The Magic Of Switching Points

The switching point is a concept used in technology to stand for the time a switch must be thrown because a system is about to be overloaded or for some other reason it is not good to continue with things as they are. Analog diagrams are set up with switching points; as in "if this then go here if not then go here". Like valves that shut off fluid when the container is full enough. The concept can be used in other ways as well. When you look down the endless road of the effort it takes to get to your big goals you may feel discouraged. You may feel like you will never get where you feel you must go. Instead of "having" to climb an endless stairway it might work better to climb from one landing to the next. At each landing you can then view your options before you continue. Perhaps there are hallways leading from each landing with new doors to open. Not all decisions need to be made when you first set up your plan or first start out on your journey. Since we learn as we go it is really impossible or imprudent to make decisions before we get to the point where we have the needed information to make a decision wisely. I refer to magic being involved in switching points or decisions points because making changes based on what matters and where you are going is different from simply erratically jumping around. Remember, MAGIC IS WELL FORMED. So as you dance towards your goal let your magical inner self maintain an awareness of the essence of your goal. Then, when you need to stop to rest, or to rethink your journey your decisions about changing strategies or directions will still be in tune with your essential message. If one path has been a mistake you can switch to a better one and take the lessons you have learned from that path with you. Each time you say "That didn't work" you are becoming more clear about what will work or what you want. Do not fear decisions. When things truly are not working there is need for change. But do keep singing your soul's song. Make the changes, pauses, renewals you need to make. They are still part of your pathway to expressing your magical purpose. May the spark be with you.

Follow The Magical Golden Thread

Many fairy tales have a golden thread as part of the story. This thread leads the hero or shero
to their ultimate happy destination. In our daily life we may feel unraveled and in need of a magic thread to stitch together the creative projects we are trying to craft. If you pause a bit, catch your breath away from this unraveled feeling you may discover that all the disparate parts and different pathways you have been scurrying down actually do have a common thread. I have been trying to be more commercial about my teaching skills but it seemed that there was too much to learn, too much to consider. I was getting to the point that I wanted to totally give up. Then I realized that 'magic' is the common thread for me. Students I have who are preparing to take the GED test need to feel the zing of confidence in their ability to learn. I can give that to them. I can do the same for women exploring new business ventures, or people who need to improve their ability to speak English. I can note the frustrations of each of the people I am working with and help them find a way to glory in their ability to succeed. That for me is the common thread, the genius within each person. If you are feeling that you have lost your sense of purpose, that you are no longer following your bliss I suggest you step back and look for the thread. More than likely you have been expressing your inner self in ways you didn't realize before. A well crafted meal can be the work of an artist as well as an oil painting. The thread of magic and genius runs through your work. Find it and appreciate it. May the spark be with you.

Magical Transfer

There are many magic wands. One that you can use to motivate yourself or even to get new ideas is to transfer the feeling of success from one project to another. Or the feeling of commitment can transfer from one thing to another. I came across a story I'd written years ago in my files. It has a strong feeling of "I want to share this" attached to it for me. I was feeling resistant about getting a current work rewritten and submitted to my critique group. I took a little trip to my passion about this old story and captured that drive to use to get myself in gear for this current work. Just like standing near a warm stove can warm your chilled body, so can putting your thoughts near other memories warm your drive to succeed. When your 'can do' belief is weak remember all the myriad of things you have achieved. Transfer that feeling of success back to what you are facing and you will feel more able to succeed at the current task. Not only can you transfer the 'can do' beliefs, you can also transfer the 'I want to' drives. Just like madras plaids, designed to have colors bleed into each other, or walking near a waterfall to feel the mist, there are times when it is good to share an aura or special field of something to bring that experience to something else. Reach into the field of magic that surrounds you and bring it back into your life to help you craft the wonderful life you deserve. 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 Magical Difference Between Daydreaming and Pursuing Your Dream

Attention is one of the tools of a wise magician. There is a time and place to let your mind roam among the clouds of wants and dreams. Your goals and dreams can give you energy to pull you out of a morass you might fall into when you need to heal. But it can be very unwise to focus on your pleasure or even lofty goals when there is a need to deal with reality. Daydreams can point towards a better future but if you ignore reality you are likely to have no future. Escapism is never the healing meditation that helps you move into a better life. Daydreams and worries can be dealt with in the same way in order to benefit from the time they take up without letting them run your life. That is to deal with them by appointment. Take some time that is available to use in any way you see fit. No urgent tasks, no nurturing of relationships or special projects. Designate this time as daydream time. Have pen and paper or other recording device available. Let you imagination wander among all the pictures that visit you. Ask your self where, how and with whom you would like to spend some significant time. Free associate joyously. When the time you have set apart for daydreaming is up, hook into your power self. Record the important insights you received. Then decide if actions should be planned and taken. Don't let your daydreams distract you from dealing with necessary tasks. Don't let your daydreams wither away to insignificance. The magic that surrounds you is a resource to use for a better life. Hook into it in a life affirming way. May the spark be with you.

The Challenge As A Magic Wand

There is one strategy that has an amazing power. That is the challenge. All too often the status quo is dangerous and smothering. But when the challenge is given the clouds are swept away and new vistas are opened up. One of the first articles I published in a national magazine was rejected when I first submitted it because they said they had already published something similar. I challenged their assumption that I had nothing unique to offer by pointing out how my work covered new ground and was different in important ways from the other article. The editors reconsidered and accepted my article. Another very powerful way to use the challenge tool is to challenge yourself. If you challenge your limiting beliefs you will free yourself to bring more into your life. If you challenge your rationalizations you will open yourself up to greater productivity. If you challenge your resistance you will help clarify the areas where you need to gain greater skills or understanding and can then move past your creative block. If you challenge the bigotry of others you may open them up to tolerance. Or at least let them know where you stand. Turn your worries and problems into challenges then stand up to them. This is an amazingly good way to empower yourself. Pain is a challenge to heal. Debt is a challenge to gain riches. Loneliness is a challenge to make new friends or nurture the old ones. The wise magician does not let any creation of the dark arts threaten him or her. The challenge is flung out there and is found to be a powerful and effective tool or magic wand. Use it well and often. May the spark be with you.

A Magic Question

At times you may be having writer's block or some other type of creative block. When this happens it colors your world gray. You don't want to go away from the project that is so important to you, but you don't see a way forward, either. Here is where you can ask your self a magic question. What would I like to be (feeling, doing, thinking, writing) instead? As soon as you accept that you are master of your choices it will lift the cloud of blah from you. You may not get the zing just then for the project that was trying to defeat you. But you have broken the log jam and can now ask whatever relevant questions you need to ask. You may ask how you can express your idea in a different way. (What do I want to be saying instead?) Or you may find that a more important project or idea is ready to come forth and you need to give energy in that direction while the idea is hot. Sometimes you are attacked by the blah monster even before you are actually working on something. I believe that sense of resistance is an important clue that you need to stop and get more clarity about your goal. Again, the 'instead' question can be very helpful. You know your basic values and message. You just may need to find another way of expressing them, instead.
When the blah cloud visits it can be fun to go back to square one and visit the magic of your message. You are unique and have a unique way of singing your soul's song. Don't let the blah cloud interfere with that. Ask how you can sing out in other ways instead. May the spark be with you.