An Odd Pilgrimage

I woke up this morning with a singlar thought in my head - and it's that I should do the El Camino de Santiago. The entire month-long 900km pilgrimage walk.

I have no idea why!

I was deeply religious a few years ago - this would be the day each week where I'd trundle off to church like a good girl, leading worship and kid's church, wearing out the fingers on a piano and being completely involved in all the rituals that go along with church attendance. I was enthusiastic about God and Christianity and Worship and all those good religious things.

Now I'm "more spiritual than religious", as many websites put it (especially those scary dating ones, which I like to look at for fun sometimes, to see if I can spot the desperation in their eyes... :) ). Wherever the spiritual part of me is headed, it's a lot more open to the world in general - to many different views and beliefs, to those from a variety of walks of life, and to the possibility that doubt is a good thing.

I wouldn't be walking it for religious reasons, I'm sure. Though I may find a spiritual connection along the road.

I've read Solbeam's account of her journey. Another traveller who sees things from many angles, and notes the value in all - living or inanimate. She found a few amazing truths in her openness to the messages life sends.

I wouldn't be walking it because I'm fit (yet) or a manic hiker. I wouldn't be walking it for the challenge of starting and finishing.

Perhaps what attracts me to the concept of this pilgrimage is a chance to still the heart and soul, to let the rhythm of feet aid in the turning over of the mind, to find where my heart must be, and to awaken my eyes to the possibilities the world holds with open hands for me, to connect with other ramblers on the journey. 30 days of walking, 900km - that's a whole lot of time and space in which to sort out a head that gets too regularly confused. It's a chance to find new purpose, direction and strength along with the blisters and vistas.

I've been online today doing a bit of research into what's required in terms of equipment, cash, time and planning. It would take some doing for me to accomplish. It would require a month off work and quite a bit of organization. I'm not sure if the kid would do it with me or would need a month's supervision at home while I go alone.

But it's a growing thought in the back of my head. It's often those ideas bred in the darkness of night that indicate signposts forward...

::update::
I could save airfare and simply walk from here to Bloemfontein, but somehow I don't think it will have the same effect... :)

::update 2::
The kid reckons he could do this with me (El Camino not El Bloemfontein). We'll make something of him yet!