Quests and Journeys

Quests and Journeys can not only bring adventure, but they may also bring soulful experiences. Most of us can go on trips. Trips are important when we need a break from the routine, when we go someplace and once there, we’re on autopilot and don’t really enjoy the change nor what the environment has to offer, or perhaps we need to go someplace for business reasons and we spend most of our time in hotel rooms.

Quests and Journeys can be similar, but in actuality, they can also be, by definition, worlds apart.

Quests, according to Webster’s Dictionary, are, “To go in search of, a seeking, a pursuit,” and there’s something holy or noble being sought by the seeker. Quests are also associated with being the type of journey where the seeker, the traveler, is setting out on a particular journey for some noble cause or idea, to uphold or seek out an idea, for example, going to an impoverished corrupt place and really making a difference, or something holy, like a pilgrimage that will improve their spiritual life. Usually, quests involve some sort of travel, as do journeys.

We may not be going on a quest when we take a journey, but what happens is that oftentimes, the physical journeys we take impact our emotional, spiritual and intellectual journeys. Oftentimes, this happens as if magically, without intent or effort on our part, but sometimes, what starts out as a trip becomes a journey. The simple vacation taken simply to get away and rest can turn into a journey.

Journeys can be taken intentionally as well. You may have a strong desire to see a place and when you go, you find that the experience has changed you; you’ve now gained a deeper appreciation for something or someone, you’ve changed within in some way because of the experience, etc. Journeys can become the kind of travel that nourishes our soul, revitalizes not only our bodies but our spirits, allow us the space and place to better connect with ourselves and others, along with a variety of other life-enriching experiences and insights. If you are looking for the kind of travel that is more than a simple vacation, look in the literary travel section of bookstores.

Two favorite writers who detail their own journeys are Jose Saramago, the Poet Laureate, and Paulo Coelho, the best-selling author who often writes about his journeys. Some of Coelho's journeys are actually more than journeys, they are quests. Below, we've put together our top picks for these two authors.

When someone goes on a quest, there is great intention behind it because by its nature, it means that someone is seeking something. A quest can be something as simple as going away to another country to see where your favourite writer lived and how. The idea is that it will give you a better understanding of your own life and give you the understanding to live in a more fulfilling way. You might want to go to the town where your ancestors are from to honour them and connect with yourself. Myths and fairy tales are filled with heroes and heroines who leave their home to go on a quest. There is something about setting out on a quests that connects humanity.

If you want to see how significant quests are as part of the human experience, you might want to read about mythology and how it relates to a hero’s journey.

Joseph Campbell has excellent books on the subject of quests and journeys, and below we've put together our top picks for your convenience.

Also, a favorite modern-day autobiography excellently depicts the quest experience in Elizabeth Gilbert’s, "Eat, Pray, Love," shown below.

Both quests and journeys can be a significant part of anyone’s personal development.

Begin now to incorporate quests and journeys into your travel plans.

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