Spiritual Resources
Almost certainly you will find the pilgrimage tough, extremely difficult at times, maybe painful feet and back, intrusive thoughts, boredom, doubt, cold and wet, bad sleeping, losing your way.
Do not judge these moods and feelings or wish them away. Experience them and walk through them.
Walking as meditation:
How to get rid of inner chatter? Countless books on mindfulness deal with this topic. The idea that works for many, is not to try to force random thoughts out of your head, but to gently send them on their way, to let them go. Finish a thought and let it go, leave it behind and walk on. Some Christian mystics, such as Master Eckhart, dealt with intruding thoughts by allowing them to stay but to look over their shoulder. Do not give them importance, let them go in letting them be, to look beyond these thoughts with your heart’s eye. Find a method that works for you. That is the advantage of a longer walk. In the beginning you will find yourself thinking over all sorts of problems, reliving all sorts of memories. But in time, you will be able to let these thoughts simmer down, perhaps go altogether and you will find yourself more in tune with the landscape around you, and walking becomes meditation. You could find an inner peace, one that is beyond our understanding. Some people find it easier to be present and meditate if they are walking rather than sitting still at home.
Try to bring yourself back to the present. If things are going well you will be observing things around you and engaging with them, but it is all to easy to fall into day dream, fantasy, reminiscence, bad destructive thoughts, especially if you are on your own. For this reason a walking companion can be helpful, they will bring you out of yourself, but here the danger is endless chatter, or becoming embroiled in mind games, or the other person's problems, their past and future hopes. It must be the right companion with the same broad aims. Set yourself silent times, this will help. Walking with a suitable dog may be the answer, a companion to bring you out of yourself, but not too distracting, pulling you out of the present experience.
Prayer
Prayers often help. many prayers are Christian but you can devise your own.
Some find it helps to focus their mind if they pray the Jesus Prayer, a Greek Orthodox prayer handed down over generations. “Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Some people shorten this prayer by leaving off phrases, with some people only praying ‘Jesus’. It’s a balanced prayer and is particularly effective when combined with our breathing. Inhale – Jesus Christ, son of God, exhale- have mercy on me, sinner. But when walking it’s important to keep breathing freely and sufficiently. If you can’t combine both comfortably, then don’t. If you find you have reduced your prayer to an inner babble, whereby your mind is focussed on all sorts of other business, then stop praying and gather yourself gently, emphasis here on ‘gently’. Then you can return to the Jesus Prayer. You might use the prayer at regular intervals while walking, or, if more experienced, manage to submerge completely in the Jesus Prayer. An interesting book on the Jesus Prayer is ‘The Way of the Pilgrim’, written by an unknown Russian pilgrim in the middle of the 19th century and translated into English by R.M. French with an introduction by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh. There have been several editions since its first publication in 1930.
There are a number of further resources to help you on your journey to a deeper spiritual life and strength, tested by time and the practice of many others. Remember, many people and events will help you on your journey, this is certain. Just be awake to them.
Some possible focus exercises while walking include:
becoming present while letting thoughts drift off and
observe the world around you and be grateful for what is
practice silence and calm
observe your steady breath
speak a repetitive prayer such as the Jesus Prayer or the Rosary
think of people or causes you would like to be blessed, healed or sustained
Buddhists and Hindus often recite mantras on their pilgrimages
let go of your inner pain and practice forgiveness
Prayer will help, many prayers are Christian, but people need not use specific prayers.
Research your own prayers, or devise your own.
Observe Nature
It carries on regardless of us, immerse yourself in it without categorising or possession
Carry Your Stuff
Don't get other people to carry your things, you have decided you need this stuff, don't off-load it.
Turn Your Phone Off
Be open to everything around you, nature, people, conversations, be in the walk, in the place you are, not somewhere else. Turn the phone off, check it if you must, at the end of the day. This is your spiritual practice, your time to be in the present, in the place where you are, walking through the landscape.
Barefoot walking
Not bonkers, sensible in fact when you remember that for most of homo sapiens sapiens (i.e. us) time on the planet we walked barefoot and our feet improve in strength and flexibility if and when we do. It feels nice, the cold, springy earth on your feet, and brings you back to the task, choose a grassy place and try it.
Be a Source of Light and Love
Look to give not to take, this maybe a smile, a conversation, laughter, help of some kind to someone on the way.