We have begun making our way

March 12, 2022  /  John Wiles

Dear Vox pilgrims

I'm excited about joining you for the 2022 Vox Pilgrimage on the Camino

To those of you whom I haven't met I'm Karla the "intentional/holy listener" for the pilgrimage. I will be walking with you to listen to you sing and also to listen with you as you open yourself to whatever the pilgrimage will be for you. I'm an Episcopal priest serving a congregation in Hickory NC. I'm an avid backpacker, sea kayaker, and walking pilgrim.

As with any pilgrimage, the Camino began as soon as you said yes to John's text and or stumbled upon the Vox website and signed up.

This morning while reading and meditating I stumbled upon a passage in Joyce Rupp's book Walk in A Relaxed Manner about her journey on the Camino that reminded me yet again part of what I love about an intentional pilgrimage: "Initially we thought getting to Santiago was the purpose of our walk. We soon discovered it was in making our way to the cathedral that we were to receive spiritual empowerment and renewed enthusiasm.

We have begun making our way on this pilgrimage.

We carve deeper neural pathways and get more out of any pilgrimage when we prepare for it and walk it and then reflect on it with intention. Over the years I've come to enjoy the preparation and the remembering as much as the "trip" itself. It really does make a pilgrimage much longer than the days I'm actually on trail.

Along the way during this preparation phase John will be sending you information about music. I offer you some suggestions now to aid your mind, body, and soul during this preparation phase. As the saying goes take what you like and leave the rest. I've included some links not because I get a kick back, but because I enjoy it when folks make it easy for me to find stuff. The Vox website is also loaded with great training tips.

  1. Make a Plan If you haven't already sit down and create a plan, a map, for your physical preparation. I find it very helpful to actually write the plan down and pin it up so I can see it every day. Seeing it reminds me that i'm already on the pilgrimage. I smile and then am way more likely to actually follow it. Try and walk at least three times a week. Make one of the days a long day. Start now and then once a week on your long day add an extra mile or two. Walk until you can walk comfortably for 5 hours or so in a day. Don't worry about your speed - this is not a race - it's a long walk. The idea is to build the amount of time you are comfortable walking. If it helps, here is a training plan https://www.verywellfit.com/how-to-train-to-walk-the-camino-de-santiago-3434979.

  2. Boots Wear the boots you will be walking in to break them and to toughen up your feet. I know that Gil loves his boots and I love mine, but I actually find it helpful to get new boots every couple of trips. Hiking boots are a bit like running shoes these days, they break in easily but also wear out. There are endless options for hiking boots. I find ones that are not too heavy to be the most comfortable especially when walking hot dusty trails. My personal favorite are Salomon X utra mid gtx hiking boots.https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/x-ultra-3-mid-gtxr-w.html#color=34135. They feel like running shoes with extra support for your ankles. Once I started wearing these I stopped getting blisters. Like running shoes I also buy them a larger size than my normal shoes. Again like running shoes.

  3. I don't get a kickback for these recommendations.

  4. Socks I'm also a big fan of smart wool thin hiking socks (and I hate wool). https://www.smartwool.com/shop/mens-hike-classic-edition-full-cushion-crew-socks-socks-sw013000?variationId=052&gclid=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43FwE4crVk_net2i4rBq-pLkXUhklDYhbJczeGOMzfSG0b Or runners mid calf smart wool socks. https://balega-socks.implus.com/products/blister-resist-running-socks/balega-blister-resist-crew-running-socks. Sock liners almost always give me blisters so I ditched them. Last year Gil converted me to the joys of aquaphor as another layer between my socks and feet. Plus it makes dry crackly feet feel better.

  5. SLOW-WALKING On one of your walks add miles, on one of your walks try walking really slow for part of the walk. Turn off your music and your podcasts and just be present to the sights and sounds are around you. Walking in and of itself is very therapeutic. (Given the past two years of Covid...I'm guessing all of us are wrestling with some level of grief and trauma).

  6. Therapeutic Value of Walking Here are a couple of articles about the theraupatic value of walking https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-movement-and-exercise-can-help-us-heal-from-trauma/. https://medium.com/change-your-mind/how-walking-can-heal-your-trauma-60d0a16eb7d6

  7. JOURNAL Get a journal and start writing or drawing. Put your training plan in it, take notes on what you read, record your dreams, just write or your draw you never know what might emerge.

  8. BOOKS/PODCASTS/MOVIES to aid you on your way. You don't need to read or watch them all. or any of them. Start with the one you might actually read or watch.

If you have found some interesting movies or podcasts about walking the Camino or pilgrimage in general let me know. There are many, many, many resources on the Camino. I'd recommend picking a few you like and then allowing your own experience to emerge. As you prepare if you need a place to talk I'm here to listen. I'm on sabbatical till mid April and am traveling some of that time but if I'm in town I'm happy to chat with you via zoom or phone. My non-work sabbatical email is karlaoutside@gmail.com

Comment

People need wild places.  Whether or not we think we do, we do.  We need to be able to taste grace and know again that we desire it.  We need to experience a landscape that is timeless, whose agenda moves at the pace of speciation and glaciers.  To be surrounded by a singing, mating, howling commotion of other species, all of which love their lives as much as we do ours, and none of which could possibly care less about us in our place.  It reminds us that our plans are small and somewhat absurd.        BARBARA KINGSOLVER, Small Wonder