CAMINO SPIRITUALITY
The Camino de Santiago is a spiritual path at its core. It is a pilgrimage that has been going on for hundreds of years and is based on Christian tradition. Today, people of all kinds of backgrounds, and beliefs walk these old paths. You don’t have to be religious, belong to a faith group, or know everything.
Everyone is welcome on the Camino, and everyone is accepted just for being on the journey.
BEING ON THE WAY
Many religions and cultures have a deep symbolic meaning for the phrase ’walking the way’. You can meditate, pray, think, or listen to yourself while you walk. It can be a spiritual practice all on its own, a chance to slow down, breathe, and remember what really matters. The Camino is ideal for this due to its clear skies, simple rhythms, and quiet path. If you want to heal, find clarity, be thankful, or just connect more deeply with yourself, your walk can turn into a life-changing spiritual retreat.
I can help you have a more mindful and meaningful Camino experience by giving you gentle things to do, like readings, journals, reflections, prayers, or short daily thoughts. You are the only one who can walk your path, but you don’t have to do it by yourself. We can work together to make a Camino that helps you grow both inside and out.
JOURNALING AND MEDITATION
Journaling on the Camino is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get more out of your trip. Writing gives your thoughts, memories, and feelings a place to go when you walk every day. Just write a few lines every night about what moved you, what challenged you, and what surprised you. Your journal becomes a mirror of your inner journey over time, showing you patterns and insights that you might not notice while you walk.
Combining reflection and presence is a useful technique. Instead of trying to figure everything out, write about what you saw, heard, or felt during the day. This could be the weather, a conversation, or a moment of silence. Then, add a short question that makes you think, like “What did today teach me?” or “What am I carrying that I could leave behind?” This gentle way of doing things keeps journaling from becoming too much and lets change happen naturally, step by step.
For the Camino to be a life-changing experience, consistency is more important than depth. Make a small daily habit of writing at the same time every night, maybe after dinner or before bed. Some pilgrims like bullet points, while others like drawings, prayers, or letters they never send. There is no one right way. Writing in a journal isn’t about keeping track of how many kilometres you walk; it’s about honouring the inner movement that happens as you walk. Your journal will be a quiet friend after the Camino, reminding you of both the places you walked and the person you became along the way.
30-DAY RETREAT
The 30-day Ignatian retreat is a traditional spiritual journey that includes a lot of prayer, silence, and discernment. Its goal is to help people get closer to God and figure out what they want to do with their lives. The way it is set begins with daily reflection, careful listening, and honest self-examination. It fits in well with the flow of a long Camino. Walking every day gives you time to do the same inner work: slowing down, paying attention to what stirs inside you, and letting deep questions come up without being distracted.
For pilgrims on a long Camino, the 30-day retreat guide provides a soft framework to help on their spiritual journey. Pilgrims can see patterns in their thoughts and feelings, what gives them life and energy and what takes it away, by taking time each day to think, be thankful, and make decisions. The Camino is more than just a long walk; it can become a living retreat where silence, movement, and prayer come together to create a constant conversation with God and yourself.
The original retreat lasts for 30 days, but its spirit can be easily adapted to shorter pilgrimages. Even a few days of purposeful walking, along with simple Ignatian practices like daily examen, reflective journaling, or guided meditations, can bring depth and change. These spiritual tools will help you walk with awareness, openness, and trust, no matter how long your Camino lasts.
If you are interested in the spirituality of the Camino and seek support in preparing for your internal journey, please get in touch with me.