Reflections: The Beauty of Magic

MAGIC... a five-letter word, like the five-pointed star of the witches pentagram, evoking the very powerful human desire to control forces beyond our grasp. Some may think of bewitchment, some of enthrallment and others, of those paranormal events. It could be a source of devotion to many, a great religion to cultures unheard of, and a hoodoo to the modern society. It can even be a cheap stage trick to elaborate illusions made for the entertainment of many.

" It's simply... magical! "

It is our human longing to connect with the omnipotent in each of us that magic had taken its place in our very lives. Even during prehistoric times, mankind had always felt a powerful presence so large that he had wanted to take a part in the divine scheme of things. It is fear of the unknown and the desire of the ultimate knowledge that had led people to the lure of the magical world, from the Shamans of lost cities.. to modern day sages. There is just a very potent formula that magic brings to our lives, and we had always been seeking its cradle.

Our enlightened age makes it a safe haven for practitioners of all forms of magic out there when many have been condemned to die in the name of knowledge, and mostly, women seeking their rightful place in the society. It had been a dark age of fear, scandal, and even malicious intent. How many times do we even see witches burned at the stake nowadays? We could just only shake our heads and felt sympathy for all those who had suffered the great injustices of persecution and close-mindedness.

The Greek magi had devoted themselves to the magical realms of their gods and goddesses, from the famous Apollo's oracle at Delphi to the pilgrimage to Mount Olympus. Grimoires were written in the Middle Ages in an attempt to capture the supernatural into a written form. We have all heard of stories where astrologers and alchemists of centuries ago tried to define the boundary between the physical and the metaphysical world, of angels and demons. There were even magical symbols that evoke secret powers unknown, chants to subdue the elemental to make them do your bidding and spells, promising fulfillment to our deepest carnal desires.

Magic means different things to many people.

When all hopes are lost and we are on the verge of despair, it is our innate nature to seek for answers beyond the confines of our finite world. " It is in our darkest moment that we are nearest to Heaven.." I heard an old man say, as he lit a candle in front of a church. I may not know what he was suffering of, but I could only watch him deep in prayers, as if time stood still.

We often find ourselves in countless situations that are too magical to even speak of. We even hear of wonderful miracles and angels in disguise bringing magic to people who had been in the peak of their distress. In my country, there are countless stories of it - from magical amulets that make the bearer invincible.. to people coming back from the dead like Lazarus did. These magical moments are even called Miracles, and some stories are too bizarre, making an overnight sensation seen on the local news.

What is magic for me?

I can give you links to countless sites and make a list of books that offer hundreds of definition and insight of what magic is all about. This, however, doesn't offer a fool-proof promise and solutions to life's harsh ordeals. In my world of simple pleasures and joy, magic is simply - " amazing graces " that come my way. My openness to the beauty of life itself is my golden key to the limitless world that magic can bring into my reality. I don't have to join a cult or learn spell-casting in order to bring order into my life. I simply wake up each morning, anticipating, acknowledging that there are bigger forces around me that I may not even understand... but having just enough faith that everything will turn out to be alright, makes my life... an everyday fount of magic.

" Magic... comes to those who believe.. and be grateful when you find it "