MAGIC — what spells are you under? What dreams are you ready to manifest?
By Marcia Singer, MSW, CHt
Want to have a magical experience? In my youth, Perry Como sang to me, “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket,” save it for when I need some magic. I grew up trying potions, charms, incantations: “Star light, star bright…” Nowadays I prefer natural magic — employing heart-centered, happy or compassionate intent. My miraculous experiences, manifestations, echo natural forces — laws invisible to physical senses, but like gravity, operating all the same. ‘Bad luck’ is an inside-out miracle, operating under the same cosmic rules that produce the magical events I adore. The secret lies in how open and full the heart is in the moment I’m wishing; Do I expect fulfillment, or mostly doubt? How receptive am I to joy?
I’ve a story about this, an upscale Memory Care singing gig, years back (pre-pandemic) that put the extra into ordinary. I had to park a half mile away, lugging my guitar, tiring me. I walked in disgruntled to find only one resident present. I set up to play, and couldn’t get the sound off on their huge TV. Sigh: I focused on improving my down-turning mood. Soon staff appeared with more residents for my audience. By the second song, my whole demeanor has shifted; I’m enjoying myself! A elder lady is dancing in her chair, hamming it up, having a glorious time. Her uncomplicated spark is sparking me to lead us in ‘clap dancing’ together, and laughing at silly jokes. Two attending staffers have joined in, shifting from gloomy tiredness to singing along and smiling: a small, everyday miracle?
Wishing and dreaming songs kept tumbling out of me. While singing Jiminy Cricket’s famous words to Pinocchio, I was fully living the truth of the lyrics: “When you wish upon a star…” Yes, when you claim a dream… “Makes no difference who you are.” OK, there’s some laws at work here, same for everybody, anybody. “Anything your heart desires can come to you. When your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme.” Got it: The love in our hearts gives energy to drive our dreams towards fulfillment. “When you wish upon a star like Dreamers do.” I see: IF you are a believer. The key to birthing a miracle is Receptivity! Don’t mess up the momentum of a huge desire with too much doubting. Wise Jiminy continues: “Love is kind, and brings to those who love, the sweet fulfillment of their secret longings…” OK…the love that lives, kindles in our hearts wants to be fulfilled, and can be through our dreaming, a right use of creative imagination. Love is meant to be realized, in some form or another. “Like a bolt out of the blue” –surprise! “Fate steps in and helps you through. When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true!”
Yes! Like those words attributed to John Wolfgang von Goethe: Make your mind up to follow a dream; The boldness and intention has magic and attraction power. “The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way…” Synchronicity, serendipity — magic, miracles. “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” Goethe urges us to believe! Have faith! Imagine it’s already here! Like a child, anticipate with an innocent heart. When resistance ebbs, my moments are magical.
At the memory care center, I felt like Cinderella’s fairy godmother, my performance like a magic wand instigating (with a receptive audience) a small, everyday miracle. My unspoken wish for connection and playfulness was waiting to come true. I opened into it.
Shining DeLight, Marcia
[Published in Marcia’s “Language of Well--Being” column in the Sonoma County Gazette, July 2022.)
