Into the Thin: A Pilgrimage Walk Across Northern Spain

It felt like an emotional crucifixion—a dark year in which a father figure passed, a friend and mentor suffered a terminal illness, one child entered psychosis, another child took his life, and a 14 year marriage ended. As a new life began, an ancient pilgrimage called from across an ocean. Would it hold any answers? Were there any answers to be had? Questions are always temporal, but it seems pilgrimage follows the designs of the eternal. Join in a transcendent journey of the body, heart, mind, and spirit from the French Pyrenees Mountains, crossing northern Spain for 500 miles to the city of Santiago de Compostela, and beyond to the coastal town of Finisterre. Share the experience of walking a thousand year old road, the Camino de Santiago, the Way of Saint James, and its miraculous, mysterious ways. This is a story told in the language of the soul. Suffused with resilience, it is a dialogue between humanity and its spirit. It calls.

About the Author :
Stephen Drew lives in the northwestern Connecticut town of Morris.

Review :
"As if governed by an internal life clock, and intricately tied to ancient maps used by wayfarers who precede us, the practice of pilgrimage is universal across cultures and spiritual traditions. In Into The Thin, Stephen Drew's deeply personal account of walking The Camino, we travel through numinous landscapes and holy stopping-places, auspicious moments shared between pilgrims, and timely teachings found in his own process of loss and grief, introspection and discovery, purification and renewal. Lace-up your boots and answer the call of The Way. Your life will be enriched by walking with this seasoned traveler of roads." -Frank LaRue Owen, author of The School of Soft-Attention "Along the Camino de Santiago Stephen Drew's body and spirit are in continuous conversation to the rhythm of footsteps as he walks up mountain slopes and along ancient town streets, past cathedrals and cafes, through forests, wheat-fields and vineyards. In this 'crucible of pilgrimage' physical challenge illuminates trials of the heart. " -David K. Leff, author of Canoeing the Allagash "I got chills when I read the first sentence of Into the Thin. This is a book for those who aren't sure where to begin (or how to begin again), and it's for those who have an inclination that beginnings don't always look like we think they should. Drew offers an eloquent glimpse into that thin place where joy can well up from deep sorrow. Walk with the author on a pilgrimage into the heart and soul of what life can be like when you answer the call toward resilience. You'll be changed, and glad for the journey." -Heidi Barr, award winning author of Woodland Manitou "Stephen explores the idea of how a pilgrimage, begun on the side of a road in rural Connecticut, led him to experience the spiritual world in walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. The proximity I felt to his words was more than geographic...It was hearing my own inner voice. Please find time to read Stephen's book. Go on the journey. It will lead." -Lee Cantelon, author of The Words: Jesus of Nazareth "Into the Thin bravely reveals the life-changing inner journey that often accompanies a physical pilgrimage. Driven by a series of heartbreaking losses, fueled by the meditative act of walking across Spain toward the holy city of Santiago, and inspired by a host of new and interesting people, Drew draws readers toward "thin places" where the veil between spirit and body is light. This is an inspiring narrative of awareness, reflection, and resolve that will leave the reader looking at their own lives in new ways." -Beth Jusino, author of Walking to the End of the World: A Thousand Miles on the Camino de Santiago "It's tempting to say you don't need to walk the Camino after reading Into the Thin. Stephen Drew's vivid, lyrical descriptions of the landscape, the people, and the pilgrim culture take you there. But what's more accurate is, if you've ever dreamed of doing this walk (or even if you haven't), you'll come away with a strong desire to do so. I believe this story of heartache, grief, and humility is what this journey has always been about and remains so today. It's rare to accompany another person on a path of such intimate, beautifully written self-reflection. Drew is generous in his invitation; I urge you to accept it." -Iris Graville, author of Hiking Naked: A Quaker Woman's Search for Balance