Last week, I had a great conversation with my spiritual director, who blew me away with this singular quote from Antonio Machado: "Pilgrim, there is no path: paths are made by walking." Riffing on that, and that odd passage on "the heart is deceitful beyond all things", is it possible that we have misunderstood the place of listening to our heart's compass? So here is a chat about spiritual directors, having an inner compass and rethinking Jeremiah 17.

And here is the poem by Antonio Machado, translated into english by Nadine JL.

"Wanderer, the way is made by walking.

Everything passes and all remains,

But our task is to pass,

pass by making paths,

paths on the sea.

I never pursued glory,

nor sought to leave in the memories

of men my song;

I love the subtle worlds,

weightless and gentle,

like bubbles; funerals floating along.

I like to see them painted,

with sun and cochineal, fly

under the blue sky, tremble

suddenly and break…

I never pursued glory.

Wayfarer, your footsteps are the way and nothing more;

wanderer, there is no way;

the way is made by walking.

While walking, the way is made;

and while turning back to see the view behind,

the footpath is seen, that needs never

be tread again.

Wanderer, there is no way

but stelae on the sea…

Some time ago in that place

where today the forests are dressed with thorns

there was the voice of a poet shouting

“Wanderer, there is no way,

the way is made by walking…”

Blow by blow, verse by verse…

The poet died far from home.

Was covered with the dust of a neighbouring country.

When receding, they saw him mourn.

“Wanderer, there is no way,

the way is made by walking…”

Blow by blow, verse by verse…

When the goldfinch can not sing.

When the poet is a pilgrim,

when praying is of no use to us.

“Wanderer, there is no way,

the way is made by walking…”

Blow by blow, verse by verse…"

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