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.

Here in front of me I have a reflection paper from Lauren and this is part of what she says:

“The courage and creativity that was necessary to create his own Camino brings tears to my eyes. He didn’t resign himself to despair and inaction with a stage four cancer diagnosis, but rather created something of great meaning that would help him (and his family and community) find healing with his given circumstances. The Camino de Santiago inspired, and he created his own sacred site. St. James was certainly afoot.”

This is a nice simple statement of what went on here in 2013 with challenges, inspirations, influences colliding. The result was the trail and a way to think about it. In other words a physical trail and a way to link it with something bigger. Somehow it all worked out. I didn’t have anything to work from really, had to make everything from scratch.

And we are started walking again across Spain. We are a ways past Orrison. I am doing a whiteboard map this morning to keep track of progress. OK, here we go, love Felipe.

(This blog post should have been posted two days ago and somehow it wasn’t published on that date. But here it is now)

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of having a video chat with Catalina’s grad class on Art and Pilgrimage. I was with them for a little over an hour answering questions. So, after getting permission to share some of their thoughts I am presenting them to you.

The value of these is that we get an educated view of what we are up to. You know when I say that I am a guy just walking in the mud that is what it mostly is but it is more than that. And these folks are going to tell us what that more is. That is their value.

Here are a couple of quotes from Mira. Thank you Mira we appreciate your thoughts and your willingness to participate in Caminoheads blog.

“First and formost, Phil’s project of walking the camino in his backyard is a demonstration of understanding pilgrimage to be primarily a personal journey of the heart, body and mind.”

I guess thinking back on the beginnings of the trail here I built the venue to be a place primarily for my exercise program. But it soon started it’s evolution to pilgrimage trail though. It maybe happened in stages or lurches as time progressed. Father Marc blessed the trail and Annie was sending me chapters from her new book and this was all working on me. Everything was in process but remember there was six months there of walking so there was plenty of time for things to percolate.

“Although he does not stray from his physical location, he is changed (as is his landscape) through the process of daily devotion, intention and physicality. Then once he gets to Spain and walked the literal Camino Santiago, he experiences similar personal transformation.”

Looking back the local camino seemed more internal. Most of it was alone. While in Spain things were more social. But given that, one built on the other. I believe things were richer in Spain because of all the homework that I did here. But they were both remarkable.

OK, wrapping it up. Alperfect, love, Felipe.

0

Here are some thoughts from Marinda:

“Phil’s spirituality of healing and curing is real. It comes from a deep sense of knowing who he is and where he is going. Life is a pilgrimage and we are pilgrims walking on our journey of life. Phil has inspired so many people in his life. By watching his film and talking to him in person, I had a sense of touching the divine ascent of my life. It had a healing affect like what we discussed in the class, whether relics, icons or holy shrines are copies or not, the divine touch, now in our case, through a film, is how we encounter the divine. My encounter with Phil has lead me into a divine space, like my various pilgrimage experiences, touching the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem, touching the stone wall of the Holy House of Loreto, touching the holy ground that Jesus prayed at before his agony in Gethsemane. I am very glad to meet my fellow pilgrim – Phil – in my life pilgrimage, our encounter is a healing experience in my own self transcended toward my ultimate and divine. Thank you Phil.”

Wow! Thank you Marinda for your thoughts after seeing Phil’s Camino. I need another coffee before commenting on this. That was quite a heady thing to open up. I should say that the class was involved with studying the way that material items as icons for instance have been recognized as having the ability of inspiring people and having them get closer to the divine. So here we have this little documentary, a film, that has ability. I am not sure a film is a material item but maybe that is another topic for another day. But the jist of the idea is that out film has that power.

I am truly honored to be associated with the film. It now has a life of it’s own and I occasionally get to share in the lights by it’s side. It is amazing that it has this ability to inspire people and maybe give them a different way to think about difficulties in their lives. I mean it is amazing from my point of view of a guy who started out walking in the mud outside his house and made it 500 miles and then made it most of the way across Spain and then gets to walk on stage with the documentary about the whole journey. All pretty amazing. Thank you Saint James.

So last night I did the hour long radio interview with Eric Pryne on his show Island Crossroads. It will be up on the website in the IC archives for listening at any time soon. That’s at www.voiceofvashon.org It takes them a few days to get it organized and up there.

That’s it for now, off to my day. Thanks for being here. Love, Felipe.

My Rebecca is just leaving, off to her church and her friends. So, I said to say hi to them. Frosty here although the sun is warm. This isn’t our usual weather but we’ll take it.

Everything is getting very Christmasie around town. It is going to be a little different for us since we aren’t going to be here for the holiday. Seems odd not to have a tree for instance. And I don’t have to worry about outside lights.

I have to get some kind of excitement going though. I still got gifts to think about. And of course to spend some time and effort meditating on the meaning of the whole shebang.

That is the challenge but that is always the challenge to keep the important matters first and foremost in mind and heart. There are numerous other things going on always and everywhere it seems but what is really important. Well we have our work cut out for us.

I am going to take off. I have archery students showing up in half an hour. It’s a beautiful day here. The best to you, love, Felipe.

A few days ago or a few weeks ago I got on the topic of Gideon Bibles and I was telling how I got mine in a mad mob scene in school. Don’t ask me how I got on this topic but anyway William from Calgary send in a pic of his Gideon Bible. So all of a sudden we had two of these babies and the thought was maybe there was more out there. So, if you have one in your possession send me a pic so we can document that.

Those were really physically small copies, good for backpacking maybe. I’ve had many “better” Bibles since then but I still keep it. Another special small copy that I really cherish is the zippered copy that my Dad carried on his person through his travels in the Pacific during World War II.

Well whether big or small there is a lot of good reading there between the covers if you take the time. Of course it takes a while to get used to the texture and the language of it.
Remember that it is a little library as it is a collection of books. So there is no good reason to start at the beginning which is not the way to approach it for starters.

If you feel the urge to read it start with one of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke or John with maybe Mark being the easiest. Then Paul’s Letters and by that time you will have a feel for it and you can explore on your own.

Well, yea and remember that there are certain aspects of the study that are down right mysteries and we had better save that for another day as Jim is here my guy to help me look at a problem on my tractor. Have to go. Love, Felipe.

The local Vashon radio station is going to have Felipe on for an hourlong interview. Do they know what they are getting into? Here is the info: Monday December 11th at 7PM on 101.9 FM is the Island Crossroads show hosted by Eric Pryne. So, if you miss that or are out of range go to the website and find the archives for Island Crossroads and I will be there.

That’s all I got for now. At the hospital doing my routine thing. Miss you, love, Felipe.

They got everything these days including bacon toothpaste so why not in Caminoheads blog. Well, here’s the deal. My bacon, the cheap stuff which I bought, you know the kind that curls all up all turned out to look like little seahorses. Yea, does that mean something? I really really hope not. I mean does everything have to mean something? It would be a burden thinking about all that. Maybe some stuff is just comic relief.

Well, I know something that means something and that is Steve Watkins new book Pilgrim Strong. I was up in the middle of the night cooking along on my chemo steriods and finished it. So, highly recommended! Chapter 30 really stopped me in my tracks and then I cried my way through the rest of it. Old Steve has a grip on the important stuff. Is the check in the mail Steve?

Yea, well, I have to run. I am a little behind schedule this AM with cleaning the woodstove and making my power deer liver breakfast. I have walkers showing up in 15 minutes and I am still in my teddy bears (jammies).

OK, you are the best. Seahorsie loves, Felipe.

That could only mean one thing, our grandgirl Cheyenne is on her way. This is in Massachusetts but it is still my Camino we are talking about. It’s the legacy, the offspring of the offspring.

We are off to that happening later this month. Back to the ice and snow. Didn’t I escape that once?

Back from my treatment today, so glad to be back at the ranch. The stars are out right now giving a wonderful show, pretty rare for our December. Boy, and we are praying for Ventura County now right? What a nightmare down there.

Sorry that I am so late today. I find it hard to blog from the treatment center any more. But we are back to the ranch now, my sanctuary, and the words will flow. Yup, that’s what it looks like. Love you like the stars that are out, Felipe.x

Yesterday I was feeling like something had to be done so I made a management decision. We have been walking at Phil’s Camino for months without a plan or destination just wandering in the wilderness, as Catherine says. So, yesterday I left St Jean Pied de Port for another virtual Camino Frances on Phil’s Camino. It seemed like the thing to do.

I am dedicating this walk to Bill, Harry and Steve. They passed away in this last year, all three brought down by cancer. Bill and Harry walked here with us. Steve was an Island friend. Yea, what better way to remember them?

I missed the structure of “Camino” walks which gave an additional dimension to the trek. So now you can ask me where we are and I can tell you. Right now we are on the outskirts of SJPP, a start!

Our first trek “across Spain” went from December 21, 2013 to May 12, 2014, six months. Then the second one went from August 16, 2015 to March 14, 2017, nineteen months. Now here we are starting again December 4, 2017. Nineteen months from now will put us in September 2019! Wow, will I make it that long, that far? Well, you guys will have to finish it for me if I don’t, OK? Anyway, here is to Bill, Harry and Steve.

We have another walk this afternoon. It is pretty cold out these days but sunny. So, come and join us. Love, Felipe.