A Spark of Magic

The Magic of Healing Kindness

2012-02-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we have the opportunity to do a kindness to others that we wish had been done to us. That is a kindness that should be seized upon quickly and thoroughly. It can help us believe in the goodness in life. Even though we are the ones who act to smooth over the rift that took place years ago, there has still been a healing, in ourselves and in the fabric of the universe. If we have been without shoes and then give shoes to another, that act has extra charges of goodness. It has the charge we give it by our understanding of how painful the need for shoes can be. There is the charge given by our knowledge that kindness can be given to those in need. The charge that comes from the gratitude the recipient feels also adds to the positive charge in the universe. Then there is the charge we put in place by connecting to another person. More energy is freed up as well by the unblocking of of the energy hopelessness. Blocked energy can cause paralysis or other illness. So I suggest to all wise magicians, set out sparks of energy into the universe that you know are needed. Heal your own pains by healing the pain of others. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Being Flamboyant and Weird

2012-02-08T00:41:00.000-08:00

I have to admit right off that flamboyance is hard for me. I have been strongly groomed all my life to be a good girl, to be proper, to be aware of what others think. That is not my basic nature, however. Truth trumps acceptability when it gets right down to it. I must admit though, that I have often been wimpy, and therefore guilt-ridden, about speaking out for truth. I am getting better as I mature. I am even becoming open to the kernel of truth that may exist in opposing viewpoints. Sometimes, though, I have felt discouraged about important truths ever being accepted by the people they will most benefit. But I came across a 'magic wand' or idea and a tool from political theory that wise magicians can use. I am heartened and want to pass this on. This concept goes under the name of The Overton Window. The tool is 'the door in the face' technique. The Overton Window is named after Joseph P. Overton, who wrote about the way a politician's public will react to what he suggests if they think it is acceptable. When a lot of attention is given to what may seem as very unacceptable ideas, they can seem to become more acceptable over time. At one time in American history it was unthinkable that women vote. After a lot of agitation, a lot of flamboyant activities, like women chaining themselves to railings, enough people began to let the idea into their mind that women had to right to vote and today it is accepted and expected. The way the 'door in the face' works is for someone to be asked to do something to which they are very resistant, and it is expected they will say no. They are later asked to do something that is more acceptable and they are likely to agree. Somewhat like the teen who wants $10 from his dad and asks for $100. Father says no. The boy then asks for $50. The father offers less, but it isn't a complete no. They settle with both feeling in agreement, usually for more than the $10 originally wanted.
When groups in society want to move the Overton Window, to sell ideas that would be rated more towards a certain point on the spectrum they put a lot of effort into saying and doing things that are more on the fringes, more extreme. They may actually be working for the extreme position, but a more moderate one does become acceptable. Say that in a culture it was only permissible to wear blue. The change makers would agitate for red. Eventually hues of blue that moved towards purple might become the norm. The flamboyance and weirdness of certain people does get attention. Then that attention can be turned to the ideas those people are pushing. I was talking about this with a friend and he said, "But the problem is that people who know the truth, the way things should be, are reasonable people. Reasonable people don't do weird and flamboyant things."
That may be a problem. But a wise magician is creative. Perhaps change can come through wildly, beautiful, weird and flamboyant ways that will grip the hearts and minds of others. It is the place of a wise magician to get the ideas out there. I suggest you consider using the magic wands of weirdness and flamboyance, in your own special way of course. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Cycles

2012-02-06T05:45:00.000-08:00

In Western cultures we tend to look at life as something that progresses in a linear manner. I was taught that Eastern cultures believe more in cyclical nature of life. We tend to resist the idea of cycles, saying that being frustrated is "going around in circles". Not only do we expect to progress in a linear way, it must also be upward. Yet to deny the place of cycles is to forget how pleasant it is to meet Spring each year as new and also as an expected old friend. Coming home at the end of a long day is a cycle, yet it is welcome and renewing. We do not have to let cycles be closed loops. There is a spiritual concept of a gyre, a spiral that moves us towards Heaven or a deeper understanding of that which is more profound in life. Each evening, as you come into your home, you can spiral a little deeper into the wonderful haven you have. You can focus on something that you have been taking for granted. Perhaps there is a stone near the sidewalk that has an interesting curve and texture to it that you have not appreciated before. Perhaps you have not noticed how the light plays on the face of one dear to you, showing the depth of character they have developed over the years. As you revolve you can evolve. Your progress does not have to be a journey of simply passing through life, moving ever upward and onward, without ever really experiencing the beauty that is there. Cycles let you come once more to something that you may have glossed over before. When you next feel that you are 'going around in circles' break out of the frustration and look to the lessons and gifts you can gain this time around. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of 'Hatching'

2012-02-06T05:28:00.000-08:00

Hatching is what you do for yourself when you push past the obstacles and barriers that are holding you back and come out of your shell, ready to learn how to fly. In Ann Lamott's wonderful book Bird by Bird, she talks about recovering from having her tonsils out. She had used all the pain medication they would give her. When she asked for more they told her the pain was from not using the muscles of her throat and she should just chew some gum. It was painful but she pushed past it and the pain soon went away. One could wonder how many physical and mental muscles we have frozen by being afraid to use them. Many the loss of energy we sometimes feel when we are starting out on a creative project is not tiredness but fear of flexing our creative muscles. Maybe perfectionism or some other bad habit has us in a state of creative paralysis. In one of the Harry Potter movies there is a scene where a baby dragon hatches out of his shell. The dragon has a bit of a horn on his beak to use to break out of the shell. I suggest to all wise magicians that you too, are equipped with a spike of the tip of your beak to help you hatch yourself. There may be a mother hen or a mother dragon around to help you chip out of the shell, but basically you are the one who has to push and chip until you can emerge into the opportunities that await you. Flex your hatching skills. You don't have to fly right away. But until you push yourself past a few things, you don't have a chance to learn how to fly. Take a chance and hatch yourself. May the spark be with you.

Magic Will Come

2012-02-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

Weather has been bad. I wouldn't be able to step out on to my deck if I wanted to because of the drift against my office door. We had over 14" of snow since night before last. I had been trying too hard, as well, to figure out how to bring the success into my life that will one day come. I had been feeling at the end of my rope. I knew the magic was there but I couldn't find it for myself. I was beating myself up for that also, and feeling guilty because I knew better. But I just couldn't create any zing, any endorphins, in the amount I wanted. So I began to organize my office. Notes to file, books to shelve, paper to put in the recycle bin, and so on. I couldn't pull magic up myself but it was out there, waiting. Then I came across a short item mentioning the 'beginner's mind'. It said that we need not look at failure as failure but as a chance to start over again, as a fresh new page on which to write a new story. It took a bit because I was not thinking that I had failed, exactly. Then it sank in. I might not need to write a whole new story, but I could write a new chapter. As I had been sorting and filing I had also been sorting out my ideas for several of my projects as well. The perspective from this unknown writer became a spark of magic for me. I was no longer at the 'end of my rope' but I had a chance to try again. This time I would probably get further than I had before. I had not been able to wield my own magic wand but another magician had waved one for me. So I suggest to all wise magicians that if you need a bit of magic that you look around you. Perhaps someone else has discovered a idea or a bit of inspiration that they will share with you. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Naming the Bad

2012-02-01T03:18:00.001-08:00

Sometimes we feel down, on edge or blah and call on a bit of magic to give us more energy or to keep on coping. That is acceptable. But there is a power in naming, and therefore facing the "isms" and other messes that are keeping us from our best life. We can go beyond 'coping' to working for change. In the United States there has been movement going on for a year or so (maybe longer but I have only become strongly aware of it in the last couple of years) to move towards a better life for more of our citizens. This movement speaks out against corruption, discrimination, financial imbalance, racism, and mistreatment of our environment, among other things. It takes courage to face and name problems. But apartheid ended in Africa because people faced it as a problem. We can end some of the imbalances in the U.S. I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said, "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance." By the very act of choosing to be courageous and name the "bad" we have taken on a magical aura, we are magicians with a latent power to make a change. Whether it is a change we want to make in ourselves, our life or our society we must first conceive of the need for that change. Sometimes the road to change can be started with a simple step, looking at the "bad" as a starting point then deciding exactly what is bad. A client recently told me that her doctor told her she needed to engage in 'diet and exercise' but they weren't her thing. She didn't want the ill health she was facing by not dieting and not exercising, however. So we examined what 'diet and exercise' meant to her. When she realized they meant 'discomfort and deprivation' we agreed that 'discomfort and deprivation' was never a good goal. But she became excited about "sensory celebration' , 'dance', 'self expression through movement', and 'creative cooking for health'. Often the essence of what is "bad" is that you are denied your voice and control over your own life. By realizing that you have a voice and the right to that, you are moving towards more power in your life. People will try to 'groom' you to take on a certain role or submissive position. You will encounter 'isms' all over the place. That isn't necessary. Speak truth to yourself and then it will be easier to speak truth to others. I was heartened to read the the state of Delaware is suing to revoke the charter of Massey Energy. This is a big corporation that mines coal and has been abusing the environment as they operate. If they have their charter (right to do business) revoked a powerful message will be sent to other companies that are abusing our Mother, our Earth. So, I suggest to all wise magicians, that if there is something dark that needs to be named, light up your world, name the 'bad' and open the way for that which is better. May the spark be with you.

A Smile Can Be a Magic Wand

2012-01-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

A smile is, like music as mentioned in my last post, something that can be magical but we tend to take it for granted. I would suggest to all wise magicians that you take a moment and think of times when a smile has made your life better. Perhaps you smiled at a stranger who ended up being a dear friend. Perhaps you smiled through tears and managed to more fully experience how much you cherished that which you had lost. Going to that place of love helped ease the pain. Perhaps your smile was a recognition that what you saw as funny was also relief that you had not suffered the pratfall you were watching. As you remember the times a smile has brought goodness to your life I hope you will resolve to engage in this act of creating magic often and long. I also want to suggest that a smile can bring magic to your life when no one else in around. Often it is when we are alone that we feel that bit of angst that makes us want to call up magic. Try this simple exercise to see what I mean. Let your mind take on a slightly blah mood. Now do a slight shake of your head, smile and open your eyes a bit as you look up to the right. I find it hard to continue feeling blah when I do that. Studies in pupillometry have shown that the pupil widens to let in more light when we are paying more attention to something. By widening our eyes in the gesture I just suggested you are letting "light" into your life. Do this a few times and you may find yourself making up all kinds of puns and jokes about what you are doing. I just gave a big "smile" to the neighbor's irritating yappy dogs and thought of ways to laugh instead of snarl when they just won't shut up. A smile can be a tool of courage when you contemplate taking on a big task. A smile has many magical uses. Wield your smile wand well and wisely (meaning any way you so choose). May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Music

2012-01-27T03:38:00.000-08:00

I am amazed that I haven't written about all the ways music bring good things to your life before this. I had a double major in Music and Social Studies when I got my BS. I am a musician. But I suspect I was just taking this wonderful tool for granted. Then I stopped by my e-mail on the way to doing my blog and listened to a song my brother Carl sent me. "I'm Trying". I liked the song. I liked watching it on media player with all the color and patterns. I'm at a period in my life right now when I'm doing a lot of trying and the learning curve is steep. Sometimes I let that stress me out. But reflecting on the earlier conversation with my brother and listening to the song gave me a sense of things being softened and evening out. Then I thought about all the work songs I know, how they helped people get through hard manual labor. Lullabies help sleep come to us. Hymns help us reach towards the sacred. Country and Western songs help us stand back from the dramas of daily life. We use songs to cheer us on. We use songs to learn. The use of music is vast and easy to hook into. Earlier today I was helping a woman learn some things about mathematics and how to take tests more rapidly. She was dumping on herself, calling herself dumb. I told her that learning to walk, talk and feed herself are all more complex than learning a few things about ratios, that she had to be smarter than she realized. She got the point and was able to focus on what I was teaching her. I think that when I see her next week I will suggest she make up a little ditty to help her courage or to help her learn. Music is a great help in learning. If you listen to largo movements of symphonies by musician like Handel just before you study, your mind will absorb more facts and retain them longer. Another wonderful thing about music for working magic in daily life is that it is as close as our voice. Or at least our car radio. So I suggest to all wise magicians, work magic with music. Sing your spells to help them come true. May the spark be with you.

The Magical Power of Passionate Commitment

2012-01-24T00:09:00.000-08:00

Many people have made a commitment to a goal and not been able to achieve it. Simply saying, "I will." is seldom enough. Otherwise fewer marriages would fail. But when that "I will!" is shouted out to the rooftops because both will power and passion are working together the obstacles do not seem as big. Passion, deep, down to the bone passion is what truly drives commitment. If you want to develop passion for a goal you must be able to examine your self, your deepest values, and what you see as your life purpose. It is not blind rigidity that helps a person keep on keeping on. People can be amazingly rigid and stubborn. But, if the stubbornness is misplaced things just aren't going to work all that well. Self sabotage will happen. Or the project may be sabotaged by others, because the rigidity and stubbornness of the person going for the goal has not allowed them to be kind, considerate or realistic about the needs of others. But when a great passion exists for the purpose being chased, the whole universe wants to help. I get an e-newsletter that will often request I sign a petition to support someone's good cause. If I sense a deep caring about this cause I find myself drawn to it. Once you realize you are passionate about a goal you will not be so shaken when you find yourself having fears and worries about the goal. You may be frightened of the journey but, when you know it is right, you know the way will open up. It is a journey worth taking, even if you don't get all the way to the end. I suspect everyone has deep desires to bring about certain changes in the world. I suggest to all wise magicians that you let an awareness of these desires become known. As you discover your passions you will feel the magical power in going forth to express them. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Your Name Or Names

2012-01-19T01:01:00.000-08:00

A couple of nights ago I was listening to, actually studying, a two hour video by Tony Robbins, the strategic intervention Guru, among other things. He mentioned archetypes, which are patterns around which people organize their personalities. I had become familiar with the concept, one put forth by the great analyst Carl Jung, years ago when I had studied "The Goddesses In Every Woman" by Jean Sinoda Bolin, MD. A very interesting book. (She also has a book "The Gods In Every Man")
The idea is to find your main pattern by which you live your life then learn to invoke another one when you need that strength. A women who is a strong Hestia, Goddess of Home and Hearth, may need to invoke the parts of her that have the planning and strategy strengths of an Athena. Robbins said we all have the archetypes within our self of warrior, magician, lover and sovereign. He taught that these tend to develop in the sequence in which he listed them. He had been taping the first part of this video as he was conducting a seminar just after the horrific events of 9-11 and was helping people deal with pain, anger and hate. A Muslim and Jew were helped to work through their issues by starting with their warrior self and moving through the stages into their wise sovereign. Both men eventually teamed up to create a worldwide organization to work for peace. But this couldn't have happened had the men not named themselves as kings, or wise and sovereign. Then for me,a day or so later, it was magical when I was able to allow a loved one to go from the name they had for their wild warrior self and name, thereby creating, a sovereign self. I remembered that I had had a dream, decades ago, of myself as The Angel Jeanne, who leads people to creative purposeful happiness. I never really mentioned that name to anyone before now. Then tonight I was reading a blog by Lissa Rankin, of Owning Pink, about her need to divest herself of the label, or name, of The Cosmic Tit, because she had been trying to be all things to all people and was encouraging them to suck her dry. So I suggest to all Wise Magicians that you look to your name. What name do you want to REALIZE- to make more real? Would it be good to have multiple names, so you could invoke them when needed? I think so. Do you need to retire or subdue a name? Are you carrying a label that locks you into toxic behavior just because you say that is your nature? You have the creative freedom to reach out and draw whatever good magic you need to you. One bit could be in how you name yourself. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Dreams

2012-01-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Today is January 16th, 2012. It is my birthday. It is also Martin Luther King Day, as it is a Monday. Also Dragon Appreciation Day and the day before Benjamin Franklin's birthday. (His birth certificate says Jan 6, 1706 but a calendar change happened in there somewhere) Each day alone would be a time to think about the importance of having a dream, of working for worthy goals, of identifying and following one's passion. When they all come together it must be mandated to look to a higher vision. MLK is famous for his "I Have A Dream" speech, among other things. Dragon is a word that comes from a Greek word 'to see'. I'm up there in years, a time when people tend to look to what good things need to be encouraged to come about. Franklin was a very forward looking man, full of ideas and willing to work to bring forth our nation, among other good works. Surely this is a day when dreams will seem to be possible. Take advantage of this and look to what is unique about you, what your special dream is. What joy, tolerance, clarity will you nurture into being? Today I wish for all wise magicians that they will experience the joy of having a dream, that they will experience the power of standing for a cause. That sense of higher purpose will bring goodness and magic into your life. May the spark be with you.

Somatic Magic

2012-01-08T23:46:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we may see a movie or read a story about the use of magic and the magician accomplishes wonders simply by waving a wand and using words. But in the very popular books and movies about Harry Potter the wizards are taught the importance of awareness. They are taught how to concentrate. The point I am trying to get to here is that words can be empty and useless if they are not linked to experience. We do think with words but those words have to stand for something. The sensations of the body are a kind of language from our magical self, our right brain. There are many therapists, such as Peter Levine, Pat Ogden, Allan N. Schore and Ale Duarte that treat PTSD by helping people release the excess energy that developed at the time of the trauma and has become locked in the body. Instead of being frozen in paralysis, or suffering other symptoms the children or other patients learn to accept the sensations of their body bit by bit and heal. Healing by listening to the body is one powerful magical result. But we can also learn to listen to the body to judge situations, to make decisions, to change our behavior. Sometimes we will be bombarded with hyperbole. Especially from salesmen or politicians. Our body will give us warmth around our heart, tighten our gut, clench our jay, turn up the corners of our mouth, widen our eyes to help us judge how to react to all those words. We are often told to watch the body language of other people to truly understand what they are communicating. That can be useful. But I am suggesting to all wise magicians that they learn to listen to the language of their own body. Sometimes this will come as a little song, a picture, or some words. But there will also be many other sensations. It is good to be connected to our body. As we give it love it will become healthier. The first step in giving love is to listen. Love your body and you life will have more magic in it. May the spark be with you.

Magic And Time

2012-01-05T03:43:00.000-08:00

"Time is the river I go fishing in.." Henry David Thoreau. It may be that time is neither cyclical, as some cultures hold, nor linear, as seems to be the predominant belief in Western cultures. Perhaps it is there, flowing, but can be dipped into. I have been watching PBS specials lately about new ideas about time and I decided that I couldn't define it at all. Then I began to think about psychological time, and that is a whole other construct. I discovered there are different parts of the brain that are about time, such as nuclei that deal with circadian rhythms and so on. It was a leap but I had a picture of time as something you could visit back and forth, like different points on a river. This then made me aware of the way things happen way back in time in our life but don't seem to matter until much later. Things are foreshadowed or foretold. I came across some things I had written years ago but they seem to have a total different meaning now. I like them better now than I did then. I read a book again and I remembered that the ambiance of the setting had seemed totally different when I had first read it. I was thinking about people from my past and I felt as if I understood and appreciated them better now than I did when they were in my life. I have a cousin who I have no idea of how to contact, but I have always been aware of the stream of warmth towards him. Things come, things go, but they may still be around us. For the wise magician this could mean many things. For me I think of the way there may be many resources available to me to create the world I want. I may have known many people that can be role models for me as I try to develop myself as a speaker. If you want changes in your life the tools to cause that change may be at hand or in your experience. Call forth that which you need. May the spark be with you.

How Big Is Your Field Of Magic?

2012-01-03T22:11:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about the way I often reach into the field of magic that surrounds me to get energy to meet my daily goals. I was thinking about the way I feel that field to be a small intimate and friendly cloak. But I have a problem with that. I am trying to live in a bigger world. My happy world of painting a partridge and fastening it in our pear tree, of working one on one to help people read better, of writing fantasy novels for teens is a comfortable and joyous world. But I
have been feeling a need to have a bigger influence, to spread the word about the inner genius in everyone, to teach people how to hook into their commonsense and their magical self as well. I am wondering, tonight, if the metaphor that I have found to be so useful can be utilized to help me move out into a bigger world. It will still be a world of awakening one genius at a time. I will still care about 'Mother Nature'. I will still believe in the magic of questioning hyperbole. Perhaps my cloak will stretch. Lately I have been getting a good response to every reach-out action I have taken. Any response at all I would consider a benefit. I used to be so shy I couldn't even admit that I liked to write. Perhaps that is the magical learning tonight...the field that surrounds us is as big or as little as it needs to be. Therefore I suggest to every wise magician that if you need to stretch your wings to fly, your field of magic will help you rather than constrain you. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Winter Trees

2012-01-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

It's New Years Day and I have been being bombarded for a few days by e-mails about success and growth, all the things to consider at this time of year. I was musing about my own success, or lack thereof, and had to admit I didn't feel very magical. After all, magic is well- formed I am always saying. I judged myself as having too many loose ends. I had made a project list last night, then saw it again this morning, about all the things I am trying to learn and create. I am not that far along on most of them so it seemed like a daunting list. I felt frayed and frazzled in regards to having any hope for "success" this year. I took a deep breath and looked out the window in my office door at the majestic trees outside. Only one is an evergreen so I could see the stark branches reaching out every which way. Suddenly the magic that is all around me made itself known. I may be going in many directions but there is a unity to my growth. I am seeking ways to share with the world the message that they can choose happiness and everyone has an inner genius. I may seem to be branching out 'every which way' but I am reaching for the warmth of the sun. I know how to laugh, how to love and how to be resilient. My success will be in continuing to reach out, to take a stand for love of the Earth, of others and of self. If I am rewarded with financial success, and I am trying to move in that direction, it will be icing on the cake. So I suggest to all wise magicians. Today, if you wonder what you should resolve for the New Year, take a 'leaf' from Mother Nature- be true to yourself and grow in ways that are right for who you are. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Inner Time

2011-12-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

The year I spent every weekend in Boulder, Colorado studying hypnotism and Neurolingistic Programming was a fulfilling year. We would often do a therapeutic induction with the instruction to take all the time the subject needed to fully work out the problem they needed to process, even though it might only be a minute or two or clock time. I learned then and have realized it many times since, that the subconscious does not work on clock time. Sometimes there is a magical flash of insight about a problem that would have taken hours, or even days, to work out by conventional means. Other times the inner self seems to mull over things way too long. Of course at those times it is waiting for more understanding about the problem to occur, or come to you from life events. Clocks have their purpose. But they must not rule. Besides that we, most of us can develop it if we will, have a fairly good sense of clock time. When I had a music studio I did not have to watch the clock, but lessons seemed to tie themselves up and be complete in the half hour that was allotted to them. I have known many people who could set an inner alarm clock to wake up at certain times, either a time duration (such as a half-hour nap) or at a certain time in the morning. So, I suggest to all wise magicians: 'Do not fret about time. Try to get into the flow of due time, in which things happen in the right way at the right time.' Calmness and faith seem to stretch time so that we are able to get done what we need to do. Look instead to 'have the time of your life in living.' May the spark be with you.

The Magic of 'Processing'.

2011-12-25T13:05:00.000-08:00

Today, on the first day of Christmas, I made it a point to look outside at the pear tree. There was the partridge I had painted, sitting in the tree. I allowed myself the pleasure of knowing I had put in some work and accomplished a bit of fun whimsy. I processed that I could still be creative. I thought of how, all too often, we rush from flower to flower gathering nectar for the moment, and fail to go back to the hive and process it into honey. We read without a pause to reflect and fully take in what we read. We visit with a friend without truly appreciating the richness and value of that friendship. I suggest that all wise magicians go beyond mere sensory input. That we take the time to process what we sense, learn, discover. I suggest we learn to live life on a deeper level. Life is more than what we skim off the surface of our day to day experiences. If we allow ourselves to magically process the events and ideas of our life we will live with greater joy, love and abundance. I recently read in an article for teachers that they pause in their lecture after the first ten minutes and encourage their students to discuss among themselves and more fully process the information presented. Life doesn't rush by us, even though it may seem to at times, demanding that we never pause to reflect on what we experience. We create our life by the way we choose to perceive it. So if we process in such a way that we are moving towards the magical life we deserve, that life is sure to come to us. If something we perceive as negative happens, we can then give our self a pat on the back for having the intelligence and courage to overcome the negative event. Take time to process the many ways magic is is your life. May the spark be with you.

Work Magic by seeing the Next Step

2011-12-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

I have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder), although the hyperactive part is not so much physical as it is in the way my thought processes can jump all over the place. I have had to design ways to cope, to rewire my brain. One of the things I do, to ensure that I am productive, is combat the resistance to shifting gears by visualizing the 'next step'. I may feel a big energy sink, I just don't want to get in gear. But if I practice in my mind 'the next step' I am able to get it done. We have a pear tree in our front yard and I decided to make some sort of partridge ornament for it. That meant looking at pictures of partridges, finding materials such as paint, drawing it out and so forth. Now I can look at my emerging partridge and feel a sense of anticipation..by tomorrow I will have a 'partridge in a pear tree' in my front yard. By practicing what I had to do in my mind until I could manifest it I was able to bring something fun into my life. I suspect that this is a technique that all wise magicians can use. Keep your goal before you, practice seeing yourself accomplishing it and you will be able to bring magic into your life. The field of energy that is magic that surrounds us will help you. The means to accomplish your goal will manifest. The old paints I had turned out to still be usable, brushes were good, pictures were on the internet that I could draw from. See your next step, as many times as you need to. Bring magic into your life. If you have to see yourself solving problems to do that next step, do so. This is a good time of the year for magic. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of The Capture

2011-12-19T16:45:00.000-08:00

I am currently re-studying a book on using our brain to be active in the world as a genius. It is by Andrei G. Aleinikov, Ph.D and titled "MegaCreativity: 5 Steps To Thinking Like a Genius"
He was a Russian Colonel who was chosen as the first Russian student at The US Air Force Air War College. He decided to stay in the United States and became a citizen in 2002. He teaches creativity and innovation in many situations, including to business like 3M. There are two things that stand out for me. First, he really puts out the idea that a person who wants to develop their creative abilities must push themselves beyond negativity and laziness. That is not new. It is widely agreed that one's mindset is very important for success. But I am delighted by the way he teaches ways to organize and capture ideas. That makes we think about the delightful inner self we all have, our imagination, in which we can get lost in a magical wonderland of fun and ideas. But if we don't 'capture' our ideas they do no good beyond the fleeting moment they occur to us. Systems of 'capture' have long been important in human development. Language is a way to capture and share a concept. Language developed and ideas could be shared. Then the art of telling a story, or the history of a group as an oral tradition was developed. Then writing came about. Another way to capture and share ideas. Then libraries. Of course now we have digital ways of sharing and saving ideas. Somewhere in there 'discourse' should be mentioned. Ideas are honed, refined, saved or rejected by the way they are discussed among people. Mathematics is a way of capturing and sharing ideas. I suggest that each wise magician may have developed their own way of 'capturing' their ideas for them self so they can go back to the concept and work it out. Even the way you note down your do-list or your plans for the day can be a magical capture. Look to the way you 'capture' concepts and see how that 'capture' helps you bring magic into your life. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of The Back Burner

2011-12-13T23:56:00.000-08:00

Years ago I read a short advice article that said you could think of your sub-conscious as a back burner on a stove. When you were clear about what you wanted you could then put it on the back burner and let it simmer. In other words, don't worry about something consciously any longer. You have trusted it to your inner self to create the ideas and opportunities you desire. In due time what you previously wished for will be right before you. I find that works very well for me in my writing. I have a hazy idea about something. I go about my other work but come back to what I'm trying to figure out from time to time because my inner self will remind me about it periodically. I notice there seems to be some kind of interaction between what I am trying to create with my inner self and outside influences. Articles, TV shows, comments people make, will all seem to be dealing with the topic I am trying to develop. The American Philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested that we bring things to us by 'stirring the pond'. He said that if we stir the part of the pond we can reach that ripples will form that will eventually bring that which was floating on the other side of the pond around to us. This is a bit of what happens when we turn our goal over to our inner self. We have prepped the pot and now ripples will be sent out into the Universe to draw our dream to us. Sometimes we may think of doing magic as a quick wave of a magic wand. We are feeling blah and need some quick zing to our life. It is good to draw beauty, joy, excitement, energy, flair, and so on to us in the flash of our wand. But we also need to look at the slow simmer of cooking up a well-formed dish of magic for ourselves. We may not have the recipe before us. But our inner self is a most marvelous chef and will craft the recipe for us as well. All we need to do is tray to figure out what we want, revisit this from time to time, as needed, to continue the seasoning of our dream. It will be served up to us as a lovely banquet when all is ready. Light the fire. Put the kettle on the back burner. Go about your daily tasks. It will happen. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Expectation

2011-12-04T07:21:00.002-08:00

Keep your eye on the prize, expect to receive it, and success will be yours. Why is that so? I recently saw a video that contained an interview with race car driver Mario Andretti. He said that you must look where you want to go. If you look at the wall your car will go into the wall. Your car will follow your eyes. In the same video Lance Armstrong was also mentioned, not only for his prize winning races as a bicyclist but also for his success against cancer. Neither of these men would let themselves take their eyes away from the goal. They would not let themselves imagine that they would fail, or drive into the wall. They expected to win. Even when failures would come there was still an expectation of an overall win. How can the wise magician use this wisdom from famous men? One suggestion I have is to apply expectation constantly. If you are tired and don't want to finish all the items on your 'do list' you will probably finish them anyway if you expect it of yourself. If you are trying to change habits the change will happen if you expect it to. Expectation is the worldly side of the sacred concept of faith. Have faith in yourself by expecting yourself to do what you start out to do. You have the innate ability to do what you imagine you can do. Otherwise your inner self would not have given you the idea of doing it in the first place. If the idea is too far out of your realm it doesn't stick around. But if it is meant for you to take on and you get to the point where you actually start the project or task you do have the ability to do it. Maybe not the first time. Things have to be figured out and skills developed. But if you expect yourself to develop skills it will happen. So reach out to the magic that surrounds you for the energy you need and expect great things of yourself. The needed ideas and skills will come to you. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Expectation

2011-12-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

The magic of Just Before Sleep

2011-12-02T01:52:00.000-08:00

Just before you go to sleep, when your brainwaves are in alpha rhythm, is a marvelous time to program yourself for change and other magical desires. As you lay your head on that comforting, welcoming pillow you can glory in the way you are preparing yourself, in all the self love you have, to rest and renew. Allow all feeling of pressure and worry to leave you. Sense your breath. Sense the texture of your pillow. Sense the temperature of the room. Sense the slight sounds around you. As you sense each thing let it bring you more and more into the present moment in which you are safe and trust that all will be well. Then allow that sense of comfort to accept that changes will come. You don't have to clutch at those changes. They will come. Accept the desires you have, in that present moment, for all things that may occur to you, in a gentle and accepting way. You may have desires for improved relationships. You may have desires for improved health. Whatever desire you have in that moment before sleep is simply a desire. It is part of the moment, as is your breath and what your skin senses. I have been doing this for improved physical health and it has been manifesting. Other things have also appeared in my life.
I have not been allowing myself to clutch or worry as I go to sleep. The desires are just part of the things I sense in the moments before I sleep. I suggest to all wise magicians that you celebrate all that is right and magical about your life as you lay yourself down to sleep. May the spark be with you.

Rituals In Magic

2011-11-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

I recently read an article by an inspirational speaker in which he said that he starts out his workday, with his staff, by having everyone say what they are thankful for. He believes that the act of visiting gratitude is a ritual that energizes and keeps them all on track. A ritual can be made into a good habit without losing sight of the higher purpose behind it. When it becomes a habit you don't have to keep up the energy of constantly making the decision to do that ritual. Then your mental energy can be focused on the daily decisions and actions you have to engage in. The magic comes forth when the ritual is there to remind you, when needed, of the higher purpose of the ritual. This speaker's ritual of expressing gratitude doubtless causes people to think about the blessings of life at times other than the start of their work day. I had a cleaning business for years. I had a ritual of looking over my work, and blessing it, as I would start to close the door behind me. If I didn't see that I had left beauty behind me I would re-enter and make things as they should be. There are many habits we can develop that are meant to endow our daily life with a feeling of satisfaction and goodness. The way you serve a meal, deal with other people, approach your studies or work, can all be done in such a way that you are invoking magic to come into your life. I suggest to all wise magicians that you look for ways to celebrate your life as you go about your day to day activities by developing rituals that remind you that life is good, that life is magical. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of The Question

2011-11-19T03:46:00.000-08:00

My last post was the "Magic of the answer". Many times when I get a magical answer I already know what I am asking for. But at times we may be down and frustrated and feeling stuck. At times like this a magical tool is "The question". If we ask even a simple question like "What am I feeling?" or "Why am I feeling so edgy?" we are taking steps to identify and solve our problem. This sets in motion certain dynamics. When we focus on something we want to find out what it means. When we give a meaning to something we are then called on to take action. For instance, if I am feeling blocked, then I ask myself questions about that feeling I may discover than I am missing the zing of being creative. Then I realize that creativity is of great value to me. The next step is to find ways to express my creativity. But I have now realized that creativity is one of my values. So I will find ways to share my belief system about the importance of creativity and try to nurture creativity in others, or spread the word of the importance of creativity to life and society. The art of asking questions of our self and others is an important art to develop. You do not want to come up on some one who is trying to learn something and ask them, in a spirit stifling way, "What are you doing?". It might be better to say something like, "I see you are very busy. Would you like to share with me what you are learning?" Learn to use questions to draw magic to yourself and to give magic back to the World. 'How' questions are good for that. How can I make courage an exciting trait to develop? How can I celebrate my values? How can I stop comparing myself to others, and appreciate my unique strengths? It may even be okay to ask 'How can I get what I want?'. By asking this question in this way you are admitting that you are the one to take responsibility to get what you want, and that you do have desires, needs and wants. Don't feel guilty about wanting things. That is a natural human trait. But do go on to the next step--after focus comes a decision about meaning. What do those things mean to you? Then you will fall into asking yourself, perhaps only quickly and subtly, who "you" are. But you are on the way to a greater self nevertheless. So I suggest to all wise magicians that you realize one of the magic wands you have is the ability to ask questions. Question well and wisely. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of the Answer

2011-11-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

It is very popular now days to refer to the book and the movie "The Secret" and its subject, The Law of Attraction. The idea is that if you really put it out there to the Universe about your desires, those desires will be met. There seems to be an assumption with this idea that those desires will be big ticket items. This causes some people to scoff at the whole idea of the Universe giving you the gift of having your desires met. However I suggest that it happens in ways we don't realize and if we sharpen our awareness we may be amazed. After all, we are surrounded by a field of magic i.e. energy and possibilities. This morning two things that I had been calling for, by recognizing the need for them, manifested to me. One was in the newsletter I subscribe to from Rick Hanson PhD. I was feeling a definite lack of zing and the need for it. Then I read his JOT (Just One Thing) article about surviving the darts of life. He suggested the technique of dilution. A spoon of salt is harsh in a 1/2 cup of water but not so bad in a gallon. I realized that I could dilute my mood by moving away from the feeling of having too much to do and towards the acceptance that I am actually accomplishing much. Then I went into my office and saw that some objects had appeared on a shelf that I had been wishing to have something on. This shelf is actually a box. I had placed a doll holding a crystal ball on the top. Then my daughter had placed a gnome figurine by it. We had discussed all the touches of a magical kingdom I have around the office and wondered what could fit inside the box. For days I had seen that empty spot and wondered what would fit as to size, color and theme. I had been calling to myself to look among other vignettes and see what could be moved. But this morning, when I was calling out for zing, there were some colorful and appropriate objects sitting in the box. So two calls, filling the box and getting a bit of magic in my life, had been answered by the objects in the box. Plus the article had been an answer as well. These were little answers but they gave me a lot of energy. Sometimes we may be given the means or energy to get those big ticket items for ourselves and not realize it. I suggest to all wise magicians that we, me too, sharpen our awareness of the answers we are given. May the spark be with us.

The Magic of 'Meanwhile"

2011-11-15T00:25:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid I looked forward to Summertime spent with my grandmother. One of the delights of those summers was going to Saturday afternoon matinees with my cousins. I remember how the hero, usually a cowboy, would be in a dramatic fight or a dangerous situation, then a caption might come up or a narrator say, "Meanwhile back at the ranch.." Then a shift would be made away from that dangerous scene to a more peaceful one. At times we put ourselves into a stressful situation and need to go away from it ...meanwhile..to something more peaceful. Oftentimes the stress is caused by the emotional noise or mental clutter that goes on when we need to solve a problem and we can't seem to make a decision about the actions that we need to take. Once the way is clear then we are calm because we know what we need to do. Even if it may be difficult, we will be able to face the challenges. Here are some examples of uses of 'meanwhile magic'. I have a big bill to pay. It isn't due for a while and by that time I have decided where the money will come from. Meanwhile I will enjoy the benefits of what that payment brings to me. Or: I will make a change that I have been agonizing about on this particular date. Meanwhile I will calmly go about the business of getting ready for the change. Or: This event is coming up and it will be hard to manage. But I will. Meanwhile I will enjoy my life and the freedom from the worry I had had been doing. So I suggest to all wise magicians that you create a 'meanwhile' space for yourself. This is a room or scenic place you can go where you are away from the noise and trouble of wrestling with decisions. You have done that work and you know the energy of the magic that surrounds you will help you implement that decision when the time is right. Meanwhile you will enjoy the contentment and happiness to which you have a right. May the spark be with you.

Dandelion Magic

2011-11-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

As I came home yesterday I first noticed all the dead leaves littering the yard. Then I saw a few withered and bedraggled flowers that were twisted and faded but still hanging on to their stems. Just as I was about to fix it in my head that the yard was done for, no signs of vibrant life, I saw two small blooms peeking out near the railroad ties that border the pear tree, fresh and bright colored. I've never really hated dandelions as some do. I rather like the color and form they have. But at that moment these were beyond ordinary dandelions. They seemed to say that if I looked I could see vibrant magical life. All was not sere and done for. Those two faces turned to the sun, in full expectation of having all they needed at the moment brought magic into a heretofore ordinary day. I suggest to all wise magicians that you allow the energy of the magic that surrounds you into your life whenever you can. It may be a bird in flight. It may be a late blooming dandelion. A smile may come your way or you will finally succeed at something you have been trying. I carried the joy of those two little flowers with me to my work area in my office and found an idea I had been needing had come on yellow dandelion wings. I am a newly certified Life Coach and I'm still trying to formulate a marketing plan and "package" myself. Still smiling about the dandelions I found that I had a couple of ideas that seemed as right as the courageous bits of life I had just seen. I wish for all of you that little surprises like that will come to you and delight you. May the spark be with you.

Ways To Call Up Magic

2011-11-08T03:08:00.000-08:00

I was feeling the need for more mental energy to finish up some things on my do-list. I just couldn't finish up. I almost felt depressed. These were things that would help me move toward achieving my life goals so I felt some anxiety about the lack of energy. I gave up and went to take a nap. I needed magic for myself but it wouldn't come to me right then. I didn't nap very long before I woke up wanting to reach out to a few people for various reasons, a sympathy card here, a thank you card there. As I thought about taking care of these personal contacts I also noticed I had a magical zing about my giving. The energy had called itself up. It seemed to come when I was no longer focused on myself but others whom I cared for. Now I have completed several reach-out tasks and have energy to do some other tasks related to 'taking care of business'. There is magic in wanting others to know you care. Even if that human contact is by card, e-mail or over the phone you have still shared a spark of humanity. The energy of love and caring warms and radiates out into more than just your small area and that one moment. So I suggest to all wise magicians that if you feel a need for magic in order to bring about change in your life reach out to the people in your life. Hug a grandchild. Call a friend. Go to the store and have a friendly interaction with the clerk. If you can't drag magic in your front door, open a window and let it come in on a warm breeze. Magic brings the calmness and trust that life is good. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Facing The Niggles

2011-11-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

We are told that we should be introspective. I suspect that could have a bunch of pitfalls. For one thing it is easy to focus on yourself when you are feeling insecure. It is easy for the self-talk to become a litany of our faults and failures. I can imagine someone sitting down to have some time of introspection and falling into a situation of 'paralysis by analysis', as well. But since magic sometimes comes to us in small delightful ways I suggest we not worry about being "introspective" as such. I suggest we just go about our daily lives in trust that magic is there for us in many ways. One way that the field of magic helps us is that we have small niggling thoughts about some situation we should face. Before the situation is a potential disaster the niggling thoughts come to us. That is the time to stop and confront them. Maybe we have almost noticed that our clothes are fitting a bit more tightly. Just a niggling little thought. If we spend all the energy it takes to ignore that niggle, if we go into denial, we will be moving towards a worsening of the situation. But if we become courageous enough to weigh or measure ourselves we have a good chance of getting on top of the situation before it gets out of hand. Then we have the good feeling that we did something good for ourselves, as well as the benefit of dealing with a potential problem before it became a big problem in reality. Or a bigger one. Niggles are hunches with a difference. Hunches can be one time things. Niggles will keep at us until we crack one way or another. So I suggest to all wise magicians that you name your niggles and treat them like the friends they are. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of the Alligator List

2011-11-01T02:29:00.000-07:00

Life is not easy but we are equipped with many resources to help us survive and even live well. The fact that our brain is divided into different parts is one of those resources. We have the reptilian brain which sends us alerts to danger. Then we have the higher parts of the brain which can question and judge those alerts and make decisions as to how we should act on them, or if they should be ignored. However, it is easy to became like ostriches, putting our heads in the sand, and ignore danger. This is especially true if we think the danger is not an immediate threat. We tend to suppress the shadow side of our personalities, the part that admits problems are a big part of life. The fear and worry is just too much to deal with on a constant basis so we deny and suppress. But our inner wise magician has a way to get around that denial. It sends us dreams and humor so we will look to our own safety and well being. If we can look at things with the bit of comfort that dreams, humor or enchantment brings we are more able to put the paralysis of fear away from us and use reason to solve or deal with problems and danger before they are overwhelming. That is the magic. We are cushioned from fear and danger so we can deal with it without being paralyzed by it. For me, the alligator list is such a way of looking ahead to see what I have to face and deal with. I probably need to explain: People often refer to "the elephant or the gorilla in the room" to mean a situation that is being avoided and denied. However it does seem that the gorilla sits there and no one really deals with him. I decided to actually make do lists I call my alligator list so I would have some urgency about it. Alligators seem more dangerous that gorillas. On the list are things I had better deal with, or else I will be in trouble. I am using the cushion of humor when I do this. When I was teaching in Arizona, one day there was a cartoon in the teacher's lounge of a person standing among a lot of aggressive alligators in a pond. The caption was "It's hard to realize that your original intention was to drain the swamp when you are up to your a** in alligators." In such a case you do have to deal with the alligators, the most dangerous one first, before you can get about your original intention, or purpose. Accepting the urgency of certain things before they have overwhelmed you is the action of a wise magician. I am working to develop habits of a much more active lifestyle, both for health and to become more proactive in other ways. I know that if I don't do this the results could be very bad for me. So I suggest to all wise magicians that you find a place of comfort and look to your crystal ball. Gently muse on what you can do to make your life more magical and better. Do you have fees you can avoid by paying bills on time? Do you have health problems you can avoid by changes in life style? Do you have opportunities knocking at your door that you will regret ignoring? Stand out of the pond, bring some enchantment to your awareness and act to bring yourself a better life. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of The Dream

2011-10-31T02:17:00.000-07:00

About eight months ago I began to seriously work towards something I had been saying I wanted to do for a couple of years. At first I didn't even have a clear concept of what I wanted to do. It was all a fog. I was just telling people I had to increase my income and my main resource was my ability with words. That was very unspecific. But I followed the dream in as many ways as I could. Over time things began to become more and more clear. I trusted that the dream was out there and would become clear in time. In the last month things have been manifesting to show me that I am on the right path. I finally began receiving paychecks as a tutor. Yesterday I received a certificate as a Life Coach. I will talk with the director of Colorado Free University in a couple of days about teaching a writing class there next Spring. I have the beginnings of a website Wordmaeven.com. In time my new life of living my dream will be full fledged. I managed to walk through the rocky fields of all the "shoulds" and realize that the "words" I wanted to push were whatever would bring magic into people's lives. Someone suggested that I offer stress management help to people. I came to understand that I would rather embrace stress, use it as a catalyst for something creative and then transcend it. I didn't want to 'manage' it or tell anyone else so to do. I am glad that even though I was in a cloud of ignorance, doubt and fear, I just kept on keeping on. I somehow knew that my inner wise magician would help me find the way. Then things started to come to me. Many opportunities seemed to appear. I don't expect it to be easy. But I do expect that the path is there to follow and that I can follow it, with the help of the field of magic that surrounds me. I suggest that following your dream or your bliss is a lot more real and possible that many people realize. I suggest that all wise magicians look to their dream, or dreams, and walk forth with majesty. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Reception

2011-10-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

When a person is welcomed or received into a group or a family there can be a bit of magic at work. If the reception is done well, done magically, the new member becomes a wonderful part of the group and makes the group better. A sort of synergy develops. But if the acknowledgement of the new comer is hesitant or alienating all kinds of problems can develop. An example is the way immigrants were encouraged to come to America before we were a nation. All the colonists were immigrants and without their values and energy our nation would never have happened. But today, if someone mentions immigrants there is often the unspoken questions about how they will fit into our society and whether they are legal or not. So consider how you welcome your children, your workers, your clients, your new members of your group. Do you empower them? Do you recognize how much they offer and that they possess an inner genius? Do you see them as a chance to help you grow and become more than you were? This is the magical way to receive. Blessings abound and it is wise to be open to those blessings. One way to welcome people, or even events, is to get to know the background from which they come. Be open to the stories. Share stories and become more human to each other. That can bring understanding and transcendence of strangeness. In the field of magic we are all equal and of value. So I suggest to all wise magicians that they look to what it is propitious to welcome into your life. By so doing you will also welcome blessings. May the spark be with you.

The Signs Of Magic

2011-10-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

I have seen many videos and read articles about the Law Of Attraction. The essence of all these messages have been that the Universe will meet our desires if we are in tune and will make our desires known. This idea also can be gleaned from the Bible, and from Buddhism. I was once given a card with the words, nam myo ho renge kyo, on it. I was told that if I would chant this I would be putting myself in alignment so that the blessings that were meant for me would be able to come to me. I tried this for years and often amazingly good luck would happen to me. I think magic also works this way but it also works when you are not yet clear enough to make your desires known. Nor is magic about getting, as people sometimes fall into. It is good to have our desires met but not to approach it from a sense of poverty or need. I believe that trust and acceptance are part of being "in tune". Sometimes you will have something happen and realize that it was actually a stroke of luck because it cleared the way for other good things to fall into place.At times like that you didn't even know what to ask for, so you weren't asking, just being a bit dull or edgy. But then the magic happens and you recognize it. No matter what you like to call it, Magic, The Hand of God, The Law of Attraction, Providence, or Luck there is one thing all these have in common: It feels good. The sense of being at peace, at home, freedom or joy that comes when a problem is solved or a door is opened is one of the signs that magic has worked. Sometimes the magic is simply a more clear understanding of what you are trying to figure out. This happened to me recently. I am trying to craft and start a business (Wordmaeven) that will be public speaking, teaching, coaching. I was developing a marketing plan and deciding to whom I would reach out. Something wasn't right but I didn't know what. I asked for the spark of magic to guide me. When I realized that what I was doing would be boring to me I was able to redirect, change labels, names etc. Suddenly I felt happier and more excited about what I was doing. Rather that help people write their memoirs I realized that I wanted to help people CELEBRATE their life as part of what I was doing. So now, I call out to all wise magicians, celebrate your life. Recognize when magic comes. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of 'Beyond'

2011-10-24T05:27:00.000-07:00

Many times in life all we can reach is that which is "good enough". But once in a while we can go beyond good enough to excellence, joy or transcendence. When a runner pushes beyond the resistance of aches and fatigue there comes the 'runner's high' which is the reward for going 'beyond'. I believe nature or the universe is set up so that "beyond" is highly rewarded. I also believe that if we never go into that higher state we will be punished. The steps we go through in our experience of a situation can be set out this way: Healing(this may just be from minor things such as boredom or it may be trauma), stability, success, celebration. As we adjust to each stage we eventually develop a drive to go on to the next stage. You may have heard of Abraham Maslow and his Hierarchy of Human Needs. He points out that if our basic needs for safety, food, etc are not being met or are endangered it is very hard to focus on higher needs like planning for the future or creating a good society. So much of our ability to go "beyond" is influenced by our perceptions. If we believe we are in danger it is hard to push beyond our fear to get to a place of joy. But once we know how to gain safety for ourselves and know that not all fears are reasonable we are better able to go into a higher realm of experience. Pain and fear may actually be stimuli that help us reach out towards joy and transcendence. They are strong feelings and make us think about the need for change. But what do we do about 'the ordinary', about boredom, about constantly being in the mundane world? I believe that the wise magician will train himself or herself to notice when things are too gray. We can then challenge ourselves to go beyond that. We can reach out into the field of magic that surrounds us on a regular basis. We can reach out for excellence, for joy, happiness and great change. If you habitually ask yourself if you can go beyond where you are at the present it will do much to create a magical life. Give more, love more, do more. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Letting Go

2011-10-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

The other day I was very ready to have something totally gone from my life. I thought about banishment for it. Then it occured to me that if I put in all the effort of banishment I would run the danger of still having ties to it. Then I considered 'releasing it". But that had other connations rather than just being gone and erased. At last I was able to simply put my hands, palm up, to the sky and bless it and let it go. I felt such a sense of freedom that I can't even recall, at the moment, what it was I let go.
When wise magicians work to manifest good things into their life they also let go. They put energy into letting it be known what it is they want and desire. Then they release it. They trust that it will come to them and get on with their life. They know that if they agitated and worried about their desire it could well push it further away from them. So bless and let go your troubles. Bless and let go your desires. Your troubles will stay away, or at least the anxiety you have been creating about them will be gone. Your desires will fly back to you on golden wings. May the spark be with you.

The Surprises of Magic

2011-10-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

Many of my posts have been about feeling the need for magic and drawing it to you. But you must remember that magic may come to you in surprising ways. Opportunities will seem to come to you at amazing times, simply strokes of good luck. A jolt may happen that makes you laugh, then you understand that there is more to it than a moment of entertainment. Magic often clothes itself in humor. It is common for magic to occur in your life without you formally asking for it. Be open to that. Perhaps your soul or subconscious sent out a message to draw it to you. A friend may have sensed your need and responded to it. But many times synchronicity will be at work. Something good happens to you and it is a surprise. But the events that led up to that were quietly going on until the magic matched up with you. Perhaps a marvelous bargain is offered to you just as you have been about to despair of being able to afford something. Our a wonderful connection is made. Wise magicians will continue to reach out into the field of energy that is magic and draw it to them. But wise magicians will also be open to the surprises of magic. Accept gifts when they are given. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Musing

2011-10-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel the need for magic and am not sure how to draw it to me. At times like that I use the magic wand of musing. I did that this morning and received a wonderful magical insight. I was feeling kind of down myself but was also dwelling on someone in my family who doesn't seem to feel that successful in life. I was musing on whether of not he was having his life needs met. I have often watched videos of Tony Robbins help people find ways to meet their basic human needs. One of those needs is significance. The thought occurred to me that I myself, as well as my family member, might not be feeling significant enough. Then the magic that surrounds me tapped me along side the head and said: "It's just like the shift from-'It's not how smart you are but how you are smart'- change it from 'How significant you are' to 'How you are significant'. That gave me a great feeling of magic in my life. I am significant. I can now discover the ways I am significant, the ways I matter. I hope I can find a way to help others also make this paradigm shift. We don't have to be a rock star to hear our soul sing. I suggest that all wise magicians celebrate their significance today in what ever way their soul wishes. May the spark be with you.

Games As A Tool Of Magic

2011-10-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

One of the big problems in life is facing new and potentially dangerous, or at least fearful, situations. We need skills for these situations but don't have such skills automatically. Children understand this easily and make games out of developing necessary skills. They watch their parents and other adults and model their behavior. Soon we see them playing with dolls or other toys as they get ready for their adult roles. But what can we do as adults to meet our anxiety- causing new situations? We can use the magic of games once more. We can make a game out of looking for good behavior in people. This will help us find out that we can relate to people that formerly frightened us. We can tally up our own smallest success behaviors. This can help us gain confidence in our eventual mastery of a skill. Games are safe and allow things to be practiced and developed in small increments. I have been thinking of making up a game about my anxiety about computer technology. Every time I master a skill I am getting a sharper sword or a better weapon so I can slay the dreaded HARD TO MASTER LIST OF COMPUTER SKILLS. I gained some skill at PowerPoint so I am getting closer this week to the lair of the monster. I will prevail. To make up a game to help you face DANGER use every imaginative tool you can. Design safety places. Think up outrageous names for everything. Imagine how it will feel to become King of The Realm or a great heroine. Think up colorful, funny, or dramatic situations. Bring the energy of magic to your endeavors and learning. You will find that this will make life easier and more successful. Use play to succeed. May the spark be with you.

Where Magic Resides

2011-10-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

Recently I had that recurring feeling of a need for a bit of zing in my life, for a connection with magic. That evening I went to a meeting of Colorado Dramatists,a critique group of playwrights. The member who needed a critique was in Austin, Texas but needed to get feedback for a couple of short plays he had been requested to write for a theater in London, England. We set up our session so the author could interact with us over speaker phone. We did a reading of his plays then discussed our suggestions with him. During this time and during the visiting among ourselves later, discussing past enterprises of Colorado Dramatists, I realized the room was full of magic. There were eight of us, if you counted the member in Austin, who were all highly creative and happy to be so. Different things each of us had to deal with were mentioned and suggestions or appreciations were given. But even when problems were discussed the sense of 'life is good' was there. Since then I have had several other times where I have had the same experience: that life is interesting and worthwhile and even fun, no matter what. Being around others and sharing experiences with them enriches my own sense of being in an energy field of magic. Humans are social beings. Not only do we need people to survive but also to thrive. A sense of joy and well being is more apt to develop if we spend time among friends. So I do hope that all the wise magicians who read this will let social connections help bring magic to life. May the spark be with you.

What Is Your Best Use Of Magic?

2011-10-04T22:44:00.000-07:00

I have been asking people what they would like to have if a genie or a magic wand could be used to grant them their greatest wish. Some named something like a car, a house, or a better job. But many people wanted a greater understanding of the way they could do things for themselves, or to discover an idea that would help them make the progress they desired. This made me believe that the best use of magic is greater power for ourselves in the form of ideas or inspiration. I know that is how I like to have things happen for me. I will be feeling like I have a block or a problem. Then I reach out to the magic that surrounds me, that which some people call The Source, and things seem to open up. An idea that I needed, or a better belief in myself, which I also needed, comes to me. I do have to admit that once in a while a marvelous coincidence or great piece of luck does come my way. Sometimes a bit of trouble happens, but because of the timing of it or the people that are around me it turns out to be not such a great disaster. Those times seems to be gifts from the Universe, ones I didn't know to ask for. At times like this I again realize that Magic is well formed. Even if the way we want to control it is not so well formed. Sometimes we have to put out our intentions and desires then stand back, in trust, to accept the goodness, what ever shape or form in which it manifests, that comes our way. So look to your desires. Then wish for the magical ideas and energy that will come your way. They will show up if you call for them. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Positive 'Shoulds'

2011-10-03T01:59:00.000-07:00

I admit I cringed a bit when I first considered the title of this post. Far too many times people have tried to "fix" me or give unwelcome and bad advice starting out with "You should". But a wise magician can choose to rewire his or her brain by developing new habits. It is not easy but in time it will get easier to do things you have decided you should do. I am reminded of the first and second laws of Buddha: Life is hard but if you admit it and quit resisting, things get easier. I suppose that is why some women can accomplish so much when they have a family and a career. They have spent years buckling down and getting things done. I think of my sister, JoLynn Kirkwood, Cowboy Poet, Teacher, Mother, and Farm Wife as having four careers. Whenever I visit her or talk to her on the phone she is smoothly accomplishing things. It might be zucchini bread for the freezer, canning peaches from trees they have on the farm, or getting ready to go to an event in which she presents the poetry she writes about rural life.
The key concept in using 'shoulds' is freedom of choice. A habit stays with you a long time. Be careful of the ones you develop. Some people have practiced nastiness so long it is second nature. But with focus, setting yourself up to expect change to happen and keeping at it in persistent bits and pieces you can bring positive shoulds into your life. But they are your shoulds, not imposed on you from someone else. I wish you magic in creating the life you want. May the spark be with you.

Systems and Magic

2011-10-02T04:59:00.000-07:00

We are often taught that the first step of the problem solving method is to identify the problem. But this is not necessarily easy. The problem may be a big complex one made up of many small problems. Or the stress around the problem makes it hard to approach in a logical manner.
This is where the tool of creating systems may be helpful. Impose a system on the problem and see what you find out. You may think you were working with categories that turn out to be the wrong ones. But you find this out by putting things into their categories and they don't fit. Remember, one of the first principles of magic is that it is well formed. If something doesn't work try something else. That is even a principle of mathematics. George Polya taught that if a problem couldn't be solved you could solve a similar problem and that might teach you enough to go back to the original problem and solve that, in his book from 1945 "How to Solve It."
Putting things is order, even if it isn't the right order, can be soothing and relieve some of the stress you may be feeling. If I am feeling a bit of writer's block I go back through my notes or organize my desk. That often lets an idea percolate and I am able to get back to my creative work.
I tutor in a lab for community college students preparing for a test they have to pass to get admitted to a certain program they want. I assign them books from which to study and they have to keep them in a drawer in a file cabinet in the room. I had been noticing that it was taking a long time for students to find their assigned book. I was wondering how I could use the numbers marked on them to make this easier. But one of the students took it on himself to lay the books a certain way, with the numbers showing as a brand, or identifying mark, not as being in any special numerical order. Since then no one has had any particular problem finding their book. His simple system of making the books lay all the same way was all it took.
You can use this idea of using systems to bring magic into your life. Make a list of the joys you are experiencing, of the magic you already have brought to yourself. Make a list of your strengths and how you can celebrate them to bring more purpose, joy and flair into your life or to others. Tweak a bit here, pat a bit there. A system must always serve the greater purpose, never be in place just for the sake of being a system. Find your own system, your own sense of purpose and order. Perhaps you are highly visual and need shelves rather than file drawers. Or perhaps clear pockets hung on a wall would work for your office. When you sense a problem reach out to the magic that surrounds you, take a breath of comfort or fun, and drop a bit of system on that problem. If a simple system doesn't solve it you may find that you have gotten a start on it at least. May the spark be with you.

Principles of Magic, Big to Little and Little to Big

2011-09-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

I think that my blog, to a great extent, is a gentle urging to people, wise magicians, to leave the school of hard knocks and start their own success school. Sometimes clues for this magical creation can be found in big ideas that boil down to little gems. Sometimes an idea comes from a little bit of information that has huge implications and applications. I was recently reading research about PTSD and trauma recovery. One of the things a therapist was encouraged to do was to listen to the client about their trauma until it had been completely processed. I then thought how a person's day can seem traumatic, although on a lesser level. It is good for them to have someone to listen to until they really get if off their chest. It may take a while for a person to really hear themselves and this is done more completely when they have a listening ear, that is a loving ear, to talk to. I used to say that I liked to talk about something until I heard myself and then a bit more until I bored myself and could move on. There is a technique that can be used when you want to get things off your chest, don't have someone to talk to at the moment, and want to keep track of the development of the insights as you gripe. This technique can be called "The Kvetch". One way to do this is to draw a line down a piece of paper so you have a bigger than usual side column. Then, in the main part of the paper, you begin your griping. Make it intense. Start out with terms like: Woe is me....I always...I never.... Do all the awfulizing you want. When you have processed the emotions of the gripe you may start to find humor in the maudlin way you are carrying on. Increase that until you can actually smile or chuckle. Then go back and in the big column that is still blank note the real problems for which you can find solutions. Plan the steps needed to get those solutions. A little thing like pen and paper can help you find ways to make big changes. Start small to go big. You can make big changes in your life. Let the energy and principles of magic help you. May the spark be with you.

Movement and Magic

2011-09-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

When I started to think about movement all kinds of ideas came to me about change, and making things better in life. I invite you to spend a few minutes letting ideas of dance, improvement, color, flow, change for the better, rhythm and whatever else you want to visit come to you.
Many times we need a shift. Maybe our whole life is feeling blocked, if not just our creative ideas. You can get a shift by simply changing the position of your body. Tipping your face to the sun, standing shoulder to shoulder with a friend, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, putting your hand on a shoulder in caring, bending your head to listen. These are all expressions that stand for movement of the body and movement in emotional states. Many metaphors will occur to you now that I have opened the door to the idea. So if you want a change in your life do some movement to make it so. Get off the couch (movement), reach for the stars (movement), find your pathway( movement). My intention here is to call out to all wise magicians to realize that we are beings of mind, body and soul and that magic is in us. Sometimes we must heal and soothe ourselves with with rhythmic movement. Sometimes we give ourselves a nudge. Do what it takes to let the magic that surrounds us come into your life. Move into something joyous and good. May the spark be with you.

Lay Claim to What You Want And Make It Your Own

2011-09-18T01:35:00.000-07:00

I have found it to be powerful to claim something. Once something is claimed you feel more invested in it, you find ways to work towards it without even thinking about it and you find yourself making the needed adjustments to accept it emotionally. I began claiming my abundance a few months ago and I have been getting more work, more opportunities at work, more clients and more bargains as well. I claimed more ability in computer use and suddenly things occurred in my
life that forced me to develop new skills to meet these new situations. Things I was weak in kept occurring until I could use my new skill with ease. When you claim something you choose it. Research in positive psychology shows that people who choose to be happy find ways to be happy. Interaction opens up between the happiness seeker and the world of happiness. If a person wants to stay in the world of doom and gloom they will not be open to learning about the way the reptilian part of the brain is wired to look out for danger, keeping one on edge and allowing negative thoughts in. But if they are seeking happiness they will welcome the information that the amygdala is only doing its part in sending fear thoughts and our higher parts of the brain can check out the reality of those thoughts and them lay claim to feeling of calmness and happiness. It is the higher part of the brain that can take in a fact, see it as good and then create a good feeling from that. So, wise magicians, I call on you to look for your purpose in life, to look for what would make you feel great satisfaction and lay claim to this new aspect of your life. Claim it and it will be yours. May the spark be with you.

A Recent Proof of Magic

2011-09-15T00:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I found myself telling small stories from my life that involved coincidence a couple of times. They just seemed to come up in conversation and seemed good for a laugh or a bit of sharing among friends. But my awareness of the idea of coincidence caused me to notice an item by Depak Chopra about coincidence in an e-newsletter to which I subscribe. I was about to read it when it seemed more important to call a young girl I've known all her life and is very important to me. We hadn't been very much in touch lately and I wanted to make sure I talked with her about doing something for her birthday. When she answered the phone she was crying. She had had a problem at work and was brokenhearted about it. I was able to comfort her and share her tears until her father arrived to take her home. Then I wiped my eyes and went back to my reading. Dr. Chopra said that coincidences seem to be messages from the higher aspect of life to help us become more aware of our purpose in life. I often refer to the field of magic as a special goodness in life that is outside of ourselves. I felt that the field of magic had touched me in being able to give love to this girl. It seems that lately I am constantly having contact with women younger than myself at times when I can help them be stronger in themselves. Of course at this time the depth of my love for this girl caused me to think about the article more than I might have otherwise. The coincidence of the article appearing at the time of my phone call did seem to give me a deeper understanding of what I am passionate about. I hope that you will also have a happy coincidence in your life that will help you be aware of a deeper, more profound existence that awaits you. May the spark be with you.

Magic And Responsibility

2011-09-14T05:57:00.000-07:00

Responsibility is absolutely key to working magic. Now I have to pause and laugh because a visual picture or movie clip just came to me. Remember Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice? He wasn't responsible about his magic and got himself into a lot of trouble. But he learned by doing. He learned he didn't have all the skills he needed. The ability to respond is a wonderful thing. The ability to decide what to respond to is also a wonderful thing. Deciding is a big part of responsibility. A person, or wise magician, can decide to delay an emotional reaction. A decision can be made to energize oneself to face an important task. A decision can be made as to how to approach a certain problem. Responsibility is basically deciding what you want to happen and doing what you can to cause that to happen. The wise magician is the one in charge. Being in charge doesn't just mean being in charge of the situation or project. You also must be in charge of yourself. You must use your critical thinking skills. One aspect of critical thinking is self regulation. You must regulate yourself by nurturing yourself when needed, by feeding yourself well, by noticing when your biases are causing you to go against your higher values, by drawing out your ideas and questions.
Some people may be afraid of the whole idea of responsibility, thinking of how hard is is to pay rent, go to work every day and so on. The wise magician will choose a task or project, such as raising a family, to be responsible for. Then the wise magician will act or respond to the needs of that situation in ways that will bring about success. Creativity, choosing happiness and hooking into the energy of magic will all be helpful in bringing about that success. Choosing to do a certain thing, or to nurture something does not need to be a burden. If it is your wholehearted choice you will find ways to get through the hard times. Magic will help. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Community

2011-09-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of a terrible event, the terrorist attack of 9/11. The deaths of victims and first responders, as well as the continuing health problems of those who tried to help, is a greater tragedy than many across the nation can actually comprehend. In addition there are other things that resulted from the events of that day that have sad consequences. Last night I watched a news report about children whose fathers had been killed in that disaster just before they were born, so these children had never known those fathers.These children seemed to be dedicated to looking to the heroic aspects of their father's lives and trying to manifest that in themselves. It was quite inspirational.
There is a good likelihood that some of the wounds of that terrible day will never heal. One objective of terrorist acts is to disrupt and isolate, to cause great fear and hopelessness. But that has not totally happened in our nation. I can't say it hasn't happened at all. A lot of walls went up and certain civil liberties were damaged. But the community, the sense of caring that has also developed as an aftermath of that terrible event has had an enriching and beneficial effect. Community, openness about pain and fear, reaching out for healing, being willing to help are all aspects of what I see as a magical life. Tomorrow I will make an especial effort to reach out to others around me to alleviate their loneliness and fear that they can never achieve their life's dreams. I invite you, as wise magicians, to do the same. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Taking Yourself Seriously

2011-09-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

Many times a person will get an idea that seems to be really good or even have a spark of genius to it. Most everybody will consider such an idea for a moment or two before letting it slip away. The luckier ideas will be shared with a friend or two before they too are allowed to go to idea limbo. But the ideas of a wise magician, one who takes them self seriously are accepted, evaluated, questioned, critiqued, perhaps filed for later action, and acted upon. This is not an easy thing to do. It is much easier to just say to oneself, "Boy, do I get some good ideas from time to time," then go on about tasks of daily life. The wise magician knows that a good idea may not be good enough for current purposes or may need to be followed until broader implications are made visible or conscious. But a good idea can lead to wonderful things for yourself and others. It can make life magical. In third world countries many people are now working to develop and implement 'appropriate technologies'. These are simple good ideas that don't require a lot of unavailable technology to implement. Simple heating devices to cook food, ways to purify water and ways to bring illumination to dark places are among some of the technologies I have read about recently. The plastic bottle light bulb is one such idea. A plastic bottle, such as that containing soda, is filled with water and a bit of bleach. Then it is inserted into a hole in the roof in order to be part of the ceiling in the room below. The refraction properties of water cause that bottle to give off as much light as a 50 watt bulb. Several of them can light a room quite well. Properly sealed and inserted, it will give good light for years. Some times ideas come so hard and fast that it is hard to keep up with them. I am not advocating that we act on every idea. However, when we are having a brain storm many of these ideas will have a common theme. Look for the message behind these ideas, follow the thread and find the essence of the great idea that is trying to come through. Do not shut down your creative self. It yearns to serve you and bring magic to your life or perhaps the lives of others. Take your ideas seriously and you will bring a better life to yourself. You will bring yourself magic. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Leadership

2011-09-05T03:41:00.000-07:00

Except for Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter a magician or wizard is seldom seen as a leader. Instead, they just seem to act on the material world such as turning lead to gold. But when you think about it, leadership is indeed a high sort of magic. A lump of clay, or couch potato, becomes inspired and does great good in the world. Leaders are the ones who inspire and give others a sense of wanting to accomplish great tasks. They can exist anywhere in an organization. They don't have to have any formal designated power. In fact there are times when a person in a managerial position is so busy keeping track and controlling that actual productivity is stifled.
Leadership can refer to leadership of self and others. When you lead yourself you nurture, accept, choose goals, give yourself rewards along the way to the goal just as a great general or leader would do for his or her followers. In thinking about qualities of leadership you must remember that high visibility is not necessarily a needed quality of a good leader. A racehorse may be said to be leading the pack but that horse is not the inspiration for the other horses to run. They are running because they love to run and because of the encouragement of their jockey. A figurehead is not necessarily a leader. Inspiration is the key in leadership. Grassroots movements such as that which lead to the independence of India, lead my Mahatma Gandhi, are based on actions taken by large numbers of people inspired to a common purpose. So my suggestion for the day is this: Think about good actions that need to be taken by yourself or others. Then reach out to the magic that surrounds you for energy. Use that energy to inspire yourself or others to bring about a better life. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Switching Points

2011-08-30T03:49:00.000-07:00

The switching point is a concept used in technology to stand for the time a switch must be thrown because a system is about to be overloaded or for some other reason it is not good to continue with things as they are. Analog diagrams are set up with switching points; as in "if this then go here if not then go here". Like valves that shut off fluid when the container is full enough. The concept can be used in other ways as well. When you look down the endless road of the effort it takes to get to your big goals you may feel discouraged. You may feel like you will never get where you feel you must go. Instead of "having" to climb an endless stairway it might work better to climb from one landing to the next. At each landing you can then view your options before you continue. Perhaps there are hallways leading from each landing with new doors to open. Not all decisions need to be made when you first set up your plan or first start out on your journey. Since we learn as we go it is really impossible or imprudent to make decisions before we get to the point where we have the needed information to make a decision wisely. I refer to magic being involved in switching points or decisions points because making changes based on what matters and where you are going is different from simply erratically jumping around. Remember, MAGIC IS WELL FORMED. So as you dance towards your goal let your magical inner self maintain an awareness of the essence of your goal. Then, when you need to stop to rest, or to rethink your journey your decisions about changing strategies or directions will still be in tune with your essential message. If one path has been a mistake you can switch to a better one and take the lessons you have learned from that path with you. Each time you say "That didn't work" you are becoming more clear about what will work or what you want. Do not fear decisions. When things truly are not working there is need for change. But do keep singing your soul's song. Make the changes, pauses, renewals you need to make. They are still part of your pathway to expressing your magical purpose. May the spark be with you.

Follow The Magical Golden Thread

2011-08-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Many fairy tales have a golden thread as part of the story. This thread leads the hero or shero
to their ultimate happy destination. In our daily life we may feel unraveled and in need of a magic thread to stitch together the creative projects we are trying to craft. If you pause a bit, catch your breath away from this unraveled feeling you may discover that all the disparate parts and different pathways you have been scurrying down actually do have a common thread. I have been trying to be more commercial about my teaching skills but it seemed that there was too much to learn, too much to consider. I was getting to the point that I wanted to totally give up. Then I realized that 'magic' is the common thread for me. Students I have who are preparing to take the GED test need to feel the zing of confidence in their ability to learn. I can give that to them. I can do the same for women exploring new business ventures, or people who need to improve their ability to speak English. I can note the frustrations of each of the people I am working with and help them find a way to glory in their ability to succeed. That for me is the common thread, the genius within each person. If you are feeling that you have lost your sense of purpose, that you are no longer following your bliss I suggest you step back and look for the thread. More than likely you have been expressing your inner self in ways you didn't realize before. A well crafted meal can be the work of an artist as well as an oil painting. The thread of magic and genius runs through your work. Find it and appreciate it. May the spark be with you.

Magical Transfer

2011-08-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

There are many magic wands. One that you can use to motivate yourself or even to get new ideas is to transfer the feeling of success from one project to another. Or the feeling of commitment can transfer from one thing to another. I came across a story I'd written years ago in my files. It has a strong feeling of "I want to share this" attached to it for me. I was feeling resistant about getting a current work rewritten and submitted to my critique group. I took a little trip to my passion about this old story and captured that drive to use to get myself in gear for this current work. Just like standing near a warm stove can warm your chilled body, so can putting your thoughts near other memories warm your drive to succeed. When your 'can do' belief is weak remember all the myriad of things you have achieved. Transfer that feeling of success back to what you are facing and you will feel more able to succeed at the current task. Not only can you transfer the 'can do' beliefs, you can also transfer the 'I want to' drives. Just like madras plaids, designed to have colors bleed into each other, or walking near a waterfall to feel the mist, there are times when it is good to share an aura or special field of something to bring that experience to something else. Reach into the field of magic that surrounds you and bring it back into your life to help you craft the wonderful life you deserve. May the spark be with you.

Is the magic in perfectionism or craftsmanship?

2011-08-20T00:31:00.000-07:00

Perfectionism and craftsmanship are not two different names for the same thing. Perfectionism can be fear based or escapist. A well crafted item or action can be perfect but the difference is on the focus and purpose. A basic tenet of magic is: magic is well formed. Actions and other creations cry out to be done well. But there is a time to release the creation into the world it was created for. Deep intense focus can be part of a spiritual practice. St. Teresa of the Little Flowers taught that deep focus on work was a form of prayer. Zen Buddhism teaches the practitioner to lose one's ego in the practice of an action. It seems that the difference between the two ways of approaching ones creation, craftsmanship and perfectionism, is that one is focused on the self and the other is focused on the purpose of the creation. A perfectionist is often described as 'up-tight' or 'controlling'. To reach out to the field of magic that is around you it is necessary to lose the ego and be mindful. Focus on purpose and action. It is a tradition among The Navajo Indians that they make their well crafted rugs with a deliberate flaw in the design. The idea is that this allows any evil that is trapped in the design to escape. Craft your life with inward love and outward focus. This will draw magic to you. In addition, your creations will naturally be more perfect. Accept rightness, goodness, even perfection when they come. Do not 'be' a perfectionist. Be a magician, a craftsman. May the spark be with you.

The Magical Difference Between Daydreaming and Pursuing Your Dream

2011-08-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

Attention is one of the tools of a wise magician. There is a time and place to let your mind roam among the clouds of wants and dreams. Your goals and dreams can give you energy to pull you out of a morass you might fall into when you need to heal. But it can be very unwise to focus on your pleasure or even lofty goals when there is a need to deal with reality. Daydreams can point towards a better future but if you ignore reality you are likely to have no future. Escapism is never the healing meditation that helps you move into a better life. Daydreams and worries can be dealt with in the same way in order to benefit from the time they take up without letting them run your life. That is to deal with them by appointment. Take some time that is available to use in any way you see fit. No urgent tasks, no nurturing of relationships or special projects. Designate this time as daydream time. Have pen and paper or other recording device available. Let you imagination wander among all the pictures that visit you. Ask your self where, how and with whom you would like to spend some significant time. Free associate joyously. When the time you have set apart for daydreaming is up, hook into your power self. Record the important insights you received. Then decide if actions should be planned and taken. Don't let your daydreams distract you from dealing with necessary tasks. Don't let your daydreams wither away to insignificance. The magic that surrounds you is a resource to use for a better life. Hook into it in a life affirming way. May the spark be with you.

The Challenge As A Magic Wand

2011-08-16T01:44:00.000-07:00

There is one strategy that has an amazing power. That is the challenge. All too often the status quo is dangerous and smothering. But when the challenge is given the clouds are swept away and new vistas are opened up. One of the first articles I published in a national magazine was rejected when I first submitted it because they said they had already published something similar. I challenged their assumption that I had nothing unique to offer by pointing out how my work covered new ground and was different in important ways from the other article. The editors reconsidered and accepted my article. Another very powerful way to use the challenge tool is to challenge yourself. If you challenge your limiting beliefs you will free yourself to bring more into your life. If you challenge your rationalizations you will open yourself up to greater productivity. If you challenge your resistance you will help clarify the areas where you need to gain greater skills or understanding and can then move past your creative block. If you challenge the bigotry of others you may open them up to tolerance. Or at least let them know where you stand. Turn your worries and problems into challenges then stand up to them. This is an amazingly good way to empower yourself. Pain is a challenge to heal. Debt is a challenge to gain riches. Loneliness is a challenge to make new friends or nurture the old ones. The wise magician does not let any creation of the dark arts threaten him or her. The challenge is flung out there and is found to be a powerful and effective tool or magic wand. Use it well and often. May the spark be with you.

A Magic Question

2011-08-14T04:18:00.000-07:00

At times you may be having writer's block or some other type of creative block. When this happens it colors your world gray. You don't want to go away from the project that is so important to you, but you don't see a way forward, either. Here is where you can ask your self a magic question. What would I like to be (feeling, doing, thinking, writing) instead? As soon as you accept that you are master of your choices it will lift the cloud of blah from you. You may not get the zing just then for the project that was trying to defeat you. But you have broken the log jam and can now ask whatever relevant questions you need to ask. You may ask how you can express your idea in a different way. (What do I want to be saying instead?) Or you may find that a more important project or idea is ready to come forth and you need to give energy in that direction while the idea is hot. Sometimes you are attacked by the blah monster even before you are actually working on something. I believe that sense of resistance is an important clue that you need to stop and get more clarity about your goal. Again, the 'instead' question can be very helpful. You know your basic values and message. You just may need to find another way of expressing them, instead.
When the blah cloud visits it can be fun to go back to square one and visit the magic of your message. You are unique and have a unique way of singing your soul's song. Don't let the blah cloud interfere with that. Ask how you can sing out in other ways instead. May the spark be with you.

The Magician's Hat

2011-08-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Some days you may wonder just who you are and where you are going. It can be really stressful if you forget to state it as "Who am I today, and where am I going today?" The wise magician will remember that there are different hats for different days and for different goals. Perhaps you will have a day where the hat you need to wear is a "Gone Fishin'" hat. Your life is progressing in a good manner, your wise inner self is seeing to that, but you are not always aware of the progress. That is the time where the magician's hat is useful. Maybe you need to look at your reflection and see what hat you are wearing. Perhaps it is a good hat but you are not acting as if that is the hat of the day. Of perhaps you really need to change your hat altogether. If you need to be doing things to build a business, stop, get clear and put on your
'building a business' hat. Then make the calls you need to make and make the decisions you need to make. At times I have to put on a dragon hat. Our word dragon comes from a Greek word that means 'to see' and therefore the dragon stands for clarity. So on some days I know I have to get clear, perhaps all over again, about what I want out of life and how I want to get that. Then I put on my dragon hat and ask myself some strong and deep questions. Other times I have to wear a taskmaster hat to hold myself accountable for the promises I have made to myself. I suggest that if your head is all in a whirl you put on the appropriate hat and get you head in its proper place. May the spark be with you.

When Magic Disappears

2011-08-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

There may be times when it seems that magic has hidden itself from you. Perhaps you have had just too many adjustments to make, too many problems to solve, a few too many disappointments. No matter why you feel that magic has left you, the feeling is not one that brings a song to your heart. The wise magician does not expect a life a life of manic highs. But he or she does expect to have a constant sense of satisfaction and small joys. Happiness is within reach. Then the time comes when you wonder how it is possible to find that bit of zing again. You may even find yourself on a slippery slope that could lead to more and more negative thoughts. It is imperative to go find your magic. I don't mean binging on chocolate, or going out on the town for a wild party. Just escaping from the blahs, from the dryness of magic being gone, will not bring it back. In fact it will not come back if you allow yourself to believe that it truly has forsaken you. So start with the belief that you are surrounded by a field of magic. You have proved this to yourself many times before. Recall some of the many previous times when you have called up that zing. Now that you have remembered the zing, it might be good to take a balanced view of the events of the day that let you decide magic had hidden itself from you. I would venture to guess that there were some pretty good events and well as the disappointing ones you are focusing on. You can change your focus. If you need to go beyond that change of focus in your search for your magic, it is good to reach out to your support people. The faith and support of other people is a form of magic and very powerful. Another thing I suggest is that you do not clutch at magic. If you just have faith that it is there it is more likely to find its own way of manifesting itself to you. Look at the things that are still stable and right in your life. No matter what piece of the pie in the sky you failed to get, you do still have a lot of good things in your life. Remember the magic of gratitude. Your magic has not left you even if it is now recharging and finding new ways of showing itself to you. Reach out for it, call it back, and welcome it when it comes. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Accepting Your Power

2011-08-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

At one time in my life I was in a situation in which I was needed way too much--or so it seemed. I felt I had way too much power. I felt that if I rocked the boat or asserted myself a little it would cause disastrous results for the other person. So I hung in there way beyond what was necessary. Until I had to rock the boat a little, that is. Then the other person made some needed adjustments and things were better forever after. I wished I had been more willing to realize that I did have actual power to make changes earlier. But it was a lesson well learned. I have been aware of power and influence ever since. And I have been able to develop some skills along those lines. I would now speak to the wise magician. The wise magician does not have to hunger for the magical properties of a wand to shore up personal weakness. The wise magician knows himself or herself to be able to gain clarity about needs and desires and to think up ways to gain those needs and desires. Sometimes it is as simple as asking that they be met. Other times it is good to point out to the other person how they will benefit from meeting those needs. The people in the Middle East who decided they had the right to better government then decided they had the power to bring about better government were using their personal power. They worked with others and toppled dictators. This may have seemed impossible in previous years. But, when people accept that they have power to cause change the Universe works with them to bring that change about. Become clear about the changes you want. Accept your power to work for those changes. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Kitty Love

2011-08-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

I have noticed that children, kitties, Grannies, and puppies often get what they want more easily than others do. I believe that is because these individuals are gifted at using the magic wand of loving attention to the one they are sure is perfection incarnate and will supply them with what they want. A puppy is unwavering in his desire. He has clarity mastered to a fine art. Then he is specific and persistent in expressing his desire. When he receives what he wants he gives total signs of his thanks and appreciation. A grandmother uses the same strategies. The grandchild is perfect and cannot possibly disappoint. The grandmother will never waver in her faith and expectation. She will clearly instruct in how to meet her desires. The grandchild has no chance to get distracted from Grandmother's wishes. She is so sure that he will want to snuggle on her lap to hear a story, that he will want to enjoy a cookie, that he will join with her in believing in his gifts that he is swept up in the program and goes along with it. So I suggest to all wise magicians: If you have people you want to influence you can craft and shape their path with persistent expectation and appreciation. You are likely to get good results. Try a lot of appreciation and see if it has magic in it. I believe it does. May the spark be with you.

Get Up, Get Dressed, Put On Your Magic

2011-08-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

The way you prepare to meet the day matters. Don't go out into the world bare and all alone. Give yourself a sense of purpose, flair and success. Stop to reach out for the extra zing that is magic before you face the world each day. Pause to amp up your self confidence, your sense of self and your sense of wonder and adventure. If you meet the day wearing your magic, more than likely untold wonderful things will happen Give it a chance. Opportunities that at first may seem like irritants will arise. Your magic will help you see ways to turn these irritations into creative endeavors or even businesses. Your magic will help you interact with people in more fulfilling ways. Add magic to your life daily. It won't hurt and will make life much more enjoyable. A rude clerk is an opportunity for you to offer your services as a consultant in customer relations to that business. Getting caught in the rain is a chance to enjoy life in many ways and devise ways to creatively deal with the problems the rain, or your forgetfulness about an umbrella, caused. Look for joy, color, laughter, things that are well formed throughout your day. If you start the day wearing your magic theses things will more easily manifest to you. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Carrot

2011-08-03T04:20:00.000-07:00

Supposedly an old technique for getting a donkey to go forward was to have a stick with a carrot on it, dangling in front of his nose. He would keep walking towards it in anticipation of achieving his goal of eating that carrot. At times we need something to pull us into the future we are trying to create. We are in danger of standing still and we need a carrot. Revisiting the dreams about which we are passionate and making plans to achieve those dreams can be such a carrot. I was thinking about the need to get myself in gear for the day and my inner self gave me a picture of tossing a carrot down a pathway. That made me realize I needed a carrot to draw me on. Something as boring as making a plan, even a do-list, can actually lead to exciting things--what an idea. I equate do-lists and plans with dreaded responsibility. At least I did. Now I am thinking about the exciting possibilities that have been opening up in my life and I realize there are a few things I can do to help this process develop. I need to (or CAN now that I am more excited about things) make some do-lists and some plans and get some things done. I have some fun things about to happen but I also have to deal with some problems associated with those things. If I don't plan for the adjustments I have to make Life will be harder. So I am going to list the things I am excitedly anticipating first. Those are my carrot. Then I am going to face the steps I need to take. Unlike the poor donkey, I will get my carrot. I hope it was a wise magician luring the donkey onward, as a magician would be sure to give the needed reward in due time. Find your dream, devise a magic carrot and make your life better. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Rough Drafts, Critique Groups and Rehearsals

2011-07-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

Some of the stories of the birth of the Goddess Athena have her springing from the head of Zeus fully formed in all her perfection. The God Zeus may have been able to bring forth a finished creation from his head but it is not quite so easy for us lesser mortals. Sometimes the magic comes in just getting started. If we expect the finished product to manifest too quickly we may get discouraged and give up when it does not. Goethe says to start what we can think of because the action of starting has power and magic in it. The problem comes when we are not clear about what we are doing, what our final work will be. That's where the magic of learning as we go comes in. Get a rough draft going. Get a rough draft of a rough draft. Get a rough draft of a part of the rough draft. Share what you have done with supportive people who will encourage you but also point out things you need to change or add. Also, don't be afraid to rehearse as many times as you need to. We are not born perfect nor are our creative endeavors perfect at first. Creative endeavors include more than poems, paintings or such. It can be a creative endeavor to work out how you are going to persuade someone of something. How you are going to approach a sales prospect. So if you have something you have wanted to do or bring about stop letting it stay in the shadows of "someday". Start working on it, even if your ideas are poorly formed. I have said that magic is well formed. It is but that well formedness may have to be developed. When you really have your head around what you want you will find that forces outside of yourself will help you move toward the manifestation of your desire. Reach out to the energy of the field of magic that is around you and start a rough draft of what you want to create. The rest will follow. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Claiming

2011-07-28T02:25:00.000-07:00

AT first all is chaos. Then we begin to name things. But they are still separate. Then we begin to claim them or make them our own. Some are touchable such as pets or possessions. Some are more conceptual. But until we claim a thing we have no real relationship with it. A magician calls things to manifest in his or her life, or claims them,in a variety of ways. The waving of the wand is a symbolic gesture of the claim that is being asserted. I have been thinking about the way different people claim abundance. Some people only claim enough to get by. They don't expect more. They become skilled at getting by. Others become clear about the amount of specific abundance they want, come to believe they deserve it and discover the specific steps it will take to bring that abundance into their life. Working smart rather than hard is part of the claiming of abundance process. In our not too distant history woman had not been able to claim the vote. But they came to believe they deserved it, they used the power of working with others, and eventually women gained the vote in our country. There are still countries, such as in the Middle East, where women can not vote. But they are beginning to claim that right for themselves and I believe that in time the changes will be made. So I suggest that you, as a wise magician, look at your life and see ways in which you want to add more glory and joy to it. Name those areas. Then lay claim to them. That will start a process for you in which you will find more and more ways to become clear about your desires and find ways to fulfill them. Claim a better life for yourself. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Generosity

2011-07-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

The author Vicki Hitzges says that when we do good it boomerangs back to us for our benefit. That is a big part of the idea of Karma as well. Even if we don't notice direct and quick benefits from doing good to others we do benefit from it in the increased self esteem and satisfaction from knowing we have reached out in a good way. Claim your abundance and share it with others.
You may be wondering how ideas about magic and karma can be connected. Both paradigms are built on the ideas of being connected in greater ways than we can see and that actions have an effect.
You may also wonder how you can work magic through generosity. You must be careful here. Doing good only to get good could possibly backfire on you. Insincerity gets found out. But if you will put trust in the energy of the magic that surrounds you you will benefit. Think about the way Disney movies, and others, show a magician casting a spell. It is a very exuberant motion outwards. Nothing is constricted or held back. Do your giving in the same way. Cast your generosity out into the world. Stephen Post, Director of The Center for Medical Humanities......(long name) says "Happiness is a byproduct of living generously.". So I suggest to all wise magicians that if you give small appreciations of others often, that if you respond to need without worrying about your ego, that if you do not enable but empower, your life will take on dimensions of joy and glory that it may not have had before. Often when you help others they look for ways to help you in return and both benefit. If you already live generously give yourself the awareness of all the good that is already in your life. Be generously grateful. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Looking For Loose Ends

2011-07-20T00:53:00.000-07:00

There is a difference between tying up loose ends and looking for loose ends. Looking for loose ends will often lead to tying up loose ends, of course. But when you are just looking you may be in a more meditative frame of mind and open to all kinds of discoveries. A businessperson who looks for loose ends will look for the loose ends in the business; goals not reached, clients not services, ideas not developed, orders not placed. Then priorities can be set and the necessary loose ends can be taken care of. But in looking for loose ends the businessperson may end up doing an informal market gap analysis or finding out areas the business can move into, in which new pathways of growth may be the result. The same thing can take place on a personal level. If you wish to engage in this as a magic ritual follow these steps. First choose an area to monitor or study. Perhaps it is your desk or work area. Perhaps it is your wardrobe or garden. Then take an overview, looking for the broad purpose of the area you are studying. What is the function of this area? My work space is meant to help me produce creative projects and products. There are different categories of projects and I have to be able to access them when I need to.So my loose ends would be in putting similar papers together, deciding on categories, getting rid of unwanted paper, finding a good place for things. A wardrobe is meant to serve your needs to clothe yourself for different occasions. A garden is meant to grow plants.
After you have noted the function of the area you are dealing with you must make decisions about the different parts of the material (clothes, plants, types of paper material) as to where each part belongs and what you need to do with it. This is where the meditation comes in. It can be a very Zen like experience to go through your area of focus item by item deciding if there is a needed action connected to it. Here is where the discoveries happen. Be ready to take advantage of these. Have a way to get produce back to the kitchen. Have hangers for your clothes, or needle and thread for needed repair. Have organizers for your work area. Have a mind set of openness for your discoveries and a way to use these discoveries if it is good to do so. This may all seem very mundane. Tidying up can be a very boring subject. But if done with the proper mind set you will be drawing good things into your life and thus you are working magic. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Scent

2011-07-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

Aromatherapy, clues for a bloodhound, this smells fishy, I smell something good going on. Think about all the metaphors we might use involving our sense of smell. Our sense of smell is connected to the oldest part of the brain and can have some powerful influences on our actions. But we can also use this sense for our good. Smelling cinnamon is said to be good for our heart. If something smells bad we are warned that danger might be near. A pleasant smell can be relaxing.
Following the scent has also come to be a metaphor for finding good things in life. When people are surfing the web and quickly go from one website to the other they are said to be "following the scent". They have a loose idea of what they are trying to find and when a site doesn't seem to be right they click off and go to another one. You can use this idea of sniffing around for what you want in life to make your life better. Suppose you know you want a change for the better but you don't have a clear idea of what you want or the steps to get there. Get into a relaxed mode and start "following the scent". Let yourself free associate ideas about your needs and ideas. When something resonates you are on the right 'scent'. Pursue that trail. Or you can engage in conversation with a good friend. You will know that you are going in the right direction when a question or idea comes up and you have an 'aha' reaction. A wise magician will use any useful tool. In this case adopting the behavior of a bloodhound could be a good tool for you to try. Sniff out your good. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Coincidence

2011-07-12T01:27:00.000-07:00

I recently re-posted on facebook a video my granddaughter had made a couple of years ago just because I had enjoyed re-watching it. But I found out that my re-post had brought benefits such as comfort and joy to several of the people who were mutual friends. It made me think of all the times we do things and events are set in motion that we don't even know about. Karma is a term used by many people but we don't always think about the implications of it. I suggest that the wise magician will, as often as possible, direct his or her actions towards kindness, nurturing of others, reaching out to make positive changes in the world, courage and consideration. It can't hurt and you may have set all kinds of unknown events in action in an ever widening circle. This is sending coincidence out into the world. When coincidence comes to us it is also known as opportunity. Many times small coincidental events will happen that we respond to with open arms. These may open up new vistas in our life. I recently ran into an old friend and that meeting seems to have widened my life quite a bit, because we reconnected. Coincidence is not really in our control. But we can encourage it by being open and watching for it. Patterns and connections are all around us. Find ways to let awareness into your life. The energy of magic that surround us will be more evident to you. Reach out for a better life. Appreciate the way life reaches back. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of A Name

2011-07-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of days I have been getting some tech support for my computer from a wonderful company called iYogi. The main technician and I had several fun conversations about life and such and he told me that a Yogi was a religious person who devoted himself to good works and that the many technicians in that company feel like they are in a service brotherhood. They certainly gave me good service. I marveled at the care and patience of the technician and that was when he mentioned the meaning of their name. I then began to think about names. I've never been able to be too crass or rowdy and I think my mother telling me that Donna meant lady had something to do with that. Sports teams try to find a name that will draw fans to them. Companies often consider, or should, the impact their name will have on their customer relations. As a wise magician you can use this power that names have to motivate yourself and draw things to you. Perhaps you have a project that needs some zing added to it to help you get it done. Think about giving it a name. That might give your project some cohesiveness and a certain amount of importance that will help in getting it done. In our family we had an unlovable fridge for a couple of years. Getting a better one was a major project,(choosing, measuring space, knowing all the features we needed, getting it delivered and setting up, paying for it). Once it was in the kitchen and useful to us we found ourselves giving it a name. It was a useful, attractive, member of the family, so it deserved a name. As a wise magician you can consider the power of naming. Use it to give a little extra help or zing to your life. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Assessment

2011-07-07T01:51:00.000-07:00

It has been said 'You can't get where you are going until you know where you are.' This is true. It is important to take stock from time to time. Simple assessment is a tool to see what problems we have, what we want to get rid of and where we want to go. This is necessary in the magic working process. We do need to have a goal for working our spells. However, when we stop to do our assessment the wise magician will do more than focus on the problem or problems at hand. She or he will also focus on the joy, the glory and what they want to preserve or nurture in their life.
The way in which you approach your assessment is also important. Notice how you ask yourself the questions about what needs to change. The wise magician will look beyond the immediate irritation or fear to the most desired outcome. Assess what is currently the state of your life. Then admit to yourself what the glorious or magical life would be like. How would you express your loves? How would you express your gifts? What resources would you call on to grow into this magical life? If something is nagging at you or irritating you it may be a blessing in disguise. This is a chance to look at what you really want. You can admit to greater possibilities in you life. I am not advocating 'pie in the sky'. In reality we are all capable of doing a bit more than we do. We are also capable of accepting a bit more than we do. We receive blessings every day that we don't even realize have come to us. That is why it is a good thing to adopt the 'gratitude attitude'..to list daily the things for which we are grateful. So in a well formed magical assessment we can also assess the daily blessings and miracles we have coming our way. So look at your life. Assess it. Be thankful that you can clearly see the changes you want to make. Then reach out to the energy of the magic that surrounds you, for whatever help you need, and begin to work towards your goals. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Due Time or Proper Delay

2011-07-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

When a spell is cast many expect immediate results. But that is not always the best way. You may have a goal in mind but you might not really be ready to be immersed in the fullness of achieving it. There must be a synchronization between what is wanted and what is achieved. A wise magician is willing for magic to be in the realm of the occult or hidden until the proper time for it to be manifest. We discover a purpose or goal. Then we work towards it. In doing so we grow, develop, even flower. Purposeful goals are much more than going to the grocery to buy a loaf of bread. They change us in due time. That is part of why 'instant wish gratification' has such a bad reputation. It deserves to be thought of as the less good way. Magic likes to be drawn out, to be appreciated. Magic also likes to reveal goals more fully as we become involved with achieving them. So if you have desires and wants, as we all do, add the extra zing that is magic by looking at these desires mindfully. Do you need clothing? You deserve well made, beautiful, magical clothing. Let magic help that clothing come to you in due time. Due time can arrive quickly or not so quickly. But it arrives as everything falls into place. So expect your needs and desires to be met. Work toward your goals. But I suggest that, as a wise magician, you set it up or expect to receive these benefits in due time. This is not greedy, grasping time. Nor is it always what you originally wanted. Sometimes it will be better. You deserve to have your needs met. I hope they will come to you 'in due time'. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Changing Your Brain Waves

2011-06-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

The wise magician must know how to get into the right world or zone. It is important to have the right brain waves going for the right task. Several decades ago people sang and spoke about good vibrations. They were closer to the truth than was realized at the time. Scientists can measure the speed of our brain waves in hertz. I haven't yet discovered the speed range for the fastest waves, gamma, but the range after that is beta (above 13 hz) , alpha (8-12 hz), theta (4-8 hz), and delta( sleep at .5-3.5 hz). Gamma and beta are the wake up and get with it states. Beta is the normal awake state. Alpha is very right brain and open to insight and inspiration. Theta is even more so. I have known for years that to simply tip your head back, roll your eyes up and voila! you would access the alpha state. When I earned my certificate in hypnotism we learned to help people access the alpha state easily. I also knew that the largo movements of baroque music could be listened to prior to study and the material would be more easily absorbed. That is music by Haydn, Handel and others of that period. The metronome setting for that music is about 60 mm. That's why listening to a clock can be soothing to some. Recently I discovered that You Tube has videos of music to help induce beta and gamma waves as well. Great help for waking up. So I suggest that as a wise magician it is well for you to know your mind, and the state you are in, as well as the state it would be well for you to be in. Use music or magic to wake up. Create a better life for yourself. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Kindness

2011-06-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

Just thinking about an act of kindness that you have received or committed can warm your heart. It can give you that actual feeling of warmth in your core. Then you may feel the corners of your mouth go up. That is why I refer to kindness as magic. It has the extra valance of beauty or zing connected to it that gives it an extra dimension. A simple act of kindness can energize a person for a long time. A simple hug can increase our red blood cells and actually be part of the environment we need to survive. It has long been known that babies who are not touched, not cuddled enough, will not thrive. Kindness is not just a human thing. You can often view videos on You Tube about the kindnesses animals do for other animals, even if the species are different than their own. The mantra to commit random acts of kindness is a good one. A wise magician will program himself or herself to commit acts of beauty and kindness throughout the day. Scatter magic where and when you will. They are like seeds and will take root in the hearts of others. They will also make your heart glad and actually more physically healthy. Kindness pushes away stress. Kindness also pushes away fear. Kindness is an outward thing, whereas fear is an inward thing. In your joyful scattering of the seeds of kindness you will be wise to remember to be kind to yourself. Stop for a moment and listen to the song of the birds, smell the flowers, savor beauty and all that is pleasant. Then be grateful that this is part of your world. Kindness seems to be a 'karma' thing. If you are kind to the world it is likely that the world will be kind to you. So indulge in the magic of kindness. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Ritual

2011-06-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

We are taught that good habits and good routines will help our lives run more smoothly. I have no doubt that is so. But since adding magic to our life is about adding a deeper, more fulfilling dimension I would suggest that we also need good rituals. The difference between ritual and routine is that rituals have mindfulness. A ritual is enacted to remind us that depth, the sacred, beauty, magic, love and so on are meant to be part of our life. Look around as see where you can add rituals to your life in order to affirm glory or joy. It doesn't have to be complex or hard. Some simple action that helps you remember that life is or can be wonderful. For me, when I spend time organizing my work area I seem to be involved in a ritual of sorts. On my mind all of the time I am sorting papers and finding the right places for things is the thought of how much I love ideas and my desire to share positive ideas with other people. Then from time to time I discover some gem, like some thought I had jotted down that I had forgotten. It now seems fresh and exciting to me. A ritual contains the idea 'start out as you mean to go on'. So when you get in your car and run through a few safety checks like making sure your seat belt is on, that your mirrors are well adjusted and that the way is clear, you are doing a ritual that will carry the idea of safe driving with you. Even saying 'good morning' or 'good night' can be rituals. We do wish that the day or the night will be well. If you have routines that can be upgraded to rituals with a bit of mindful attention, go ahead and do that. We are wise magicians who bring the extra dimension into our life in whatever way we can. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Fathering

2011-06-19T15:24:00.000-07:00

Traditionally the father is the figure that makes it safe for the child in the world and then helps the child transition to take his or her place in the world. Today is Father's Day, June 19, 2011. I think many would say that the world needs more fathers. Each wise magician can take on part of this task. What can you do to make the world safe for yourself or others? If you reflect on this concept many ideas are sure to occur, from politics, to social activities, to encouraging green living. Can you act as your own father and find a more nurturing life style for yourself? Or in acting as your own father, can you become more powerful in your world? Can you create situations in which you can act with more effect and power? Can you make your voice be heard in better ways? Reach out to the magic that surround you for wisdom and energy. Then invoke the father power in yourself, even if you are a woman. If you have decided to father yourself or someone else, take on the challenge of looking at the situation in which you or they live. What needs to be done to create a more effective member of the world? Knowledge, confidence and wisdom are character traits that can be nurtured and developed. Do your part for education, self-esteem and introspection. This can be a wonderful world. Be a wise magician and work your magic to make it so. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Inventory

2011-06-17T03:50:00.000-07:00

There are times in magically crafting the life we want we may suspect there are holes in our fabric, that we have failed ourselves somehow. Or we may have lingering echos of negative comments from toxic people from our past. That is a good time to stop and take inventory. To see what may be missing and to accept the wonderful things that are in our life as well. People who have Attention Deficit Disorder especially need to take inventory in order to work toward balance in their life. However, every wise magician would do well to do a bit of introspection from time to time. Remember, magic is well formed. The loving crafting of our life is what makes it magical. Details such as remembering to 'stop and smell the roses' or to list the things for which we are grateful. In addition, when we take inventory we are able to discover the next 'mission of the day', the thing which we must become involved with enough that we can actually get it done. Many times we may put something on our do list, only to find it still there day after day. It won't do itself. We have to focus on it, break it down into doable steps and get it done. Focus can mean mental rehearsal as well as the actual doing. Remember the way races were started off when you were a child? "Ready, set, go!" So take the challenge, do an inventory. Take time to do the 'ready' part of getting into the project. Find the glories and the worries. Then nurture the glories and prioritize the worries. Get ready to face the task that bothers you. See yourself doing it until you actually have started on it. That is one of the uses of the calendar that so many of us ignore. Look ahead to see what you have to start getting ready to start. Don 't let your inventory get you down. Reach out to the magic that surrounds you for a bit of that energy and zing. Then sit down for your inventory. There may be treasures in your list. You also may find that by doing your inventory you are better able to keep some of your treasures a bit better. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Plants

2011-06-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

Plants are vital to us for our food and medicine and more. But for the magical bit of zing that we need to keep us energized emotionally plants have a little bit of extra magic. I don't really believe someone can hold on to a dour mood while sitting by a rose bush in full bloom. They say 'stop and smell the roses' as a way of fighting stress. Take the time and trouble to nurture yourself by smelling and touching and looking at beautiful flowers and other plants. Your inner self will thank you and help you hook into the magic that is around you a little more easily.
As you look at your garden and appreciate the plants let your awareness grow. Let the sound of birds come through to you. Then the softness of the evening air. You world will spread in awareness and the little worries you had will vanish. If you let yourself go into an alpha state at this point you will be able to master or solve many problems in your life. So let the flowers of Summer help you transform you and thus your world. Reach out to the magic that surrounds you. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Purpose

2011-05-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

For several months I have been studying the field and practice of public speaking. Part of what I had to do was to identify the subjects I am most passionate about and know about. The speeches I will write will not be children's imaginative stories. But I realized that I understood my purpose in what I write as fiction in a better way. In fairy tales and movies that involve magic we often see a magic want whipped out on the spur of the moment to do a bit of magic. But that brief bit is part of the bigger purpose of what a wizard is all about. The wise magician must be prepared and know what he/she means to do in his/her life. So take some time and explore your passions and values. It will make your connection to magic that much richer and more effective. Whims are passing fancies. The good life, one enriched by love and magic is deeper and long lasting. So reach out to the magic that surrounds you and discover your purpose. May the spark be with you.

Nag to Zen, Vulture to Peacock

2011-05-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

I remembered that I had read a definition of magic as the ability to change perception at will. I was really feeling in need of a bit of magic to help me walk more. But all I could do was nag myself about it and feel guilty. I felt like there was an ugly vulture sitting above my shoulder. Then I remembered that I could change perception at will. I knew about the alpha state that is part of the Zen consciousness. So I aligned my body in a better way and began to walk in a Zen way. It was much easier. The doctors say it is very important that I get a lot more movement into my life. Now I have learned that when I am feeling nagged I can change that to an opportunity for a Zen experience. The ubiquitous vulture can become a bird that hangs around just as much but is more beautiful, a peacock. If you have a situation in your life when you are nagging yourself see if you can find a way to re-experience. Maybe paying bills is something you hate to do even when you know you have plenty of money for it. Rethink the whole thing. Maybe each check you write can be a statement of your abundance, a celebration of your ability to maintain and even improve your lifestyle. They say that if you have a rock sitting on your chest it makes it hard to breathe. But if you lift the rock up and down you find that your are developing good muscles that help you in your life and the rock is no longer impeding your breath.
So look for those little nagging feelings as a way to gain a higher type of experience and improve your life. Reach out to the magic that surrounds you and improve your life. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Dance

2011-05-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

Dance and movement are an important part of casting spells in the lore of magic. I recently have learned about the importance of movement for mental health. I am constantly amazed by how wise people were in the olden days. It seems that Dr. David Berceli, among others, believes that PTSD can be effectively treated by exercises he calls 'trembling exercises'. I watched a video about it and some of the people lying on the floor on yoga mats were doing a pretty good shimmy. The theory behind this is that we respond to danger in three ways; fight, flight or freeze. If we freeze or feel helpless a great deal of neural activity is still going on and we can build up chemicals in our body like the stress chemical cortisol. Adequate discharge takes place in the fight or flight situations. But not in the freeze situation. It was noticed that small animals will exhibit a great deal of trembling and shaking once the predator has left the scene and not preyed on them. Humans do not. Therefore they have stored up memory of the trauma that can continue to come up, sometimes at the worst of times, for years and even affect their physical health, causing obesity and heart attacks. I listened to one Iraqi veteran who said the treatment had helped him a great deal. My thinking is: since life gives us all traumas of some degree or another it might be well to see if me could 'shake it out'. They don't call it 'shake,rattle & roll' for nothing. Rocking chairs used to be on every front porch. They weren't used just by little old ladies either, but everyone. Rhythmic, active movement is part of a magical life. Dance with wild abandon as you reach out to the magic that surrounds you. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Organization

2011-05-19T00:03:00.000-07:00

Some people may have trouble with this title. Let me explain why I chose it. I know that we often think of the right hemisphere as the magical side of the brain and that the left side is the logical or organizational side. However, both sides need to work together for true magic to happen. If you still don't like the term 'organization' what about 'making right'? Things need to be where we can find them and where they please us. We can find things if they are in neat piles. But for them to feel 'magical' there needs to be an aesthetic feel to the way things are stored. That's why baskets, shelves and containers are so often made to be pleasing. Don't organize, make things 'right'. So I probably should have titled this blog 'Organization and Magic'. What do you think? When you go to organize things let your magical self participate. Look to make things retrievable, pleasant, interesting and sensible as well as just out of the way. Put magic in all parts of your life. Put the zing, the charm, the rightness of how you arrange and create things. Food tastes better. Clothes are more fun to wear. Organize you life in such a way that it is a smooth and workable existence. Then you have more energy to also make it transcendent and meaningful. Put your style on things. That is your magic. May the spark be with you.

Magic Words

2011-05-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Abracadabra, shazam, and hocus pocus are some of the magical words that come to mind as I mull over the use of mantras and magic words. I particularly like hocus pocus because it makes me think of all the magic that comes to one when we change our focus. I find myself saying "Shine and glitter, and all good things. When I say hocus pocus and change my focus I'm delighted with what the magic brings." So many times when people are locked in a mal content mind set, whining and failing to appreciate the good things life has to offer they really are bringing a bad life on themselves. If they would just try giving up their neurosis and shift their focus to one of appreciation, possibility and gratitude their life would drastically improve. Perhaps you have some word that helps you shift focus, that helps you bring magic into your life. Perhaps you need to develop such a word. Sometimes a word, idea of memory can help a person survive terrible times. Victor Frankl wrote a book called 'Man's Search For Meaning'. Thinking about his loved ones helped him survive the holocaust. Then he went on to inspire many, many people to look for meaning in their own lives. The words we think or say are a choice. You are free to use words that help you love, inspire others, give yourself courage, play, appreciate life. Words to have a power. Use them to reach out to the magic that surrounds you and bring good things to your life. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Mistakes

2011-05-04T03:02:00.000-07:00

As scary as it might seem at times, we do learn by doing and that means taking a chance on making mistakes. But mistakes have two benefits. The obvious one is that a mistake alerts us that we have strayed from the path and we get back to where we were headed. The other benefit is that a mistake can open up new doors. Silly putty, chewing gum, rubber, penicillin were all mistakes that actually turned the developers into new directions. So, maybe you failed to do something on time. Don't beat up on yourself. Maybe you have a chance and a motivation to start a business such as a reminder service for other people. There is a lot of magic energy out there and some of it is clustered around your mistakes. Maybe they can be a trigger for a funny dinner time story. Maybe new clothing items need to be invented. I believe that big chested women would often be better off wearing lacy ruffles at the neck, a sort of elegant bib or popcorn catcher. A mistake is also a wonderful chance to stop and nurture yourself. Maybe you didn't realize you needed to stop and give yourself a hug or a pat on the back. Stories are boring if mistakes are not made along the way as the hero tries to make needed changes in a life situation. So let go of your fear of mistakes. Reach out to the magic energy that surrounds you and improve your life. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of the Circle

2011-04-23T04:22:00.000-07:00

Many times we may come across, in our reading of fairy tales, the drawing of a circle by a wizard or sorcerer. How can we apply this ancient practice to our modern lives? Many ideas occur. When we look around us to see what we can show gratitude for or what we need to change we tend to cast our attention outward in a circle. Squares have unhandy corners for personal attention. When we say we are 'boxed' in we are not saying that in a good way. But when we are encircled it is usually by a family's love or by our successes. One of the magical things we can bring into our life is a good circle of friends. These friends will support us, guide us, enlighten us and entertain us. Sometimes two people can be in dialog and the communication is so rich that it feels like being in a magic circle. Another use of the circle is to mark what is within and without the circle. You may have a lot of stressful things on your mind. Draw a circle to decide which of those things are allowed to have your attention and effort and which must be relegated to some other time or place or even the land of never never. When you are trying to solve a problem you can visualize yourself circling around it, looking for the weak (parts you can easily do) parts of your opponent. Like a predator you can circle around, taking out a chunk here and there until the problem is totally at your mercy. There are all kinds of uses for the idea of the circle. Magic encircles you. Reach out to that energy to improve your life. May the spark be with you.

Revisiting "Act As If"

2011-04-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

I posted a short bit about the magic principle or "acting as if" on Feb. 2, 2010. I think it is a good time to revisit that principle. In that previous post I used examples of going after goals I had clearly in mind. But there are times when despair hits because you do not have your goals well formed. Since magic is well formed you may feel that magic has abandoned you. That is a good time to call on the "As if" principle. I know my ultimate goal but not the way to get there. I was feeling a bit of despair until I remembered the 'as if' principle. I began to act as if I would find a way to meet my ultimate goal and I immediately began to get ideas of things I could try. Research and getting feedback are part of the way to go along your path. Then I got an e-mail that vindicated the usefulness of one of my ideas. That indicated I may, after all, be on a good pathway. Just the remembrance of the principle seemed to give me courage, seemed to hook into the energy of the magic that surrounds me. I was able to sort out possible actions to take, prioritize them and make plans for implementation. Now it will be easier for me to act as if I will achieve my goal. May you also be able to reach out for your goals. May the spark be with you.

Invocation

2011-04-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

A powerful part of any spell is the invocation, or calling forth. That takes you from half-formed wish to sureness of result. Whether it is a physical healing that is needed or a change in life circumstances you must call forth the desired result. You must do it so strongly that your inner self and all the universe feels the urge for such to happen. In the book "The Goddess In Every Woman" by Jean Sinoda Bolin, woman are taught how to invoke aspects of different goddesses that are within themselves. Perhaps they need the wisdom of Athena. Then they call that forth. People who participate in running marathons learn how to call forth that extra bit of endurance they need to finish the race. If we learn well the uses of the tools of magic we will find that we are invoking many things we would have ignored previously. New ideas, knowledge, opportunities, friendships and chances to grow and learn will come to us constantly. Recognize your wishes. Choose which ones are worthy of pursuit. Then call forth their fulfillment. As Captain Picard, of the Starship Enterprise, says, "Make it so." You can also call forth favorable responses or behaviors from other people. As they say, in sales, 'You don't ask you don't get'. So call forth that which you need and deserve, remembering that magic is well formed. For it to work right the aim must be worthy. Tales abound of wishes gone wrong, as in the story of King Midas. But if you are tune with the energy of magic that is around you will be able to invoke good things for yourself. May the spark be with you.

When Magic Seems Fleeting

2011-04-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

At times the magic we create or experience seems to leave us too quickly. Or a brilliant solution to a problems fades away before we really can grasp it. It is important at these times to not tighten up. Don't lose faith that magic is always there. Most of the time the desired idea will come back to you if you will become very calm and simply wait for it. If it doesn't come in due time, call up another idea. The energy of magic is always there to be tapped into. If one thing doesn't work, something else will. Perhaps the first idea was not what you really needed. There are some strategies used in brain storming sessions in business that you can use. Try turning the problem or current idea around or over or upside down. Try linking two very different products or ideas together. Try looking at the opposite of the idea. Try supposing that the idea you liked is really a bad idea and that if you use it there will be dire results. The more you free up your mind to play, the more you will achieve magical results. Magic may be fleeting at times. But it is also a constant in life. Play with it. Enjoy it. Let it help you. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Modeling

2011-04-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Magic is often brought in to our life to dress up the small things. But sometimes we need to make a really big change. We need to think and act on a grand scale. That is not easy for everybody. I, myself, fight shyness at times. But I do know that the field of Neurolingistic Programing has a lot to offer about learning new things. They talk about modeling as a good way to learn. Modeling is one way to pick up new behaviors and knowledge. You find another person who knows what you need to know and you copy what they do, basically. Some of the people in my writer's group are much better at reaching out to publishers than I am. But being around them has broken down some of my barriers. Parents know the importance of modeling, they see the way their children copy them. But adults can also learn from modeling. Don't be afraid to use this technique to work magic in your life. Find a way to be around people that have the success you want to have and before you know it, you will be learning from them without even much of a struggle. That might be why television and movies are so popular. People like to see new ways of doing things, perhaps things they would like to do. So, go ahead and dream or think on a grand scale. Then if the new ideas call to you reach out for them you will find many ways of working towards these new goals. Modeling could very well be one of your strategies. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Suspending Judgement

2011-04-09T17:25:00.000-07:00

I last posted about the magic of patience. Suspending judgement is similar but different. Patience is necessary when you have a goal in mind but haven't achieved it or received it. Suspension of judgement can be useful at any time. It is the refusal to overreact. We have a part of our brain called the amygdala. It is part of the brain stem. It sends out fear signals to keep us alert. But not all those signals are valid warnings. We need to get in the habit of monitoring our thoughts so we can encourage the creative and productive ones. When the overly judgmental or fear induced thoughts come at us we can suspend judgment long enough to see if we want to accept them. Magic will not work is we have judged that it will not. Magic is mysterious and wonderful. But if we fear that part of our mind, the right brain, it will not be easy to manifest the blessing of magic in our life. Perhaps the people you see that you have judged as rejects are simply having a bad day and are really wonderful. Perhaps the suggestion someone has given you is the ideal solution to one of your problems and you didn't give it a chance. Do not go about your day rushing to judgement. It will deprive you of some of the glory, joy and magic you deserve. One of the problems of being judgmental is that you will tend to give up on solving problems, or doing magic, too easily. So reach out to the magic that surrounds you, with full acceptance of its glory and your power, and bring something good into your life. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Patience

2011-04-08T01:10:00.000-07:00

To have patience you must be able to believe in a positive outcome. Since the wise magician has a mindset that they will bring about a positive outcome it would seem that patience is natural to the wise magician. But just in case you are as human as everybody else I will help you examine a few things you might consider about patience. The first thing, of course, is the ability to put aside the needless fears that want to intrude. Fear, in many forms, likes to sneak in where ever it can. If you run from it it gets stronger. Challenge it. If you are getting tired that might be one of the forms fear has taken. Procrastination, getting fog headed, having an urge to be distracted, getting with people who will discourage you from working towards your goals are all manifestations of fear. Sometimes all you fear is change. Even so the smallest fear can hold you back. A second thing about patience is to fill the time purposefully. If you are waiting for Christmas it might be well to buy presents, wrap them and send out cards. Prepare for the achievement of the desire. A third thing you can do to help yourself with the development of patience is to make the goal seem more real. Do affirmations, visualizations and plans for how you will enjoy what you are manifesting for yourself. A fourth thing that will help you have patience is to break up the time into chunks. It is easier to get through a day than a week. After you have patiently passed one day you can then take on another. Fifth, be creative about your waiting. Find ways to make games of it, or find humor to help you pass the time. Creativity is a special realm of magic. So reach out to the magic that surrounds you and accpt that good things will come to you. May the spark be with you.

The Importance of Gratitude To The Wise Magician

2011-04-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

Learning takes a while to process. If we have created something wonderful it will take a while to understand that it is truly in our life and to know how we drew it there. If emotion is connected with a learning that learning is more powerful, complete and long lasting. Gratitude is a strong and positive emotion. Therefore, it would be good to practice gratitude constantly. Connect that feeling with your awareness of what has just manifested. As you practice gratitude for life's goodness you will see more and more of it manifest. You inner self has drawn all that to you. Even if you don't consciously know how these things came to be, your inner self does and the emotion of gratitude will help it remember how to do so again. Sometimes we only play lip service to gratitude. But it is better to actually let a warm strong feeling bathe you. Even, if you want to, give a good strong exclamation as you accept the gift you have been given. Be grateful for the gift and for the ability to draw it to you. Magic is experiential. What you think about is what you will experience. If you focus on your blessings you will have less time to create fears.
Reach out to the realm of magic that surrounds you and bring goodness into your life then lock that goodness by feeling gratitude. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of I Will

2011-03-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

I am. I can. I will. The time will come for a wise magician when he comes out of the fog and confusion induced by fearfulness and he is ready to go forward with a purposeful life. Then it is easy to say 'I will." and work for worthy goals. These goals will have integrity and not be full of wishes to put down other groups or people or to deny anything to anybody. The question is how to arrive at that state of clarity. A lot of soul searching is probably the key. Knowing what you value and want to have in your ideal world tells you what is worth working for. You can go back over your life and look at patterns, successes and failures. You may find that what you thought of as failures were really valuable learning situations. When your stomach loosens up and your heart feels at peace you have discovered what you need to know to start on this journey. If you can not yet articulate it try talking with different friends. That will help to make your goal a little more well-formed. Being true to yourself and following your bliss are not different things. Sometimes people think of 'following your bliss' as a way to become wealthy and can't seem to find the right connection to get on that path. Wealth is a relative term. Money is necessary and nice but feeling at peace and true to oneself is greater than mere wealth. So reach out to discover your deeper self. That will bring the realm of magic forward to help you. May the spark be with you.

Magic Is The Soul Of Things

2011-03-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some mentoring of other writers. Each one was having trouble making their work well-formed and putting life or zing into it. When we applied the principle of magic to these works they seemed to be much easier to write. I told them that magic is the driving good in something and that seemed to help. Sometimes we feel down because we feel that we have not lived a purposeful life. But with everyone that I have worked with we have found consistent patterns of behavior that showed these people that they were actually being true to certain values all along, they just didn't realize it. A purposeful life is more satisfying than one of fame and notoriety. We are just finishing up Women's History Month. Women like Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton come to mind way before Lady Gaga. The first three accomplished great things and had a lasting legacy because they poured their heart and soul into their work. They were the judge of how well they were doing, not other people. So if you feel that you are lacking something in your life, look to your values. If you appreciate beauty make some beauty appear somewhere. My flower beds are blooming now because my daughter took the time last year to plant more bulbs. I appreciate the beauty every time I step outside. If you value good manners be a role model whenever you can. If will rub off on others. You are bringing magic into the world in little ways and that can lead to bigger things because goodness ripples outward. Remember, your soul is that part of you reaching out for good in your life. So make magic happen, express your soul's desires. May the spark be with you.

Magic Likes To Be Drawn Out

2011-03-20T01:49:00.000-07:00

Magic is often referred to as the study of the occult, or hidden. By being occult magic is less likely to be tarnished. If you desire to have some magic in your life you must be willing to call it forth and/or appreciate it when it comes, or is manifest. Every morning there is a beautiful sunrise that can be seen out my office door. But if I don't bother to see it it is not in my life. It is the same with friendships you don't nurture and goals you don't try to achieve. If you want those special things in your life you must make a home for them. The wise magician believes in possibilities and opens doors. But too many people fail to open their hands and hearts to receive. They say that good couldn't happen to them, that good doesn't exist, or that it is too much trouble to work for it. How foolish. Once magic starts to be drawn to you there is a power that continues that draw. This is not the exact quote from Goethe but he says, "If you can think a thing begin it, for effort has a magic and power in it." Do reach out for the little bit of extra zing that will make your life better. You deserve it and it wants to come to you.
Be clear about what you want and draw it to you. Ask for it, work for it, make a home for it. Goodness will come your way. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of The Soul

2011-03-15T22:51:00.000-07:00

Soul is a term that means different things to different people. So I must start off by telling you what soul means to me. It is that part of your inner self that is always trying to guide you to something transcendent, something better. Once, a long time ago, I sampled a certain substance. I thought to myself, "How smart this makes me feel." It was my soul that came on strong and gave me the thought, "But I am smart. I don't need something else to make me feel that way." I was never tempted to try anything like that again. The inner strength that our ancestors showed in coming to America, crossing the plains, building railroads and cities was not easy. It demanded a lot of inner resources, of faith in their ability to solve problems. There is magic in turning to yourself and your community to solve problems. They get solved. Whether the problem is a matter to be dealt with on a personal, community or national level the wise magician believes that a good outcome is possible and should be searched out. We have to option of operating from love or fear. If we love our fellow man we will try to help them. If we fear them we will try to protect ourselves from them and control them. Money is often used to influence fear based outcomes, as in when large sums are thrown into the political arena to give certain groups power (and tax breaks). If you become aware of your inner resources you are more able to stop running around mindlessly and begin to build a satisfying and purposeful life. Every one has strong resources. Not everyone knows that or has learned how to use them. The field of magic that surrounds you is there to help you discover and use your resources. Reach out. May the spark be with you.

The Shoemakers Magic

2011-03-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

The shoemaker was a poor struggling workman who became very rich. Read the story of "The Shoemaker and the Elves" and learn valuable lessons from that. The shoemaker was struggling. But he had a good product that had a demand, and he could be trusted. Some outside help came his way. In terms in use in the present it could be said that he caught the eye of some venture capitalists. Anyway, he got some outside help. Then he carefully took advantage of that help and plowed all his profits back into his business until it because very profitable. Many people throw away their resources and their windfalls then bemoan their situation. That is not taking advantage of the magic that surround you. The shoemaker was totally responsible in all aspects of his craft, including the marketing, letting potential clients know he had a good product. I believe a wise magician would constantly look for resources and ways to develop those resources until he had a good product. Then he would find a magical, appealing way to market that product and use that way. Many times the product people have is themselves. It does not do to tear down or degrade that product that is yourself. Opportunities abound even though they may not be handed out on a silver platter. Have faith and be creative. You may be surprised at the financial opportunities that will come your way, almost like magic. The friends you make, who trust you, will be part of that magic, trying to advise and help you. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Work and Play

2011-03-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

Both work and play are mindful, purposeful activities. Or should be. When you engage in either you are in the present and being an important part of your community. Both can bring joy and satisfaction. You are engaged in making your will manifest. But when you are letting your mind dance around like a sick grasshopper, clutching at pleasure that isn't there or adding needless worries or resentments to your imagination you are neither at work or play. You are nowhere, in the dark limbo of self-caused pain. To get away from the 'grasshopper' mind is not easy for some.
But it is needed. Some of the things that will trigger the 'grasshopper mind' is letting yourself consider questions that are worded wrong. Such as 'What is the purpose of life?' Well--life tries to keep living. As to 'purpose' one would better ask, 'What purpose do I give to my life?'
Do you see the difference? At times work may be hard to find in the conventional sense. We hear constantly about the unemployment rate. That kind of work is the kind where you want somebody to tell you what to do. Even if you don't have a conventional job you can find purposeful activities. Don't sit around and let worries and dark thoughts eat at your mind. If you have worries make it your job to face them and deal with them. It can be done. You may have to get a little help from your friends. There we come back to play. Play is wonderful and gains friends for you. So make your life magical for yourself by putting as much work and play into it as will fit. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Faith

2011-03-05T00:46:00.000-08:00

Faith that things will work out as wanted is essential to the wise magician. You must first become clear about your desire or will. Then you take action to cause the results you want. If you lack faith you will fail to follow through or you will get in the way of the success you have coming by over-correcting or changing your mind too often. Often a feeling of insecurity or unworthiness will interfere with having the necessary faith to work towards a goal, or to wait for the results that are trying to come to you. At times like that you may have to experiment with your attitudes. Perhaps you can say "even though I may not deserve these good results, I do believe in magic and I will wait to see what happens. If I have been thorough in my attempts to cause good results and have had nothing come to me, I am free to try something else." You have to do what you can to keep those sabotaging fears out of the way. If you can't have faith in yourself, try having faith in magic. It surrounds you and you have seen flashes of it in your life from time to time. Have faith that you can bring about what you want one more time at least. A component of faith is the willingness to let the needed time pass that it will take for your desires to manifest. Patience and faith go hand in hand. Because we have the capacity to be happy it must mean that we are meant to have happiness. So call the good life to you. Become clear about what you want, believe that you can cause it, take action then have faith. May the spark be with you.