story says we can only fare well if we proceed with an
awareness of the way things are, including a
willingness to admit not knowing where we are going.
The youngest brother has a long road to travel in the
story before it can be said that he fully understands
the way things are (with his brothers, for instance).
He endures painful lessons in treachery and betrayal,
and he pays a high price for his naivete before finally
owning the full range of his energy and wisdom.
These are symbolized by his ultimately riding straight
down the middle of a road paved in gold and
marrying the princess (I haven't told you about her)
and becoming King - a fully developed man, not of his
father's kingdom but of his own.
TRY: Seeing your own life this very day as a journey
and as an adventure. Where are you going? What
are you seeking? Where are you now? What stage of
the journey have you come to? If your life were a
book, what would you call it today? What would you
entitle the chapter you are in right now? Are you
stuck here in certain ways? Can you be fully open to
all of the energies at your disposal at this point? Note
that this journey is uniquely yours, no one else's. So
the path has to be your own.