Walking Toward Your Essential

An inner Journey on the Camino de Santiago

A BOOK THAT TAKES YOU ON A JOURNEY

On the eve of her 30th birthday, Pauline leaves behind her fast-paced Parisian life and career as a banking executive. With a backpack on her shoulders, she sets off alone from her native Alsace, France, heading toward Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Her goal: to slow down, reconnect with nature, forge meaningful connections, and rediscover herself.

In this travel diary, Pauline shares the depths of her inner journey—grappling with fatigue, loneliness, and anxieties about the future, as well as questioning the very meaning of her pilgrimage. Yet, step by step, she finds her way back to joy and to her heart.

Over four months and 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) on foot across France and Spain, she meets fellow pilgrims from all walks of life. She listens to their stories, exploring what drew them to the Camino—whether a desire for self-discovery, the challenge of the road, the search for connection, or a deeper spiritual calling.

This book is not only about Pauline’s personal transformation but also about the shared experiences of those who dare to step beyond their routines, embrace uncertainty, and open themselves to the unexpected magic of life.

Pauline Wald spent seven years in the banking sector before embarking on the Way of Saint James, seeking meaning and wisdom. This journey changed her path entirely. With no prior audiovisual experience, she created the documentary Paths of Life, Walking Towards the Essential and toured with the movie. She later studied psychology and became a psychologist. After Walking Toward Your Essential, she wrote a second book in French, Enseignements de la Montagne. She now guides groups and individuals in writing their own books. Learn more at : https://www.paulinewald.com/the-movie

The appalling virtual narration - so poor!

This was a heartfelt book, very interesting retelling of a personal Camino. Often quite religious but not full of dogma. Having walked my own Camino the reflections resonated a lot of the time. Felt it a worthwhile listen, but very nearly abandoned it many times due to the dreadful virtual narration.....