The Camino Cafe

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Have you ever yearned for a journey that goes beyond physical travel, delving instead into the realm of self-discovery and existential exploration?  In this short message, John Brierley,  paints a vivid picture of such a journey – the Camino and its transformative potential. Known for the profound impact it's had on countless individuals, the Camino serves as a unique space to step back from the noise of everyday life, encouraging us to pose existential questions that often get overshadowed by our daily routines. John highlights the power of self inquiry, and how the very act of questioning our identity can have a cathartic effect.

As the conversation with John unfolds, we touch upon the fears and challenges that come with embarking on this path of self-discovery. We discuss the courage it takes to question our identities and beliefs, and the beauty of embracing a state of being 'lost.' This transformative journey is not without its hardships, but it is within the supportive environment of the Camino community that we find the strength to let go of our prejudices and preferences. We conclude with a thought-provoking quote from the third patriarch of Zen emphasizing the importance of freeing ourselves from our biases. Join us for this enlightening discussion with John Brieley about seeking and finding our true selves through the Camino journey.

Watch the video version filmed on location in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

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🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

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Join me and Rebekah Scott as we play 20 Camino Questions. Rebekah is an American journalist who has been living in Spain for the last 17 years. She's the author of several books including,  "A Furnace Full of God" a memoir about her life in Spain and living on the Camino Frances route.  This book is a featured selection of the Santiago de Compostela Book Club. Her contributions to the path and the Camino community have been numerous.  During this interview, we chatted briefly about her books and her foundation, Peaceable Projects.

Imagine living on the silent stretch of the meseta section on the Camino, where the hustle of everyday life fades into the background. Rebekah enriches our understanding of this solitude, revealing how walking through it throws into sharp relief those truths that are often obscured by life's chaos. She dives into her love for solitary walks but also highlights the unique bond shared with fellow pilgrims on the trail. We discuss her recent visit to Machu Picchu, exploring her experience on the mystical Inca trail and how it contrasts with the Camino.

She shares her thoughts on preserving the heritage of the Camino while navigating its evolution—how do we protect the path for everyone, regardless of their economic status, and honor its spirit of inclusivity? Lastly, we revel in her insights on the Camino’s magical power to bond people, encourage resilience, and inspire a purpose-driven life.

Link to Rebekah's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rebekah-Scott/author/B082T3TKC8?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Join the Sanitago de Compostela Book Club:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/273761715169505

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Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
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🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

Visit our YouTube page to watch this interview filmed in Santiago de Compostela.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaminoCafePodcast

Are you ready to embark on a transformative journey within yourself? Tune in as we share a profound chat with John Brierly on our docuseries at Camino Cafe. This insightful discussion, "The Path of Self-Discovery," explores how the Camino journey can stimulate profound personal growth and self-realization. John's profound insights emphasize the significance of stepping into unfamiliar territories, which can lead us to unveil a profound version of ourselves, buried under layers of ego and life dramas.

In this intriguing discourse, John beautifully narrates the tussle between the egoic self and the higher self, underlining the need to diminish the egoic self to truly understand and accept our higher self. He quotes Thomas Merton, asserting that the journey within ourselves is the most vital of all explorations. We aspire to navigate the deeper essence of our beings through this conversation and discuss the role of the Camino in this life-altering process. So come along as we venture on this all-important journey of self-discovery. Remember, the journey is a continuous one, extending way beyond the Camino.

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

Book Club Teaser! Meet our first featured author for the Santiago de Compostela Book Club in this short interview and then come to our meeting this Saturday, August 5th (registration links below).

We're thrilled to introduce you to Kari Gillespie, a UK-based pilgrim who shares the profound effect of her journey on the Camino de Santiago. This episode dives into her experiences, from the fears she grappled with before her first Camino to the emotional shifts and evolving relationship with pain she navigated during her journey. We also probe the key question of safety for women on the Camino and discuss John Brierley's influential book, which beautifully blends the practical and spiritual aspects of this journey.

In an enlightening exchange, Carrie presents invaluable tips for anyone considering walking the Camino for the first time. She discusses the subtle differences between walking solo or with a friend and how these choices can impact decisions like lodging.  Lastly, we extend a warm invitation to our upcoming Santiago de Compostela book club meeting, where we'll continue unearthing the life-changing impact of the Camino de Santiago.

Meeting #1— 11am Central European Time:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsdeirpzMjGtUoPgpY_RAihtdT_nzHE8pJ#/registration

Meeting #2—8pm Central European Time
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sce6orjwjGtLx3fACJWs05mZv4JSnu-Cl#/registration

Sign up for the bookclub newsletter:
https://subscribepage.io/santiagodecompostelabookclub

Join Santiago de Compostela Book Club Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/273761715169505


Follow Santiago de Compostela Book Club Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092678497699

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

Ricky and Erica from CaminoTellers are back to play 20 Camino Questions. We met up on Rua Nova in Casco histórico in Santiago de Compostela. 

CaminoTellers:

https://www.youtube.com/@UCBv1u5CGOtBuxtjhxBcg98A 

The Journey Within Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Within-Journal-Camino-Santiago/dp/8409519488?ref_=ast_author_mpb

The Camino Cafe Podcast  - Connect with Leigh:

Join our private Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/216352732761518

Watch The Camino Cafe Podcast on Youtube

https://youtu.be/6kJ_1iI_FmQ

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

Meet Ricky and Erica from CaminoTellers. They just arrived in Santiago after walking and live streaming across Spain.  We sat down at Mori Cafés Especiais in old town to discuss how they became digital story tellers. They created a wonderful journal to accompany you on your next walk. Links below. 

https://www.youtube.com/@UCBv1u5CGOtBuxtjhxBcg98A 

The Journey Within Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Within-Journal-Camino-Santiago/dp/8409519488?ref_=ast_author_mpb

The Camino Cafe Podcast  - Connect with Leigh:

Join our private Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/216352732761518

Watch The Camino Cafe Podcast on Youtube

https://youtu.be/6kJ_1iI_FmQ

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

YouTube Version https://youtu.be/DlaVlJXJERs

It was in John’s last wishes that Leigh Brennan and Patti Silva document the most important pieces of wisdom he gained from walking the Camino paths for over a quarter of a century. This project grew into this docuseries of several short but poignant video messages for Pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago. 

This is the first chapter of the multipart series. John stated the driving thought behind the title of this chapter by saying,  “The Camino as a Path of Awakening: This is, perhaps, the easiest to grasp because it pre-supposes we are asleep. Every mystical tradition has Awakening as a core theme of spiritual development and no more so than in Christianity. The Bible tells us that, ‘A great sleep came across Adam’, and nowhere in the bible is there any reference to Adam waking up! We, collectively, are Adam and we remain asleep but now urgently need to awaken to a new consciousness. The Camino can offer us a path into transformation”.

About John Brierley:
John Brierley spent his early life in Dublin where he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and set up practice as Brierley & Co in 1971 later merging with Jackson-Stops. An existential crisis took him and his family to Findhorn in Scotland in 1987 as part of a mid-career break. This was to prove a pivotal time in his life with a reordering of priorities towards a spiritual perspective.
In 1996 he convened the international conference ‘Business for Life’ where the core issue was identified as the crisis of the human spirit and the search for meaning in life. The idea of Business sabbaticals as an antidote to burn out and pilgrimage as a way to reappraise life's purpose became his abiding passion. In 2000 he walked up through Western Nepal into Tibet to complete the renowned Mount Kailash pilgrimage sacred to Buddhism, Hinduism and esotoric Christianity.
t of a celestial alarm clock.

WAKE UP CALL
10 years of quiet desperation led to a turning point, that opportunity that comes to each of us at some pivotal stage in our life and offers us a time to re-assess our direction. The classic existential mid-life crisis that can lead to breakdown and breakthrough. For me it started in January 1986 with an alarmingly persistent wake-up call. Looking back I laugh at the idea of my spiritual guides working overtime to wake me up. The dream needed very little interpretation but I was so blind that I still could not read its message. I had this dream, off and on, for a whole year before its significance began to dawn on me. I really thought I was going mad during that period and of course, in conventional terms, I was. The turning upside down of consensus reality is frequently misunderstood as some psychotic episode whereas, within the bigger picture, it is simply spiritual emergence and the opening to knowledge of higher worlds. I slowly became aware of a spiritual reality behind the sense-perceptible world.

SABBATICAL
At the end of that year I realised that something profound was trying to happen and it gave me enough courage to claim a mid-career break. I was 39 and Ireland was in recession so my business partners needed little persuading, my wife and children needed none. She had spent her earlier years in an Ashram and couldn't wait to break away from the mindless social and business circles. The children had suffered a few years of the state curriculum and where likewise ready to experience something more liberating. So a gap suddenly appeared with this amazing potential for change and growth - I was off the treadmill for a year!

THE JOURNEY OF AWAKENING
We headed away in a camper van to ‘travel the world’ and during that year, 1987, I stumbled onto the Camino de Santiago for the first time and felt its welcoming embrace. The Findhorn Foundation in Scotland was the next stop along the Way and it was there I realised that it wa

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

Russ Eanes is back with his new book about the Pilgrim Paths to Assisi!  Maybe a walk in Italy will be on your list after hearing this discussion. Russ is a US-based pilgrim. This is his second book. His first was about the Camino de Santiago.

The first Camino Cafe Podcast episode with Russ (Season 1, Episode 34)
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/9223929-russ-eanes-walk-of-a-lifetime-better-to-die-with-your-memories-than-your-dreams.mp3?download=true

Links mentioned in the interview:
NY Times Article featuring Russ:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/12/business/retirement-entrepreneurs-social-security.html

Facebook Live event with Russ
FB Live event: https://www.facebook.com/1325193832/videos/1847322855638722/

Matt's Harms Guidebook:
https://www.villagetovillagepress.com/travel-guidebooks/way-of-st-francis

Sandy Brown guidebook:
https://www.cicerone.co.uk/the-way-of-st-francis

Russ's book pages:
https://russeanes.com/pilgrim-paths-to-assisi-300-miles-on-the-way-of-st-francis/
https://russeanes.com/book/

GPX Maps
https://www.viadifrancesco.it/en/download-map-and-gpx-tracks

Shenandoah Valley APOC Chapter
https://americanpilgrims.org/iwpmap_directory/shenandoah-valley/

Tours with Russ and Pilgrim Paths
https://pilgrimpaths.com/about/
https://pilgrimpaths.com/about/the-via-di-francesco/


The Camino Cafe Podcast  - Connect with Leigh:

Watch  The Camino Cafe Podcast on audio podcast platforms:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheCaminoCafePodcast


Join our private Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/216352732761518

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

Bonus - Match "voices to faces" by checking out this episode on our YouTube Channel:
https://youtu.be/3caMqElwCrQ
This interview was filmed on location outdoors in Santiago. Please excuse the background noise!

Imagine achieving the unthinkable. Refusing to let a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy stop you. This is Gabriel’s Camino.  A 4-year quest to achieve a dream even when the odds were against him. He, along with his trusted and dedicated teacher, Kym, set out to accomplish what few would even try. Together, they assembled an international team of pilgrims who put aside their own goals to help Gabriel reach his. As a team, they overcame numerous obstacles to complete the ancient 500-mile pilgrim path from St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain via the Camino Francés.  Few thought they could do it.  Yet, with faith, courage, and determination, Gabriel and his team proved that we are all capable of being unstoppable.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the cathedral plaza when they arrived.  Filmed in Santiago, just hours after their arrival, you’ll hear team leaders, two key team members, and finally, Gabriel share their emotional reactions to completing their 4-year quest.  Prepare to be inspired, to cry, and to cheer for this hero and his team. It will mean so much to Gabriel if you comment on this interview with congratulatory comments and give this interview a "thumbs up"!  Please share the link to this interview with your friends as I think we all could use a little inspiration right now!

BONUS - Meet Gabriel and Kym in person at our live online event! We will celebrate and then catch up with them to see how this journey has impacted them months after. The live event is at 4:00 pm EST tomorrow (Saturday, April 29th, 2023). 

Save this link to join us on Zoom:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7404049190
Hope to see you there!

Time Markers for Interview:
0:00 - Welcome from Leigh
1:06 - Team Leads, Kym & Susan
20:07 - Team members, Nick & Robin
28:08 - This episode's featured guest, Gabriel Tempest

Thanks to Gabriel, Kym, and the entire team for allowing us to present their story.

Timothy Ringering - Thank you for all you did to make this interview happen and look so beautiful!
OP Forever xo

Camino Connections:

Thanks to  Camino Connections for sponsoring this episode of the Camino Cafe Podcast.

This special episode was filmed and produced by Camino Connections, an app designed for pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago. To download the Camino Connections app, visit the App Store or Google Play.
https://caminoconnections.com/

The Camino Cafe Podcast  - Connect with Leigh:

Watch The Camino Cafe Podcast Episodes on our YouTube  channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheCaminoCafePodcast


Join our private Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/216352732761518

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

Steve and Carol are back to play 20 Camino Questions! Check out the video of this interview:
https://youtu.be/Z-XO8nnRpZs

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Please check out our new show, "Good Morning, Santiago"! It's exclusively here on YouTube:)
https://youtu.be/cNLAk8w0ZNc

Please share this episode with your friends and give us a "thumbs up" if you like this interview!
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Connect with Leigh:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Join our private Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/216352732761518

The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song was made possible with the generosity of fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney.

Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Pilgrim, Singer, Musician, and Songwriter.

Connect with Jackson: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fdQsSqq9pDSwKcWlnBHKR

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter.