A Facebook post of mine that encouraged others to consider taking a particular Camino route and the variants it offered received a comment from the head of a particular Camino association that surprised me. He said that if you take an unauthorized variant you are not on a pilgrimage and not a pilgrim but rather a tourist. I was offended and strongly disagreed, but I chose not to respond. He was defending his particular understanding of what it means to be pilgrim.
I’m not religious and I find some of the details around the discovery of the tomb of Santiago (Saint James the Greater) a little fishy. They found his remains after he had been dead for about 800 years and then later misplaced them before rediscovering them. And I am a little sceptical about his long distance voyage to Galicia in a stone boat. I also suspect he was not involved in slaying Moors during the Reconquista in Spain, even if many Spanish churches argue differently.
In spite of my lack of faith, and skepticism around the remains of Santiago, I continue to do pilgrimages to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. For Gordon, it’s like visiting Greece. The mythology surrounding the Camino de Santiago provides us with interesting stories, some of which may provide moral guidance for our lives.
For me the Camino is a metaphor for life. A long journey of challenges, losses, beauty and joy. Its richness found in the connections made with others and the knowledge that it will end. It connects me to a history of pilgrims who have made this journey since the Middle Ages and even earlier when pagans walked following the Milky Way to the end of the earth at Finesterra. It connects me to all the pilgrims who are travelling on different routes throughout Europe and even those who have not yet walked. And as I make my way I am humbled by the humanity that is still alive and well in this beautiful world.
Lovely!
Since a pilgrimage is supposed to a journey with a spiritual component, anyone purporting to dictate the nature and itinerary of your spiritual journey and take poetic license to define yours in pejorative language (“you’re a mere tourist”), that person should open up the four gospels and read about the Pharisees; good on you for “turning the other cheek.”
Cheers
Well said Hu.
Actually, first pilgrims were not following one signposted route. People were just going there, finding their own way. So one might even argue that a “real pilgrim” is the one who finds his own route and not the one who follows the signposts. One might, except .. there is not such a thing as a “real pilgrim” or “less real pilgrim”. Pilgrimage is a concept we carry in our hearts. And I do not know many people who carry the idea of pilgrimage as gracefully as you two.
Edit: not his, but their
Beautifully said Eva!
well done Ruth. And I love the pictures too
Thanks Marion!