Camino de santiago pilgrimage 2023
The Way of the Beloved
October 23-November 2, 2023
The ancient practice and ceremony of Pilgrimage is found throughout the world.
The Way of the Beloved Pilgrimage is open to seekers from all spiritual traditions who hear the call to Pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage mirrors the many spiritual paths that lead persons toward a new or renewed sense of self. For Christians, we live into our beloved identity. For Buddhists, we awaken with a Beginner’s Brain to our True Nature. Rediscovering our belovedness is one of the trip’s goals.
We will walk approximately 75 miles along the ancient Camino Frances, which traditionally starts in St. Jean-Pied-de-Port in France. We will pick up the route in Spain and continue through the Basque Country, Castilla & Leon, and Galicia, where we complete our journey in Santiago de Compostela.
Our route is walked by over 300,000 pilgrims a year.
Attend our Q & A Zoom on Wednesday, January 18 or Thursday, February 9 @ 6 PM Mountain call HERE.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS MARCH 1, 2023
Do you hear the call to Pilgrimage?
We each come to Pilgrimage with our unique intention. More than an extended walk along a prescribed route, Pilgrimage is an ancient Rite of Passage that leads us to a new or renewed sense of self, purpose, or perspective. Walking over time and long distances is part of the wisdom of pilgrimage, connecting us with our interior landscape.
We gain clarity for the path that lies ahead and embody our new way of being.
We create, transform, and expand into our Purpose.
Role of the Guides
At day's end, what you glean from your pilgrimage arises from your inner wisdom. As your Guides, we draw upon our varied spiritual expertise to provide you with an interpretive framework, or container, to guide and listen to you as your new story unfolds.
Traveling lightly and with intention
On Pilgrimage, we leave our everyday world behind, severing ties with what is not needed in the service of our intention. As you prepare for Pilgrimage, you will be guided to create an intention statement which you will share with your guides and fine tune during your preparation phase.
What do you need to bring? What will you carry on your back? We encourage you to travel lightly during the pilgrimage portion of your journey and consider bringing only what serves your "why?"-- your intention.
We hold Pilgrimage as a Ceremony, a Rite of Passage which you enter into as soon as you feel the call to Pilgrimage.
Your Guide: Charis Caldwell
Recently retired from a 30 year career in congregational ministry, Charis has served as a congregational leader, contemplative guide, mission trip/retreat facilitator, and Camino de Santiago pilgrim and guide. For sixteen years, she taught courses in philosophy, world religions and sustainability studies at Colorado Mountain College. In 2021, she completed the inaugural InnerMBA certification, intertwining mindfulness practices, neuroscience, and conscious
leadership skills.
Renewing her commitment to transformational,
contemplative, embodied experiences like the Camino de Santiago, she is stoked to be guiding with Maria for a second year. “Walking the Camino in community with others and with an interpretative frame like the quest to reclaim our beloved identity is a gift that just keeps on giving! I cannot wait for the next step!”
Read more about Charis here
Your Guide: Maria Rosa Galter
Maria is a certified Transformational Wilderness Guide, Nature Connected Life Coach and Soul Guide. With Nature as her co-guide, Maria infuses Eco-based awareness and mindfulness practices to attune ourselves as we walk along to the natural landscape’s wisdom. Trained in ceremony, rites of passage work, and ritual practices from across traditions, Maria’s expertise inspires us to nurture our sacred spirit-bond with all Beings.
A Spanish native and past pilgrim on the Camino, she is excited to co-facilitate another pilgrimage with Charis.
Read more about Maria here.
About the way of the beloved
Your Intention Statement
You are about to embark on an ancient journey of Pilgrimage that dates back to pre-Christian times. Millions of people have been beckoned by a deep longing to become a "peregrino", to walk simply on the Earth carrying only what they need on their back.
The Camino is a Rite of Passage, begging the questions:
What compells you to leave the comforts of your home, family, friends and community to embark on a physically, emotionally, and spiritually challenging journey?
You will go to a unknown land, get tired, your toes will blister, and you'll sleep in strange beds.
Why?
Is there is a longing in your heart and soul that is nudging you to adventure into the unknown,
into Pilgrimage?
Tap into this longing with curiosity.
Get clear on your "why". Set your intention.
Once you commit to this shared experience, we ask that you set this intention in writing and email it to maria@wildwisdomcoaching.com.
Tentative Itinerary
Pilgrim Preparation Zoom calls TBD in May, July, August, and September prior to departure
(Mileages below are approximate)
Oct 23: Meet in Bilbao (Spain) and overnight in Burgos
Oct 24-25: Getting ready and clarifying intention (Leon, Ponferrada, O Cebreiro)
Oct 26: Sarria-Ferreiros (8.7 mi)
Oct 27: Ferreiros-Lestedo (16.4 mi)
Oct 28: Lestedo-O Leboreiro (13 mi)
Oct 29: O Leboreiro-Ribadiso (10 mi)
Oct 30: Ribadiso-A Rua (13.3 mi)
Oct 31: A Rua-Santiago (12 mi)
Nov 1: Santiago and environs
Nov 2: Fly home or continue your travels
Two incorporation support calls TBD upon return from Pilgrimage.
Fitness Requirement
Long distance walking requires dedicated training over several months. We ask that at time of registration, you are able to walk at least 4 miles at a comfortable 20-25 min mile pace several times a week. We ask that you commit to a training schedule in order to complete the daily mileage this pilgrimage requires.
Cost and Deadlines
Cost and Deadlines
Cost: $2,500*
(exclusive of airfare, incidentals, and one
meal per day)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MARCH 1 2023
Payment Deadlines*:
$500** deposit due on 3/1/2023
$1,000 due on 4/15/2023
$1,000 due on 5/30/23
Our intention is to carry our belongings from Sarria to Santiago so as to “travel lightly”.
Plan to carry a large day backpack while our bags are couriered to our hotel in Santiago.
(Laundry is an option at some of our hotels).
*There is a $350 surcharge for a LIMITED number of private rooms. $1,350 is due by 3/15 to secure a private room.
Otherwise, all costs listed above assume double occupancy, two meals a day, and trip guide fee.
Liability waiver and health forms required.
Proof of COVID 19 vaccine required.
Cancellation Policy
**$500 deposit is non-refundable after 30 days of deposit.
50% of remaining payments is refundable through June 1, 2023
Ready to send your deposit?
Print and fill out the registration and disclaimer forms linked here and send to:
Charis Caldwell
The Way of the Beloved
70 Sage Meadow Road
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Before Pilgrimage
Cost and Deadlines
As a community of Pilgrims, you will begin to prapare for your journey by:
- attending FOUR orientation and planning sessions (by Zoom)
- learning about the Ceremony of Pilgrimage
- committing to a walking training schedule which we will provide
- filling out a health questionnaire and liability waiver
- sending a copy of your passporrt and proof of COVID 19 vaccination
- paying close attention to the recommended packing list we will provide
- setting your intention
During Pilgrimage
Your Pilgrimage will begin the moment you decide to become a "peregrino" on The Way of the Beloved.
As Guides, we will draw upon our varied spiritual training to provide you with an interpretive framework, or Ceremony, to guide and listen to you as your story of Pilgrimage unfolds. Every day, we will share breakfast and dinner, and have morning and evening gatherings to support your journey. We will hold space for you as your inner landscape is informed by the outer landscape of Creation.
We will stay in modest but comfortable hotels, enjoy delicious local food and beverages (you are on your own for lunch), meet other peregrinos along the way, and weave a new peregrino story.
After Pilgrimage
Once in Santiago, we will end our Camino integrating the gifts and wisdom received with a closing ceremony that will support your reentry into the "ordinary world".
However, your journey does not end there! Charis and I will guide you into creating an "incorporation" plan to bring to birth whatever insights and wisdom you gained during your long walk.
To support you after your return home, we will have two incorporation calls to check in on how you are integrating your new wisdom into your every day.
What people are saying
The Pilgrimage on the Camino was an incredible adventure for my body, mind and spirit! I felt fully supported and at the same time fully free to have the experience that was meant for me. I highly recommend the Way of the Beloved if you want to walk the Camino in an intentional, meaningful way. ~Jennifer, The Way of the Beloved Pilgrim 2022
Thank you so very much. You were thoughtful, attentive and welcoming, encouraging us each step of the way on this journey, inwards and outwards. I especially loved the scarf we carried each day and along the way. Very meaningful to me.
~Debbie, The Way of the Beloved Pilgrim 2022
Camino thoughts:
Rituals from the anointing of our feet at the bridge on the first long walking day
To the reminder of who encouraged us
To the slow walk with our stone that we left on the hill
To the daily prayer/ thoughts that Charis shared each morning
To the sharing circle at night to debrief and think about our journey
To the Breakfast and dinners together
To History sharing along the way
To the Ceremonies at Santiago de Compostela, and Finisterra.
These all were appreciated and felt.
But more importantly, you lead with thought, foresight, planning, kindness, and direction.
All was appreciated.
-Mary, The Way of the Beloved Pilgrim 2022
Together the Peregrinas walked.
Through dark dawns, drizzle, and beaming brightness.
Across numinous landscapes, kitten-strewn farmyards, and moss-padded paths.
They leapt chuckling streams, scuffled through slick, wild woodland,
and wept openly at the sheer beauty they encountered along the way.
And as we walked the way of a million pilgrim feet before us, every step wearing the path deeper into Mother Earth, each of us felt her own self-knowing carving toward the core of her.
Each of us leaned closer to our own Beloved Identity — and returned to the Top World changed.
I have never been happier than I was during my camino experience with Maria and Charis — and my experience of myself still continues to shift in ways I never could have predicted. If you know you're ready to step into the magic that's your birthright, then grab your boots and backpack, and join the Peregrinas — you've never known joy like this.
-Gin Walker, The Way of the Beloved Pilgrim 2022
