THE REAL MAGIC
How would you define magic? If you find yourself stumbling for an explanation, you can turn to the dictionary whose definition runs something like this: “The power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.” Only… Now you are left to contend with another conundrum, to define “mysterious and supernatural.” If you opt to scroll farther, the dictionary provides this description for supernatural: “a manifestation or event attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.”
“The Laws of Nature. Forces beyond scientific understanding.” Hmmm… Sounds mysterious. From my experience, many people see what we call magic or the mysterious or even the supernatural as just another challenge—a challenge that requires science to ride to the rescue. All that is needed is to ensure that science has sufficient time and resources to reveal the secrets underlying that mystery. This is one approach—to define a mystery as a puzzle waiting to be solved.
Regardless of how we ultimately define magic, people often see magic as a “power,” something to master and wield in the world. This reflects our desire to control everything and everyone around us. Thus magic is reduced to a tool, or even worse, a weapon.
I can appreciate the temptation to play with magic, at least given how the world defines it—spells, fairies, powers, elves, or enchantments. White or black. This take on magic has certainly fueled a host of books, movies, and television shows. It can be fun if the creators can avoid the pitfalls of this approach (although sadly they usually stumble and fall). But if you are to grow as a human being in this lifetime, it is imperative that you understand the true nature of magic. Because what you perceive as magic is just a pale shadow of the real thing.
We shall start our journey by tossing out worldly definitions. We cannot approach magic from the intellect. Nor can we approach it still harboring some hidden agenda, where we secretly wish to control magic. As for those forces beyond scientific understanding—frankly everything that is real is beyond scientific understanding. We must embrace magic unburdened from the past. We must be willing to be surprised if magic is to ever shine again.
While you may momentarily feel like a child who has had his favorite toy confiscated, remember how Life works: When one thing is taken away, it makes room for something else. Do you remember the magic of childhood? It was a world of imagination where you could create a beautiful place. Where you could dance beneath the stars until it was time to create another beautiful place. If childhood is often described as magical, that is the way it was meant to be. Children should be encouraged to live in the richness of their imaginations.
In my younger years, I spent my summers on my grandparents’ farm, a world of busy adults who had no time to entertain a child. On one of those rare trips to town, Grandma unexpectedly bought me a ten cent toy tug boat. I can still see it, sporting a white upper deck and an orange keel. Now on my visits to the creek, I was armed with my imagination and my one prop, a glorious combination. I created whole worlds as cities rose and fell along the shale banks. I dug a canal around a small rapids and spent hours immersed in my imaginary world. It was endless fun on a summer’s afternoon.
To my great joy, Grandma also made me a stick horse—a riding horse made from a broomstick with a cloth horse’s head. Oh, the worlds of delight that opened up, as adventure after adventure unfolded. I could be anything although obviously being a cowboy was at the top of my list. And then there was the Christmas when my parents surprised me with the most wonderful of gifts: Block City. What a thrill to bring my imagination into reality as I built any and everything: castles, the Alamo, bridges, lighthouses, cathedrals.
One of the hardest parts of leaving childhood is to have the magic slowly bleed out of our lives. As we transition from child to adult, we are admonished to grow up, to leave childish things behind us. Adults must learn to face the realities of life, to cope with the complex issues of survival in the world. It is a terrible moment to leave the magic of childhood, to live a life without magic. It can be so hard.
But there is one way that magic can reawaken as we move toward adulthood. And that happens if we discover love. Yes, love as we know it in the world can be a potent and volatile force. It can cause as many tears as joy. But if we find love, the magic reappears in our lives, even if it is temporary. If we are tremendously fortunate, we will find a love that lasts a lifetime. Not that there won’t be the occasional bump in the road, but if we find love, our lives are transformed. If this has been your experience, you know what I mean.
Still, magic remains elusive. You cannot hold it in your hand. You cannot hoard it like some commodity. Either you can see it dancing around you. Or you cannot. What is sadder than a life without magic? And that is what we are facing as we head toward the future. So… What is this connection between love and magic? Are you tempted to call upon science for an explanation?
Like so many things in life, the answer is simple. It is right under your nose. Love is the real magic of Life. Love transforms the most ordinary thing into a treasure. Love is what brings a smile to your face and a song to your heart. When you held your newborn in your arms for the first time, what did you feel? When your child throws his or her arms around your neck and says, “Mommy, I love you…” How amazing that such a small moment becomes so incredibly rich.
How different the world appears when you love. How wonderful it is when you experience love in your own life. It is so simple: Shower your children with love and watch as they bloom and grow before your eyes. Shower your husband or wife, your partner, your beloved with love and watch as love brings out the best in them. Even as love brings out the best in you. Imagine if we showered Mother Earth with love; we would be surprised and amazed how the world would respond.
Now you know one of Life’s most beautiful open secrets: Love is the real magic of Life. Invite Love back into your life and watch as everything is transformed around you. And inside you. It happens without anyone directing or controlling it. And when this door opens… When you embrace this understanding, when you show love and goodwill to every living soul, you allow the greatest magic to take wing.
You don’t have to take any action. You don’t need to wield or direct magic. Because any attempt to do so will destroy magic. Magic arises when we become One with Life, when we simply enjoy the play of Life. It will become the greatest joy of your life to watch magic at play.
Given all the trials our world now faces, it is understandable that people feel powerless to intercede, to change what appears to be inevitable. But don’t give in to despair. Let this understanding resonate inside: By allowing love to overflow your heart, you become part of the magic. So… Let magic light up your heart. Let your life shine. If enough people would brighten up their corners of the world, the whole world would shine again.
“The Laws of Nature. Forces beyond scientific understanding.” Hmmm… Sounds mysterious. From my experience, many people see what we call magic or the mysterious or even the supernatural as just another challenge—a challenge that requires science to ride to the rescue. All that is needed is to ensure that science has sufficient time and resources to reveal the secrets underlying that mystery. This is one approach—to define a mystery as a puzzle waiting to be solved.
Regardless of how we ultimately define magic, people often see magic as a “power,” something to master and wield in the world. This reflects our desire to control everything and everyone around us. Thus magic is reduced to a tool, or even worse, a weapon.
I can appreciate the temptation to play with magic, at least given how the world defines it—spells, fairies, powers, elves, or enchantments. White or black. This take on magic has certainly fueled a host of books, movies, and television shows. It can be fun if the creators can avoid the pitfalls of this approach (although sadly they usually stumble and fall). But if you are to grow as a human being in this lifetime, it is imperative that you understand the true nature of magic. Because what you perceive as magic is just a pale shadow of the real thing.
We shall start our journey by tossing out worldly definitions. We cannot approach magic from the intellect. Nor can we approach it still harboring some hidden agenda, where we secretly wish to control magic. As for those forces beyond scientific understanding—frankly everything that is real is beyond scientific understanding. We must embrace magic unburdened from the past. We must be willing to be surprised if magic is to ever shine again.
While you may momentarily feel like a child who has had his favorite toy confiscated, remember how Life works: When one thing is taken away, it makes room for something else. Do you remember the magic of childhood? It was a world of imagination where you could create a beautiful place. Where you could dance beneath the stars until it was time to create another beautiful place. If childhood is often described as magical, that is the way it was meant to be. Children should be encouraged to live in the richness of their imaginations.
In my younger years, I spent my summers on my grandparents’ farm, a world of busy adults who had no time to entertain a child. On one of those rare trips to town, Grandma unexpectedly bought me a ten cent toy tug boat. I can still see it, sporting a white upper deck and an orange keel. Now on my visits to the creek, I was armed with my imagination and my one prop, a glorious combination. I created whole worlds as cities rose and fell along the shale banks. I dug a canal around a small rapids and spent hours immersed in my imaginary world. It was endless fun on a summer’s afternoon.
To my great joy, Grandma also made me a stick horse—a riding horse made from a broomstick with a cloth horse’s head. Oh, the worlds of delight that opened up, as adventure after adventure unfolded. I could be anything although obviously being a cowboy was at the top of my list. And then there was the Christmas when my parents surprised me with the most wonderful of gifts: Block City. What a thrill to bring my imagination into reality as I built any and everything: castles, the Alamo, bridges, lighthouses, cathedrals.
One of the hardest parts of leaving childhood is to have the magic slowly bleed out of our lives. As we transition from child to adult, we are admonished to grow up, to leave childish things behind us. Adults must learn to face the realities of life, to cope with the complex issues of survival in the world. It is a terrible moment to leave the magic of childhood, to live a life without magic. It can be so hard.
But there is one way that magic can reawaken as we move toward adulthood. And that happens if we discover love. Yes, love as we know it in the world can be a potent and volatile force. It can cause as many tears as joy. But if we find love, the magic reappears in our lives, even if it is temporary. If we are tremendously fortunate, we will find a love that lasts a lifetime. Not that there won’t be the occasional bump in the road, but if we find love, our lives are transformed. If this has been your experience, you know what I mean.
Still, magic remains elusive. You cannot hold it in your hand. You cannot hoard it like some commodity. Either you can see it dancing around you. Or you cannot. What is sadder than a life without magic? And that is what we are facing as we head toward the future. So… What is this connection between love and magic? Are you tempted to call upon science for an explanation?
Like so many things in life, the answer is simple. It is right under your nose. Love is the real magic of Life. Love transforms the most ordinary thing into a treasure. Love is what brings a smile to your face and a song to your heart. When you held your newborn in your arms for the first time, what did you feel? When your child throws his or her arms around your neck and says, “Mommy, I love you…” How amazing that such a small moment becomes so incredibly rich.
How different the world appears when you love. How wonderful it is when you experience love in your own life. It is so simple: Shower your children with love and watch as they bloom and grow before your eyes. Shower your husband or wife, your partner, your beloved with love and watch as love brings out the best in them. Even as love brings out the best in you. Imagine if we showered Mother Earth with love; we would be surprised and amazed how the world would respond.
Now you know one of Life’s most beautiful open secrets: Love is the real magic of Life. Invite Love back into your life and watch as everything is transformed around you. And inside you. It happens without anyone directing or controlling it. And when this door opens… When you embrace this understanding, when you show love and goodwill to every living soul, you allow the greatest magic to take wing.
You don’t have to take any action. You don’t need to wield or direct magic. Because any attempt to do so will destroy magic. Magic arises when we become One with Life, when we simply enjoy the play of Life. It will become the greatest joy of your life to watch magic at play.
Given all the trials our world now faces, it is understandable that people feel powerless to intercede, to change what appears to be inevitable. But don’t give in to despair. Let this understanding resonate inside: By allowing love to overflow your heart, you become part of the magic. So… Let magic light up your heart. Let your life shine. If enough people would brighten up their corners of the world, the whole world would shine again.
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