Magic And Big Projects

I was wondering about the lore of magic and what it had to say about accomplishing big projects. I know that some stories have castles appearing overnight and marvelous feats are accomplished by
the hero of the story. These are the lessons I derived from the stories. (1) No matter how anything comes into being it must be well formed to be more than an illusion. Shabby work is not to be tolerated. So if you are building a castle you must make sure that all the stones are well carved and in their proper place. (2) Big quests are important and are not to be feared. So don't hold back from taking on important endeavors. (3) Help will appear to meet those big quests. So go forward with courage and look for help when you need it. (4) Start out as you mean to go on. Don't start out to build a hut just because it is easy and you really want a castle, or a college degree or a good job. (5) Big projects are meant to fill a certain purpose. In some stories big projects may impress others but if they don't fulfill a real purpose they don't last. (6) Big projects are to help the hero and usually accomplished by him or her. (7) The purpose of big projects are a better life for the hero or people important to the hero. (8) There are obstacles in the way of big accomplishments but they can and will be overcome.
I think the fairies tales have a lot of important lessons for us. So I suggest you hook into a mind set of learning from the lore of magic. Take on a big project without too much fear. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Hard

Taking on hard things is the way to do great things. Just because something is hard doesn't mean it should be avoided. In August Newsweek reported on its ranking of different countries for quality of life. The US was ranked 11th. Ten other countries have better health, live longer, have better education and so on. The writer I first read who mentioned this was from The New York Times, Thomas L. Friedman and it was run in today's Denver Post. Mr Friedman felt that we have slipped because too many of us are no longer willing to put forth hard effort. The wise magician knows that effort is vital in order to accomplish our desired goals. The way you take on hard things is with consistency of effort, preparation, willingness to take as long as it is needed to do the task, cooperation, and keeping your eye on the goal. Creativity also helps. Remember that hard things are made less painful when there is an air of magic about the effort. Work songs were developed to help people push those handcarts across the plains, to lay all those miles of railroad track, and many other jobs that got done as our country was becoming great. Songs, games, or whatever it takes to put a smile on your face or a lilt in your heart is part of the magic you can access to take on hard things. Don't be afraid of them. It is better to be afraid to run from them. Now I had better take my own advice and get busy on my re-write of Thimblewyck and some other writing tasks I have set myself. I hope you will have fun challenging your hard tasks as well. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Hanging In There

Hanging in there is necessary if the problem is going to get solved. But the publicized pictures of a kitten hanging from a tree limb with the caption "Hang In There Baby" isn't the way it's done. That cat is getting ready to fall safely or find a way to scramble up on to another branch because cats are wise. But the picture doesn't reveal that. When you hang in there you are directly focused on the problem. If you are not healing as you should you need to contact your health care provider again. If you are not learning as you should talk it over with the teacher. Problems need to get solved. If there isn't any progress the strategy or approach may be at fault. All too often the magician fails to work the necessary magic because he or she goes away from the problem. Recovery from substance abuse often follows a pattern of some abstinence then a recurrence of the problem behavior. The smoker says that just a few puffs will not hurt. This is not doing what it takes to make the change. The right kind of change is a kind of miracle, a piece of magic. But it is possible. The change must be prepared for. The scene must be set. The mood must be right. Then the workings of the spell must be put into place. Needed change is possible. Reach out to the energy of the magic that is around you and cause the change you need. May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Recognition

Recognition can happen the first time something is seen or met up with because that 'thing' will fit your inner ideal of rightness. Take a magic moment to wait for that recognition in your choices and you will be happier with them. I have portraits of my daughters that were painted by a Korean artist from photos over forty years ago. Most of the time they have been in the possession of someone else, but they recently came to me. For a long time they were unhung because the right place hadn't made itself known. The size and color were some of the considerations that were holding the decision back. Then, yesterday, my oldest daughter spotted a possible place, we tried it and it was perfect. Every other spot I had considered in the house had seemed as if they would pull something away from the pictures or make them look bad. I've looked at them dozens of times now and I get a zing every time. Not just from looking at a joyous reminder of such a long ago, loving time, but from the 'rightness' of the spot we chose.
I use the same tool of recognition in my writing. I will feel that my storyline is flat and I have to add a bit of adventure into the narrative. I will consider whatever comes to mind. But I will only choose the twist that I recognize as being something that will fit in with the characters and setting of my story.
People, objects, projects, adventures are all out there waiting for you to recognize them and let them help you give your life that spark of magic.

The Magic of Small

Keys are small. Without a key the locked door will not open. Large problems are made up of many smaller problems. If we learn to smoothly use the small keys we can find we will be able to deal with very large things-problems, projects, ideas. The willingness to accept the small key as valuable and use it smoothly is the crucial element.
One of the arts I love is sculpture. When modeling a piece in clay you must build it up dab by dab, small stroke of your tool by small stroke of your tool, lovingly. It is the same with your life. Allow awareness to develop. Question ways of dealing with that which must be dealt with. Look for the small keys. Perhaps you must start with something as simple as better breathing, or a different way of using a particular muscle. That is the start, the small key. Then move on to the other small steps. Think big, work small, but flow towards the ultimate goal. I have found that roadblocks will happen, but they are only blocks, not the end of the road. When you feel blocked, accept it, then see if you can flow past it. Perhaps that will be enough. If not, allow the block to reveal itself, with all of its small parts. These will be small enough that they are not the block you first met. Sparks are small but they start warm fires. Use the magic of small.