The Tangible Items I Carry
The Tangible Items I Carry
by Bryan Winter | San Francisco, CA
The tangible items I carry on my Caminos are a scallop shell with lanyard, 10 clothes pins, a Tau cross, and a compass.
The scallop shell was a gift at a shell ceremony before my first Camino Francés in 2014. The Tau cross was purchased and blessed in Assisi in 2014. St Francis, who is believed to have once walked the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela himself, signed his name with the Tau. I wear the scallop shell and Tau cross under my shirt while I’m walking, and their rattle reminds me of my purpose as I greet people, animals, trees, rocks—connecting with people and nature.
The 10 clothes pins were a gift from fellow pilgrim Dave on my first Camino. I use them to hang out to dry the clothes I have washed after a day’s journey to get them ready for the stage ahead. I give clothes pins to new pilgrims at my American Pilgrims chapter’s shell ceremonies to acknowledge Dave’s gift to me.
The compass was a gift from fellow pilgrim Ki on the Norte in 2016. It keeps me on course no matter the twists and turns of the way, difficulty of terrain, or health of mind or body.
These items each weigh 1.5 ounces, but the memories of how they came to me weigh nothing and are always uplifting.
