Systems and Magic

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.

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.

The Magic Of Light

Light is such a powerful metaphor for success, wellness, discovery and health in our culture that every mention of it almost has a double meaning. Examples: Hide not thy light under a bushel, let there be light, let the light shine in, bring things to light. Perhaps that is because light itself is so important to us. If we never get any sunlight we have all kind of health problems such as being deficient in vitamin D we will have problems with calcium, therefore problems with healing and brittle bones. Vampires are very popular in literature now but imagine how easily their bones must break as they land when they do those amazing leaps. They never get into the sun. Depression is more likely to affect us when we are deprived of light as well as other problems. But the light of which I speak now is of the mental/emotional kind. There are two small exercises I want to share with you that can be helpful in gaining a better life. The first is to look up, towards the light, whenever you are feeling down. Part of why this is so helpful is we are often caught in automatic "tapes" of negativity, we are talking to ourselves or hearing voices of criticism from the past. Looking up switches the channel into the visual mode. The second exercise is to imagine a beam of light illuminating dark corners. This is helpful when you are blocked, don't know where the energy or inspiration you need will come from. Just illuminating your dark corners will give you a jolt of energy. Value light. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of The Shadow

Trying too hard to be rosy can be dangerous. The shadow is a valuable resource. People are taught to fear anger in themselves and then lose the ability to tell when there is something wrong that needs to be dealt with. Or they fail to mourn the passing of something enough. The so-called negative emotions come from the shadow side. It is not good to ignore this part of ourselves. It is the shadow that is the source of some pretty good humor. (Some bad as well) Often laughter is the relief that that pratfall is not happening to you. When you take time for your valuable solitude it is well to spend time with the 'creatures of the night' the fears and things that nag at you. We must manage our moods so the baseless thoughts don't overwhelm us. But we also have to explore our thoughts and see what is behind them. If there is a problem that needs handling, get happy and handle it. The ways the shadow speaks to you might be varied. Many people think that the main way of knowing these emotions are there is from physical feelings, hot cheeks, guts twisted. But I am highly visual and I sometimes visualize little Harry Potter type house elves or such shadow pictures that are a signal to stop and explore what I need to solve, accept, cry about, or deal with in some other way. I suggest you too can benefit by shining your spark of magic into the shadows and see what riches are there for you.