Where is the Way?

This is the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain

El Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James) is a walking pilgrimage that winds through ancient paths over long distances. Some routes are well waymarked, others are not. Regardless, the waymakers appear fairly regularly. If you have not seen a waymarker for fifteen minutes, it usually means that you have taken a wrong turn. Over long distances it is inevitable that there will be wrong turns. Then you must backtrack to the point a waymarker was last seen and start searching more carefully. In fact, there is a feeling or sensation you get when you have not seen a waymarker for some time. Noticing the absence of something is slightly different than noticing something.

When you realize you are off course, you ask someone, “donde esta el camino?” Or “where is the way?” You will get an answer in Spanish like, “over there” or “over here”. People like to be asked to help.

Some have said that El Camino is an allegory for our life journey. In this case it would seem to be – when you get off your path, and of course you will, realize it through your feelings, ask for help, remedy it early, then continue on. Your feelings are like a compass and will point you to the right path.