Living the Camino Back Home : Ignatian Tips for Keeping the Camino Spirit Alive

The authors have worked for some years as Camino Companions, a ministry for welcoming pilgrims in Santiago de Compostella. In the course of their work they noticed that as well as providing a space for pilgrims to tell their unique Camino stories while in Santiago, pilgrims wanted help to reflect on the importance and relevance for their lives back home (the real Camino!). This book is a suggestion as to what pilgrims might do on returning home in terms of keeping that Camino spirit alive. Inevitably it is written from the Christian perspective of its authors, but it can be used by pilgrims of all faiths and none.

We are all pilgrims in the world and our challenge is to live life as a journey, not buying into the consumer mentality but keeping our hearts open. Back at home we easily forget this and can drift along on autopilot. But we have a choice about how we live and love. God (or Mystery, or Spirit) is always with us, and can be seen especially when looking back on our experience. Hence the importance of reflection and taking time out to get perspective. The Camino ‘feeling’, or the spiritual dimension is always there, but we have to walk our road of trust as best we can wherever we find ourselves. The ‘Camino will provide’ even back at home.