Friday Musings: Crossroads Meeting

There are multiple times in our lives when we are confronted with powerful choices: we can either continue to drive on the road we’ve been traveling, or we can branch off in a totally new direction. Experts call these moments intersection points and assign great significance to them. The importance of an actual crossroads has roots in folklore and mythology where it is thought to represent an opening between two worlds, most literally interpreted as the juncture between the one we’re currently living in and the one that is next for us. Therefore, if we stand in that exact intersection spot, we are able to see both our past and our future. Some darker interpretations tell us that we can see a whole lot more than that. If anyone out there reading is a fan of the series Supernatural, you may remember this concept being presented in its extreme form, otherwise known as the crossroads demon, summoned in the actual intersection point of two roads with the intention of brokering some sort of a deal with the devil. This idea had its origin in the thought that because the veil between worlds grows thinner at a crossroads point, it is easier for a demon to slip in and tantalize us with some sort of twisted offer. The most famous literary example of this type of bargaining can be found, of course, in the multiple retellings of the legend of Dr. Faustus. While I do NOT put any stock in the existence of crossroads demons, I will readily admit that because I was a huge fan of the Supernatural series, I do get a major case of the heebie jeebies when I drive through lonely intersections late at night. What I do believe in though is that there is a bit of bargaining that occurs within our own minds when we are faced with crossroads decisions that is related to what we will carry with us and what we will leave behind. This thought is especially relevant to me as I write this post.
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