Walking Pilgrimage as Caritas Action in the World

Abstract

This essay draws on the personal experiences of a spiritual pilgrimage in northern Spain. Using pilgrimage as metaphor and the experience of walking a portion of the famous Spanish El Camino, (the way), the author raises questions such as: How do we walk through life? How do we get our footing to bring artistry of caring into our lives and work and world? What steps do we take that speak to who we are and our raison d'être? This perspective is grounded in Newman's health as evolving consciousness, Rogers's science of unitary being, Quinn's view of sacred space, and Watson's caritas (cosmic loving consciousness) as the highest form of consciousness, and the infinite source of healing/wholeness. A walking spiritual pilgrimage serves as metaphoric invitation for nurses and nursing to engage in conscious, creative, artful steps, imprinting self and society with caritas in our lives, our work, and our world.