I recently visited Athens and didn’t expect the profound transformation this trip would bring, nor how it would stay with me energetically. We all know the pleasure of travel: the joy, the excitement. But once we return home and settle back into our routines, the lightness and pleasant energy we felt tends to fade.

I began wondering how I could make this fleeting energy last. That led me to reflect on spiritual practices. In these, too, we reach elevated states momentarily but train ourselves over time to maintain that energy more consistently, until we can eventually access it on demand.

What we do frequently becomes our frequency.

Now let’s shift to less pleasant situations. We all remember the feeling of dreading a job we disliked. Our bodies already anticipated the heaviness of the experience, making it hard to show up. In contrast, when going on vacation, it’s easy to leap out of bed at 5 a.m., fueled by excitement and anticipation.

Having a routine keeps us grounded, but we also need experiences that nudge us into the discomfort of the unknown. Excitement, positive anticipation, and unpredictability are key ingredients of a joyful life. So, back to the travel example: how can we stop ourselves from energetically slipping back into the mundane after a powerful experience?

1. Connect with Your Experience Energetically

When you travel or encounter something extraordinary, do it intentionally and with present-moment awareness. Travel has become a form of performance for many, and it’s common to see people glued to their phones, missing what’s happening around them. Truly being present is the first step to forming a deeper, lasting energetic connection.

2. Create Anchors and Rituals

While immersed in your experience, establish small rituals or “anchors” to revisit that energy later. These can include telling yourself a meaningful story, taking photos of specific details, or simply walking through a space with mindful curiosity. These moments become energetic bookmarks you can return to at any time.

3. Craft a Story of Meaning

Visiting a place superficially won’t leave a lasting impact. But when you create a personal narrative around your journey and internal shifts, the experience becomes part of you. It transforms into something no one can take away.

Visiting Athens right before my birthday felt divinely timed. As a Gemini, I’ve often been labeled “two-sided” or “dual-natured.” Just before my trip, I heard something powerful: that Geminis are messengers between the seen and unseen, the physical and the spiritual.

In Athens, I truly felt aligned with my nature: head in the sky, speaking to the gods; feet on the ground, discovering the city. I was deeply present, taking in the smells, sounds, colors, and light. I allowed myself to be flooded with emotion, attuned to the city’s shifting vibes. Simultaneously, I sensed a higher presence and the city’s energetic history.

It felt as though I were in two places at once, not in time or space, but in energy. The energy of an ancient empire and the energy of a modern Mediterranean metropolis. We don’t need time machines if we can tap into a place’s energy. I imagine this is how more advanced civilizations might have felt about us, seeing beyond the physical into the energetic realm.

Ultimately, forming a lasting energetic connection to a place depends on your ability to be fully present and emotionally open. In a world constantly pulling our attention outward, becoming the energy we seek is a radical act of rebellion and self-preservation.