Blog 212 01.20.2016

Don’t believe in magic? Too bad. I think life is a lot more fun and interesting if we allow that there are something we just cannot explain away. I know science tries to explain everything but trust me even scientists will admit that there is a lot more we do not know than that which we do. In fact many of the cultures of the past that westerners thought quite primitive were more knowledgeable in some areas than assumed at the time.

But back to magic and mystery or mysticism.
There is a certain fascination with secrets and hidden knowledge or wisdom. Did you ever look at a skeleton key and wonder what mysterious secret it might unlock or what treasure? Keys are practical but old keys seem to have a bit of magic about them like that old silk hat in the Frosty The Snowman song.

When I was a teenager, about fifty years ago now, I heard a story where you use your imagination and first pretend you see a forest. Then you are asked to describe it. After describing it you are then asked to describe the path that you see in the forest. After describing the path you are asked, “What do you do?” Most people walk down the path. Now the story continues:
You see a key, describe it. What do you do with it? There are several more things along the path and at the end of your walk in the woods the teller interprets your descriptions and actions and it is an interesting exercise in getting to know what and how you think about certain things.

The key in the story symbolized knowledge.
Some people describe it intricately and they put in in their pocket, to others it is just an old rusty key and they don’t even bother to pick it up.

Someone told me about a picture they saw of a lovely exotic woman with a skeleton key hanging on a chain around her neck. Did it unlock a secret, a diary, a treasure chest, or was it the key to her heart? Did she wear it hoping some handsome man would steal it or win it and thereby her affections? Have you lost your keys lately and in a panic tore around the house looking for them? Whistle for them next time and see if they will come to you? Even if they don’t smile at the thought and relax. It might surprise you how much this little bit of magic in keys and in a smile will help you remember where you left them.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White