My Camino to Santiago de Compostela: a Rite of Passage

Walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela was life-changing!! Nature is so amazingly beautiful. I learned a lot about myself physically, emotionally and spiritually.  I also learned a lot about community, pilgrimage, bonding, belonging and simple life from all the wonderful people I encountered on my Camino de Santiago de Compostela. My adventures were challenging sometimes but so awesome.

Being on my own on this 40-day journey was like a rite of passage for me. It made me so much stronger. The length of the Camino taught me how to trust myself in making decisions and to choose, time and again, my own path. It also clarified for me how important my family is to me.

I thought I would be sharing stories during my Camino walk, thinking that I would be in some kind of meditative grounded state, but soon I realized that it wasn’t going to happen. This was mostly because I was too physically tired at the end of the day.

There is a huge difference between just going for a walk and going on a pilgrimage with a clear intention. In setting an intention, I became much more aware of the amazing things happening all around me. But I also needed time to process my experiences, just like any rite of passage in which you are changed in some way. The experiences ended  when I arrived in Santiago de Compostela, but my journey is not finished; My stories and learning are just beginning.

What I can share with you now is that I had an absolute awesome time walking the Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Going over the Pyrenees was so amazing, walking in the clouds, watching the horses running around, seeing the green meadows and the wonderful views over the mountains when the clouds opened up. It was mystical. The rainbows, the sun shining over the meadows and yellow fields, simply amazing. I was in awe most of the time.

On my fifth day, as I am admiring the view at the pilgrim’s monument at Alto de Perdon, I actually thought of going back to Saint-Jean and starting over. Why? Because I couldn’t imagine that the next 35 days of the Camino’s nature would be as stunning.  Guess what? All of the Camino is just breath-taking. The flowers kept on smiling to me and the birds kept on singing and travelling with me. I have never felt so alive. In total I walked joyfully (well 90% of the time) 839 km. This is bit longer than just the Camino, because I did some detours like the “Camino Duro”; walked part of it back, and I walked part of Camino Aragonés?  I am excited to share the stories of those adventures with you later.

Many pilgrims embraced me right from the start which was so heart-warming. It was therefore harder to stay with my intention to walk the Camino on my own. And often, I enjoyed the company of my pilgrim friends. Ultimately it became one of the most valuable lessons of the Camino, to time and again choose my own path.

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Soon I will be sharing my stories via this blog on my website but also via different activities in nature, and campfire & cooking events at my coaching center. This is very exciting. My hope is that it will be an exchange of stories, not only from me. It is my intention to also hear your stories. You might have been travelling or going through a change which you could also consider as a form of pilgrimage or a rite of passage.

Any time you spend away from home whether it is vacationing in Europe, attending summer camp, going on honeymoon or my 40-days on the Camino, it will change things for you. It will bring new perspectives; shine a different light that will make you feel different in some way.

If you have had your own pilgrimage, you too can ask yourself questions upon returning. How did this event or trip affect me? What did I learn? Am I seeing things differently now? Is there something I would like to change in my life? As you answer these questions, you might discover something very valuable. Applaud yourself for taking the time to process. If you like to share your discovery here online, I would love to hear from you. You can share your comments below.

For now you will see me in nature, hiking and journaling to process my Camino adventures.

By |2015-09-13T00:22:51+00:00July 20th, 2015|Camino Reflections|16 Comments

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16 Comments

  1. Carmen Croeze-Lopez July 21, 2015 at 8:52 am - Reply

    Dear Gea,
    Thank you so much for sharing, your story and video so far are hearth-warming and I feel your excitement about your very beautiful experiences. Congratulations and I am glad you are back safe and sound.
    With love, Carmen

    • Gea Souge September 7, 2015 at 7:29 pm - Reply

      Dear Carmen, Thank you for your hearth-warming message. You are such an Angel. Sending you love and a hug, Gea

  2. Grace Maduro July 21, 2015 at 3:16 pm - Reply

    Geweldig Gea!!

    Love to hear more.

    Grace

    • Gea Souge September 7, 2015 at 7:30 pm - Reply

      Dankjewel Grace,
      Blij dat ik je nieuwsgierig heb gemaakt.
      Warme groet,

  3. Wendy July 21, 2015 at 3:46 pm - Reply

    Look forward to hearing more Gea.

  4. Jennifer July 21, 2015 at 7:12 pm - Reply

    Looking forward to more stories from your journey me dear! XO

  5. Carmen Gallegos July 22, 2015 at 7:30 am - Reply

    Gea: gracias por compartir …..admirable eres por tomar desiciones sabias …enriquecerte y compartir…..realmente son experiencias unicas y nos ensensenas a valorarlas…..Que Hermosa experiencia!!!!!

    • Gea Souge September 7, 2015 at 7:34 pm - Reply

      Muchas Gracias Carmen. Encantado de leer. Espero que puedas venir a una de mis actividades. Es bueno verte de nuevo.

  6. Gayle July 22, 2015 at 2:01 pm - Reply

    I love the description of the beautiful nature experiences you have had.
    I would like to participate in a group sharing experience and hear more of your stories when you are ready. Keep me posted.
    I have purchased a home again in Canada. But I wiill continue to enjoy Aruba when the Canadian weather becomes cold. Although there are i am making steps toward positive change, instead of only thinking about what i might do. I did it!looking forward to talking with you again.
    CONGRATULATIONS!
    Gayle Bryson

    • Gea Souge September 7, 2015 at 7:39 pm - Reply

      My dear Gayle, Thank you.
      So happy for you that you found a home with your family. Let me know when you come in Aruba so we can organize a special event for the wise women of the “Connect with Your True Nature” Program. Love to connect. Gea

  7. Betty August 3, 2015 at 7:27 pm - Reply

    Wow Gea wat mooi en het filmpje prachtig het zegt al zoveel ….heel indrukwekkend. Ook ik kijk uit naar meer verhalen. Afgelopen weken in Frankrijk heb ik veel aan je gedacht zeker op het moment toen wij in de bergen aan het wandelen waren. Zo mooi X

    • Gea Souge September 7, 2015 at 7:39 pm - Reply

      Ja Betty, de Bergen zijn zo mooi.

  8. jen gray September 8, 2015 at 8:30 pm - Reply

    beautiful…thank you …

  9. Pedro September 9, 2015 at 4:28 pm - Reply

    Dear amiga Gea,
    Thank you for sharing your pilgrimage with your fan-club!
    After having read about your exploits, for a moment I had the feeling that I was walking the camino too… (I don’t know if I would have walked 850 kms but wishful thinking always helps me to be happyyyy youpiiiii!).
    At the B.K. too we are on a pilgrimage but ours is a spiritual one so we get no bistres on our soles hihihi.
    Looking forward to your next episode, receive a beeg hug from
    Pedro.

  10. mirla September 9, 2015 at 6:03 pm - Reply

    Lieve Gea,

    Bedankt om dit met mij te delen. Het is gewoon geweldig, prachtig, interessant…deed me denken aan de film ‘Wild’.
    Ik ben nog niet klaar voor zoiets, maar zou wel ooit willen proberen….hahaha, misschien wat korter..?! Tot snel,
    Fijne groetjes,
    Mirla

  11. Ivan February 29, 2016 at 11:35 am - Reply

    Well done! Bet you are well chuffed!What an aciemveehnt, quite a tiring one,but an amazing journey completed.Your very own 2012 Olympic challenge completed!Lots of love Daddy-Miss you xxxx

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