The Magic of Standing Back

So many fairy tales and movies have the magician get into a hard spot then get out of it with a swoosh of a magic wand.  Our mind set can get narrow that way.  We can believe that every discomfort can be changed by the wave of a magic wand, by getting "Mommy or Daddy" to fix it, or by throwing money at it.  But if we don't stand back from the problem we may not even know what it is that needs to be changed, or solved. Standing back also brings about a shift in the time frame. The wise magician will realize that a decent problem needs a decent amount of time to be dealt with.  I say to all wise magicians, if you need a change take the time to decide what the best change would be.  Then stand back and decide what to do.  Stand back to gain confidence and clarity about working at what you want to have happen until you get it.  I have seen people need a change but they have a pattern of showing irritation too soon, then after the blow-up, settling back into acceptance of the way things were.  I have noticed that the people around them then didn't believe they really wanted that change, so they didn't continue to help them achieve it.  Step back, look at you life, see what changes you need, see what you can do and do it.  May the spark be with you.

The Magic of Being 'Locked in"

Much of the time creative people are in different stages of bringing forth their creative work.  Unfortunately, some of this work doesn't actually see the light of day. This can be for various reasons, but the most common one is that the motivation that comes from an idea being new fades as you work on it.  There may need to be a lot of new ideas brought forth to get that particular project finished but over all, the work involved in creativity can just get old.  But take heart, wise magicians, there is hope.  Once in a while magic comes into play and we get totally committed or 'locked in' on a project.  When that happens it is easy to doggedly keep after solutions and find time to work.  Because it doesn't happen all the time I suggest that when it does you visit how it feels.  That feeling of being 'locked in' on something will become a resource for you.  Tuck that sense of 'locked in' away in your achievement tool chest.  Then if you have a project that is important but is fading call up that experience of 'locked in'.  It is quite energizing.  No waffling back and forth about 'should I or shouldn't I?'  You just are going to get it done, no matter what comes your way or for whatever reason you have or don't have.  It is yours, you have chosen it and you are doing it.  No outside considerations.  I hope you can experience the magic of being 'locked in' on a lovely creative gem.  May the spark be with you.

The Magic of 'Processing'

I put apostrophes around processing because I am discussing a specific type of processing in this post.  When you take information into your brain through your senses it isn't truly in there in any meaningful way at first.  Until it makes sense you won't remember it, you haven't learned it.  That happens when the information is processed.  Teachers are told that they shouldn't just lecture on and on if they want their students to actually learn the subject matter.  There should be pauses where processing can take place. For example: the students can ask questions, discuss what they are learning, or be asked to put the information into their own words.  In other words, things need to be sorted out and put in their right place in your brain, just like putting groceries away in your kitchen.  This usefulness of  processing, or of taking in information and getting it to make sense, can be very helpful to a wise magician.  For yourself, you can make make sure that you remember more about the new people you meet, you can take away more from training meeting you have to attend, or you can get more out of vacation trips, ( as some examples), if you learn to make it a point to give yourself a chance to process all that sensory input you are dealing with.  When you are reading, stop several times on each page and think about what you have read.  When you are writing something, pause to process the way you are expressing you ideas.  There are numerous times when taking the time to process information will actually speed up the acquisition of information.
Allowing or encouraging others to process what you are communicating to them will make your interaction with others a lot better.  When I am teaching in a one on one situation I watch the eyes of my student.  If the eyes haven't lit up with understanding, I rephrase my explanation rather than going on to another point. I know my student needs to process certain points before I can build on that information to develop the concept more fully.
Years ago I was frustrated by the parent of one of my students.  The boy didn't have an understanding of certain math concepts.  But his mom pushed me to 'just make sure he got his homework done'. I had to be creative in working in the concept for the child that multiplication was counting by twos or threes, for instance.   I knew that he had to have an orderly understanding of basic math concepts before he could master his math homework.
I say to all wise magicians: If you are feeling overwhelmed or fuzz-headed by information, don't despair. It is simply the first stage you are in, you have not yet processed this information.  Find ways to chip away at it, attack it from different directions, come at it again and again.  In time you will find a way to make the important parts of it make sense, and you will have thrown away the parts of it that don't want to fit, at this time, into your mental cupboard. So reach out for information that will help your life, process it so you can use it well, and live a more magical life.  May the spark be with you.

The Magical Power of Passionate Commitment

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 Just Before Sleep

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.

The Magic Of Accepting Your Power

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 I Will

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.

The Shoemakers Magic

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 Jig-Saw

As we get involved in a drive to reach our goals we are in danger of becoming too linear in our thinking. In fact we can be so involved in the process that we get off track without realizing it. It is very important to pull back and look at the big picture once in a while. If we use the concept of 'putting together a jig-saw puzzle' as one of our thinking tools or magic wands we may find that success comes to us more easily than if we just go full steam ahead. Each piece of the jig-saw that we put in place fits in relationship to its neighbor as well as being an important piece of the overall whole. This is especially true for creative endeavors. I am trying to start a young adult novel with the working title of 'The Protector'. I was having a lot of trouble with the plot points. I knew the changes I wanted my protagonist to go through, I thought, but some of the actions just wouldn't gel. Finally I backed up to look at the big picture and realized I have made some mistakes in crafting this young man's character. Without crafting a well-formed whole this story was not going to fall into place. No matter how well I thought up actions and troubles I couldn't make things hold together. But I used the concept of the 'Magic Jig-Saw' and now I feel like I understand the protagonist much better. I can create actions that will make sense for who he is. I can now go back to my linear plotting. But I won't try to reach the goal or the end of the story without fitting the pieces in place where they are meant to go. Life is meant to be well formed. We are multi-dimensional beings. If you are ignoring part of your big picture you may be in danger of not being able to put your puzzle together. Reach out to the magic that surrounds your for help in finding your fit and balance. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Owning Your Power

Sometimes the magician wants to be all powerful without realizing the power he or she already holds. Often that gap between power wanted and power already owned comes from a needless insecurity. One exercise I would suggest to remedy that insecurity is to explore the power you have. Each magician has different powers and would do well to explore those powers in a celebration of life. To help you get started I will list some of my powers as an example. I have the power to learn, to grow, to have values and speak up for them. I also have the value to laugh, to love, to express that love, to accept what must be accepted, to create, to persuade others, to enjoy a good story, to discover and develop my talents, to mourn when I must, to recognize stupidity and to have empathy for others. I have negative powers that I have not developed but I notice them in others and hope to stay away from them. I abstain from speaking the language of "shoulds" too often as in "you should do this, you should do that" except to myself. I have the power to get started on a project and to work to craft that project. I have the power to hope and the power to encourage. I have the power to receive. I have the power to be thankful for miracles that come to me. I have the power to take chances and learn from the mistakes I make in taking those chances. I have powers yet to be discovered. I suggest you also accept your powers. Take responsibility for them. Own them. Reach out to the magic that surrounds you for the energy to do so. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Counting

I am not referring to the use of numbers as some do in simplistic ways of referring to magic. The act of learning to count, of being aware of what you are doing with information, and what you have just done with information, is the beginning of higher levels of learning to use the mind. Calming yourself down so you can be clear minded, putting anxiety to one side in order to function more fully, listening for the essence of what is said, organizing ideas as to sequence or importance, are all thinking skills that some people do not learn to use. The wonderful thing about the brain is that it can be self aware and likes to learn. The rest of the body gets in on the act to help that process out. There are myriad physical sensations that you can learn to notice that are signals as to what is going on in the thinking process. The muscles, the organs, the eyes, the skin may all be giving you clues as to what ideas are whirling around in your head. Let all these messages help you form the finished thought. Suppose you want to develop your skills in organizing a project. A key word or picture can be the hook. Then try using the skill you want to develop, paying attention to what goes on with your mind as you try this out. Maybe you will feel a great tiredness, or find other distractions cropping up. Review how you did at this skill when you take a break. Try some more. Brain use is like any other skill. You keep at it, refine your attempts at it, plan ways to do it better, and remember what you have done to develop this skill. Also you must get a feel for using this skill. The feeling of listening to someone and understanding what they are saying is different from listening to them and feeling confused. Your brain is a magic tool. Learn to use it well. The spark of magic can help you take on this wonderful challenge. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Asking

I have often been praised for being able to find things out. I do have a variety of skills in this. But one of the skills I use that others could benefit from is knowing how to ask. I ask customer service people if it is going to cost me more to pay a bill by phone. I ask businesses exactly where they are located. I ask for my total, including shipping and handling, when I make a purchase by phone. I ask for policies, protocols, customs, availability, possibility and probability. If I am learning a skill at work I ask my supervisor to make sure I am on the right learning path. I ask readers to read and critique my books before I ever think of sending them off to seek a publisher. Also, I ask my self if I am on the right path, or how I can find the right path. Sometimes I ask myself what I dare risk. I believe that there is some magic power to the act of questioning that calls forth an answer. So if you are like my father was, poor soul, and can never ask for directions, I call on you to ask yourself if a change wouldn't be a nice thing. Call forth a spark of magic to give yourself the energy and the courage. Try asking for a change. May the spark be with you. Try the magical power of the question. It will bring good things to your life.

The Magic Of Re-commitment

Recently my self-imposed deadlines, my hopes, wishes, dreams, ideas, and problems all rolled up into a big bristly anxiety broom and my future expectations were totally swept away, the forward path was totally clean. I breathed a big sigh of relief. I didn't have to write any more plays, blogs, stories or novels or do anything else. In that wonderful clean room I asked myself what I liked, what I loved and what I wanted to do. The answer came in a visual mode as well as in a still small voice. I love the imaginative world I have created. I love the other worlds I will create. The gyrfalcon Chak who masquerades as a dragon is a character I want other people to have the fun of knowing. Marus, the heroic fairy who rescued Lina Thimble and dares to put a dwarf in captivity is dear to my heart. So far only dear friends know these characters. I found myself re-choosing to work on finding a way to share these characters with a larger audience. The re-commitment to my writing felt right and good. I still have more ideas and projects than I know what to do with. I still have pressures to deal with. But the pictures I saw that came in answer to my questions about what to do were a spark of magic for me. Those characters are my attempt to get my ideas out there, as well as this blog. I will find it easier to write of them now that I have better pictures of them in mind. Perhaps you can "look into" re-committing to one of your special projects by letting it go, then seeing if it comes home to you. May the spark of magic be with you.

The Magic of Resisting the Urge To Settle

Refusing to settle takes time but it's time well spent. If you are not satisfied with something that lack of satisfaction is liable to bleed over into many aspects of your life and drag you down, thus costing you productivity anyway. The spark of magic urges you to go for that which is just right. I have two daughters. Both have a sense of living the magical life. Years ago one spent a few dollars on a blouse at K-Mart. Then she visited several fabric stores until she found some outstanding buttons for it. It made all the difference in the world with that blouse. She told me, "I didn't want to settle for just any old blouse. I saw the potential here and worked for it." There are several things to consider when you go after that which is 'just right.' First you have to know yourself and your situation well enough to really know what you want.
Then you have to know how much of a search you are willing to carry out. Many times the right kind of search, such as letting friends help, can draw that which you need to you. Then you need to know the range of alteration you are willing to get involved with, or if your goal is to find "just right' ready made. You deserve a satisfying life. But you must reach out for it. Let the spark of magic give you the energy to do so.

The Magic Of Connection

To what and to whom are you connected? Have you thought about the benefits of your connections? I value my connections a great deal and am thankful for them. Friends set you on the right pathway. They give you a safe port in a storm. I just came across an excerpt from my grandfather's diaries that I had put together in the late
l960's. He died in 1959. (born 1868) I felt a sense of connection to him and my whole family. I plan on retyping these mimeographed pages and sending them off to my siblings. I think that will enrich our connection. Sometimes a connection is not that long but will live on beyond the time spent together. I stopped to talk to a street musician in England in 1969 and was delighted to find out about his life and to hear his music. I'm still glad I bothered to stop and make that brief but interesting connection. There are places I feel a connection to, some very simple. I sat under a wild rose bush on the Kiabab mountain in Northern Arizona and played "To A Wild Rose" by MacDowell when I was a young teen. I still feel magical and peaceful when I think of it. You may have connections to ideas, people, places that you have not realized. Take a moment to let the spark of magic reinforce your connections. It will enrich your life.

Another Principle of Magic: Act As If

By acting as if the desired event will occur you make sure the door is open for it to occur. Too many people give up too soon, they bail out way before the magic has a chance to take effect. When I was in college I kept on acting as if I would be able to raise the tuition, find the books and pay for them, get my assignments done on time, get into the classes I needed, continue to meet the obligations to my family, learn what I needed to learn to keep on going, and so forth. Ten years after I graduated from high school I received my MA. It was a good time and it was time well spent. Every person can probably find similar examples in their own life or similar experiences. Look at children learning to walk. They are acting as if they will learn to walk, and they do. Things would rather work than not, once set in motion. But if we throw rigid judgments and unrealistic expectations at them we can derail them. I believe we seldom know the fullness of what the end result will be, when we start out on something. But we need to believe that it will be a worthwhile result, perhaps unfolding for us in magical new ways, as relationships do, in order to keep on keeping on, to act as if. That is how magic happens.