Our Moveable Feats

September 13, 2024

From the desk of T in Aumont-Aubrac

I have been summoned to talk about the emotional/spiritual/mental side of walking the Chemin.  Many thoughts have run through my head over these kilometres. Most prominent is the ‘why’ of the way. There are many different reasons people do this journey— spiritual, emotional, physical pursuit, to name a few. Likely a combination of all for many.  I did not undertake this for one specific reason. It has been on my mind for years as a quiet yearning, but without a deeper understanding of why. 

Here we are 6 days in, on our rest day and I am trying to coalesce all the thoughts I had along the way. Do I find it spiritual? Hmmmmm, not in the religious sense like many pilgrims. Rather, as my mind opens while I walk I find the spiritual in the beauty, in the space. In the TIME AND SPACE. Those are the two words that keep flashing in my brain. Time and Space. Something that, in our busy lives, our chaos and distraction, we don’t often find, or perhaps even seek. So, as I walk and work on being in the moment it is the time and space which give pause. A delightful welcome pause that lets in the beauty around, strips away the noise and settles in like a warm friend. Given the frenetic nature of my brain, I worried that this would be the biggest challenge. Would there be boredom? I embarked with airpods at the ready, phone loaded with audiobooks and podcasts to escape the tedium. And yet the tedium has not been found. I prepared a carefully curated playlist of inspiring and uplifting instrumental and gentle music and have listened only twice. The first time on the most difficult, technical part of the trail on day two. It helped to centre and focus me. Not a distraction but rather a soundtrack to the work. The second time I put on my music was on a long, flat portion of the trail. This it turns out, was not helpful. I missed being in the moment and noticing the glorious land surrounding  me and instead was distracted by the music. So, there is a time and place for the music but distraction is not what I am looking for.

Back to the why… I still don’t clearly know but feel I am getting to know myself better, to be confident in my capabilities, to work for my dinner! There is a powerful sense of those who have gone before me on the trail, on a journey. I have no doubt that the next two weeks will further coalesce the swirling thoughts of gratitude, reflection and wonder which join me on each and every stage.

Bon Chemin!