https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/lets-be-practical daily 0.75 2020-11-30 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/lets-be-practical/blog-post-title-one-c6xx5 monthly 0.5 2021-04-11 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/lets-be-practical/blog-post-title-two-fytxp monthly 0.5 2021-04-11 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/lets-be-practical/blog-post-title-three-ahe3y monthly 0.5 2021-04-11 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/lets-be-practical/q1xxmhqhsyp1w1v67j4jqgyi7whjj5 monthly 0.5 2021-04-11 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/lets-be-practical/blog-post-title-four-wfm6l monthly 0.5 2021-04-11 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/whythecamino daily 0.75 2025-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1604314827223-ZBCJLNLCS3J7SSKD0NBY/Untitled_Artwork+7.png Why the Camino? - Yogananda Pramahamsa Yogananda Pramahamsa Yogananda is renowned as the first person to bring yoga to the western world. In fact he arrived in the USA on 25th July 1920; just one hundred years ago. The meaning of yoga for Yogananda is; A Sacred Science of Self-realization. Yoga is that science by which the soul gains mastery over the instruments of body and mind and uses them to attain self-realization – the reawakened consciousness of its transcendent, immortal nature, one with Spirit. His spiritual lineage is from Krishna; an incarnation of God. For further references https://yogananda.org/paramahansa-yogananda https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1604314958782-7CA0RKD89NP7H2YWMHUM/Untitled_Artwork+4.png Why the Camino? - Thich Nath Hanh Thich Nhat Hanh; a Zen Buddhist monk known for his work to bring peace to the World; especially his practice of mindfulness. He wrote many books though for the pilgrim a relevant book is his “Guide to walking meditation”. His spiritual lineage is from Buddha; an incarnation of God. For further references https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1604315374537-DCB9QIGZSUZNS2TW8E61/Untitled_Artwork+6.png Why the Camino? - Rumi A well-know Islamic philosopher and poet from Persia of the 13th century. Some notable relevant quotes below. “As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears.” “When you go through a hard period, when everything seems to oppose you, … When you feel you cannot even bear one more minute, NEVER GIVE UP! Because it is the time and place that the course will divert!” “Half-heartedness doesn’t reach into majesty. You set out to find God, but then you keep stopping for long periods at mean-spirited roadhouses.” “Don’t turn away. Keep your gaze on the bandaged place. That’s where the light enters you.” “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” “All religions, all this singing, one song. The differences are just illusion and vanity. The sun’s light looks a little different on this wall than it does on that wall, and a lot different on this other one, but it’s still one light.” “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1604315452693-KPPDHUZ1MQP3VQ3LEBMP/Untitled_Artwork+1.png Why the Camino? - St. Francis of Assisi St. Francis of Assisi said “Your God is of your flesh. He lives in your nearest neighbour, in every man.” He set out to imitate Jesus and to carry on his work. Having started life as the son of a rich merchant, he renounced his high living and espoused a life of giving all that he possessed: a minimalist. Pope John Paul II declared him the Patron Saint of Ecology for his love of the environment and nature and as such his teachings are particularly relevant to the pilgrim as you walk. His spiritual lineage is from Jesus; the Son of God. For further reference Canticle of the Creatures : Francis of Assisi - Praised be You my Lord, with all Your Creatures (franciscanseculars.com) https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/pilgrim-experiences daily 0.75 2021-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1620383948551-38RKNZKR3SACVG31XZMD/Luca_camino_1_edited.jpg Pilgrim experiences I heard about El Camino de Santiago first when I was 13, during an English class https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/pilgrim-experiences/v9nvlbyho2g576japtxg162bjkvgj3 monthly 0.5 2020-10-16 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/pilgrim-experiences/blog-post-title-two-rmyf8 monthly 0.5 2020-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603267730253-T317XRGX8LFL73DX8H8A/image-asset.jpeg Pilgrim experiences - What we want is not always what we need. https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/home daily 1.0 2021-05-07 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/any-questions daily 0.75 2024-05-01 https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/whyhere daily 0.75 2025-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603454638756-4N13XAN6ZR997CPRE5YL/IMG-20200707-WA0009.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603454778048-24QFU48L863RVWNF5WLA/IMG-20200707-WA0026.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603802076088-ZZ66MLIR3DH9FD1YAO6K/IMG-20200707-WA0016.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603802085829-HISY16911JRF0DUKHZVR/IMG-20200707-WA0015.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603802099691-EZ6Q37KB89HQ6TA8BCSQ/IMG-20200707-WA0002.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603802112102-IGEWJZK8WYCR5YFUGATC/IMG-20200707-WA0025.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603802123498-7CQYTF8Q552YLHH7HCVQ/IMG-20200707-WA0019.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603802152860-1G7UHFP35LRGFPXEGXPT/IMG-20200707-WA0005.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/19a7f1cf-0122-41ee-a3c0-206de05868a3/IMG-20200707-WA0017.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/d7703868-594e-49b7-a38b-8d694f21fb39/IMG-20200707-WA0008.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/3964d112-2a4f-4ca2-b430-4f5ecea74f14/IMG-20200707-WA0001.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/7f1073d5-6226-4993-8b8e-5fd0ff84fe3d/IMG-20200707-WA0012.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/cec8504d-1444-407d-9ca6-4db06ff9248c/IMG-20200707-WA0013.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/9866f844-b1d6-4f19-9d34-0bc8e1afe140/20230219_143715.jpg Why here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/5e1cb6e5-9dde-4585-8977-c9e02d234044/20230219_143843.jpg Why here? https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/extend-your-experience daily 0.75 2025-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603101904906-UBUN34XWD7JK37G6XWA1/image.jpg Extend your experience - Some pilgrims wish to maintain their connection with the Camino by helping out at the Gite; to be a volunteer. Sometimes its straight after their walk or years later. We always appreciate having people come back to share their experience with others. Please refer to the Testimonals for feedback. https://www.giteportesaintjacques.com/testimonials daily 0.75 2024-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/9ae235bf-df6c-4ef6-9406-05f23e24866c/IMG-20210823-WA0006.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/ff862c8d-b907-4129-b49a-c9016009c686/IMG-20240102-WA0004.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/32b89754-37d8-4722-a16b-83f79fafeb8d/IMG-20231008-WA0003.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/9559eafa-aabd-417b-99c1-cb37360e1bd4/IMG-20231008-WA0004.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1614250076467-U8MVBN4A098ZW1TXSY76/IMG_20180806_080613673_HDR.jpg Testimonials A Transformational Opportunity Volunteering at Gite de la Porte Saint Jacques was an opportunity to reconnect with my Camino experiences (Camino de Santiago 2017, Camino a Le Puy-en-Velay 2018). It enabled me to be-of-service to Pilgrims just beginning on their Way, and facilitated a deeper understanding of the dedication and Love provided by those who operate Pilgrim Hostels. The owner of Gite de la Porte Saint Jacques, Andrew, graciously offered many opportunities for a variety of volunteer activities; from cooking and baking, to gardening, cleaning, and shopping in the Open Market. My particular favorite activities involved greeting and assisting the eager Pilgrims in preparing for their 1st day’s journey on the trail, then sending them off in the mornings. During off-duty hours I sauntered the village streets of Saint Jean Pied-de-Port, attended concerts at the Village Church, and strolled along the river. Such a nourishing place! Through volunteering I can contribute to the Camino de Santiago and the transformational inner-journey that Pilgrims discover. Volunteering is my way of showing my deep gratitude for this magical Path of Love. Cheryl T, USA, 2019 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/3dcf3ddf-93a0-44b1-83c0-720481054470/IMG-20230101-WA0019.jpg Testimonials - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1603269671952-IRVRKJJGJP4EM4J53O9A/IMG_5447.jpeg Testimonials https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/1620384160570-XQ034YDVO8JHBSF2AVGC/luca+volunteer.jpg Testimonials https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6b3acb4c8c06118b46273b/a7d65e33-d311-4155-9d9f-2fbeff9a537c/IMG-20230101-WA0015.jpg Testimonials - Make it stand out Margaretha, Sept 2022