Being Magical

I am a magical person. I receive magic from our Earth and Sky, from the trees, the moss and ferns, the glowing cottonwood seeds floating in the wind, the exquisite beauty of our blooming rhododendron flowers, the sparkling river waters, shimmering and waving big leaf maple leaves, fluttering tiger swallowtail butterflies, the ethereal song of the swanson’s thrush, the tall, snow peaked mountains, and the luminous moonshine and star twinkles, and from deep within my bones and heart. 

We are all magical. 

What brings out magic for you? For me, it is stepping outside. Smelling the air, feeling the smiling trees, expansive sky, hearing the gentle breezes and buzzing bees. I become present with the living world around me. And, I feel it in my heart – it’s an opening, a listening and a knowing. I find our hearts are like magic detectors/wands that guide and open us to the magic all around and within us. 

Last month my family and I rekindled our practice of doing our Family Visioning Retreat. It is a simple and powerful way we review our past year, where we are, and where we envision going. We create mind maps in exquisite colors on how we choose to feel; we put words and images to our ideal family vision manifested. Words and images cast spells, when said with great feeling, create decrees that weave the energetic and spiritual into the physical. 

As part of our process and ritual, we also do a reading together with the Yi Jing, the Book of Changes. And at night, we bring a question to our dreamtime for dreaming practice. This year we asked for an image/symbol to focus on to help us in manifesting our ideal family vision. In my dream I was along the Tolt River, upriver from where my family lives. I felt the trees, sky and flowing, glimmering waters. I looked up and saw the shimmering cottonwood leaves waving in a gentle breeze. Then I woke up.

As I jotted these images down, I reviewed some of the wisdom shared with us in our Yi Jing reading. Here’s some of the many treasured morsels: 

• “Be conscious of the relationship between your heart and the circumstances in your life. Connect with the fundamental wisdom within you, within other people and within all of Nature.”
• “Trust images that flow from your Heart.”
• “Connect your inner vision with outer Life.”

To me dreams are powerful, they can be gateways, not only to the depths of our inner world, but also for receiving information, teaching, healing, connection with other beings and from other worlds. They can be a way to connect with something much greater than ourselves, with the very Mystery of Life and the Cosmos. 

As I sat with the images given to me, I decided to find a time that week to go up the Tolt River to find this spot I dreamed of as a way to both “trust the images that flowed from my heart” and to connect my inner vision with my outer life. 

A couple mornings later, instead of doing my qigong practice in our backyard, I hopped in the car and drove a few minutes up Tolt River Rd. I had a couple places along the river in mind to check out, yet as I was passing a certain turnout, my body felt a strong pull to stop. I pulled over, found a path and followed it into the trees. 

While only 6 minutes from our house, I felt as if in another time and place. I felt a profound sense of peace, beauty, joy and connection to this land. Some young healthy cedars waved their green fronds as I gently took them in my hand, smiling and taking in the beauty, smells and feel of this place. I kept walking and the path opened to a small meadow right along the flowing and glowing Tolt River. I looked up and saw a shimmering cottonwood tree with its leaves waving in the breeze, and gazing at the trees up and down the river, my heart smiled. I had found the place in my dream. This was it. And it was Beautiful. 

This spot is now one I visit 1-2 times a week and practice Qigong. It is a spot of inner cultivation, a merging of the inner and outer worlds. A spot of peace, love, beauty and connection with the amazing life within and around me. And it is a spot I received in a magical way, through trusting the images and the magic of my heart.

How do you feel magic? How do you cultivate magic in your life? 

As mentioned in my blog earlier this year, we are now in the year of the Yin Water Rabbit – “ A year ripe for inner reflection, self cultivation and alchemy in preparation for our transformation into the Dragon in the next Lunar Year, the most powerful of all mystical creatures. It is a magical year, a time where portals are more easily opened, veils are thin, and the cosmic energies support going inward for cultivation and transformation…. 

The Year of the Yin Water Rabbit is an auspicious time to nurture the magical place of our hearts, to brighten and strengthen our Soul. And in that, it is a year ripe for Qigong. 

Qigong comes from Nature. It comes from deeply observing and understanding Life, the harmony and cycles of Nature, of living and opening to the Dao. And, as it comes from the magic of Nature, Qigong and its simple yet powerful alchemical practices are also magical.

My Qigong Teacher, Grandmaster Mingtang Xu, lineage holder of Zhong Yuan Qigong just turned 60 last month – he is a Water Rabbit. I remember when at one of his intensive trainings at Shaolin Monastery in China, he spoke of the importance of absorbing Light, generating Light, Becoming Light and that “we must continue, continue to make ourselves Bright.” Qigong, particularly cultivation of the Middle Dantian, our Heart center, strengthens our Soul, helps us absorb Golden Light and our Soul grow and glow. 

Qigong helps cultivate the magic within us. It helps me grow and glow like the cedar and hemlock trees, the big leaf maple and cottonwood trees, the sparkling rivers and luminous sun, moon and stars. It helps me know myself and the beautiful, magical world within and all around me. I am a magical person. And I am grateful.