Today’s walk was a very special walk to one of the highest points on the Camino.
It is also where ” La Cruz de Ferro” is located.this is an important place along the Camino for many pilgrims. Pilgrims carry with them a rock, or a trinket, or a special item that has or has had a special meaning to them, or to someone else.
This is where each pilgrim puts away the past, says a prayer , places their significant item at the base of the Iron cross at the top of the mountain. Each person has their own reason, or burden to let go of . A vision of a new beginning , a prayer for healing, forgiveness for blessings, a myriad of individual reasons. This pile of rocks and momento’s has grown to over 15 feet tall stone by stone over the century’s .
After reaching this emotional high point, we then decended steeply down the mountain, this part of the caminon is very tough on the body , as the downhill attacks all of your joints, jolting you with the pounding repetitive steps downward. We decend almost 3,000 feet in just a few miles .
Today I reflected back on the time in Sahagun, and the bull fight weekend, I could not bring myself to attend the bull fight. I was in Spain, the bull fights are a national event, the whole city comes alive, but I could not attend. I had to ask myself WHY
It is to me , a symbol of mans inhumanity to man, one persons dominance over another, one is more important than another. The string or powerful rule over the weak.
Here is a bull eating in his peaceful pasture, enjoying the company of his cows, making calves. Enjoying his life, all of a sudden men come in take the bull away from all that he has known, shackles and chains him , hauls him away to an unknown place, torments and teases him, chases him thru streets, hitting him with sticks, loud noises, all the way to the bull ring . Here he will meet his fate, but is first tortured and incouraged to fight to show his anger, to put up a good fight, to make the Matadore look good and to show how brave and dominate the Matadore is. Only to stand broken in spirit to receive the final thrust of the sword.
Is it human nature to be dominate over others ? I am reminded how the slave traders went to Africa and took the people away to use them for their own gain, he who had the most or best slaves was rewarded.
What is it about our nature that allows us to choose dominance over harmony? why can’t we all just get along?
Thought for the day;
live as you like to, without ever hurting someone else.
Here are a few photos of the walk to the cross and then down to Molinaseca.
mybuencamino 