Good morning! Here are some thoughts from Elizabeth:

Phil’s desire to walk in his backyard in a meaningful, pilgrimage-like way quickly became its own ritual act, a proper pilgrimage in its own right, and was concretized by his use of material culture. Phil turned walking into a way – his efforts made ceremonial the core elements of a pilgrimage, which are deceptively basic and fundamental to the human experience (walking, eating, communing with others). Without a site or a historically-christened journey on which to base his spiritual exercise, Phil’s pilgrimage may have initially seemed impossible, or perhaps merely a shadow of the “real” experience. However, it is clear that he distilled the important aspects of the pilgrimage and incorporated them into the space he had and the life he lived. His walk became a journey and his actions became those of a pilgrim, and the materials he used to bring this about (maps, records, schedules, food) were crucial to signify and sacramentalize this activity. There can be no doubt that Phil embarked upon and experienced a true pilgrimage, and now others follow in his footsteps on his way, and use his cues to also create their own.”

Thank you Elizabeth in coming up with the word “concretized”. But I get it, thank you. Again, here is another one of Catalina’s students who each in their own way came up with a little different view of the workings of Phil’s Camino. Each has a little different angle. This is all very helpful to me as I am too close to it. I don’t see it in a larger context the way that these folks do.

It just came to me that maybe most of the art and artifacts that are studied in Catalina’s class are from other eras and when they look at me and my walk it is current, evolving and changing. I just walked with Dana just minutes ago for our Thursday morning walk. She adds to it as she walks for instance. And so do all the others.

Well, off to work outside. According to the weather man this is the last good day with rain coming tomorrow. Have to get some leaves around the house cleaned up. OK, see ya, love, Felipe.