Camino de Santiago Signs and Meaning, Pack Your Heart Before Your Backpack
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The Camino de Santiago is a journey woven with the language of signs, inner calls, and coincidences. That’s why I thought it would be a good idea to publish this article on Friday the 13th.
They say signs are for the lost. But on the Camino, they’re for the brave.
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The Camino de Santiago is not just a physical walk—it’s an ancient path full of symbols, signs, and synchronicities, deeply embedded in collective memory and personal transformation. Thousands of pilgrims don’t just travel with their feet; they walk with their souls. Along the way, they encounter themes of luck, coincidence, loss, discovery, and guidance.
“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” — Rumi
That’s exactly what happened to me. I set out, and the way appeared.
In last week’s article, I shared everything you might need before setting off on your Camino de Santiago journey. If there’s anything else you’re curious about, feel free to reach out via the contact section and send your questions.
Beyond backpacks, shoes, sunglasses, and clothing, there are far more essential things we need: motivation, determination, open-mindedness, and the energy of transformation.
Last week we packed our bags. This week, we fill our hearts.
A Personal Connection to Nature
As VAGMAG’s Nature Quarter editor—it’s me, Idalia—I’ve always felt a curious connection to nature. While green isn’t my favorite color, there’s something about it that draws me in, in every shade. And the Camino might just be the most special invitation I’ve ever received.
There’s a quiet beauty in waking up somewhere new every day, with your only task being to walk (or bike, if that’s your chosen path). Some pilgrims even ride horseback or sail for parts of the journey.
For me, the Camino is like a compressed version of life. Just like in life, people join us, walk beside us for a while, and then part ways. Some days are uphill and tough; others are downhill and light. Some days we laugh. Some, we cry. Life is a journey—and it’s up to us whether we enjoy the view or rush ahead chasing the destination.
Some notice the beauty and savor it; others see only what’s missing. And there will always be something missing, because the list of what’s absent never ends.
1. The culture of “signs” on the Camino de Santiago Signs and Meaning
The yellow arrows (flechas amarillas) and scallop shells (vieiras) help guide you on the Camino, ensuring you don’t lose your way. But as time passes, pilgrims begin to see these signs as more than just physical markers. They become internal guides.
“The arrow didn’t just give me direction—it gave me a decision,” many say.
At a crossroads, the wind’s whisper, a stranger’s glance, or a random message might say “go”—and so, you go.
The Camino teaches us that one backpack can be enough. It reminds us how good it feels to satisfy your hunger, to end the day with newfound friends, and to recognize what truly matters.
In today’s world—where consumerism and performative minimalism often cloud our needs—the Camino quietly reintroduces simplicity.
That one T-shirt you packed can feel as heavy as ten by the end. Decisions must be intentional. Sometimes, the wisest choice is to let go of the extras.
There were times when I owned dozens of logoed shirts and still felt like I had nothing to wear. On the Camino, I had one. When it got dirty, I washed it and wore it again. I even split the cost of a dryer with a pilgrim I’d met the day before.
After that, I realized it was more important to fill my heart than my backpack. That’s why, at VAGY, we design minimalist travel essentials for digital nomads. We choose quiet luxury over loud logos. Because after a soul-filling day, a small VAGY tag hidden inside your shirt feels just right.
We believe in shared vision over shared branding. And we know you do too.
2. When Bad Luck Transforms
Getting lost, twisting your ankle, or breaking a zipper might feel like bad luck. But later, you realize that those delays or detours brought unexpected gifts: a new friend, a cozy village, or a moment of introspection.
One of the most common Camino reflections:
“I was meant to be there.”
The more I reflect, the clearer it becomes: the Camino, like life, is full of unknowns. Some are scary; some, joyful.
Sometimes you miss a bus and have to take a taxi instead. Sometimes you trust someone new, walk with them for a while, then part ways. Sometimes you take a detour and discover the best meal of your life or reach the top of a hill and find a view that changes you.
And sometimes, like many pilgrims, you begin to believe that something miraculous is waiting for you at the end.
The more I try to explain, the more obvious the parallels become. The Way of St. James, like life, is full of unknowns. Sometimes this unknown is scary and sometimes it is joyful.
Sometimes good things happen to us, and we should be happy about that; sometimes bad things happen to us, and we should be happy about that too.
3. There Are No Coincidences
At some point on the Camino, you’ll likely think:
“I was meant to meet this person.” “That music played just when I imagined it.” “This stone—why is it here? Is it for me?”
The Camino speaks through meaningful coincidences—synchronicities. Carl Jung saw deep importance in this.
Camino friendships are different. Everyone carries a reason, a story.
You’ll meet pilgrims who’ve walked the route more than once. You’ll admire them. I did too. And now, looking back at how nervous I was before my first walk, I can almost smile.
Someday, I want to tell my nieces and nephews:
“When I was your age, I had already walked the Way of St. James.”
And I hope you won’t wait too long to do the same.
4. The Final-Day Miracle
Many pilgrims say or think like: “A miracle happened on my last day.”
It might be something small:
A pain in your knee disappears.
Someone you’ve been thinking about is waiting at the final cafe.
Something you lost finds its way back to you in Santiago.
Some describe the Camino as a living being:
“The road watches, listens, and responds.”
Creating your own luck
One of the most important teachings of the Camino:
"Nobody walks the same Camino."
Everyone's luck, coincidence, and sign are different. And the road walks you with the meanings you assign to yourself. At VAGMAG, we believe that we create our own luck and we support those who work and strive to create their own luck.
This is actually the quietest but most profound form of creating your own luck.
Your own intention draws the direction of the road.
PS: Did you know that you can walk the Camino in memory of a loved one and have their name written on your Compostela?
To do this, simply mention it at the ACC Pilgrims Office and ask that your certificate be marked "VICARIE PRO: [Name of the person you honor]".
I am so sorry for your loss—but I am also so happy that you have chosen to carry this experience into your own life and honor the memory of your loved one in this way.
You can also apply and volunteer at this office whenever you want after you have completed your Camino.
Reach out to us via our "Hey Auntie" tab to find out how.
There are so many things I want to share: stories from the road, moments that made me laugh or cry, and places that changed me. But for now, this is enough.
Some journeys need to breathe before they can be fully told. Now we are ready, we can set off next week. Here is what you need to know about the last 100 km of the French Way, the most famous and touristic journey of the Camino de Santiago, and I will be here with a guide on the Minstrip.
Buen Camino!
With love, Nature Quarter Editor Idalia from Vaginismus Magazine | VAGMAG
