One of my most significant and memorable experiences of pilgrimage, was receiving foot washing at the hermitage of St Nicholas on the French Camino. After a long day walking on dusty paths and in the heat, to have my feet placed in water in a small bowl beneath a sacred altar, was abundant bliss which took my breath away.

I have practised this act with Michiel who is developing Lady Pawn, a hermitage retreat in northern Portugal. Feet washing is an act of sacred fellowship, and allows something transcendent to pass through us. Our feet are such unacknowledged parts of our bodies, that feet washing allows us to reconnect with them in divine ways.

Henri Nouwen wrote this prayer. From his heart to the heart of Jesus, and feet feature strongly. I love it for its simple yet strong message.

“𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠. 𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠: 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑚𝑒. 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦, 𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢.”