Camino Forgiveness
The day began with yoga on the terrace in the dark accompanied by the hoots and screeches of at least two different owls. The 45 minute class coaxed both us and the day into being awake, with the sounds changing to songbirds and insects, along with a distant cowbell.
One relatively standard nourishing pilgrim’s breakfast later, we were on the bus discussing the themes of the day: forgiveness and contentment.
Our driver deposited us back in Palas de Rei to begin where we left off yesterday. We started our walk once again in cool, foggy weather, perfect for this third day on the road. Because we had started a little later, we were well behind the large groups that left with the sunrise and therefore has large stretches of the path to ourselves, in our shifting groups of 1s , 2s, 3s, and 4s. Some frequented cafes, and a few of us found a newly opened spot that an American pilgrim opened that served, as she said, all the foods that she most missed on her Camino.
The morning 9 miles ended with another outstanding lunch -todays salad was green beans, raisins, and sunflower seeds.
The shorter afternoon walk was marked by wide tree lined paths. Our lunch brought us even later than most pilgrims so we often found that we had the path to ourselves
It was purely magic. We all gathered at a great bar where we toasted one of our pilgrims daughter’s birthday. We then hopped on the bus to be driven to our place for the night.
Tonight’ accommodations are over the top, being in a restored 15th Century “palace” which served as a Summer refuge for a noble family. We relaxed on the pool, patronized the hotel bar, and held our post-walk debrief at a magnificent stone table overlooking a broad field. Dinner was a fabulous mixed salad and a superb paella. And some wine. We received such loving care, each persons dietary needs fully catered to, even in the single menu dinner. We were surprised when they even delivered us an assortment of after dinner cordials.
The day was capped off with many of us wandering into a true Campo Stella - a Field of Stars with the stars and Milky Way as visible and dramatic as we’ve ever seen.
It was a nice day balancing the hard work of exploring forgiveness with the joy and care of a beautiful respite at the end.
Today, you might consider your relationship to forgiveness. Start with yourself!
Copyright 2022 Nancy and Hugh Murray
Nancy C Murray is a practitioner of shamanic energy medicine, Reiki master joy professor and spiritual leader. She leads public and private yoga classes and healing sessions, transformational courses, and also retreats and spiritual journeys