The Art of Enchantment
There’s an old saying: “Wherever you go, there you are.” I used to say this myself whenever friends talked about traveling somewhere new just to “get away.” But after some profound journeys of my own, I see it differently.
After months of traveling through Europe, the Middle East, and Nepal, I’m returning home feeling like a whole new version of myself - maybe only 25% of who I was before, and 75% something fresh, alive, and entirely different. The experiences I had abroad reshaped my soul in ways that simply couldn’t have happened back home in Raleigh, NC.
Yes, we can find happiness anywhere if we cultivate joy from within. How we interact with the world around us is essential. But there’s something about fresh surroundings that can create powerful shifts and open doors to new possibilities.
Enchantment.
No matter who you are or what you do in life, enchantment is the doorway to your soul. You don’t need to travel halfway around the world, drink ayahuasca, or experiment with anything extreme to turn that knob. It can start with a simple question: Is there anything, even the smallest thing, that brings me joy? Even if it seems mundane, follow that feeling - it could lead somewhere beautiful.
Travel speeds up this process because it forces your world wide open. Routine shatters, everything shifts moment to moment, and you get the chance - if you let yourself - to just be. You become free from labels, responsibilities, and your usual “roles.” When you forget, even briefly, who you are or what you’re supposed to be doing, you make room for the creative forces, the joy, and the wonder that surrounds you.
Everyone is a creator. I’m not just speaking of musicians or artists; we all come from a lineage of makers, explorers, storytellers, artisans, and problem solvers. There are unique gems buried within each of us, encoded in our DNA. And life itself is waiting, patiently, to see if we’ll unearth them.
The treasure hunt for these hidden gems often requires diving into the unknown, stepping into places we never pictured ourselves before. It takes courage. When we stop searching, the inspiration goes quiet. Those gems are still there, but they feel even more out of reach.
I know the feeling of losing touch with these gems myself. As someone who left the arts to study dietetics in a highly competitive science field, I sacrificed a lot of seemingly “unimportant” joy. But looking back, I can see that those small things that brought me joy were the most important of all. Without them, it’s as if we’re walking through life half-asleep, waiting for it to pass by. I’m not saying you need to quit your career if you realize your joy lies in knitting or gardening, but I am saying that without some form of creative expression, the weight of that loss may cost you more than any salary can compensate. If you have to keep your job, make time for joy to slip into your day.
Yes, the search can feel scary. Fear often shows up whenever we try to create - it tags along like an old friend. But we can make room for it without letting it steer the reins.
Fear is why so many live with regret. It’s designed to keep us safe, to keep us small. From an evolutionary and yogic perspective (abhinivesha), it’s a trait that has helped us survive if, say, a tiger were to suddenly leap out at us. But when it comes to creativity and joyful living, fear is downright boring. It always results in the same ending. Nothing changes, and we’re left feeling anxious or stuck in our circumstances.
If you aren’t creating - even in a small way - it’s safe to say you’re likely destroying something, even if that’s just your own peace. That energy has nowhere to go, and without an outlet, it can create internal chaos. That’s why creating isn’t about achieving some result; it’s about saving yourself. It’s about remembering your humanity.
Enchantment is essential. It keeps your soul open so that when inspiration comes knocking, it finds the door open, a cozy space where it can linger, settle in, and whisper its possibilities.
Yes, wherever you go, there you are, but inspiration is all around you and diving into your surroundings with a willingness to be moved will open a wealth of opportunities that can shift your internal world.
Inspiration isn’t here to fulfill some expectation of material success or validation. It seeks a lighter, more welcoming home. So, create from a place of play, of joy - even if it’s just a little. Let enchantment be your guide, and see what unfolds.
Follow the lightest thread of inspiration, and let it surprise you.
Trust that what you enjoy is also enjoying you, that you’re co-creating with life itself. Watch as a rich, new chapter unfolds in unexpected, beautiful ways.