Finding Magic

12/11/2015

A spray of yellow paint in the street

So many beautiful leaves in the curb

Once again this time of year begins to take hold. I slip in and out between a shopping/traffic nightmare and my hot-chocolate, Christmas fantasy. A dream of a new fallen snow with deer and bunny tracks, pine forests full of snow-laced trees and their unmistakable aromas, glittering ice cycles and a cozy cottage with roasted chestnuts on the warm fireplace hearth. Oh, and Johnny Mathis somewhere in the background singing all of those favorite holiday tunes. Too much? Coming back to present times and the balmy, Gulf coast weather, I do love Christmas lights, which can be accomplished just about anywhere. Their sweet, sparkly cascades draped over homes, trees and bushes, always fills me with joy. Some figurines are lit, but many are those recent, blow-up kind, which honestly do little for my heart, especially as they are found like melted, cartoon puddles on the lawn each morning.

I wanted to write about something else. Some simple things I have seen or felt lately, that left a brief yet lasting impression. Someone shared a video clip from the animation “The Snowman” a couple of days ago. The visuals are magical and the music takes one there completely. I felt like a child again, watching it over and over. I did not need my Christmas fantasy, as I came away in awe of the world I live in, that we all live in. It is always what we make of it. We can choose to see the magic, or not. We can even choose to be the magic! Perhaps that is why I love being an artist. It is essential to keep my inner child alive and happy. It feeds my creativity… my soul. I do believe this is true for all of us, especially in these difficult times.

This brings me to a brief written message, We Were Made For These Times, from one of my favorite authors, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, who is best known for the book, “Women Who Run With The Wolves”. It happens to be the very book I am halfway through at this moment, and I am totally immersed. Her recent message brings hope, but more than that, it brings truth. How appropriate that it should cross my path now, and if you are reading this, it is also true for you. Savor what she says. You will notice the angst you had about our present world falling through the cracks, allowing the light to come in.

A hubcap with silver paint, bush reef

My morning walks are another source of constant surprise. They are my small way to reconnect with Nature, even if it is an inner city neighborhood. I often take photographs of things I see. Some of these images may puzzle others, as they are usually not typical photos. But more, they are things we may not notice, or pass by, or even step on. But these things can bring some wonder to my plate, so I am compelled to share a few.