[Kagami Ryuji x Gettrz Iida] What is a “journey that will improve your luck” in the new era?

Travel-loving OnTrip JAL readers have likely been in a bind in 2020 due to the coronavirus, and have had few opportunities to fully enjoy traveling. However, when it comes to travel topics, attention has been focused on "new forms of travel" such as workcation and microtourism.

In this new normal era, how can we pave the way to good fortune through travel? We asked the two of them.

Ryuji Kagami

Born in Kyoto in 1968. Psychological astrology researcher and translator. Introduced astrology with a psychological approach to Japan, solidifying her position as a leading astrology expert and becoming an indispensable presence in the fortune-telling features of general women's magazines. Her hobbies are cooking and collecting old books. Her favorite things are red wine, meat, and England.

Getters Iida

Born in Shizuoka in 1975. He has read the fortunes of over 60,000 people for free, and his stance of "I won't read your fortune unless someone introduces me" has become a hot topic in the industry. With over 20 years of experience, he has created the "Goseisanshin Fortune Telling" method, and as the most powerful fortune teller in the entertainment industry, he appears on TV and radio, as well as in many magazines and on the web.

Just planning your next trip can bring you luck

Gettrz Iida (hereinafter, Iida): It's been a while, Kagami-sensei. Today I would like to talk to you about the theme of "Good luck travel in the new normal era." Do you travel often?

Kagami Ryuji (hereinafter, Kagami): I used to go there often until last year. Especially to the UK, I used to go there about three times a year at most. But I couldn't go there anymore due to the effects of COVID-19...

Mei: Right now, it's not possible to travel abroad... But fortune-telling about travel luck, lucky spots, and auspicious directions is still a topic I often get asked about in my work, and it seems like people are interested in it.

Kagami: I think there are certainly many people who want to travel and refresh themselves.

Mei: Speaking of travel that leads to good fortune, it's basically a trip that allows you to change your mood. Your attitude is also a big part of improving your fortune. Living every day with a gloomy mood is completely different from the mindset of trying your best to live life because you have a trip to make. When you feel hopeless, it might be a good idea to take a quick look at your fortune and decide, "This direction is good, so next time I'll go to that area."

Kagami: In this time of coronavirus pandemic, it's difficult to say, "Let's all go on a trip!", but planning a trip can give you a sense of hope, and that positive attitude can bring you good luck.

Ii: Just looking at Google Maps is quite fun, so I think it's a good idea to enjoy the preparation period in this way until you can travel freely again.

Kagami: Also, the journey that leads to good fortune is different for each person, so it's good to plan accordingly.

Meal: That's right. For example, in my fortune telling, if you are logical, tradition, culture, or the arts would be good, so a trip to see world heritage sites or a big art museum would be good. If you are moody, you can get emotional easily, so go somewhere with good food. Also, if you are concerned about money, shopping is good, so go somewhere where you can buy things cheaply. If you are a hard worker or stubborn person, watching sports is good. That will clear your mind.

Kagami: In astrology, the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius will begin in December 2020, and the world that has been based on "material" and "money" (earth) will enter an era symbolized by "knowledge" and "information" (wind), so the purpose of travel will change. Recommended travel destinations for fire sign people are places that stimulate their desire for knowledge. Historical sites and tourist destinations, places where you can see the stars well and places with beautiful night views. For earth sign people, places that satisfy your curiosity, places related to work, and places where you can relax. Hidden hot spring resorts and temple lodgings. For air sign people, discovery spots that expand your imagination. Places where you can learn about traditional culture and old-fashioned hot spring resorts. Or modern leisure facilities. For water sign people, places where you can feel your individuality. If you like history, the graves of great people, ruins, and maniac places. Also, places with water such as the sea, rivers, and aquariums are good.

*Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius), Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)

Traveling broadens your horizons and brings good fortune

Meal: A good time to go on a trip is when you feel depressed, or when your environment doesn't seem to change at the same pace. When the situation doesn't change, I think it's because your perspective is narrow, so let's change that. When you feel unlucky, it's not actually bad luck, you just can't see. If you broaden your perspective or go to a different place, you will see something and it will bring you good fortune. I think the origin of traveling is to get away from your daily life and go to an inconvenient place. When you come back from a trip, you say, "Home is the best after all." And yet you go out again. Humans enjoy inconvenience.

Kagami: I also think that the destination and timing of a trip can change depending on age and circumstances. For example, a relaxing trip or a trip to a hot spring inn. Cooking meals at home every day is hard, but if you go to a ryokan, you'll be pampered. That would be a relaxing trip. On the other hand, a trip that experiences inconveniences, such as traveling abroad and not being able to speak the language or having different customs, will expose you to a different worldview, and you will enter a different world of normality. You will realize that the normal here is not the norm.

Mei: It makes you open-minded. That's what traveling abroad is like. You can forgive a lot of things. Like being cheated out of your money. It would never happen in Japan, but even though you think, "Oh, they're cheating me...", you're like, "Oh well, it's okay" (laughs). Also, when you travel, you buy drinks you don't really understand. Like, "What is this? Can I drink it?" and then you buy some and it turns out to be really sweet tea.

Kagami: That's right. When you go on a trip like that, it's fun and important to see how much you can enter another world. If I go to England all the time, it's easier, but the layers become deeper. Nowadays, sightseeing trips have become too convenient, there is a Starbucks wherever you go, and wherever you go, you can easily get to your destination with an app and pay with a card. So you don't feel as inconvenienced as you used to. In England, for example, they welcome you at first because you are a customer, but if you go there many times, you sometimes clash with the staff, and sometimes you find yourself thinking, "Huh?", and you start to see the internal human relationship turmoil (laughs). When that happens, you can really feel that "Oh, it's not just sightseeing." In that sense, I think it's good to have a "deepening journey." It might be okay to go to the same place over and over like me.

"Solo travel" and "Enjoying new things" are the keywords for good luck in 2023

Mei: Considering the need to avoid crowds when traveling, it seems that solo travel to places with fewer people will become more common in the future. According to my fortune-telling, the period between 2022 and 2024 will bring good luck for solo travel.

Kagami: According to astrology, when Jupiter enters Aries, images of individualism and solitary orientation will likely become popular, but that will happen in two years.

Meal: Then, around 2023 would be just right. There may be a boom in solo travel. This year is still a time of connecting with groups, so there is a strong sense of being on the same level. In reality, I would recommend traveling together in a group to save money, but in the current situation where you can't go far, it's a trip to nearby places in small groups. That's microtourism.

Mirror: Jupiter is currently in Aquarius in astrology, which brings up the image of groups. If it's difficult to get together in person, online gatherings are recommended. Virtual travel is also good.

Mei: It's good to have a place where you can connect spiritually, whether it's real or not.

Kagami: It's like a popular online salon. You can experience power spots online, but it's also fun depending on your attitude.

Mei: From now on, it's better to travel not by doing the same things as before, but by enjoying the new things. The world is no longer what it used to be. It's important to accept that times have changed and new things are happening. It's important to create different approaches to travel. It's not necessarily more fun to go in a group or with your family, or to go far away. Of course, there will be some things that won't change, but it would be nice if we could enjoy the things that have changed.

Kagami: It's about how to look at change in a positive way. Also, if you're going on a trip, I think local information is important. Of course, there are things you can get on the internet, but it's important to get information locally.

Mei: Having that information will make a big difference in how you enjoy your trip. Instead of researching in advance and going here and there, getting first-hand information on the spot will change how you plan and enjoy your trip.

Kagami: That's right. Well, travel and life change in many ways, and it's hard to know what's going to happen. If you enjoy your trip while getting information on the spot, good luck will naturally come your way.

We heard many stories of hope, but as the two of them said, "everyone's journey is different." If you try to enjoy a new form of travel without being bound by the form of travel you've taken so far, you'll find hints for good fortune.

Start by having a vision for your future trip and enjoying the process of getting started!

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