When I enter the embrace of a forest my jaw slackens and my heart rate drops. Birds swoop and flit among the leaves overhead lifting my spirits skywards. Whenever I need a rest, I search out trees. Solid and grounded they teach me how to be still.Light filtered through the newly budded chestnut leaves deepContinue reading “Lessons from a forest”
Category Archives: Camino Frances
What to take on Camino?
I thought I’d cut the contents of my Camino pack to the bone – until I climbed the first mountain out of Valcarlos. On my bunk in Roncesvalles, aching and exhausted, I agonised over what to throw into the huge box of rejects at the back door of the monastery. In Pamplona I sent aheadContinue reading “What to take on Camino?”
A Contemplative Camino – the book
A Contemplative Camino hit the Amazon bookshelves today. It’s been so much fun putting my memories of the four Caminos together. Fun, but also hard work: writing, revision, input from Deb who came with me on two of the walks, formatting and finally navigating the Amazon maze. The book spans my growth from Camino noviceContinue reading “A Contemplative Camino – the book”
Galicia
What will be will be The sun smiled down on me. The path was sparsely populated as many pilgrims had taken the detour to the monastery in Samos. Porridge and honey followed by excellent coffee spurred me on. I was looking forward to the private room at Albergue Paloma y Lena that I’d booked at breakfastContinue reading “Galicia”
Possessions just a burden
Possessions just another burden I left Albergue Mercadoira before breakfast expecting to find a cafe in Portomarin. Just before the bridge into Portomarin I exchanged photos with three Spanish women then followed the arrows over the bridge and around the town. Too late I discovered I would have to climb up the hill into theContinue reading “Possessions just a burden”
Uncertainty
Uncertainty is the only certainty on the Camino I entered Galicia in fog. O’Cebreiro was an apparition, the buildings barely visible in the misty rain. I missed the church whose priest reinvigorated the Camino for the twentieth century. He painted the ubiquitous yellow arrows that mark the Way. Because of him, the number of pilgrims increasedContinue reading “Uncertainty”
Contemplative Camino 