In walking 300 km from Portugal to Spain, I came home to myself after massive life changes. In this series, I explore that pilgrimage, including an invitation for your own Camino. Let's begin!
I saved this so that I could listen to the audio version on the trails near my home this weekend. I love that you are doing this in a 6 part series - so much to unpack, I am sure. And to be walking this pilgrimage step by step with your daughter warms my heart. This time will be a keepsake to you both forever.
I look forward to the music component and playlist, too! So many stories can be told through lyrics that accompany our steps.
Love the Nepo & David Whyte sharing, too. Their words provide such deep introspection for me at this season of my life.
As I was listening and walking, 3 dragonflies were flittering about and dancing in the air beside me. They hung around for a bit and I couldn’t help but think of the significance of 3 with you - your publication (Living in 3D) and the whole idea you weave in here of placing your past down, standing in the now while keeping your eyes open to what’s ahead. It gave me the best kind of goosebumps.
Oh Allison your comments here & the fact you took my narration of the essay on your hike today gave ME the best kind of goosebumps. Thanks for always seeing me with such kind clarity as I keep on walking my path.
Thank you for sharing your journey. My cousin and I are going to do a shorter route from Sarria to SDC in a year to celebrate our 70th birthdays. Look forward to the series! I love the inspiration!
So excited that you’ll be doing the walk with your cousin next year to celebrate your 70th birthdays. I am sure it will be as incredible for you as it was for me. Thanks for being here to follow along with the series.
Thankyou Amy for this part 1. It seems like that you and Marielle experienced a true pilgrimage with deep questions and reflections. They say the Camino gives you everything you need. And you both got that in spades. I loved reading the poem extracts and will look to get the book for further digging into my own reflections. It was a magical moment in my own Camino to meet you both and share some time and connection as I went deeper into my pilgrimage (no longer walking but seemingly learning what the Camino was bringing me - potent messages for my life). Interestingly one of those messages was the same question that Marielle was asking... choosing ease in my life going forward. And since I've been home I've done nothing but make choices to bring me ease!! And I love these gifts I'm giving myself!
Thank you Nicki. It was one of the great gifts of our Camino to meet you & form a like-minded, same-hearted connection. I am glad you are inviting ease into your life. We are usually so very demanding of ourselves. What a great gift your Camino has given you, even if it was in an unexpected way.
So much to enjoy and resonate with here, Amy, even though I have never hiked more than a few hours in nearby locales and have no plans to do any big hikes. Our physical journeys may look quite different, but our journeys of leaving long term marriages and losing our mothers have some similarities. I got goosebumps when I read of the sign with the 111 and the butterflies. Your literal and spiritual release of your mother's ashes and spirit moved me and gave me chill bumps.
Making peace with my marriage ending and accepting my imperfect life is playing out just as it is supposed to is ongoing work for me and I so appreciate the opportunity to witness similar work in a fellow divorce traveler.
Also, Book of Awakenings is on my bedside table and was an early sobriety daily companion. He is an incredible writer. I love your and your daughter's daily rituals.
Having two grown daughters also, of around the same age, I see what a near miraculous gift this must be to walk along with your daughter.
Thank you for sharing this all with us, Amy. I look forward to reading the next in the series, especially the song one! I am a song collector-I have SO many Spotify playlists-can't wait to add yours.
Rosemary, how happy I am that this resonated with you on the spiritual level, with our similar experiences. There are so many ways to travel in this life--by foot across many miles is only one of them. It was indeed a gift to walk alongside my daughter. And yes, the song essay will be worth the wait. We had so much gathering them from such a diverse set of people of all ages.
Really love your beautiful descriptions of what sounds like such a magical experience! In a week’s time we will be departing from our home in Australia and heading for Spain to spend 3 weeks walking the Camino - most of it will be the Del Norte on the northern coastline of Spain. I am so excited! 😊 I absolutely love how you and your daughter each asked yourselves a question which you carried with you in your walk. It’s inspired me to do the same. I love David Whyte’s poetry and will look up those books of his you mentioned. Look forward to your writing in the coming weeks which I will read whilst walking. 🥰
This is so exciting, Gaby. You will love your Camino, I am sure. Bon camino, as they say! Very glad we inspired you to think of a question to ponder along the way and to look into this volume of David Whyte's poetry. He's a great inspiration to every traveler, I think. Thanks for the kind intention to continue to read the series. I will love hearing how your walk goes!
Amy, I loved reading your reflection on the Camino, interwoven by the poems, quotes, music and interactions with fellow pilgrims. Such rich discoveries, both in the outer world and inner world. I look forward to reading the rest of your series!
Thank you Louisa for reading and your recognition that such a journey is both inner and outer world. I look forward to continuing to tell the story of our Camino in the weeks to come.
Amy, I’m so excited to experience this adventure through you! I am a big fan of hiking memoirs I’ve been feeling the call for a hike like this one, and I’ve wondered if I have the wherewithal for the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail. The El Camino feels more my speed these days. But I have so many questions about the mechanics of writing about this experience. Did you take notes along the way? Did you plan the format of this series before you left? So many questions!!
Hi Kristi! Thanks for this comment. You know, I hadn't realized that my six-part series would be the bones of a hiking memoir but indeed it could be! Thanks for piquing my interest in exploring that. As for writing about the experience, I hadn't planned the format of this series before I left, I didn't have an inkling that I would write a series. It evolved as I walked, and in conversation with my daughter. It took shape with the thoughts in my head, as many hours of walking in nature tend to do for me. I did journal a little every night, in a very special diary that was my grandmother's travel abroad diary from her first trip to Europe and Israel in 1969. My daughter and I wrote in the little book each night and I also had a separate journal and occasionally recorded bursts of inspiration in the Notes function on my phone. But really, the series didn't take shape until close to the end of the journey. Even now I don't know exactly what I will share in each part, but from past experience, I know the words will come.
As for wondering about the wherewithal for hiking the PCT and AT, one of our new friends on the Camino has hiked both of those trails, an American woman who was a delight to meet, and I'd be happy to put you in touch with her. Walking the Camino is less demanding, i think, in terms of time and effort. You can do the Portugese route in less than 2 weeks. I hope you consider it!
Oh what a beautiful and poignant pilgrimage you've shared! So happy for you and Marielle having been able to do the Camino together. This path is something I wish to do. Though I'm unsure if I wish to do it solo, not because of any fear, because it seems a journey worth being able to share in the moment. I'm quite unsure who I would invite to join me.
Thank you again for so generously sharing your experiences. I love your song collection idea too! I used to do thos on couchsurfing travels and made many a mix-tape. ♡
Kristin, thank you for your lovely response. I appreciate that you've taken the time to read and comment. I am so grateful that Marielle and I could do this together--now if only Sara, my youngest, could have joined us! Perhaps one day....I understand about your desire to do the walk with another person, because there is so much to share, and a great deal of support one can gain by encouraging each other. I would love to do part of this Camino path or another again one day....so maybe we can do it together. How fun that you too collect songs. Music is such a connector of people and it means something different to everyone. Of the nearly 60 people we gathered songs from, not one person had the same song. Interesting, isn't it?
Beautiful Amy. Found this post on your LinkedIn today and excited to follow this series. Lots of love to you.
Thank you Pip! I hope you enjoy it and I hope you are well.
I saved this so that I could listen to the audio version on the trails near my home this weekend. I love that you are doing this in a 6 part series - so much to unpack, I am sure. And to be walking this pilgrimage step by step with your daughter warms my heart. This time will be a keepsake to you both forever.
I look forward to the music component and playlist, too! So many stories can be told through lyrics that accompany our steps.
Love the Nepo & David Whyte sharing, too. Their words provide such deep introspection for me at this season of my life.
As I was listening and walking, 3 dragonflies were flittering about and dancing in the air beside me. They hung around for a bit and I couldn’t help but think of the significance of 3 with you - your publication (Living in 3D) and the whole idea you weave in here of placing your past down, standing in the now while keeping your eyes open to what’s ahead. It gave me the best kind of goosebumps.
I had to come here to look at the photos.
💞 to you Amy!
Oh Allison your comments here & the fact you took my narration of the essay on your hike today gave ME the best kind of goosebumps. Thanks for always seeing me with such kind clarity as I keep on walking my path.
Thank you for sharing your journey. My cousin and I are going to do a shorter route from Sarria to SDC in a year to celebrate our 70th birthdays. Look forward to the series! I love the inspiration!
So excited that you’ll be doing the walk with your cousin next year to celebrate your 70th birthdays. I am sure it will be as incredible for you as it was for me. Thanks for being here to follow along with the series.
Wow this is so beautiful and touching!!! Thank you for sharing your journey with us 💛
Thank you Lise for taking the time to read & comment. It was certainly an incredible journey on every level.
Absolutely 💕
Thankyou Amy for this part 1. It seems like that you and Marielle experienced a true pilgrimage with deep questions and reflections. They say the Camino gives you everything you need. And you both got that in spades. I loved reading the poem extracts and will look to get the book for further digging into my own reflections. It was a magical moment in my own Camino to meet you both and share some time and connection as I went deeper into my pilgrimage (no longer walking but seemingly learning what the Camino was bringing me - potent messages for my life). Interestingly one of those messages was the same question that Marielle was asking... choosing ease in my life going forward. And since I've been home I've done nothing but make choices to bring me ease!! And I love these gifts I'm giving myself!
I look forward to the next installment.
Thank you Nicki. It was one of the great gifts of our Camino to meet you & form a like-minded, same-hearted connection. I am glad you are inviting ease into your life. We are usually so very demanding of ourselves. What a great gift your Camino has given you, even if it was in an unexpected way.
What a journey! Thank you for sharing. Can’t wait for future posts!
Thank you, Cynthia!
So much to enjoy and resonate with here, Amy, even though I have never hiked more than a few hours in nearby locales and have no plans to do any big hikes. Our physical journeys may look quite different, but our journeys of leaving long term marriages and losing our mothers have some similarities. I got goosebumps when I read of the sign with the 111 and the butterflies. Your literal and spiritual release of your mother's ashes and spirit moved me and gave me chill bumps.
Making peace with my marriage ending and accepting my imperfect life is playing out just as it is supposed to is ongoing work for me and I so appreciate the opportunity to witness similar work in a fellow divorce traveler.
Also, Book of Awakenings is on my bedside table and was an early sobriety daily companion. He is an incredible writer. I love your and your daughter's daily rituals.
Having two grown daughters also, of around the same age, I see what a near miraculous gift this must be to walk along with your daughter.
Thank you for sharing this all with us, Amy. I look forward to reading the next in the series, especially the song one! I am a song collector-I have SO many Spotify playlists-can't wait to add yours.
Rosemary, how happy I am that this resonated with you on the spiritual level, with our similar experiences. There are so many ways to travel in this life--by foot across many miles is only one of them. It was indeed a gift to walk alongside my daughter. And yes, the song essay will be worth the wait. We had so much gathering them from such a diverse set of people of all ages.
Can’t wait!
What an incredible journey you embarked on. I can’t wait to do this myself one day. ❤️
Thanks, Julie. Maybe we will do it together one day with our soul sisters!
Really love your beautiful descriptions of what sounds like such a magical experience! In a week’s time we will be departing from our home in Australia and heading for Spain to spend 3 weeks walking the Camino - most of it will be the Del Norte on the northern coastline of Spain. I am so excited! 😊 I absolutely love how you and your daughter each asked yourselves a question which you carried with you in your walk. It’s inspired me to do the same. I love David Whyte’s poetry and will look up those books of his you mentioned. Look forward to your writing in the coming weeks which I will read whilst walking. 🥰
This is so exciting, Gaby. You will love your Camino, I am sure. Bon camino, as they say! Very glad we inspired you to think of a question to ponder along the way and to look into this volume of David Whyte's poetry. He's a great inspiration to every traveler, I think. Thanks for the kind intention to continue to read the series. I will love hearing how your walk goes!
Amy, I loved reading your reflection on the Camino, interwoven by the poems, quotes, music and interactions with fellow pilgrims. Such rich discoveries, both in the outer world and inner world. I look forward to reading the rest of your series!
Thank you Louisa for reading and your recognition that such a journey is both inner and outer world. I look forward to continuing to tell the story of our Camino in the weeks to come.
Amy, I’m so excited to experience this adventure through you! I am a big fan of hiking memoirs I’ve been feeling the call for a hike like this one, and I’ve wondered if I have the wherewithal for the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail. The El Camino feels more my speed these days. But I have so many questions about the mechanics of writing about this experience. Did you take notes along the way? Did you plan the format of this series before you left? So many questions!!
Hi Kristi! Thanks for this comment. You know, I hadn't realized that my six-part series would be the bones of a hiking memoir but indeed it could be! Thanks for piquing my interest in exploring that. As for writing about the experience, I hadn't planned the format of this series before I left, I didn't have an inkling that I would write a series. It evolved as I walked, and in conversation with my daughter. It took shape with the thoughts in my head, as many hours of walking in nature tend to do for me. I did journal a little every night, in a very special diary that was my grandmother's travel abroad diary from her first trip to Europe and Israel in 1969. My daughter and I wrote in the little book each night and I also had a separate journal and occasionally recorded bursts of inspiration in the Notes function on my phone. But really, the series didn't take shape until close to the end of the journey. Even now I don't know exactly what I will share in each part, but from past experience, I know the words will come.
As for wondering about the wherewithal for hiking the PCT and AT, one of our new friends on the Camino has hiked both of those trails, an American woman who was a delight to meet, and I'd be happy to put you in touch with her. Walking the Camino is less demanding, i think, in terms of time and effort. You can do the Portugese route in less than 2 weeks. I hope you consider it!
A lovely read and so poignant as I relate to many aspects here.
Thanks, Laura, for your kind words and for resonating with what I had to share.
Oh what a beautiful and poignant pilgrimage you've shared! So happy for you and Marielle having been able to do the Camino together. This path is something I wish to do. Though I'm unsure if I wish to do it solo, not because of any fear, because it seems a journey worth being able to share in the moment. I'm quite unsure who I would invite to join me.
Thank you again for so generously sharing your experiences. I love your song collection idea too! I used to do thos on couchsurfing travels and made many a mix-tape. ♡
Kristin, thank you for your lovely response. I appreciate that you've taken the time to read and comment. I am so grateful that Marielle and I could do this together--now if only Sara, my youngest, could have joined us! Perhaps one day....I understand about your desire to do the walk with another person, because there is so much to share, and a great deal of support one can gain by encouraging each other. I would love to do part of this Camino path or another again one day....so maybe we can do it together. How fun that you too collect songs. Music is such a connector of people and it means something different to everyone. Of the nearly 60 people we gathered songs from, not one person had the same song. Interesting, isn't it?
Love that 60 people chose 60 different songs!♡
I look forward to hearing/reading more about your Camino experiences ♡