#San Salvador de Soutomerille

[carloskaplan]

San Salvador de Soutomerille

[witchreborn]

Just over a year ago, I embarked on the Camino de Santiago - Primitivo Route in Spain with my boyfriend. Neither of us is Christian, but you don't need to be Christian to walk the pilgrimage routes in Spain. He was doing it for the adventure, but I was doing it to open myself to something spiritual.

I had no expectations when I began upon it, and for a long time, I spent the journey enjoying the stunning landscape around me.

Every day taught me gratitude for the land, for water, for shade, for the people around me. The Camino Primitivo is nothing like other popular routes - this one has days where you go from one village to the next, and there is nothing between each stop. Not many peregrinos to be found.

It wasn't until the 9th day out, on our way to Lugo, that I was inspired to open myself intentionally. We were walking an optional path that took us through San Salvador de Soutomerille. The walk was beautiful: the sun blazed in the mid-September sky, but there were so many green trees to shade us. A chestnut tree overtook the low stone wall at one point.

Nature overtaking ruins is inspiring. That we have left our mark as humans, but the world will find a way to reclaim when we are long gone.

The back of an old church greeted us at one point, and we decided that if there was a clearing in front, we would take a moment to enjoy the space there.

I could feel something important in the air. At that point, I really wanted to connect with the God of my family and his. I didn't know his rituals; I was raised Lutheran, and when it came time to undergo Confirmation, I stepped back and was never confirmed.

So I asked, if anyone was there, please show me.

We rounded the church and for the first time in hours, blessed sun greeted us. Something was definitely there.

The energy didn't feel masculine, though. I felt absolute warmth and connection, but not with any Abrahamic god.

Galicia is very proud of its Celtic heritage, and though this church was a Catholic church, these lands were once walked by other people with other gods.

I still don't know what the feeling was. I had worked with Brigid in the past, four or five years ago. Was this her, or another goddess? Was it the spirits living here? Was it simply myself opening up to the world around me again?

I didn't ask further, and I didn't investigate. My boyfriend and I sat in the clearing and enjoyed our lunch, and I was happy to know I had felt something.

It doesn't matter if I never know what the presence was. Perhaps if Brigid works with me again, I will ask; but it's enough that this energy was there for me when I asked for it.

I found what I had been looking for, though I'm only coming to realize it now.