Greetings from my happy place in Spain!
I was drawn to this trip’s first location of Ourense because of its Roman thermal baths and a hit of intuition.
The thought of immersing in the hot healing waters after 18 hours of planes, trains and automobiles was very appealing. Combine that with Roman ruins, and this archeology nerd was booked.
So, imagine my surprise, when walking towards the thermal baths on my first morning, I happened to look down as I stepped upon a Camino marker. A brass scallop shell embedded in the sidewalk – the sign followed by pilgrims across thousands of miles in Spain.
One of the many reasons I came to Galicia was to plan out a new Mindful Adventure, walked entirely in this region. And it offered itself to me on my very first morning.
The journey from Ourense to Santiago is the final part of the Camino Sanabria, a variant of the Via de la Plata that originates in Seville. It is a hidden gem that winds its way through peaceful forests, farmland, and sleepy hamlets – and has been described as the most beautiful of the paths, green and lush, leading into Santiago de Compostela.
Yesterday, I walked part of this El Camino variant, through the historic old city and across the ancient Roman bridge over the river Minho. And began to plan out this new Mindful Adventure.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, the creator of the evidence-based Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program speaks to how the practices can open us to experiences like this in our lives.
“Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally,” says Kabat-Zinn. “And then I sometimes add, in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.”
By paying attention to my intuition and what my body needed after a long flight, I was able to let that wisdom lead me to the easeful fulfillment of my goal.
Some call it synchronicity. Others call it being in the flow.
For me, it is also the practice of NonStriving, one of the 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness. This “being rather than doing” is the skillful choice to hold things in awareness without having to make anything happen. And in that state of grace, allowing your goal to be realized.
Thermally bathed, restored from travel and excited about this new direction – I’m off to my grandfather's hometown of A Coruña.
Wishing you of week full of ease and grace.
Let your wisdom lead,
Robin
P.S.
Follow along on my journey through Spain on Instagram @mindfuladventures_elcamino
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