Scallop shells, to me, mean the Camino de Santiago. Pilgrimage. Many roads converging on one city. Tired feet. A hint that you’re on the right path. A gentle nudge in the right direction.
Once you’ve started thinking about a pilgrimage, you start seeing shells everywhere. Afterwards, they keep showing up. This one came from Paperchase.
I like a symbol. A clue. A waymark. Shells gave way to hearts after a while; lately it’s been stars and compasses, although really it’s all the same thing: something to steer by.
I don’t know whether I’ll go back to Santiago. If I do, it will probably be late one autumn. Or perhaps I’ll just leave room for somebody else to make the journey for the first time.
Kathleen Jowitt 