If you feel that you are at the point of your life where nothing makes sense, where you have lost faith in humanity, and feel like giving up, Camino will help you to rediscover yourself and the purpose of living.
What is the purpose of life? Let me guess, you are not sure! Most people go through life without actually knowing the purpose of their life. It is totally fine if you don't know the answer to the above question. The truth is that most of us don't. This is why every year, millions of pilgrims from all over the world go on the journey of self-discovery to discover their purpose in life. This journey of self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment is known as walking the "Camino de Santiago".
For centuries, pilgrims from all over the world have embarked on this spiritual journey. The journey starts from Europe to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, North-West of Spain. One thing is for sure: your life will never remain the same after this journey. Camino is an unforgettable experience and a unique journey. Perhaps, what is unique about undertaking this journey is that there is always a story to tell at the end of the journey.
If you feel that you are at the point of your life where nothing makes sense, where you have lost faith in humanity, and feel like giving up, Camino will help you to rediscover yourself and the purpose of living. If you are looking for a way to improve your faith and receive forgiveness for your sins, Camino will also help you. Indeed, there is no other spiritual journey in human history that offers the kind of benefits that Camino provides. Even non-believers have described Camino de Santiago as a journey of body, mind, and soul. It doesn't matter whether you believe or not, you will always gain some benefits in one way or the other.
What's Camino de Santiago?
In English, Camino de Santiago is known as "Way of St James". It is also known by so many names. It is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.
Camino is a spiritual journey that started thousands of years ago. According to history, the first Camino walk was in the ninth century. Some of the routes that led to the tomb of St. James are as old as 1200 years. Every year, millions of pilgrims walk over 500 miles for six weeks following arrows painted on rocks and trees in the search on spiritual redemption at the tomb of St. James. For a devout Christian, this is one of the most important spiritual journeys you can go in your life. Many Christians go on Camino as a form of penance, atonement or a show of devotion. It is usually seen as the end of a particular phase and a fresh start for the next phase of life.
The rewards cannot be measured in gold and silver. At the completion of this journey, you will receive the heavenly reward of forgiveness of sins, spiritual enlightenment, blessings and grace from the almighty God. It is like being born anew. All your doubts, confusion, and anxiety will be washed away. Everyone who embarks on this spiritual journey always has some positive and heart-warming stories to tell.
Spiritual and physical benefits of Camino de Santiago
While it is true that Camino is a spiritual journey, you don't have to even be a Christian to try it. Every year, many people do it because they want to challenge themselves by walking an average of 20km day after day. Others do it because they relish the opportunity to walk through scenic landscapes, authentic villages, and historical towns. You will also experience the liberating effect of being disconnected to modern devices for six weeks.
Camino is a personal journey. However, people usually go in a group. It is important to mention that you don't have to finish it at a stretch. There are some pilgrims who are unable to walk the entire route and walk for a week per year until they finish the Camino in 4 or 5 years.
Walking the Camino
Walking the Camino is something you can do irrespective of your age. Surprisingly, you can even see old women in their fifties and sixties on this journey. There are so many Camino routes spread out throughout Europe. The most popular route is Camino Frances followed by Camino Portuguese which is the second most popular pilgrimage route on the Iberian Peninsula.
The Camino del Norte route is also very popular. This route is well known as the most beautiful of all the Camino routes, it is also the toughest. Camino Primitivo is another notable route. Unfortunately, it is a tough hill, it can be quite difficult to navigate but very quiet. Finally, we have the English Way which is the shortest of all the existing Camino routes. This route starts on the north coast at Ferrol. Every year, more than 7000 people pass through this route.
There are usually signs such as yellow arrows drawn on rocks and walls to guide you. These signs can be seen on the various Camino routes. The journey is usually done in groups or pairs. You can stop in villages to have some refreshments, toilets, Wi-Fi, and to spend time to talk to the locals in the village you find yourself.
Final Words
Everyone that goes on Camino always come back with a changed life and interesting stories. Your life will never remain the same when you embark on this journey. It doesn't matter whether you are looking for spiritual fulfillment or physical attractions, you will definitely find what you are looking for. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people walk the Camino de Santiago either on their own or in organized groups. The best way to enjoy this walk is to find a well-organized tour or a self-guided tour. This will help you get the best out of your Camino.
