Have you ever hiked up a mountain or otherwise physically exerted yourself to get to a place with a beautiful view? Do you remember the feeling?

My parents used to force my sister Serafina and I on hikes. Some we liked to go on, of course, but never at the early appointed hour that our parents deemed the best moment to leave. While getting out of the house was an irritation, once we were on the trail everything became fun.

I remember the feeling of my feet padding on soft, brown ground of well worn trails. My nose was filled with the scent of trees and sun-baked rocks. A beautiful bird flying by or a particularly interesting bug elicited soft gasps of delight.

Then came the best part: Lunch. The meal usually coincided with reaching a particularly beautiful spot, sometimes the end of the trail. We indulged in how high and far we walked while taking in the beautiful view as we sat on boulders peeling cooked eggs and unwrapping sliced vegetables and fruit. I particularly loved the salt and the pepper that had been carefully wrapped in foil, which made the taste of the egg ever more delicious.

The meal, the view, the special place and being together as a family combined with the feeling of achievement that comes with a hike, always felt like a celebration. In those moments any existential questions felt either irrelevant or like they had been answered. Without needing to name it, we felt close to the sacred in its most beautiful expression.

The joy in our hearts stayed with us for the rest of the day and the memories last a lifetime.

I tell this story to you because it holds some of the key ingredients to feeling fulfilled in life:

• Physical exertion
• Mental stimulation
• Irritation and what lies beyond
• Nature
• Good food
• Family / loved ones
• Celebration

At Magic is Key we are on a year long journey every year. Throughout this journey we connect with the energy of each month, attuning to the rhythm of nature on our beautiful home planet. You can become part of the magic at any time of the year.