On Thursday, 5 September we met at the Albergue in Katoomba, to participate in the evening activity “Camino Stories” sponsored by BLACKHEATH FRIENDS OF EL CAMINO.
The facilitators and Brain Trust were Jill Hill and Sharise Watson, both having walked the San James Way (Camino Francés).
We were asked to write down a question or observation and after they were collected the Brain Trust set about to discuss them.
The activity was uplifting and informative, our Brain Trust showing exuberance of love for their own pilgrim experiences.
There was a brief reference to walking at night and the simple comment was “not recommended”.
I would like to put forward that walking in the dark is recommended. Even if only for a short while, with or without Moon light.
I did it more than once and my body and mind found resources that surprised me at first; that delights me till now.
On the occasions of walking when dark I did not use my head lamp at all. I had it on my pack if I needed it. I walked slowly letting my feet feel the ground. I saw the trees’ silhouettes formed by the Moon light; I smelt the bosque (forest); I felt the reactions of my body. In the beginning my heart was fast due to fear and excitement.
Soon I started to enjoy myself. It lasted for a while till other pilgrims passed by me, mostly in silence. I kept walking but the sensations inside of me took to the background, so to speak, as I became aware of the incoming steps of other pilgrims, of their conversations…
Night pilgrimage may not be for everybody, as we differ in tastes and mode of living. It is my experience that personal nuances that were hidden somewhere in me came to the surface due to the dark.
I took the chance to do what I feared most since I considered myself an adult… The result was positive. One less fear to carry.
I decided to walk El Camino due to fear. It looks to me as I left all fears in there. One by one they were scraped out of me.
The night walking helped in different ways than did the day walking. Both were good for me and I am grateful.
