Exceptional Human Experiences Among Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago: A Study of Self-Reported Experiences and Transformative Aftereffects

Abstract

The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage is an extraordinary endeavour that tends to trigger exceptional human experiences. Following our previous investigation of this topic, we conducted an online survey of 501 pilgrims in order to assess the frequency of different exceptional experiences (EEs) on the pilgrimage and their transformative aftereffects (TAs) in everyday life afterwards. More than 70% of the respondents reported improvement in terms of self-confidence, personal relationships and letting go of emotional “baggage”. The results show strong correlations between the observed EEs and the (consequent) TAs. We contend that walking the Camino de Santiago often produces exceptional experiences that lead to positive long-term psychosocial effects.

Exceptional human experiences among pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago: A typology of experiences and transformative aftereffects.

“…She found that pilgrims tend to describe their pilgrimage as a cathartic experience, that is, an experience that transformed their lives and priorities. Lavrič and Brumec (2020) conducted a short online survey of pilgrims (n = 102) about self-reported transformative aftereffects (TAs) of the Camino. They found that a strong increase of selfactualization as measured by the Kaufman's (2018) Characteristics of Self-Actualization Scale (CSAS) was the central psychological aftereffect of walking the Camino.…”

“…Existing research suggests that the aftereffects included in EHEs involve changes like (a) an increased sense of life meaning and purpose, (b) changes in values and attitudes, especially in terms of less materialistic and more altruistic values and in terms of higher social trust, (c) increased feelings of self-actualization, (d) increased interest in spirituality, (e) increased level of spiritual beliefs (like belief in life after death or belief in a higher force or being), and (f) increased sense of well-being (Braud, 2012;Cardeña et al, 2017;Greyson & Ring, 2004;Kennedy & Kanthamani, 1995;Kennedy et al, 1994;Klemenc-Ketiš, 2010;Palmer & Braud, 2002;Taylor & Egeto-Szabo, 2017;Waldron, 1998). Most of these aftereffects can be seen in accounts of the psychological and spiritual effects of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage experience (Feliu-Soler et al, 2020;Lavrič & Brumec, 2020;Lobato & Sainz, 2020;Lopez, 2013;Schnell & Pali, 2013).…”