Made it to Astorga. Me Phil and Shiloh ended up staying at a donativo in the center of one of the main squares. They let us sleep in as late as we wanted to and cooked us all great food and I did laundry in took a shower. I’m feeling very refreshed and ready for the montañas

My previous post brought up some further thoughts and questions about vegetarianism and veganism that seemed important to dive further into. I don’t doubt that it is a fulfilling and important way of life for many people, but it leaves me with many questions about the growing culture that this life choice has been creating.
First of all, as omnivores, is it wrong to consume meat? Many farms worldwide are run in rather cruel ways, would it be a matter of irradicating this issue or the farming of meat overall?
What is the difference between that and farming/consuming vegetables on a large scale?
Is it about the sustainability issue? If so, how can we justify utilizing pesticides and eliminating biodiversity as is commonly done in the US in order to produce a necessary quantity of vegetables and fruit for the entire human population?
If we were to commit to veganism as a society and eliminate or significantly reduce animal agriculture, what would happen to the pigs and cows and chickens that are being raised for the purpose of farming? Do we wait for them to die off? They’re so rarely used for utilitarian purposes in farming nowadays because many more efficient farming machines and techniques have been invented that In that case, would these animals become “obsolete” in a sense?
Is it about the water usage? If so, are there alternative, effective ways we can use/filter water in order to justify animal agriculture?
Where does one draw the line between what is “humanely” or “sustainably” produced and what is not? It’s incredibly important to keep sustainability and humane treatment in mind and in practice, but it’s unrealistic to believe that all of the people in the world could agree on what kind of agricultural treatment is acceptable.
Must we stop consuming all animal products (milk, cheese, honey, etc), or would eliminating the consumption of meat be enough?
Where is the line drawn between what can be eaten? Do bugs count as animals? Many cultures consume insects for nutrition. I’ve even met vegans in the US who eat cricket products in order to maintain a healthy level of protein in their diet.
What about in context to cultural importance? Some cultures find the idea of veganism to be offensive (or vice versa, the consumption of meat of certain types, or at all, is offensive), would it become more important to protect the animals or the culture? Is there some way that this could be synonymous?
I’ve considered converting to vegetarianism for quite some time and I’ve also begun to cut back on the quantity of meat that I consume, replacing it with other proteins in order to maintain muscle, blood sugar levels, etc. The biggest problem I’ve confronted is the intolerance and bullying projected by vegetarians that I attempt to reach out to for help (I will also note that I know many kind, civil vegetarians/vegans who are making a positive impact on myself and others as well). There’s no need to name anyone, but I had a consistent issue with one student in the greenery during my freshman/sophomore year who made a point to criticize my food choices daily in front of all of my friends. I was in a state of depression at the time that was causing me to eat significant quantities of unhealthy food in an attempt to “comfort” myself, and this cruel treatment only forced me to regress further into a negative and self-harmful state of mind. You cannot force someone to see the world and its’ many problems the way you do, especially not with spite and criticism. It’s taken me a year to open back up and begin trying a larger assortment of vegetables more regularly while moderating my consumption of meat, as I had to truly realize the importance of it in context to my own life and health as opposed to the negativity and forcefulness that was being reflected by another person. The attempt by this student, as important as her purpose may have been, was ultimately futile as it took away the opportunity for me to decide for myself what I was capable of and willing to commit to. I also admit that a lot of this stems from a stubborn nature exhibited by myself and many other humans. I didn’t want to think that this person could be right, no matter how important the cause, because I didn’t want to side with someone who was trying so immensely and publicly to prove I was wrong in such a cruel way. As I’ve grown older and had further experience with the subject I’ve developed a hunger for education that makes it possible for me to embrace and fully think through the idea of becoming a vegetarian (or not), and what that may imply to the health and presence of animals not just in the short term, but also in the long term as well as in our ever-evolving modern society.

Villafranca del Bierzo to Vega de Valcarce

Made it to O’Cebreio and enjoyed the most beautiful sunset. Life is amazing!

Sarria Spain

Sarria

SantIago de compostela–21:27

At 4pm I found myself sitting on a fence of stone next to a patch of wild flowers. Greg Brown played through my earbuds as I gazed at the landscape: freshly tilled soil from the tractor at work, and grass spread over plots of farmland, the tops of white buildings of Portomarín in the distance. It reminded me of drives home from work during the hot summer months in California.

“Help me help me help me make it through this funky day”

I peeled an orange with my freshly cut fingernails, and watched the small droplets of citrus spray out and catch a ride in the light wind. The warm sun had colored the backs of my hands a shade darker than the rest of my arm, covered by the sleeves of Ariel’s shirt that she had left with me.
I finished the orange and dug into my bag of mixed nuts, realizing I was hungrier than I thought I was. My chapped lips stung from the salt as I noticed shadows on the pavement from the birds of prey circling overhead. I watched one swoop down to the grass, its talons outstretched. It retreated into the air again, with nothing in its grasp.

Today felt strange walking through huge crowds of people on the trail. I saw buses unload groups of at least fifty people at a time. The cafes at small pueblos along the way were packed, the lines atrociously long- thankfully I had packed a lunch and snacks for the day. Though everyone seemed to be very happy and energetic and friendly, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated and annoyed for most of the day. My time for peaceful solitude on the trail has passed. I used to be alone for miles without seeing other pilgrims, and now there is barely elbow room. We are like a trail of ants filed one after the other. I can only see this increasing as we get closer and closer to Santiago.

But I realized, sitting there on the rock today, that being frustrated is ultimately pointless, and being attached to something that once was and no longer is is the root of my suffering. I came to the Camino to learn to let go, to learn to become more open hearted, and to cultivate rainbows. Today I found myself racing for the first time- not against other people, but against myself and my own ego. I wasn’t in the flow, and I wasn’t in harmony with myself, or with my body. I was fighting when I needed to surrender.

It is honestly incredible that so many people are here, walking the Camino, regardless of their reasons for being here or where they started. What I keep forgetting to remember, something that continues to limit me from communion, is that we are all one and the same. Any degree of separation between me and another pilgrim is a complete fabrication of the ego. We are all one family here.

I had similar feelings of frustration start to well up on my way into Sarria, until I met Jan. Funny enough, she’s from San Francisco, and her daughter attended Evergreen! What a small and funny world this is. She had recently retired from her rewarding and soul filling career as a language and reading teacher for young children, and had such a pleasant and kind energy. Talking to her was like a breath of fresh air. Her compassionate spirit was truly an inspiration for me to keep opening up to others with courage and kindness.

I am thankful for today, though it was definitely one of the more challenging days. Santiago lies just four days ahead, but I feel as though it will be just a signpost. The journey continues on from there- there is no true destination, only precious, beautiful, crazy moments.

second best day today.