The Pilgrim House https://pilgrimhousesantiago.com/ has a wonderful pre-Camino reflection guide, and I thought I’d fill it out. Here goes:

What or who got you interested in the Camino?

Liz Wilkins and Barbara Blackford were talking about it one day on a bike ride around 2011 or 12.  It sounded absolutely amazing, and I thought – I’d really like to do that someday.  The more I learned about it, the more I wanted to do it.  Films like The Way and I’ll Push You deepened my desire to go considerably, as they showed both the beauty and the challenge of being a pilgrim.  I figured it would be something I could do in retirement.  When I got this sabbatical at work, it was the first thing I thought of.  I’m really blessed to be able to do this now.

Do you have goals for your Camino in any of the following areas: physical, spiritual, emotional?

Of course physically I’d like to finish feeling good and uninjured.  In addition, I am still holding on to some anger that I feel like is hindering me in many ways.  I’d like to finally be able to let go of that.  I know from previous experience that doing physically difficult things mean coming to places where you are emotional and feel like you can’t or don’t want to continue.  I’d like to keep those to a minimum, and hold in my heart as much as possible how wonderful it is just to be on this journey.

Everyone says that the Camino provides.  But – that does not mean it gives you what you want. The Camino always gives you what you need.  I am hoping to open myself up to whatever I need the Camino to provide to me.

Are there areas in your life that need healing?

I have some resentment and anger that I need to let go of.  Things are not always fair, and I have had trouble accepting that.  It is only hurting me, and I don’t like feeling that way.

How can you create space for yourself on the Camino to reflect in these areas in order to move toward healing?

If 40 days walking on my own doesn’t create that space, I don’t know what will!!!

What expectations do you have going into your Camino?

I expect to meet wonderful people, eat great food, see beautiful things, and maybe practice my Spanish.  I expect it to be difficult at times.  I expect it to be amazing at times.  I’m assuming that I don’t know the half of what it will actually be, and I’m trying to be ok with that.

What are you concerned or fearful about?

I’ve never spent 6 weeks alone, and I’m nervous about that (though I know I won’t really be alone unless I want to be).  I have some nerves around safety/security, though I know I’m probably in a more risky place for safety in midtown Atlanta where I live.

Is there anything in your life right now that you think will distract or keep you from fully embracing your time away on the Camino?

I hope not.  I think the thing I need to focus on is taking my time.  I’m used to racing, so walking at a leisurely pace is not intuitive to me.  I hope I can be really present for this.

Have you considered purposefully carrying something as you walk or purposefully leaving something behind? (This could be done physically, prayerfully or symbolically.)

I’m going to be physically carrying three things:

• a rock from where my father is buried, which is also in the town in New Jersey where I grew up and spent the better part of the first half of my life.
• a rock from Piedmont Park, which is in midtown Atlanta, which is where I have spent the better part of the second half of my life
• a lovely tree charm that my sister-in-law had blessed and gave me to carry.

I plan to leave the first two behind at Cruz de Ferro. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruz_de_Hierro_(Le%C3%B3n)