Magic

The power of influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces……. The power to make impossible things happen…….

What is magic?

After doing a great deal of research on the matter, I’ve discovered that magic is many things, and has been since the beginning of time. It maintains a definite parallel between reality and fantasy. Standing on its own merit, magic is neither good nor evil, but is a reflection of the one holding the wand, if you will. Actress Dorothy Morrison once said: “Magic is not a practice. It is a living, breathing web of energy that can encase our every action.”

While true that magic can be black, white, practical, and even gray… to me (when I’m holding the wand), it can be both discovered and created. Music, poetry, and smiles are just a few examples of this.

Think about what it means to listen to and/or create the bars of a unique piece of music or pencil lines filled with fabulously written words. Consider how a smile given or witnessed can change the course of events…make things happen.

I stumbled across a great many quotes today. Very few of them were about hocus-pocus and abracadabra. They were mostly about finding magic in our wants, perseverance, good works, positive attitude, and courage.

Lisa, my very best friend growing up, gave me a lovely 1980 printing of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. I subscribe to his belief that: “The appearance of things change according to the emotions, and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves.” Again, this supports that magic is discovered and created.

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t touch on the fact that I love, collect, and write about fairies. I wish like crazy that these mischievous merrymakers might find their way into The Studio That Never Sleeps. Or that witches intrigue me to the point that I feel like one from time to time. Additionally, there is my fascination with crystals and the full moon. One of my very favorite authors, Roald Dahl said: “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” I believe….in all kinds of magic.

I also believe that the whole world works together. Mountains, crystals, and the moon. People, their actions, and interactions. I’m sure you can come up with some examples of your own.

There is so much history to magic in the traditional sense. Eighty years ago Mickey Mouse donned a magician’s hat and played the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Thus giving magic a nonsensical stage presence. Balthasar and his two buddies, known as the magi, traveled to see a would-be king. They were considered astrologists and magicians. Later, carpenter’s son performed acts of magic. These acts were spoken of as miracles. The likes of Houdini and Copperfield performed mysterious feats that could not be explained.

Songs have been written about it:

• Love Potion #9 (The Clovers)
• Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf)
• Abracadabra (Steve Miller Band)
• Witchy Woman (The Eagles)
• Magical Mystery Tour (The Beatles)
• Puff the Magic Dragon (Peter, Paul, & Mary), my fav!

Cinema, TV, and Literature have done well financially on behalf of magic:

• Bewitched
• Sabrina the Teenage Witch
• The Flying Nun
• Frozen
• Aladdin
• I Dream of Jeannie
• The Magic School Bus (Beep Beep!)
• The Hobbit
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• Harry Potter

Words and Phrases have been created/coined:

• Open Sesame (Ali Babba)
• Magic 8 Ball (Fortune telling ball, 1950, Mattel)
• Say the magic word (Groucho Marx 1947)
• Abracadabra (a physician from the second century)
• Hocus Pocus (a juggler 1600’s, Winnie the Pooh 2011)
• Presto-Change-O (Quick Change)
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo (Cinderella’s fairy godmother)
• Shazam-Interesting fact: an acronym from Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury-from Captain Marvel Comics

These lists are evidence that magic has been advertised, popularized, and is very entertaining. Do you believe the kissing of a frog can produce a prince (me neither), or that a full moon can energize a citrine crystal? Fairies…good witches…? Perhaps not. Do you, however, believe that a smile can change a moment in time or being proposed to at the base of a waterfall can change two lives forever? These events are truly magical.

While I don’t own a magic wand (shhh-there may be a broom propped against the wall, just in case) Chase Dreams & Be The Magic is most certainly my philosophy.

It’s up to us to create and discover magic in the nontraditional sense. Our smile can be a magic wand. There can be abracadabra in our attitude. A positive disposition can presto-change-o the rhythm of a beating heart. I’ll never expect everyone to share my belief in fairies, witches, or the power of crystals and the moon. I do, however, wish for a world filled with so much magic (the very doable kind) that the moon smiles down and fills us with the energy to be better. Metaphorically, it’s easy to be the last domino or a ripple of water on a lake. Unwrapping a gift takes no effort, and picking a flower is a quite simple action. The challenge is to be the first domino, be the stone that causes the ripples, give the gift, and plant the seed. Create the magic!

I hope, that one day, Fairies will come out of hiding, dance with me, and see a world almost as beautiful as theirs.

Please feel free to add to my lists, make a comment about this post, or tell about the magic in your own life.