Author Archives: John

Money and food. Part 1. Ruta de La Lana: Caudete – Almansa

Money and food: living below the line. A challenge on the Ruta de La Lana. On solitary pilgrimages I become more aware of how fantastically rich I am.  I walk in beautiful landscapes, I am happy and peaceful,  indeed, I … Continue reading

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Prayer: Camino de Levante: through Xativa to Almansa

Prayer:  “Pray all the time” The Way to Almansa [mapsmarker layer=”12″]   My first post on the Camino de Levante told of how, on the second day of this Camino from Valencia to Santiago de Compostella I became aware of the … Continue reading

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Hospitality on the Camino de Santiago.

Hospitality. On the Caminos de Santiago there are many forms of hospitality, usually albergues or hostels run by volunteers, or by a local authority.  The work of the hospitalero is to welcome pilgrims and assure safe and cared-for shelter. The … Continue reading

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An Angel.

I live with Angels. Angels have not been central to my faith, always seeming to me flights of fancy.  However, as I begin to grow in my understanding of the range of ways in which people find symbols, narratives, music … Continue reading

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A Miracle?? Ruta de La Lana : Still Day 3

I hesitate to say, “Miracle”. Skip this next section if you want to get on with the story about the “miracle”. There are several problems for me in writing this blog about a spiritual journey and talking about things like … Continue reading

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Thanksgiving. Via de La Plata: Tierra de Barros

Thanksgiving: Genuine Gratitude in Awful Times. The Land of Mud Having spent two nights in the luxury of the Hostels in Fuente de Cantos and Pueblo de Sancho Perez, I lost all sense of comfort very rapidly as I set … Continue reading

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The Sigh. Compassion. Pilgrimage Spirituality.

A Long Time Sighing. My first Camino, the Via de La Plata was a great adventure and praying was easy; my second, the Camino de Levante was about learning to pray at all times and led into my Pilgrimage from … Continue reading

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Meeting Prejudice. Via de La Plata, Fuente de Cantos to Pueblo de Sancho Perez

Stereotyping the French. My last post on the Via de La Plata, describes an early morning when I walked a few kilometres to Fuente de Cantos. Having slept out for two nights I was wondering about a shower.  The Albergue … Continue reading

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Lourdes, a sign pointing to a miracle.

A sign – not a miracle in Lourdes. There is a difference between signs and miracles although one can be the other.  I recount here what happened to me twelve years ago when my life was terribly confused.  I had … Continue reading

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Camino de Levante – Oranges and a word from Theresa of Lisieux.

Camino de Levante:  Setting out from Valencia Oranges and a word from Theresa of Lisieux. On 8th Feb. 2011, I arrived by slow train in Valencia and headed south on the Camino de Levante to Santiago de Compostella.  This was … Continue reading

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