Walking further: the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage as a path to transformation [Conference item - Other]

Drawing upon anthropologist Tim Ingold's concept of 'wayfaring' as a dynamic mode of existence, this project delves into the transformative potential of long-distance walking, particularly as pilgrimage. Ingold (2009) proposes that life unfolds not in static locations but along paths, framing 'way of life' as a continuous navigation through an evolving network of relations and processes. Walking, then, becomes a method of travel and knowing, intertwining observation, memory, listening, and touch, with communal movement and open-ended exploration (Ingold & Vergunst, 2008).
The study focuses on a researcher's journey along the Camino de Santiago (Caminho Português route) in 2022. The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Since the Middle Ages, the Camino has been a major pilgrimage route and remains one of the world's most popular pilgrimage destinations. According to data from the Pilgrim’s Welcome Office, the number of pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago has been growing in recent years, with a record 446,000 people completing the journey in 2023.
The 300km fundraising walk lasted 2 weeks and aimed at both personal growth and raising awareness for gender-based violence. Through immersion in the pilgrimage's natural, historical, and cultural landscapes, the researcher engaged in transformative interactions with the path itself, fellow pilgrims, and local communities. The study employs a qualitative approach, integrating participant observation, walk-along interviews, reflective journaling, photographic documentation, and data from the Xunta de Galicia (Galicia’s regional government).
Overall, the project addresses the complex nature of walking beyond its physical aspects, framing it as a narrative of exploration, curiosity, communion, and social action. By navigating physical and metaphorical terrains and reflecting on the self as well as dialogues and encounters along the path, the researcher explores the richness of pilgrimage and its connection to research.