Book excerpt: The Trip to Bethlehem reveals that the traditional Christmas story has an even deeper meaning than you might have imagined. The basics are familiar-the stable, the babe in the manger, the shepherds, the wise men following a star-in this account that blends two different Bible stories with some modern embellishments. But Hypatia Hasbrouck takes it further.Every character in the story, every animal, object, or place has a metaphysical, symbolic meaning that represents a part of your consciousness. From King Herod's ego to Mary's purity, each of us embodies aspects of the people and elements of the Nativity. The trip to Bethlehem is the interior journey we take to discover and develop the Christ that was born in each of us.