The Magic of Feeling and Presence
There is POwer in feeling everything
As I sit here writing, I feel so many feelings within me bubbling beneath the surface, demanding to be acknowledged. When we are experiencing difficult emotions such as the loss of someone we love or a painful rejection, or any time the ground seems to shift beneath us, it’s easy to shut down. Yet I believe part of the magic within us lies in allowing ourselves to fully experience our emotions, to let them flow rather than get stuck.
Pretty sure I have been saying this since I started performing magic shows…. But I will say it for the umpteenth time, “We need our magic now more than ever”. So, what do I mean by "magic"? I've defined it countless times during shows, blogs, and interviews, often drawing from others' interpretations. Yet we have the power to create our own meanings. That is so powerful, to trust ourselves and our own sense of things. Maybe it has changed, but in my experience, school does not teach us to think for ourselves. The lessons we learn in school can miss the mark in teaching us how to live a magical enchanted life. Personally, I wish school taught us about confidence, communication, critical thinking and how to balance a check book.
I don’t believe everything happens for a reason, but I do believe that things can have meaning, if we give it to them. We can choose how we hold our reality. In a world where independent thought is often discouraged, it’s essential to remember that we can inspire, entertain and amuse ourselves.
One of my principles of magic is the ability to feel deeply. It’s the act of smelling, tasting, touching, hearing, and seeing. There is so much powerful magic in simply being alive and recognizing that this powerful magic also resides within us. Whether it be joy and love, or grief, rage, and pain—it all courses through us as we navigate life as spirits in physical bodies.
So, I invite you right in this moment, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Place your hand over your heart and let the warmth of your hand soothe you. Breathe into the comforting sensation of soothing yourself. Ask your heart if they have anything to say. I find this practice comforting, simply whispering to myself, “I am sorry you are suffering, I see you and I love you”. Isn’t that some kind of power we have inside to heal ourselves?
In my opinion it is sad how capitalism has co-opted the spiritual and self-healing movement, turning it into a hustle for six or even seven figure incomes. But really, when our lives here are finished, will it matter how much income we had? To me it is more important that we experienced joy and love, and that we made the world a better place.
So how else can we tap into our inner magic? Start by reflecting on what you love. It could be a person, a pet, a place in nature, or a cherished activity. Let that love fill your heart and your entire being—that’s the magic within you.
I believe that listening to our bodies is a wonderful way to access this magic within us. It starts with self-awareness. Close your eyes again, take a moment to scan your body. What sensations are present? What emotions are you feeling? In a world that moves so quickly, it’s easy to get caught up in the race toward goals and achievements. But what if we don’t reach those goals? Does that diminish our worth?
Open your eyes. Look around. Is there a plant nearby? Maybe it’s just me but the process of photosynthesis blows my mind every time I think about it. Photosynthesis is enough to make me believe that magic is real.
Yeah, I have a ton of flaws, I am so far from perfect it is hilarious. However, one thing I have going for me is my ability to enchant and entertain myself, with leaves and trees, the animals I live with, with my breath, my ability to feel rage, sadness, beauty and the awe of life. Despite any darkness we may feel, there is healing magic in empathy, understanding, and our capacity to feel it all. That’s the magic I’m speaking of—the profound connection we have to ourselves and the world around us.
One of my favorite things in the world is enchanting others, bringing them into my world of magic and mystery, through my shows, my performances and presentations. I hope I can be this for you. This magic. Please let me know how I can bring more magic into your world. My career is one of the biggest things that gives my life meaning and the reason I am here. And besides walking the dogs, performing is really the only time I want to leave my house, to enchant and entertain.
Wishing you peace, magic and the recognition of the wonder that lives in your very being.