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Is it Magic or Magick?

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Magic - the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand or deceptive devices. Magick - the art of causing change in consciousness. For too long the words Magic and Magick have been used interchangeably; they are both skilled arts and each has its place. But what are the differences, and why should we care? To practice magic is to entertain. It is to create an illusion for others to enjoy. To practice magick is to bring about change. And that is where fear of the unknown has traditionally reared its ugly head. Those that practice magick have often been vilified as evil sorcerers, hidden in the shadows, ready to doom humanity. But that is a definition born out of fear, and as a result, a fear of magick as well. We all practice magick everyday. Every word we speak, every thought, every word written or read, are all forms of magick. Words and thoughts have power. They change perceptions, motivate actions. And when you share them with others, they become more powerful as they have the pot

That Still Small Voice

We all have it. The still small voice that has us stop what we\'re doing.  We pause, we doubt, and then we stop.  "What if they don't like me?" "What if they think I'm crazy for starting this project?"  "What if it doesn't work?" How can a voice so tiny do so much damage? And why, if it is so small, do we listen to it? Fear and doubt are very powerful emotions, and yet so are love and happiness. It is a matter of habit. We lean towards what has become familiar and safe.  Keep in mind that we all have a survival instinct buried deep within our DNA. Those what-ifs are there to keep us safe from very real physical danger. We're coded for safety. Unfortunately that bit of programming is always on.  We don't need to turn it off, it's there for our protection; but how do we move forward with it? We use it to our advantage. Let it play the role of devil's advocate. Answer those questions and take the time to discover more about yo

A New Year Revolution

I say revolution, not for discord. Not for shaking up world institutions. But inner revolution. Bringing about our individual change. Revolution means bringing about a sudden, and marked, change in something; bringing something back to it’s starting point. It is action. Resolution is a formal opinion or decision for action to bring about change; it is intention. Every year resolutions are made at the beginning of a new year. Intentions flourish but without action there is no revolution, no sudden change. For long lasting positive change to occur we need to be willing to give up those things that get in our way. We can’t expect to announce our intention and let that be the end.  You want a more positive life, you practice the self- affirmations but still associate with the same soul sucking acquaintances. It is easier than being alone with your thoughts. Then, you are surprised when negativity rears its ugly head. You want quiet, creative time – then quickly get dragged into the latest

Openness

There’s a lot being said about being open. Open to new ideas, new opportunities, new possibilities. Being open also means opening up to new experiences. Both good and bad. And this is where some people can get scared. They open up, they have a bad experience, and then close themselves off again. They may have saved themselves from pain, but at the high cost of not living this one life to its fullest. I’m not talking about thrill seeking, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane moments. I’m talking about the mundane.  “I trusted this person and they did me harm. I’ll never trust another person again.” This action does   you  harm. You deny yourself the opportunity to grow. You take away your chance to learn what it feels like to forgive. You take away the joy of finding new promise. It’s okay to feel the pain. In fact, it’s better if you do. Don’t dwell on it. Don’t let it consume you. But experience it fully, and then let it pass through you. And then let it become what it was always

Words have Power

Your words have power. Once you speak a thing, you give it form. It becomes a force. Only you know the intent behind those words. There is a growing movement of “self-help” gurus promising to help guide you to your goals. They know the power of words. The power of positive self-talk. But it takes more than uplifting speeches to guide you to your goals. All the expensive ‘I am great’ phrasing in the world will not help you if your intention is wrong. It’s time to sit down and reflect on your goals. Is your goal simply to become rich? To become powerful, or envied? Is it to become popular, or famous? In other words, is it coming from an ‘I’ centered place? It is easy to become the center of our own Universe – after all, that is where we physically live. If you’ve spent money on those self-affirmation plans and have found them lacking or not helpful, perhaps it’s time to reflect on the goals and the place they come from. It is possible to have an altruistic goal but with wrong intention.

Your Gift

I firmly believe that everyone has a talent. A gift that is theirs alone. One true meaning for their existence. Finding your talent doesn’t mean that suddenly everything falls into neat, successful piles. No, finding your talent means  now the work can begin.  You’ll know when you haven’t found your true gift. Every moment spent on a  new project may seem exciting at first, and it may hold your interest. For a time. And then it becomes commonplace, it loses its luster, and you soon begin to hate this new task. But when you find your true gift, every commonplace moment is a joy. Every new piece of knowledge is amazing, and you feel the joy long after the moment has passed. It’s the excitement you feel in your bones, your very cells come alive. And even though there is much work to be done to bring your gift to the surface, it feels like unwrapping a gift at every turn. And just like unwrapping a gift, there are layers to be shed before the prize can be held. There are old thoughts, old

Be Like the Trees

Too often we seek to emulate others; those we view as successful. We hold up the successes of a few as the ideal we should obtain. Consider instead, the trees. Deeply rooted in its surroundings while reaching ever higher. We do not expect a tree to grow after it has been ripped from its home. True, it can be transplanted, but we recognize that it is a terrible shock to a delicate system and we give extra care to promote a healthy root system. A level of care we neglect in a human counterpart. The trees recognize their symbiotic nature. It relies on our exhale, as we rely on its own breath. Its deep root structure allows it to share resources with other trees. It knows that it can not thrive alone. It becomes a haven, a home, for others. It asks nothing in return. It freely provides protection, without expectation. Trees do not expect to be anything other than what they are. The only time a tree changes form is when an outside force exerts its will. We could learn a lot from the trees.