A Pilgrim's Guide To The Camino De Santiago 2009

Description

There are many long distance footpaths, but only the camino has won the recognition of the U.N. and achieved World Heritage status on account of its historical and spiritual significance. The camino's ability to transform and elevate human consciousness remains undiminished over the centuries. Countless millions have walked this path in search of a deeper meaning to their lives. Perhaps this is your time to join the merry band of pilgrims along this ancient path of enquiry? Anyone, from student to senior citizen, can choose to go on pilgrimage and see their life as a sacred journey. Within the busyness and loneliness of our secular lives we can awaken to the spiritual and find the meaning and relevance that is often absent in our chaotic world. And that is why these guides are subtitled a 'practical and mystical manual' - that we might find a place to eat and sleep at the end of a long days walking but also, and crucially, that we might support each other to dive into the mysteries of our individual soul awakenings, without which all journeying is, ultimately, purposeless. The guide is in full colour with over 200 photographs.

Author description

John Brierley was born in Aries on 2nd April 1948. His early life was spent in Dublin where he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and set up his own practice. He continued to work there until an existential crisis took him and his family to Findhorn in Scotland in 1987 as part of a mid-career break. This was to prove a pivotal time in his life with a reordering of priorities towards a spiritual perspective. In 1996 he convened the international conference Business for Life where the core issue was identified as the crisis of the human spirit and the search for meaning in life. The idea of Business Sabbaticals as an antidote to burn-out, and pilgrimage as a way to reappraise life's purpose became his abiding passion. He continues to walk the Caminos amongst other sacred routes, and for those who may heed the calling to try these pilgrimages for themselves, has compiled 3 Practical and Mystical Manuals for the Modern Day Pilgrim:

Table of contents

CONTENTS: [A] Acknowledgements Introduction & Notes on 5th Edition 07 [B] Begining Guide (remove before you go) Planning - Route i. Deciding when to go? 11 ii. How long to take? 13 iii. How to get there - and back? 15 iv. Pilgrim Passport & Protocol 16 v. Pilgrim Hostels & Other Accommodation 17 vi. Costs 18 Preparation - Outer i. Physical Fitness 20 ii. Equipment 21 iii. Clothing Checklist 24 iv. Language 26 v. Basic Phrases 27 v. The Camino - Past, Present & Future 30 Preparation - Inner i. Why am I doing this? 37 ii. Self-Assessment Questionnaire 38 Maps - Waymarks i. Waymarking 39 ii. Map Legend 42 iii. Route Summary 43 [C] Camino - En Route 33 Stages to Santiago Stage 1 St. Jean Pied de Port - Roncesvalles 48 Stage 18 Terradillos de los Templarios (half-way stage) 160 Stage 33 Santiago de Compostela 270 [X] Useful addresses Including web sites 281 [Y] Bibliography Waymarks for the inner and outer journey 283 [Z] Returning Home Towards re-integration 285