“I have forgotten that men cannot see Unicorns. If men no longer know what they’re looking at, there may be other unicorns in the world yet, unknown. I’m glad of it.” ~ The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle

This is the Year of the Quest.

Even now I am digging out the armor – alarmingly rusty, I find, and in serious need of a polish. There are some dents, and it doesn’t quite fit right any more. It’s been a long time since I went out on a quest.

I am also sharpening my Vorpal Sword, for I am certain I will need it.

I’m after the missing magic. There’s been a dearth of it around my house for quite some time. Looking back, I’m not sure when it disappeared because I wasn’t paying attention. That’s what happens to things when you’re careless – they are lost, or stolen. You sit down to think about when you last had it, and come up with only dim memories and desire.

Where has my focus been? On my so-called Real Life, of course. I’ve been busy Being Responsible. Working, taking care of the house, feeding teenage boys, worrying about things like money and the economy and The End of Life as We Know It.  I’ve been occupied with Writing Books, and Querying, and Getting Published.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, the Magic headed out for a more welcoming climate.

Now that it is gone, I realize how much I miss it, and the brilliant color it gave to my days. I yearn for it, I mourn the loss. And I want it back.

What does this mean?

There must be more walks in the snow, and when spring comes, more attention to new leaves, and flowers, and hummingbirds. More time offline. Poetry – both reading and writing. Getting out of the house to do new things. Small gifts to myself, perhaps. Paying attention to dreams. Capturing a word here, a phrase there, that reminds me there is more to my life than what my senses are reporting.

Paying attention.

Chances are good I’m going to have days where I will regret setting out on this Quest, but I really have no choice. The most dangerous enemy of all, the Great Dark, has dared to pursue me into my own home of late. The only true way to defeat the Great Dark is to find the Magic.

And so. Vorpal Sword in hand, armor polished and repaired, I’m off.

For starters, it’s time to re-read The Last Unicorn. And if you haven’t read it, and are in search of a little magic of your own, this would be a fine place to begin.