Your Personal Magic Hat

When you have a hat on your head it is not easy to hang you head down.  There is something about a hat that makes you stand out.  I just looked at Google Images for Ascot hats.  Everyone who feels upper class enough to go to the races at Ascot wears a hat.  Some look very expensive and proper.  Silk top hats and all.  But even the men had some pretty wild hats.  It seems that an air of carnival is in the air. Some of the women's hats seem to be balancing acts.  One would certainly have to hold one's head high and proud to wear a hat like that.  So I suggest to all wise magicians that you get a hat.  It doesn't have to be real.  But a sorcerer's hat would be fun to have, wouldn't it?  What I am suggesting that you design a headpiece that is a symbol of all the wonderful, magical things you are and to which you aspire.  I have been doing some art therapy sessions at a shelter for homeless women.  This week we are going to make tiny hats to symbolize our Shom, or shoulder mom, the wise loving part of our self that encourages us to keep up the good fight.
Everyone could use a magical hat.  Think out one for yourself and wear it magically.  May the spark be with you.

A Smile Can Be a Magic Wand

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 Turtle

In some stories told long ago it was said that the world rested on the back of a giant turtle. When I wondered what I could gain from the idea of a turtle holding up the world I came up with a couple of ideas. First there is the shell of the turtle. The turtle is protected from barbs and stones. He can have insults or muck thrown at him and he steadfastly goes his way. Humans can too often be distracted from their good path by gibes and noise that other throw at them. Second the turtle stays on track without stopping, wandering away, or creating side trips. Tiny turtle steps will get you where you need to go. Up and over obstacles, solving the problems of the route as you go, copy the turtle to achieve your desired ends. The ways of the turtle can shore up your world. You may wonder where the magic is in a turtles journey. They do have the life they want. They do achieve their goals. Who are we to say they don't experience a bit of joy and sparkle as they go? Since we need and love that joy and sparkle be sure you reach out to the magic that surrounds you to help you take those turtle steps. Enjoy the small violet or fresh grass as you go along. Make it a journey of joy. May the spark be with you.