The Camino as an Inner Return to the Soul
Posted on September 1, 2025
“A pilgrimage is a spiritual initiation, every single time… The question is, are you listening?”
For years at Marly Camino, we’ve witnessed something beautiful happen in the evenings.
After a day of walking the sacred path of the Camino de Santiago, our pilgrims would gather around the dinner table, tired, open, softened by the rhythm of the road. The outer journey quieted something inside, and a new kind of presence would emerge.
That’s why, for years, we’ve placed simple reflections on the table—gentle invitations to go inward. A question. A quote. A few lines of thought. Something to carry into the night.
At first, these reflections were curated from other books. But something changed in 2023.
I had always loved the ritual of reflection. But last year, during our Marly Christmas dinner with the guides, I asked a deeper question:
“What are the internal challenges our pilgrims most often face?”
Not the physical aches—but the emotional and spiritual patterns. The invisible weight they carried.
The guides had no trouble answering. In fact, the answers flowed quickly:
Letting go. Identity. Grief. Attitude. Humility. Purpose. Interdependence.
I took notes. And those notes became the seed of a new project.
I wrote. I listened. I refined.
And before the 2024 season began, a printed set of reflections—now written by me was placed again on our dinner tables.
What happened next surprised all of us.
Pilgrims began asking if they could take the reflections home. Some wrote in their journals. Some cried. Some said the reflection was exactly what they needed that day. Others asked if there was a book.
Now, there is.
It’s called Inner Camino: Towards the Soul, and it was born directly from this experience; this dance between walking the outer path and opening to the inner one.
✨ From the Book: A Pilgrim’s Invitation
Here’s an excerpt from the very first reflection in the book, called “Pilgrimage”:
“There is a difference between traveling and going on a pilgrimage. When you travel, the external world is the protagonist… But when you are a Pilgrim, you are the protagonist, and your body is your main vehicle.”
“Pilgrim, open your eyes, open your mind, open your heart… Don’t be fooled. The destination might seem to be a place on the map, but it is truly a treasure within yourself.”
This is the heart of the book—and the heart of the Inner Camino experience.
It’s not just about walking to Santiago. It’s about walking back to yourself.
What You’ll Find in the Book
The reflections are short, illustrated, and designed to meet you where you are—with honesty, compassion, and a gentle push toward growth.
Some of the themes include:
• Letting Go
• Acceptance
• Attitude
• Humility
• Purpose
• Interdependence
• Soul
Each one is an invitation to listen, to yourself, to the Camino, to life.
Where to Get It
You can now purchase Inner Camino: Towards the Soul on Amazon, or directly with us at Marly Camino.
It’s light enough to carry in your backpack, and meaningful enough to stay with you long after the walk ends.
In our Prep & Connect Zooms before each Camino season, we read the first reflection together. It sets the tone, not just for walking, but for receiving the Camino.
✨ How This Connects to The Self Academy
As many of you know, I’m not only the co-founder of Marly Camino, I’m also the founder of The Self Academy, an organization dedicated to conscious education, leadership, and personal transformation. We do this work in universities, organizations, and in our own Academy online and around the world. See what we do here on this link.
We just launched two new beautiful courses that you can read about here.
What started as a dinner table ritual has now evolved into a written guide, and this written guide is part of a much deeper belief:
That self-reflection is the foundation for a better world.
At The Self Academy, we teach that the journey inward is not a luxury; it’s a responsibility. Because while everything starts with the Self, it doesn’t end there.
The more we know ourselves, the more we can love, lead, and serve with integrity.
The Inner Camino is just one way in.
We hope it walks with you.
With love,
Samantha Sacchi Muci