Stacey Wittig’s fifth guidebook launched at American Pilgrims on Camino Event.
When airlines canceled Wittig’s flight and subsequent pilgrimage walk across France because of COVID-19 last September, the author decided to walk a pilgrim path in the United States instead. When she reached out to Wisconsin Way organizers, a pilgrimage loosely based on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, she learned there was no guidebook to help find the way.
“Since no guide or instructions existed for my trek, I decided to write a guidebook for others who weren’t quite ready to go to Europe to walk pilgrimages this year,” said Wittig, author of three Camino guidebooks. More than 20,000 U.S. passport holders walked the Camino de Santiago in 2019. That number has declined drastically because of the pandemic.
Wittig teamed up with Father Andrew Kurz, the founder of the Wisconsin Way, and others who have walked the 154-mile stretch from outside Green Bay to Holy Hill near Milwaukee. With their guidance, she hiked the pilgrimage solo last October. The pilgrim journey connects holy hotspots that include national shrines, roadside chapels and monasteries. Wittig stayed with families, in a monastery and at Airbnbs during the 11-day journey.
“The Wisconsin Way is so similar to the European pilgrimages I’ve walked: dramatic and changing scenery; amazing local cheese, wine and beer; spiritual hotspots along the way and time to contemplate. It’s perfect for those who are not ready to travel to Europe this year,” said Wittig.
Once back in Northern Arizona, she began researching and writing the guidebook. Before the book went to the printer, she walked the Wisconsin Way again last May. Mike Russell of MikeRDzign designed the book cover and Lindsay Winthers created full-color maps for the 135-page book.
“When I walked my first long-distance pilgrimage, I was working 70 hours per week for a Fortune 500 company in Flagstaff,” said Wittig. “I was a successful salesperson but felt that there had to be more to life than what we Americans deem ‘success.’ It was challenging to take time off from my busy life to get away and take a soulful inner journey, but I did it.”
While walking in Spain, a French woman who told her, “Stacey, the Camino is like a washing machine for the brain.” And, she agrees. “Walking long distances gives you time to reflect on your life. Stressing your physical body with walking day after day naturally rouses repressed emotions. Getting out of your comfort zone in a foreign place forces you to trust your intuition and spiritual side. Pilgrimage offers many gifts, including time to reconnect with your higher power.”
Wittig says her first pilgrimage in 2005 was life-changing, giving her time to reevaluate her life and look for what she could change in herself. “Within two years, I had shed the golden handcuffs and launched my second career doing something I loved: writing.”
The author has embarked on more than 10 long-distance pilgrimages since her first one. “Each one brings me a bit closer to the better me,” she said. “I’ve learned mindfulness, simplicity and the appreciation of the little things that happen each day, every hour.”
The book, “Spiritual and Walking Guide: The Wisconsin Way,” is available on Amazon at https://bit.ly/WiWayGuide. QCBN
By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN
For more information, please visit unstoppablestaceytravel.com/the-wisconsin-way-pilgrimage-beginners-guide.
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