Walking in Turmoil

​Our hearts and prayers, along with our feet, are walking in solidarity with Ukraine. 
 
Pilgrimage often occurs after an event of turmoil and strife in our personal lives. Most pilgrims I have met and walked with are in an individual crisis or walking for a personal realization. Even though we’ve focused on the environmental crisis, the invasion of a democracy is touching nerves that haven’t been seen in my lifetime. 

Ukraine has given incredible inspiration for standing in courage in the face of adversity (to put it mildly). What does walking mean in a time of collective turmoil? Goodness knows that the Camino has seen and survived numerous plagues and many wars. 

This spring we will be walking for ourselves, the exuberance of a seeming end of a pandemic, the social awkwardness and isolation we are navigating after covid, and now a world leader acting violently from the worst of motivations. 

As I sit with a half-finished box of cookies, I can’t wait to walk again. And I hope you will also find time to walk. I hope you can find time to connect with your soles, with the earth holding all of us, and with compassion. Let’s honor our collective and personal turmoil so that we can also do our best in whatever situation we find ourselves in. 

The walk on the Camino starts on April 10th. And there is still enough time to decide to walk. 

Blessings for peace and courage, 
Rachael and the Red Monkey Team

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