Dear Reader,

I have returned from Spain! I have actually been home for a week and have had a severe case of vacationitis! But everyday I am feeling more back into the groove of the Life of Joan, so I actually feel I can sit and write today. Yet I am feeling quite challenged. How does one write about such an experience as walking the El Camino? The people, cities, churches, forrests, countryside, hilltop views…all part of the beautiful experience of walking and self reflection on a pilgrimage in the country of Spain.

The history alone is fascinating. Pilgrims have been walking trails since the 800’s, pursuing healing, religious intentions, or personal goals and self fulfillment. The final destination is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, also known as St.James Cathedral, located in Galicia, Spain. In 1075 the construction of this church began, and in 1211 the church was consecrated. (according to Google) Alan and I arrived at the huge courtyard in front of the cathedral on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. People from countries all over the world were milling about and celebrating: shouting, singing, kissing the ground, taking photos and congratulating one another. We had begun in Ferroll, Spain six days before and because we had walked approximately seventy-five miles, we qualified for the Compostela certificate. A pilgrim must walk at least 100 kilometers or a little over sixty miles to receive a certificate. All through your journey you carry a special paper to be stamped in all the cities; restaurants, hotels, tourist facilities, will stamp your paper which proves you have walked a trail of the El Camino. You can visualize the stamps on the T-shirt in the picture above. On the day we checked in after we arrived at the cathedral, the number of pilgrims was up to 4,225.

I have thought about my trip every day since my return. What an amazing pilgrimage it was! We met so many people from across the globe; Spain, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Italy, France, United States, Germany, Lithuania, Holland, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, Philippines, Brazil! The kinship I felt with the other pilgrims brought me a quiet joy, and the kindnesses we witnessed or were given to us was a daily practice. Alan called these people “Camino Angels”. Encouragement was passed on as a regular practice. Pilgrims always said “Buen Camino”, (Good Camino, and Camino means The Way), as they passed one another or sat down next to each other. Locals who lived in the towns watched out for all pilgrims, directing one back on the correct path if one began to walk in the wrong direction. We gave some foot balm to a young man from Ukraine with sore feet. The next day we talked with him again and he had given an ace bandage to a young woman with a sprained ankle. The care for one another was part of the magic. And Alan and I bonded even more, walking together as a team every day. I am very proud of the way we cared well for one another.

For me, perhaps one of the greatest gifts of walking the El Camino was the opportunity for self-reflection. Remember, I chose to walk with a backpack on my back that weighed about twelve pounds. Everything I owned for my daily life in Spain I carried in that pack. Simple, but true. It became very symbolic for me. It had been difficult and heavy at first, yet after a couple of days it became a part of me. I came to understand that if I chose to put something else in that pack, it would probably be wise to let something go, to release something. An analogy about life, not hold on to everything so tight, so I could make room for new things. And isn’t that the way of life? And after a long, hot day of hiking up hills, averaging about ten or twelve miles a day, it was such a relief to set that pack down! So freeing! So much easier to travel around. Life is so much lighter when I am not carrying a big bag of “stuff”.

I learned I had the courage and perseverance to keep walking everyday. I had strong bones, a solid will, and an open mind. As our friend from Ukraine told us, for him the Camino was all about “learning to listen to what Mother nature had to tell him.” I learned to listen. Not only to Mother Nature but to my Higher Power, too. I was humbled by the love that surrounded me daily. And love for my self and other beings all around me. I was reminded how very special I am. Queen Joan the Beautiful, Joan from Joy, with the Compassionate Heart. And I was shaken by certain reflections about myself that I needed to change, and in my mind that brought me to my knees. But my Higher Power always meets me where I am, and I have known for years I am never really alone.

Lastly, Dear Reader, I want to report that Alan and I went to Mass at the St. James Cathedral the day after we arrived. Each day a Mass is said for all the pilgrims. The Cathedral is huge and people from all over the world attended that service. It was packed. The priest spoke in Spanish of course, but I feel certain many of us in that church received some type of message. For a few minutes I cried, tears running down my cheeks, because for those few minutes I FELT world peace. How could I not! Each of us a bright light filled with good intentions and vibrations!

Buen Camino! :O)

With Love, Joan