Day 80 of 365 - A Magical Time of Year

The theme of this post was inspired by a recent podcast I listened to about the magical aspects of this time of year.  I was actually thinking of writing about fantasy and magic awhile back, but got distracted with something else.

What got me pondering the power of magic and fantasy a month or so ago was the theme of a dancing show I like to watch.  For one of the weeks, the competing dancers choose their favorite Disney movie story for their performance.  The props and costumes are always wonderful.  For me, the more traditional ones, with which I am more familiar, are the sweetest;  for example, Beauty and the Beast.

Then, in the podcast I was listening to this week, the participants were discussing the popularity of holiday movies, like A Christmas Carol and It's A Wonderful Life.  What they were pointing out was, that these kinds of stories bring to the forefront of our minds the duality of light versus dark, which is naturally in our awareness at this time of year with our seasonal change.

Stories with beasts, evil characters, ghosts or angels prompt us to think about how our lives are affected, not only by circumstances which seem to happen 'to' us but also by how we choose to react or respond.

The magic happens when the main character has a spark of insight about how they are a conscious participant in creating the life they live.  When they choose to act from their hearts or respond to a loving gesture, rather than from being a victim of negative circumstances, life begins to shift.  This usually involves shifting to a perspective of acknowledging the blessings in life and becoming grateful for them.  They become connected on a heart and soul level with others, giving them a fresh outlook on life.

The day to day emphasis in our modern culture can make so much of life feel mundane and like drudgery.  Allowing time for fantasy and imagination helps us shift perspective and think about different possibilities in life.

Most of our holiday rituals have roots in mythology or ancestral connections.  Many of the things we enjoy doing have been passed on to us through the generations, though their form changes slightly.  Now, instead of gathering in community around large fires to cook, dance, tell stories and make wishes, mostly we gather inside over meals or sit together to watch holiday movies which similarly remind us of our connection to one another and our hopes for the future.

Our Christmas trees, lights, special ornaments and decorations, the particular foods and treats only prepared at this time of year, the brightly packaged gifts, similarly are sort of ritual offerings to the magic of the season.  They are our way of increasing meaning and feeling coherence with the sense of possibility.

I will be watching at least one favorite holiday movie this week, a version of A Christmas Carol that I like.  May your own seasonal rituals inspire you and open your heart to the magic of the season.






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