On our journey we will encounter and cross numerous physical thresholds, many of them special. Some might herald entry to a space filled with promise like an ancient cloister. Likewise, on our inner journey it may be necessary to re-visit and cross multiple times the threshold of particular issues as we examine, let go, make room for new possibilities, integrate and transform.
‘Pilgrimage is about diving in and not holding back. It’s about running headlong toward your deepest desire, which always awaits you with open arms.’
Christine Valters Paintner.
One particular threshold I crossed in my 2016 Del Norte Camino was fear. (My story featured in Vol. 2. No 1).
This beautiful route had become increasingly popular. Pilgrims were competing with holiday makers for accommodation on the coastal sections. A bed race had developed. Many pilgrims were prepared to walk along tarmac roads to take a more direct route to ensure a place at the municipal and lower priced albergues. There were alternative natural pathways which more closely followed the coast. But these pilgrims sacrificed this for the shortcut to wait in a line for the albergue to open. I was wrestling with this issue which I found was beginning to effect my Camino too. Getting to the next albergue before the beds were taken and the hot water depleted began to dominate to the detriment of experiencing and enjoying the journey.
As I climbed out of the picturesque fishing port of Luarca, which was not directly on the Camino, and wondering about the accommodation consequences a flashback occurred. I was suddenly taken back to my twenties where while travelling the world, fear didn’t figure. It came to me that I could swap out the fear based living and instead walk in a carefree manner, enjoy the landscapes and swim in the ocean. As it happened for the remainder of my Camino there was always a bed somewhere, no matter how late my arrival. Although one was on the ground under a tree in the church yard!
Another threshold waiting to be crossed is the gateway to the spiritual. The pilgrim can perform rituals, attend masses and receive blessings while making the physical journey along the Camino. These are all external actions which can engage the senses and help create the conditions conducive to internal work. The pilgrim is also presented with a wonderful opportunity to spend oceans of time walking in silence and solitude often while traversing beautiful landscapes. Once again these are external conditions conducive to internal work. But there is the need to cross a further threshold. To take the step of surrender to a higher power or force, some call God, others Love. To let go of outmoded beliefs held since childhood, and trust in the universe.
Philip
References
‘The Soul of a Pilgrim, Eight Practices for the Journey Within,’ Paintner, Christine Valters, 263 PAI, (3 copies).
A more accessible account of pilgrimage from a Christian perspective. ‘The Practice of Crossing The Threshold,’ is the third chapter.
The Art of Pilgrimage, The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred,’ Cousineau Phil, 203.5 COU (3 copies).
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