In many places on earth, Spring is in the air, in others the warmth of summer is slowing giving way to the beauty of Autumn and yet in other places, people are grappling with the seeming woes of winter. Whatever the season…… beauty abounds to the discerning viewer. You can feel the changes and yet admire Creation in all of its wonder, marvel, and Magic.
But just a second – What is magic?
Magic is recognized as the second oldest profession in the world, yet it is new to every generation. Thousands of years ago, magicians were known as magic. They were the advisers to kings and emperors. Long before advanced science and medicine, magicians created illusions, influencing the future scientists to turn those illusions into reality. It is understood that a magician is an actor merely playing the part of the magician. Of all the art forms, magic is the richest of them all. The musician creates his music from a scale of seven notes. Do re me fa so la ti. While the artist creates all the colors of the rainbow for his paintings by mixing three colors: red, yellow, and blue. Whereas, the magician creates all of his magic and illusions, drawing from tens of thousands of effects.
The magician has to know and understand and be able to work with all material that is available to him incl. wood, metal, plastic, glass, chemicals, to enable him to create his own illusions.
In our world today, there are different kinds of magicians (aka Leaders, Managers etc.) who are called upon to use their knowledge, experience, their intuition, interpersonal skills etc. to take simple or complex thought processes and create successful businesses. I am sure you get my drift. Much is said and written about Leadership and all that goes into it. BUT, something seems to be missing – in days of the past Magicians used their personality and character to capture the imagination of their views, skillfully interweaving Emotions with HUMOR… which I believe is the most important aspect of their performances.
This Magic is universal. It knows no borders and requires no language. It is pure ‘mystery’, but most importantly, it brings smiles to children of all ages.
From the numerous “effects”, the magician is able to do what seems to be humanly impossible, therefore making it the richest art in the world. In addition to being a good performer, he has to know and understand staging, lighting, costumes, directions, theatrics, and storytelling. They are not born as magicians. They are taught and trained the secrets of magic. They have the determination and persistence to practice for years upon years to perfect their craft. This Magic is universal. It knows no borders and requires no language. It is pure ‘mystery’, but most importantly, it brings smiles to children of all ages. Magic is unaccountably enchanting, and it can mean many things to each person. Walking in the forest, I love to see the intriguing magic of nature.. a simple new life springing out from what once seemed to be a dead tree branch; the chirp of a newborn baby bird bewildered by the warmth of the sun’s rays filtering through the canopy of the forest; watching with absolute wonder and bewilderment how the butterfly, after a long painful time of struggle, delicately extricates itself from its bondage and delightfully experiences its freedom displaying its victory in all the beauty nature has bestowed upon it.
I see the magic of the innocent smile of a little baby, just introduced to this world of ours and also a mature understanding smile of an aged person about to leave this world with much experience and happiness at having lived a fulfilling life. I see the magic of a simple smile shared with a total stranger. I see the magic of a gentle hug, the magic in a warm handshake, the magic of meeting someone whom I have not met for quite some time, the magic in the laughter between two or more people who have had the opportunity to share a giggle or two…….and the list is endless. Isn’t Life simply wonderful??
YES….. magic can mean a million different things to each person, and yet, we do not take the time to appreciate these little miracles of magic in our EVERY day lives.
May we please pause for a few moments from our daily work, seeming problems, challenges, anxieties and worries – to look within ourselves, our surroundings, our reflective image in the mirror, to our families, our children, our loved ones, our friends, our neighbors and start to appreciate the wonder and the beauty of Magic that surrounds us. Magic is all around us to make us realize that life is truly worth living, living in harmony, living with grace and experience the wonder of our inner peace.
This is magic :
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
–Mother Teresa
This is magic :
Whereas the beautiful is limited, the sublime is limitless, so that the mind in the presence of the sublime, attempting to imagine what it cannot, has pain in the failure but pleasure in contemplating the immensity of the attempt.
–Immanuel Kant
This is magic :
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
–Charles Dickens
This is magic :
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
–Anne Frank
Always remember – Kindness makes you the most beautiful person in the world, no matter what you look like. Please do share the ‘miracle of your magic’ with our fellow companions here – yes N–gage – you will never know just how deeply it can inspire us all.
I present you the question: What is the closest thing to real magic, in your life?
A wonderfully stated reminder of the magic that is all around. I immediately recall the image and joy while standing in my backyard on a warm and beautiful evening as 3 dragonflies flew playfully around the grassy area of my backyard.
Thank you for sharing Kathleen, and strange as it may sound, I too am fascinated with Dragonflies. If only we can observe and learn from them.
In my travels, I have learned that the Dragonfly symbolism plays a role in many cultures in the world. In different times and places, the dragonfly has been associated with both good and evil. In Japan, the dragonfly is shown great respect and admiration. It is a symbol of strength, victory and power. The Chinese consider the dragonfly a symbol of good luck, harmony and prosperity. In Native America, it signifies happiness and purity, and is often viewed as the actual soul or spirit of a deceased love one who has come back to see them.
The dragonfly is also the planet’s fastest flying insect, with a top speed between 35 and 45 mph. Dragonflies can move in all six directions –forward, backward, left, right, up, and down. They can hover like a helicopter, corkscrew, turn 180 degrees, and almost stop on a pinhead. They do all this with complete elegance and grace. Amazing!
I can understand your fascination with the three dragonflies as they playfully flew around your garden.
Astrology folks are telling us that between now and late January, we are in a planetary shift not see since the mid-1800s. The dawning of Aquarius. A time of great transformation.
I think of the dragon flies as a reminder. I appreciate the dragonfly info.
Magic: it’s not the smoke and mirrors or slight of hand that makes magic. Magic happens when we share life with people who are different from us and love people because they are. Not because of who they are but because they are and they have value. Magic is coming together like oil and water and making a silky, soothing balm. That’s magic.
It is very true Jane, and what you shared is meaningful. Magic is also that simple realization of joy, of inner happiness that comes from even the simplest of things like the hug of a child – innocent but with deep meaning, of even the sharing of a banana or biscuit or anything…that particular moment becomes special.
Magic is, for me, the realization that so much more is possible, so much untried, unseen, not believed possible too. Magic is, for me, reality as it is, a little twisted so we experience the rabbit hole to Wonderland and may even can go there. Go there with both feet sturdy on the ground. For we cannot force magic to happen. But we can help magic to unfold in our lives, just by opening up to experiences outside our current boundaries. Miracles happen when we create space within ourselves and in the world. Improving our own life and, if you like, that of many others might be less hard work and more fun than we ever imagined. …
You have the recipe and the resources to start the magic.
Wonderfully said Dennis, and oh, how true it is, ” Miracles happen when we create space with ourselves and in the world.”
It also reminds me of Albert Einstein who once said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
Wonderful and inspiring post, Jonathan!
Thank you Maria, and you also capture the many phases of miracles in your photography, the magic of nature and etch them into history.
Thank you so much, Jonathan! Photography helps me to focus, narrow my world down to one moment in time, and forget all the ‘clutter’ ;). The beauty of small moments and elements. Happy to hear your feedback!
Walking down a dirt road early in the morning with my wife, grand children and our dogs. The sound of the morning birds the crisp chill and quiet of the morning
Yes, indeed, Larry – that is Magic – creating wonderful memories with your family.
Moments to remember forever.