Always Remember: Magic is Well-formed

That magic is well-formed is one of the basic principals of magic.  I recently became aware of the importance of this when I was working on something and it just wouldn't fall into place.  I was feeling anxious about it and considered dropping the whole attempt to work it out.  But I kept at it, tweaking here and there and then trying different things to get the result I wanted. However,  the attached anxiety made it very hard to hang in there.  Then suddenly everything fell into place.  I not only felt satisfied with what I had done but I also felt strong in my sense of purpose.  As I looked back over the hard time I had endured I realized that the nerves had been a signal to me to keep on keeping on, that I had not yet reached the well-formed point. When I did reach well-formedness I was at peace.  Wise Magicians, professionals and craftsmen all all have this in common: they know when something is right, when they can take pride in it and  they are willing to continue to work until they have the result they want.  After this experience I feel more confident that I can weather the storm in trying to work on creative projects, that I can endure the feeling of chaos and doubt, and that I will eventually prevail in creating a well-formed work of magic.  Magic is what you do when you want to bring something better to your life.  Sometimes 'good-enough' is acceptable.  But if you set out to work magic, to create something fine in which you can take pride, you must follow that inner drive until you feel that sense of peace in doing what you set out to do.  If you remember that the energy of magic that surrounds us wants to work with us, then you can hang in there during the tough time.  They say it is always darkest before the dawn.  Reach out to bring good into your life and do not fear that it may be difficult.  Good wants to come to you.  May the spark be with you.

Is the magic in perfectionism or craftsmanship?

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.