Don't Jinx It.

Turn off YouTube.

Stop reading about the Camino.

Don't jinx it.

That's what I've been thinking as I'm sitting on the train on my way to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It's my very simple advice to prospective pilgrims. Because I'm part of the problem.

We make these videos because we want people to get an idea of what and how the Camino is. Because most people who have walked it love it. And so we want to tell everyone about it. So we make videos. Or we write in forums. And I know from experience that you will be watching every possible video before going on the pilgrim mention.

To build up the excitement. To travel vicariously before actually traveling. And that's totally understandable. I did the same thing. And to be clear, it wasn't detrimental to the experience. I literally forgot all about any video I had ever seen the moment I arrived in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

But I knew a girl at an indie record label back in the 90s. And she said something to me that struck me. She told me that she had a ritual of never listening to a band's recorded music on the same day that she was planning to see them perform live. I thought that was odd. But then she explained to me that she did this intentionally.

As a way to preserve the freshness and spontaneity of a live experience. According to her, listening to the records before the show could somehow jinx the live performance, robbing it of its sense of discovery and anticipation. By keeping the band's music from her until the show, she was able to approach the live event with a completely open and unbiased mindset, free from any preconceptions or expectations.

Back then, it was counterintuitive to me. But I found this to be a fascinating and thoughtful approach to engaging with live music. It spoke to a desire to be fully present in the moment. To allow the performance to happen, because that's what music is all about. Few things are as much about the moment as music - especially when performed live.

The idea of not jinxing it by abstaining from the recorded music. That was a unique and intriguing perspective. A perspective that reflected a deep appreciation for the magic of live music and for the magic of the moment. And somehow, I kept her approach in the back of my head. And before I go on something that matters to me, I try to free my mind of all the videos and all the information that I could collect before I go.

I think it's healthy to disconnect and stop overthinking your upcoming pilgrimage. Empty your head a little before you go. You'll be fine even if you watch YouTube Camino videos until the day you're leaving. But think about it: if you wean yourself off it a few days before leaving, I think you will be more of an open book - and that's exactly what you want.

So take this advice from a seasoned pilgrim: Turn off YouTube, stop reading about the Camino.

Don't jinx it.

And go walk the Camino, you'll love it, I promise.