I truly had to chuckle when I pulled a card for today’s post because I posted a similar little thought/status update on Twitter yesterday, completely outside of working with the cards. It’s moments like these were you have to laugh a little and know that the Universe is just reaffirming that you’re on the right track. Today’s card says “The main event isn’t the destination; it’s my joyous journey.” On the back…“You did not come forth seeking assignments to complete. You came fourth for reason to flow, and to love and enjoy life. Even though you will return home at the end of my vacation, the idea of your holiday is not to complete it as quickly as possible so that you can check it off of your list. The idea of your vacation – and of this life experience – is to have a joyous experience.”
Life takes us in many directions. When we’re lucky we have a hand in where that journey is leading and we can see a little bit down the road in front of us to know where the journey will take us. Other times things happen suddenly that will take us off course and the destination becomes clouded and distorted. Some people just can’t stand the idea of not being in control, but the truth is when it comes to this journey of life it’s hard to ever really hold the reins and control it, no matter how much power over our own lives we may have at any given time.
This thought had come to me yesterday because I was thinking about my own spiritual and magickal journey. I gave up setting and keeping an eye on a destination about 8 years ago. I had been part of a group at the time where I was determined to rise in the tradition ranks and it all fell apart leaving me to wonder why I had spent so much time so focused on that goal or destination and not fully embracing the journey that I was on at the time. I think my dear friend Devin Hunter said it best in a post on his new blog the other day. Because in my situation when I looked behind the curtain and learned the truth of what was going on I realized I didn’t miss out on a damn thing, and in fact, the Goddess had come in and pulled me out of a likely horrible situation in the future. But it just goes to show your destination is never guaranteed, no matter how much you plan it out and work for it. You must succumb to the journey and you are better off making it joyous.
So what about your journey? Have you spent more time thinking about the destination and not enjoying the journey itself? Put it less abstract terms and think about the last time you took a vacation, specifically a road trip. Did you stop along the way and see the sights and take pictures of your experiences or were you so focused on getting to where you were headed that you missed out and all the wonderful opposites to see new things, meet new people, try new foods, and learn new things? If you had just turned your head a little to see to the side rather than only looking ahead you could have found something wonderful that you needed in that moment.
Right now my personal journey is changing and the journey I was on even just a few months ago has shifted. I don’t know where the destination will end up being but I know the journey is going to be exciting because I will be living it with joyous intent and wonderful, joyous people around me. And that’s what life is all about. The experience of the journey, not the destination.
Current Moon: excited