Walking the Camino de Santiago
as a Spiritual Path
The Navigating the Mysteries Contemplative Caminos are a little different!
As our pilgrim footsteps join myriad others on the Camino Frances, our aim is to invite the path and the land it passes through to support us on our inner psychospiritual journey toward fresh awareness and awakening.
Whilst acknowledging the physicality of an extended walking retreat, our focus is not to count kilometres travelled or elevations achieved but to take a gentler pace.
We linger in places of cultural or natural significance, practice being at ease, enjoying birdsong and flowers, relishing the colours and flavours and deeply appreciating the beauty and textures of this ancient pilgrimage path.
Pausing often, with daily meditations and time to reflect, we will eat well, and use taxis to make our daily walks satisfying, not straining.
Contemplative Caminos are about being, in the fulness of our bodies, the land and season.
Each is tailor made, according to the interests and needs of the small pilgrim group.
Having made eight Caminos in the last 6 years, I’m taking a break in 2025.
New ideas for 2026 are beginning to take shape.
For now, please enjoy the reflections below from a previous Spring Camino
Reflections from the 2023 Spring Camino
by Mary Solberg
I’m on my stomach head propped on my elbow, sideways on my bed with its beautiful white paisley coverlet. At eye level the church steeple, a stork silhouetted on her nest. I’ve seen her lift off to soar over the rooftops, imagine her down by the creek feeding—where yesterday we walked through poplars in spring’s greening.
After a few yoga stretches we settled into our walk, through the village, up a little hill then down. Poncho for a drizzle then full on rain. Sheltered under an overhang at Riego de Ambrós. Many large doorways tell of carts hauled by mules over the mountains, where, once pulled through the doors and into the courtyard, there was safety.
Through the oak and chestnut trees views of waterfalls and deep pools. Again, we’re delighted by flowers—dainty purple violets, elder flowers, primroses, Solomon seal, many in the crevices of stone walls contorted by tree roots and trunks that have outgrown their confines. The pastures we pass are lush with grass so green I want to eat it!
The Rio, rushing in places, is the backdrop to birdsong. I don’t recognize what I hear but Annie names them: chaffinch, coal tit and the little jazz singer, a European robin. We stop at a café just above a small town cemetery. It’s midmorning, time for an Americano. Packs off, poles at rest, we have plenty of time to linger.
I’d love to co-create with you, to find the contemplative Camino experience that best meets your needs.
Contact
annie@navigatingthemysteries.com
I'm excited to see where the journey leads.
Will you join me?
