It’s A Kind of Magic (rambling/revelation)

Yes, that’s a reference to one of my favorite Queen songs, but that’s not what this post will be about.

Everyone knows Disneyland is a magical place, right? Well, as a kid at heart and one who had never been to any Disney theme park until the ripe young age of 22, I have finally experienced the magic. Of course I know that (SPOILER ALERT) the characters are just actors in costume, but I put that aside for three days while I let myself fangirl out and revel in the fact that I was meeting my childhood friends: Pooh, Eeyore, Snow White, Belle, etc. I let myself accept the unbridled awe and excitement of new discovery and exploration; I allowed the tears and shivers well up during the fantastic shows in the full moonlight. I let myself feel everything because that freedom is a kind of magic.

Magic is the shiver that runs down your spine like the pinprick of a static shock when you listen to an amazing song and it washes over you (“You Are Not Alone” from the Into the Woods movie comes to mind). Magic is the warm swell in your heart when you first realize you’re in love, and every time after when you are reminded of that love. Magic is the soaring quietness of your mind in the full moonlight at midnight, meditating on the cool ground as you inhale the damp coolness of late-fall air. What people don’t often realize is that magic is an everyday thing: no matter how fleeting. It’s in the constant routines of our most mundane tasks and it’s in the grandeur of a sabbat ritual.

Whether you’re gathered around a candle-lit Yule log in a cauldron or you’re brushing your teeth and planning your day, magic is there. Don’t ignore that unnamed feeling tugging at the corner of your mind when you catch a glimpse of that magic. Pause a little longer outside and smell the air around you, feeling in that moment the senses of the earth and world around you. Stare into the fire a little longer when you light your hearth or candle, and notice the electric blue fade into the pale yellow-orange that dances with the air. As you wash your hands, watch the water flow a little longer and notice the rivulets streaming around every curve of terrain on your palms and knuckles.

Noticing these little moments of magic allow us to appreciate the less-than-exciting parts of everyday life.

Breathe, calm, and ground. Blessed be the New Year.

Happy Yule (and other things)

Despite writing this a day and a half after the fact, I wish you all a Happy Yule! For those unfamiliar with it, Yule is the Pagan Sabbat that is our equivalent of the “new year.” Falling on the Winter Solstice (the shortest day of the year), it runs opposite to the Midsummer Solstice (the longest day of the year) on the Wheel of the Year. Midsummer marks the height of the days of light as we slowly descend towards the darkness and the thinning of the veil (and the approaching harvest). Yule marks the height of the days of dark as they slowly vanquish and give way to the light, when life springs up anew and the Oak King prepares to take his reign (the story of the Oak and Holly Kings is often told these times of year).

As we shift from a time of introspection and honoring loved ones past and present to a time of open abundance of life, keep in mind that humanity at its core is equal. Spend time with family, no matter how short an amount of time. Also consider those you don’t know during the holidays. Treat retail workers with kindness while you’re out buying gifts: we hate being treated rudely just as much as you hate waiting in lines. Also: read sale signs and coupons carefully–you’ll avoid problems at the register if you pay attention beforehand.

Patience is something we all need to practice. With the immediate gratification of technology these days, we forget that sometimes waiting can actually benefit us better than rushing around in stressful chaos.

This Yule I wished for the light to bring me balance between my home life and work life, and the wisdom to recognize when I have reached transitions in my life. What do you wish for the light to bring in the coming year?

Breathe, ground, and live passionately.

Blessed be and Happy Holidays!