I finally encountered another Deadhead on the Camino- a woman about my age from Philadelphia who had a stealie on her hat. These are some thoughts that came out of a nice conversation we had about Grateful Dead music and improvised, goalless adventures.

• Don’t wait for the end. Give up and listen- pay attention to what’s in front of you and be open to the unexpected. Or you might get stuck in an interminable state of suffering waiting for the end of a 48 minute Dark Star jam (the longest recorded Dead jam, from a 1968 Rotterdam show). At times, this 500 mile walk has felt endless and all you can do is come back to the sound of your breath and feet on the ground.

• Do your own thing and leave space for others to do theirs. For whatever reason, Dead music lends itself mostly to individuals doing their own boogie in parallel with each other. The Camino has been a similar experience of respecting what each person wants to make of their own journey.

• The trail provides. Be open to trail magic- unexpected acts of kindness and generosity. This concept comes from hikers on long-distance trails but I believe it applies to any path in life. Grateful Dead shows are famous for these small miracles, whether it’s a ticket to a sold out show, a free beer or burrito, or a run-in with an old friend. On the Camino, I’ve found socks, water, help, companionship, and solitude when I’ve needed it most.

• Meaning is communal. Whether you’re making music with friends or dancing up the energy the band is riding on, the felt sense of playing a part in creating an uplifting environment is powerful. The creation of meaning is a leaderless, mutual, participatory act. Joy, delight, and exuberance can be experienced individually but an added level of significance emerges when the experience is shared with others.
• The vibe will change. A funky dance tune will slow into a meandering jam and on into a soulful river ballad. The stars will shine and the sun will come up, clouds will roll in and rain will soak through your miracle socks which will eventually dry out as the rain moves on and the sun shines again. Constantly changing emotional terrain is a fact of daily life (and any GD show).

I haven’t listened to much music on the Camino in an effort to remain less distracted from my immediate surroundings, but I have noticed a fair amount of overlap between the act of walking and listening to jammy music. Both involve much delight and a healthy little bit of suffering.