A path that forges and tests the physical and the spirit
A path that allows letting go and being taken
A path of disconnection for reconnection
A path of non-judgment, but acceptance
A path without age or social category
A tiring path with contagious energy
A luminous path where each kilometer illuminates the soul
An intimately shared path
A joyfully challenging path
A path where the ego calms and the spirit grows
A path to return to the essence and open one’s being
Guided to the west, where the facade’s shadow gravitates behind
The reflection of daily evolution, synonymous with renewal and learning
For it is essential to bear in mind that we do not choose the path, the path chooses us
Pilgrimage or Hiking?
“- You’re just walking for 3 months?
– No, it’s much more than that.”
A historical moment: What is the Way of St James?
It is a network of routes that lead to the tomb of Apostle James the Great in Spain, one of the early followers of Christ.
Legend has it that the hermit Pelagos was guided by a star to the tomb. Since then, tradition dictates that each pilgrim reaches it to find healing.
Today, hundreds of thousands of people make the journey every year.
What compelled me to undertake the path?
One day, someone told me:
“If you want to come back to yourself, to understand, to know, to connect with yourself, you must do the Way of St James.”
Although I had always been in search of permanent answers, it was difficult for me to envision actually doing it. I had no hiking experience, and I didn’t enjoy walking (that’s a minor detail, though). Furthermore, the fear of going alone as a woman held me back.
Days, weeks, months passed. And typically, when an idea persists in my mind, I must take action. One day, my friend Antoine, who had experienced the magic of the path, invited me to dinner. I was still skeptical, yet curious, and I bombarded him with questions. He said, “You don’t know it yet, but you’re already on the path.”
Sometimes, it takes very little for me to take the plunge. (And we say: thannnk you, Antoine).
Without religious motivations, it was in a desire for disconnection, centering, and realignment that I decided to embark on the path.
The preparation
It was quite straightforward, with the help of the book “Miam Miam Dodo” I was able to organize my journey and book accommodation at each stage. True, tradition dictates that the pilgrim surrenders to the unknown, but my fear needed structure. I appreciated the exercise; it gave me a daily goal to strive for.
Non-religious, yet intrigued, I attended the daily traditional mass at the Cathedral of Le Puy-en-Velay. I felt like I was in a movie. At the end of the mass, all pilgrims had to stay to receive the blessing and the credential. It’s somewhat like the pilgrim’s passport, which is stamped at each stage. Suddenly, when I least expected it, in the middle of the nave, the floor opened up and revealed stairs to descend. – “The journey begins.” With the essentials on my back and the weight of life, each of us began our adventure with different reasons but the same objective. Adorned with the scallop shell, overwhelmed by emotion and driven by motivation, I set out on the walk.
The Path
My distances varied between 20 and 30 km per day. It was my choice, but everyone is free to walk at their own pace. The more kilometers passed, the more thoughts emerged. Fortunately, when I grew tired of my solitude, I shared my journey with another pilgrim, sometimes for an hour, a day, or even longer. I encountered a great number of souls—youthful, elderly, religious, secular, disabled, foreigners. On foot, on horseback, on a bicycle, or with a donkey, in hostels or tents. Each with their own cause. Some in a life transition or in need of reflection, grieving or recovering from an event, searching for answers or to quiet the mind, in need of distance or in search of connections, sad or happy, driven by performance or religion, meditating or contemplating.
We listen, confide, advise, encourage, share, give, become vulnerable, drop masks, disconnect from the world, return to the essentials.
As my friend Jean used to say:
“It’s also an opportunity for communion with nature. Walking allows time to admire the landscapes, enjoy sunrises and sunsets, accept rain, heat, and cold. We encounter farm animals like cows, goats, sheep, donkeys, and birds. We contemplate flowers, streams, springs, rivers, and rivers. All of this, we do because we walk and therefore take the time to observe. Each exists alongside the other, without noise, without judgment, without reproach, without envy. We listen to what others choose to share, tell our own stories. The journey teaches you to respect others, we encourage you, we wish you a “bon chemin” or “buen camino,” we care for you, and we help you forget your worries. The prevailing spirit on the path is a breath of freedom, far from the constraints of life.”
There are no rules or laws, the path welcomes everyone, so that each person can evolve their own vibe.
