Friday, September 25, 2015

Day One......

Day One:
What incredible weather to begin this long awaited trek!  Brilliant blue skies dotted with puffy white clouds .....just a touch of breeze..... as I headed out, a tad later than I had planned, to make the 20 km. Walk.  Last night's sunset was truly magnificent....early evening light tinged the surrounding hills a golden hue, skies opening pink with splashes of bronze as the sun set over Lucca.  An omen to the lovely day ahead!

Today not one fellow pilgrim in sight, which I semi expected, but I  still feel a bit surprised at that reality. It was a day of  kilometers of tarmac making for extra tired feet.  A highlight  came shortly upon leaving the outskirts of Lucca at the small local church of Ste Michele.  Two women and a chatty local gentleman made sure to inform me that I could stamp my passport right there outside the Chiesa doors.  Pleased to be chatting, I told them where I was headed and  that I had walked the Camino Santiago de Compostele last year ( they were impressed.) One of the woman, a locale who now lives in New York, gave me I an English speaker to translate. Perfect!

Magic moment of the day:  walking into Altopascio I spotted the local priest, rosary in hand, taking an outdoor fresh air break on the steps of famed San Jacabo Chiesa.  Seeing my backpack, he smiled as I passed. Later this evening, in  search of my timbre ( stamp) for my pilgrim passport from this town, I wandered down to the church and caught him just before locking the doors.  Holding my passport, just forward enough he would see it, he smiled in recognition and asked " Timbre?" He guided me back to the rectory where he asked where I was traveling and stamped my passport.
A warm smile and " Buon viaggio" sent me on my way into the evening light.

Tomorrow, San Miniato......if I decide to go that far.....we shall see....no hurrying!






Monday, September 21, 2015

.....And I am OFF!

It is September 21st.  This pilgrimage to Rome is underway...it has been for a very many months.  That it is now here...the flight date is tomorrow ....is almost shocking.  Exhilarating, a tad nerve wracking....I know  I am ready to go and yet because energies seem to be buzzing at a higher frequency than normal I find myself wondering what changes this trek will bring....who will I be when it is complete?

That I walked the 500 mile Camino Frances gives me pause to remember  that I can do this.  That I knew at the completion of the walk I was  meant to wander pilgrimage paths, offers emotional assurance in the adventure.  The switchback trails and boulder crossings of Patagonia assure me I am physically ready....

For whatever the next weeks on the Via Francigena  bring my way, I say a deeply felt " thank you" to the Universe!


                                                         MY CAMINO PRAYER
   Because I believe the Universe conspires in our benefit.....because I believe Angels are actively involved in our daily life and offer amazing insight if we listen and watch.....because I believe in the beauty of each day and know we have the opportunity to choose our thoughts and state of mind.....I see this glorious day begin to unfold and know in my soul these travels will be safe, inspiring, a chance, once again, to behold the magnificence of this planet we call home.....and I feel blessed.



 https://amzn.com/B01DTAKQUG




Thursday, September 17, 2015

Book proposal submitted!






Within days of completing the Camino Santiago de Compostela last fall, I KNEW I was to walk and write.....just keep long distance walking and writing.  Interesting enough, emails from Hay House Publications started pinging my in-box at the completion of my Camino.  Hay House, publishers to Wayne Dyer, Mike Dooley, Gregg Braden, Anita Moorjani ( to name a few), was offering a contest for new authors.  Coincidence? Hmmm, I don't think so!

So, I signed up for the March Chicago session. Two days of education on the publishing world, along with writing hints and tales from the incomparable Mike Dooley, assured me I was on the right track.

If you have followed along on my blog, you know that in February I took off for the next walking adventure--- Patagonia, a land that had intrigued me since I was a young teen.  Although not a long distance pilgrimage walk akin to the 500 mile Camino, these hikes in Chile and Argentina took me to granite mountain faces and had me scrambling boulders.... a totally new and exhilarating experience. What it also did was solidify my soul knowledge that somehow walking and writing were to be my next life chapter.

Today, September 17, after three months of in depth writing, story development, editing.... the whole shi-bang....I have submitted my manuscript proposal for the Hay House contest. With a blessing, it was sent off and now I will simply wait for the notification that I have indeed won. Isn't that how it works when we let the Universe take over....when we follow our soul knowledge and do what is meant? :-)

During the next month while Hay House editors sift through the entries,
the next adventure occurs!   Off to Italy and the Via Francigena this coming week.....

STAY TUNED!