In the December 2016 edition of National Geographic there was a fascinating acticle entitled “The Healing Powerof Faith”. It was largely about placebos, healers, shrines and the power of the group. How expectations can influence our health and ability to fight pain. At the very end of the article the author started writing about pilgrimage and I’d like to quote some of it.
“Nowhere is the power of group belief more evident than in religious pilgrimage…”
This was about the religious pilgrimage to the healing place Altötting, Germany:
“Everyone is here for their own reasons, but they are all here for each other just as much,” said Marcus Bruner, a cheery priest and 27 year veteran of the walk. ” The group carries you, and you carry the group all together.”
Here are some email communcations between Commando Bill, one of my cancer buddies, and myself. We live here on Vashon, we travel to Swedish Hospital for treatment and we walk together at Phil’s Camino. We have known each other for at least a year and have been through some serious ups and downs. And we have figured some stuff out.
BILL – Watching The Way … it’s long, that’s good. The juxtiposition of the disparate personalities so randomly thrust together holding on to each other like magnetic poles rejecting each other … takes one in.
It’s only a story, made up, yet it has an engrossing feeling to it. We don’t choose the way, it takes us.
I hear there is another story about a fellow on Vashon. I will watch that one tomorrow morning.
PHIL – Thanks Bill for being with us today, a merry band we are. Off to the big city tomorrow. I have to go get some sleep. ( He was with us for the 909th lap that day after getting back here from his treatment. And then I am off to treatment the next day.)
BILL – Hope it goes well. I feel pretty good tonight. I need sleep to. Great get together!!!
PHIL – At the mine. ( I’m at the Treatment Center the next day and feeling sorry for myself.)
BILL – strike gold, buddy, all those nice people there (See that how he turned the mine, a place of drudgery in my mind, to a place of possibility with just a few well chosen words. As the priest said, “Everyone is here for their own reasons, but they are all here for each other just as much.”)
Yup, for each other loves, Phil/Felipe.
What a great photo of the camino buddies! Blessings to all!
Michelle ~ you probably recognize some of us. Thanks, Felipe.x
I needed this today. Love you my friend. Always here for you.
Buen Camino!
Esther ~ yup, that’s how it works! Tomorrow’s Friday, did that help? Felipe.x
Hola Felipe,
Definitely… isn’t it amazing how after the Camino you can see more clearly how what happened at the Camino replicates at home? I think that when people say that the Camino starts when you are back, they talk about that… about realizing how you can be a fellow pilgrim at Vashon Island, at a train station, or texting someone who needs someone by their side.
And actually, I often think, how would be life like back at home if we also were alone? because some people say that you rely more on others in the Camino because you are alone… could we rely in the others at home if we just think that they are fellow pilgrims?
I miss my Camino family daily… !
Abrazos,
Cris
Cris ~ you got the crux of the situation right there. “Replicates”, I like it. We are working on this thing, right? It comes into clearer focus every day. Thanks buddy Cris. Felipe.x