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• Lori Suzanne Holetz | September 29, 2010 6:23 AMReply

  In the spring of 2002 I walked the Camino from Roncesvalles, just over the French/Spanish border and a hop from St. Jean Pied de Port. I avoided starting from St. Jean because I had heard too many stories of people getting lost in the dense fog in the Pyrenees and/or being killed. One man had just become lost on the mountain when I arrived on June 1st and was considered for dead, later showing up two-thirds of the way along weeks later, much to others surprise and amazement. It will be very interesting to see this film and how much of the movie reflects the true journey. I was sorry to read Shirley MacLaine's personal story and how she was unable to find the spiritual experience she sought due to relentless paparazzi who were so obnoxious as to even pursue her into the hostel showers. Needless to say, I personally was very saddened for her, that her journey was not a reflection of the ordinary person's experience... not at all. It is much, much more difficult and a test of strength and sheer willpower few will every be able to muster. It literally brought me to my knees in tears everyday, exhausted beyond words, only to rise the next early morning filled with vigor and excitement to start the next day's pathway. It was most astonishing to experience that day after day.... to arrive each afternoon with nothing left to go on and feel so amazingly refreshed and healed the next morning.... "she", as the Camino is considered female energies, always takes care of her pilgrims. She did not let me down, not once! There is nothing in the world to describe the journey west to the Santiago Cathedral... a bittersweet finishing point. Your are thrilled it is over, you are exhausted, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually after a solid month of traversing the Northern Spanish countryside, sad that you will not be heading out again the next day with the new acquaintances you have met along "the way". Eight years later, I see reflections of the Camino every day, lessons learned, priceless and definitely worth the "agony and the ecstasy" in so many countless ways. No doubt I am a much better person for it.... and not only did I find my own strength, courage, and the ability to allow nothing to stand in my way of my personal life path....within, I cherish a sense of accomplishment that can not be described and a peace of mind, heart, body, soul and spirit that is nothing short of "Godliness". I thank the divine every day for the grace of my experience on The Camino de Compostella de Santiago, beneath and aligned with the Milky Way.... , and "the way of the stars" reflects and echos, hearkening me on, into my own blessed shamanic spiritual path, every day, in every way I walk. Congratulations on this accomplishment... it is enormous! Thank you so much for this cinema-graphic event... I can't wait to see it! Blessed is the one who walks "the way".... very blessed indeed!