I have an Imagination Key. It hangs on the wall by my desk in the Studio. I take it from its hook and put it beside me when I need inspiration. And my grandsons each have one, too. I gave them to them when they were little, but at thirteen and sixteen, they still take them off their hooks and wander the farm searching for magic. The bank of trees outside my Studio is one of those enchanted places where you can wander under the bowing branches from one end to the other. They call it the Dark Forest. All kinds of fantastical creatures and stories come out of that tangle of tree branches.
Finding What is Around Us
Walking to the barn in the morning and again at night, I am surrounded by magic. The small birds are the first ones up in the morning. The way they fly from the ground to the scrub oak is like a troupe of ballerinas swirling across a stage. And in the winter, the frost settles on the chicken wire around the chicken yard, and there’s no way a person could ever duplicate the flocking patterns.
I can hear the trees talk to each other if I’m very quiet. Aspen mostly. Pine trees only whisper. What I hear from them is the sound of wind. The wind itself is very quiet. Some days, the fields around us are blanketed in a heavy mist. It’s heavy enough that I can’t see the barn from the house. But as I walk towards it, the mist will part, and a world of wonder opens up before me. The sound of running and the rising breath of the horses comes into view. With a background of the chickens muttering, anxious for breakfast, these are all part of my day on Twin Pine.
Stopping To Find Magic
We all live with magic around us. Most of the time, we don’t stop to take the time to listen, smell, or feel the subtle gifts that the world has to offer. Cities are full of magical moments. Smiles from strangers, the melody of car horns mixed with the rumble of trains. As a writer, I’ve learned that it’s the magic that makes a story come to life. Suppose you see someone gazing around with their mouth slightly open, soaking in elements you consider everyday ordinary. In that case, you can bet they are a writer and have just entered a world that is about to be in their next book. You might want to take a moment and see what they see, hear what they hear, smell what they smell. It just might enrich your day with a bit of magic.
Other posts about magic https://susanminerstoryteller.com/2024/02/01/weaving-a-tangled-web/
