Peregrinaje
It’s no coincidence that I had to leave my books at home because they didn’t fit in my luggage. It’s no coincidence that because of that, I had to buy a book here. And it’s no coincidence that of all the Paulo Coelho books that were there, I chose this one. It was all meant to be.
I chose this one, simply because Compostela was in the title and Santiago de Compostela is in Spain. I am in Spain. So I am buying this book. Having read a couple of his books already, I knew that it was going to be about a journey. I figured since the title had Compostela, it would be about “Camino” and I was right. It is a most daunting and exhilarating journey. I have always been intrigued by the Camino. I have always admired the people who have had the audacity and courage to take that step and complete it, even if it’s just a portion of it. It requires you to leave everything behind and walk on foot through the Northern part of Spain, in the hopes of a spiritual epiphany, a catharsis, a revelation, search for meaning, or whatever it is you may be looking for. Isn’t that what we all look for in life?
I am enjoying living vicariously through this character as he embarks on his journey, his camino, and learning from it. I am only in the beginning and already I can relate to the fact that the character left everything at home to go to Spain. Taking that initial step, albeit already decided, was a difficult one and maybe even, the most, difficult one.
Part of his journey is to experience certain practices and the first one, is to convert yourself into a seed. Convert yourself into a seed, close your eyes, and become one with the ground. Hold yourself tight and envision that you truly are a seed and as the seed grows, plant your roots into the ground, sprout, grow, and keep growing. When the man opened his eyes he had envisioned himself as a full grown tree, standing up tall. This process of rebirth was imperative to this man’s journey on Camino. He had to be reborn so that his spirit and his heart was ready to commence this journey.
“No pensaba. Todo era oscuro y estaba adormecido en lo profundo de la tierra. De repente algo se movió. Era una parte de mí, un minúscula parte de mí que quería despertarme; decía que tenía que salir de allí porque había otra cosa… Comencé por mover mis dedos, y mis dedos fueron moviendo mis brazos, pero no eran ni dedos ni brazos, sino un pequeño brote que luchaba por vencer la fuerza de la tierra y caminar en dirección a ese… Todo era demasiado lento y yo tenía que luchar contra la fuerza que me empujaba hacia abajo… El cuerpo fue expandiéndose, expandiéndose, hasta que el dolor muscular se hizo tan intenso que no pude soportarlo mas y grite.” -Paulo Coelho "Peregrino de Compostela”
How many times do we reinvent ourselves in one lifetime? How often are we reborn? How often are we reborn of the spirit?
“…Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit, gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is, with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3: 6-9
Cats have 9 lives. How many do we have? How dull and boring (in my opinion) would it be, if we only had one. I think it necessary, to constantly be reborn. Just the thought of it, is invigorating! The opportunity that we have, to be reborn and grow taller, better, and more beautiful is one that we must seize. It allows us to fully encapsulate a new aventure, give us a new perspective, or grant the same redundant routine a new meaning. It is what I imagine Thoreau relates to, when he says “suck out all the marrow out of life”.
P.S. “Civil Disobedience” was one of those books I left at home.