In this episode we hear from Josh from Corpus Christi, Texas, who is on his way to the airport as this episode releases.

Josh heard the Camino call and said a quick yes. How quick? Ah, just wait. I love what Josh said – he realized he had to stop looking for reasons not to walk the Camino and just go. Now.

During our conversation I will also introduce you to my favorite Spanish phrase. As someone whose Spanish language skills are pretty mediocre, especially my listening skills, this phrase is a lifesaver.

There are so many ways to "do" the Camino - how about a writing retreat and introspective writing pilgrimage? The owner of The Stone Boat guesthouse in Rabanal Camino is co-hosting a beautiful writing retreat experience in the beautiful and iconic village of Castrillo de los Polvazares, just steps from the Camino trail.

Get on Kim's email list and learn all about this incredible Camino experience at https://www.thestoneboat.com/

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Join me as we explore the inspiring story of Tracy's backpack and meet the next person to take it on pilgrimage on the Camino Francés.

Danielle and I explore such challenging questions as

 >> What are the "rules" for this pilgrimage?

Here are the Facebook groups we talked about in this episode:

CAMIGAS: a buddy system for women

Here are the books we talked about:

Off the Road, by Jack Hitt

And if you would like to explore the work on self-compassion by Kristen Neff, PhD, you can check out her website.

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If yes, then this episode is for you! Here are some of the questions we explore, with my guest, spiritual teacher and pilgrimage guide, Dr. Edward Viljoen:

 >> What calls us to go on a pilgrimage?

 >> What happens on pilgrimage, really?

 >> Why is the pilgrimage experience the same yet different for each person?

 >> How do you prepare your heart and spirit for pilgrimage?

 >> And how do you talk about pilgrimage when you return home?

Dr. Edward is the senior minister at the Center for Spiritual Living in Santa Rosa, California. You can hear his recent Sunday messages at https://cslsr.org/video-archive/

Dr. Edward is also the author of several books, including:

• The Power of Meditation: An Ancient Technique to Access Your Inner Power

Get your free copy of Nancy's Camino Planning Roadmap: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap

This also puts you on my email list so you can get more helpful Camino tips, timely information, and special offers. Be sure to open the email with the roadmap and click the download to confirm your subscription. Don't see the email? Check your Spam or Junk folder. ;)

In this episode Dr. Edward referred to the annual 545-mile AIDS/LIFECYCLE ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles which he and Nancy have both participated in.

The ride benefits two non-profit organizations that provide free HIV/AIDS medical care, testing, and prevention services and support for people living with AIDS.

If you would like to make a donation to this cause and support one of our team's riders, you can do that here: https://giving.aidslifecycle.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=7019

If you would like the team to carry the name of someone who has lost their life to this awful disease, please send an email to Nancy at [email protected] (Use Subject line: AIDS ride)

Thank you for your support! xo

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You give and give and give . . . and then one day you ask, What about me?

What happens when you finally decide you matter just as much as everyone else?

For Tiffany, the answer was you go for a walk on the Camino de Santiago. And then you take on the next dream, and the dream after that one.

Find out how Tiffany went from preschool teacher to dementia caregiver, from caregiver to pilgrim on the road to Santiago, and then from pilgrim to mirthologist.

Ready for a shift in your life? Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 17, 10am PST and sign up for Tiffany's upcoming webinar here: https://www.wulfnow.com/

If you have reached out to me recently and I have not yet responded, please try again!

The powers that be recently made some changes to the rules around sending out business emails, and those changes caused an unexpected mess. Specifically, all the contact forms on my website effectively broke.

So if you have reached out in the past week about joining my September Camino Experience group, or about my Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide or DIY-plus Camino Planning Program, and you haven't heard back from me, please reach out again!

https://thecaminoexperience.com/

Are you on my email list? Sign up today and get your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap

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When you think of walking the Camino de Santiago, what fears or concerns come up? What is slowing you down from going after your dream of walking the Camino?

In this first episode of season four, I am going to be talking about the fear that often surrounds walking the Camino for the first time, and how to find the courage to do it anyway. I will share some of my own story as well as six strategies for moving through your fear.

The book mentioned in this episode is Wishcraft, by Barbara Sher.

Or maybe you would just like some help getting started. The Camino Experience September group has a spot for you! All your questions answered at https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/

Sign up here to receive my Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists) as well as a weekly email with tips and ideas for your Camino pilgrimage. Here's how to sign up: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/tips

In this episode I refer to the annual 545-mile AIDS/LIFECYCLE ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that I participated in back in 2018. The ride benefits two non-profit organizations that provide free HIV/AIDS medical care, testing, and prevention services and support for people living with AIDS. If you would like to make a donation to this cause and support one of our team's riders, you can do that here: https://giving.aidslifecycle.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=7019

If you would like the team to carry the name of someone who has lost their life to this awful disease, please send an email to Nancy at [email protected]

Thank you for your support! xo

#youonthecamino

It's time to catch up with Dawn and Fiona from Australia, who we met in season three, episode three. These two peregrinas walked the Camino Francés in August and September this year.

You will hear how their plans unfolded and if booking all their accommodations in advance turned out to be the best way for them to do this . . . and what they would do differently next time. Because it sounds like there will be a next time, for both Dawn and Fiona.

We will be talking about what it means to have a hard day on the Camino and how they supported each other through those difficult times as well as how they shared the joy of their early morning walks during a 17-day heat wave.

And you will find out if it is possible to have a Camino family if you are staying in hotels and guesthouses, rather than in the albergues where most pilgrims stay.

I think that while listening to Dawn and Fiona’s story you will find yourself wondering what big thing you will be doing next, whether that is walking the Camino or something else, maybe something you have been dreaming of for decades.

Dawn and Fiona booked their Camino with the Australian company, Raw Travel. Here is there website: https://rawtravel.com/

Find out how the groups I lead are unlike any other Camino groups out there. Go to https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ for the whole story.

Thank-you donations gratefully accepted. Please go to https://thecaminoexperience.com/donate/

An attractive certificate marking your arrival at the halfway point between Saint Jean Pied de Port and Santiago de Compostela is available at the Santuario de la Virgen Peregrina in Sahagún. Be sure to check the opening hours when planning your visit.

Related: Check out Dawn and Fiona's "before" story in episode three of this season of the "YOU on the Camino de Santiago" podcast.

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In this episode I share with you one of the audio sessions for my signature program, the Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide, which will be available for 25% off the regular price for three days starting on December 1, 2023 (Saturday the 2nd in Australia and New Zealand).

The sample audio session in this episode is on how to use the most popular guidebooks and apps to plan your Camino journey, either before you leave home or day by day.

To find out all about the Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide, skip ahead to the 37 minute mark.

In order to get the special price on the Audio Guide, you need to be on my email list, because I will be sending out the promo code on Friday, December 1 (or 2nd for Australia and New Zealand).

Then, starting on Friday, December 8 (or the 9th for Australia and New Zealand), I will begin sharing my favorite end-of-year tradition with everyone on my email list.

To get on the list, go to my website, https://thecaminoexperience.com/, or follow this link: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/.

By the way, I promise, you won't ever get any spam-y emails, or emails not about the Camino and your dreams and goals, and I won't ever sell your email address.

#youonthecamino

In this episode I share a preview audio session on booking accommodations on the Camino from my Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide.

Let's look at . . .

 >> the different types of accommodations available on the Camino

>> which places accept reservations

>> when you should book

>> how to find places to stay

Oh, and I also share with you my (nearly) famous pre-de-jet-lag plan. Works like a charm.

Learn how to make it happen with the Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide. https://thecaminoexperience.com/getting-started-audio-guide/

Add the Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide to your holiday gift wish list and get on my email list to get the coming-soon special offer.

When you sign up for my email list you also get your free copy of "Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists)." Sign up and get your tips here: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/tips

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Meet Kaye from Australia! She and I had a fun conversation about spirituality, and we discovered we share a love for asking some of the deeper questions.

In this episode we explore questions like:

 >> Who are you walking the Camino for?

>> Why are you walking now, and who is doing the walking?

>> When is the best time to walk the Camino for you?

>> What is success and what is failure when it comes to walking the Camino? And is either success or failure really even possible?

Toward the end of our conversation Kaye asked me for my best piece of Camino advice, so you will get to hear the answer to that question, too.  

I can help! Find out how on my website: https://thecaminoexperience.com

If you are a woman of a certain age - meaning age 50+ - check out this empowering, uplifting, and helpful Facebook group. Click that link or simply search in Facebook for "WOACA the Camino."

Coming soon: a new book with short Camino stories from 50 women over age 50, that will inspire you to get to the trail and start walking!

What are your favorite Facebook Camino groups? I would love to hear from you: [email protected]

Related: Did you catch the conversation with Beebe Bahrami? Beebe is the author of the beautiful Moon Camino de Santiago guidebook. Check out this subtitle: "Sacred Sites, Historic Villages, Local Food & Wine" Yes please!

#youonthecamino

Nidia from Utah, USA, shares her story of turning incredible trials into blessings, plus how and why she is preparing to walk the Camino Francés in 2024.

Faith is a choice, she says, and life itself is a pilgrimage. Find out about the "power of gathering" and how religion can bring you peace. You will also hear another approach to visiting the Cruz de Ferro, or Cross of Iron on the Way.

And when I asked for Nidia's questions about the Camino, she turned the tables and asked me how hosting the podcast has impacted my life. What a delight it was for me to explore that question!

Get on my email list and you will be the first to know about the special holiday offer coming soon on my ultimate getting-started Camino programs.

Plus, I will be in your inbox every Friday with more good stuff! 

Go to https://thecaminoexperience.com/ and look for the pop-up sign-up form (on computer) or scroll down the home page to find the sign-up form (on smartphone).

Be sure to open the email I send and click on the button to get your Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists) and confirm your subscription.

Reserve your time at The Stone Boat guesthouse in Rabanal del Camino, directly on the Camino Francés path. Just you, your creative projects, the wood burning stove, and pilgrims walking past your window throughout the day.

Find out more at: https://www.thestoneboat.com/ , menu tab "Writing Retreats." Or email Kim at [email protected]

#youonthecamino