misleading)
Should I see my GP, or more like, my counsellor?
Well, for me, for all that I am not "religious", I do feel a strong spiritual connection with The Way; the millions of previous pilgrims walking those paths over the last thousand years must surely have left some kind of aura.. or prescense. Hard to explain. Whilst trekking up a dire hill in the pouring rain, I try to imagine some poor medieval pilgrim in his cloak and sandals with just a hard straw palliasse to lie on at the day's end, and no chance of a menu del dia con vino.
Undoubtably, the Camino de Santiago does carry a much wider swatch than, for example, The Pennine Way. OK, the AT/PCT in the US would come close, I guess, but my experience is that everyone you talk to has heard of the camino, more so of course since the film.
I have walked the Frances 3 times now, and still need to do it again.
Is this sad?

Edit. Dare I add this? A peregrina companion would be welcomed for a Frances walk next Sept. PM if interested

Why do we do it? We are blessed...

 

[Lydia Gillen]

Who could decline to share in the dance?
Who could refuse to partake in the banquet?
Who could turn a deaf ear to that inner call?

 

[mspath]

"The heart has its reasons... "

 

[marbuck]

It worries me also. I am going back for my third Camino next year (P0rtugal). And today I read about the "Way of St Francis" in Italy. There goes 2017. Is there no end to this.

 

[alexwalker]

Is there no end to this.

It seems not. Which is a good thing, IMHO.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Well, I'm sure this has been addressed many times before, but.....
Why do we do it?? Why do we keep on coming back to the camino, despite (in my case, vowing "never again") ?
Next September (planning already) will be my 11th walk on various camino paths - this must be some kind of treatable addiction, surely? (I confess my initial introductory post on here may have been somewhat misleading)
Should I see my GP, or more like, my counsellor?
Well, for me, for all that I am not "religious", I do feel a strong spiritual connection with The Way; the millions of previous pilgrims walking those paths over the last thousand years must surely have left some kind of aura.. or prescense. Hard to explain. Whilst trekking up a dire hill in the pouring rain, I try to imagine some poor medieval pilgrim in his cloak and sandals with just a hard straw palliasse to lie on at the day's end, and no chance of a menu del dia con vino.
Undoubtably, the Camino de Santiago does carry a much wider swatch than, for example, The Pennine Way. OK, the AT/PCT in the US would come close, I guess, but my experience is that everyone you talk to has heard of the camino, more so of course since the film.
I have walked the Frances 3 times now, and still need to do it again.
Is this sad?

Not really, wish you more great Camino's in the future.
Wish you all the best, Peter.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

It worries me also. I am going back for my third Camino next year (P0rtugal). And today I read about the "Way of St Francis" in Italy. There goes 2017. Is there no end to this.

I will do also my third next year ,the Camino Portugues in September.
Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[Qwertyberty]

Hmmmm, well, not looked at the forum since my OP, thanks for your replies.
Life somehow got in the way - my wife taken ill and spent the whole of Xmas in hospital - obviously took my thoughts away from future caminos......and as soon as she came home I was into eye casualty myself with possible detached retina.
C'est la vie.......
This year's walking a non-event, methinks.

 

[SYates]

So sorry to hear that! Hope and pray that you and your wife are recovering quickly! Buen Camino (even if it is next year), SY

 

[SabsP]

Sorry to hear ! Take good care of yourselves!!

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hmmmm, well, not looked at the forum since my OP, thanks for your replies.
Life somehow got in the way - my wife taken ill and spent the whole of Xmas in hospital - obviously took my thoughts away from future caminos......and as soon as she came home I was into eye casualty myself with possible detached retina.
C'est la vie.......
This year's walking a non-event, methinks.

Take care and wish you both a quick recovery , Peter.

 

[Qwertyberty]

Thanks, guys. The OH is better, but still awaiting further hospital treatment.
My eye is much the same - no treatment unless it gets worse - at present it's restricting the things I do in my spare time, which tend to be micro making stuff.
But, could be a lot worse. And I can still walk, so camino plans are back on the front burner!!