Annie O’Neil, featured pilgrim in Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago, published a pocket-size book called Everyday Camino with Annie, that features 40 days of inspirational quotes and messages that one can read while on the Camino, or anywhere.

In the intro, she talks briefly about her experience walking the Camino in 2009 and how it was the most transformative experience of her life.  She wrote this book to keep the Camino experience alive and also “for those who have walked, will walk, for those who know someone walking the Camino de Santiago, and for those who may never walk in Spain, but feel called by the Camino.”

I love this book because it isn’t based on a particular religion, yet it is very spiritual in nature. The 40 days of inspiration include Zen sayings, quotes from Thoreau, the Dalai Lama, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and even Dr. Suess.   Gratitude, intuition, love, simplicity and alignment with the Universe are themes woven throughout the book. Annie encourages us to sit quietly for 5 minutes each day to contemplate the ideas. This “quiet time” reminds us to be grateful, be still, and just be. 

This book will make an excellent gift for anyone who plans to walk the Camino, or for anyone interested in enhancing their daily spiritual  journey. It could even be an introduction to meditation for those who are curious about practicing but never have the time. Walking is a meditation, after all, and combined with Annie’s reflections and a big dose of Ultreia Y Suseia*, this may be just what the doctor ordered! Indeed, the Camino provides.  I purchased a copy of this book at the Berkeley screening of the Camino documentary and Annie signed it with the common phrase, “Buen Camino!” which makes it even more special.

Annie sells copies of this book and DVDs of Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago at screenings of her new film Phil’s Camino and online at www.everydaycaminowithannie.com/.

*Ultreia is a Spanish word, derived from the original Latin, meaning Onward! It was in common use by pilgrims to greet and to encourage one another along the Camino.
Suseia means Upward, more or less. Combine the words Ultreia y Suseia for the saying Onward and upward! There’s even a song about it on Annie’s accompanying CD that can be purchased for $10 at her film screenings.

Happy reading and buen Camino!

Do you have a book to recommend? I love to read and review Camino books to feature on this page. Dígame in the comments below, or email me.