Everything is Magical

by | Nov 17, 2016 | 12 comments

fullsizerender

“Life’s splendor forever lies in wait about each one of us in all its fullness, but veiled from view, deep down, invisible, far off. It is there, though, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf. If you summon it by the right word, by its right name, it will come.” Franz Kafka, Diaries

“Everything is magical if you really think about it- like trees, and flowers…but we take it for granted.  I guarantee if an alien landed on our planet they would be so amazed at everything,” she said lying in the dark before bed last night.

There are lots of ways to see the magic, the splendor as Kafka names it—by slowing down, looking up, playing with a small child. Changes in perspective also help—like traveling many miles to a different city, or to the ocean, or the mountains—but also walking down your very own street, but in the dark at night. The trees in the dark will take on their more creaturely silhouettes, your feet on the man-made pavement will suddenly sense the earth below, and the sky, letting you catch glimpses of all those other suns, will regain its curvature. Loss, especially loss, will bring this other-worldliness, though you will not call it magic when it comes. Later, though, much later, you may call those moments, when you recognize them—transcendent moments.

img_9764

img_9784

img_9797

img_9971

JAC

November 17, 2016

12 Comments

  1. A. Baik Lee

    Simply breathtaking — the photos, your words, A’s thoughts.

    Reply
    • JAC

      Thanks Amy- your words and photos bring me so much peace.

      Reply
  2. Dana

    Oh, so beautiful. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. heisgoodblog

    Very refreshing truth and beautiful pictures for such a time as this. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Debbie

    Nature is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • JAC

      Thanks Debbie! Thinking of you guys.

      Reply
  5. Marie

    So lovely on so many levels. Xo

    Reply
  6. terrinorthwind

    Beautiful.

    Reply
  7. Margarite

    Thank you so very much for your writing and your sharing beautiful things. I am a firm believer in…. the more beautiful things you see,,, the more beauty you will see in things. Even in hard time and sorrow. (Maybe especially in hard times and sorrow)

    Reply
    • JAC

      So true- thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  8. seedtoblossom

    This is so beautiful and up-lifting. Much needed. Thank you!

    Reply
    • JAC

      And thank you, as always, for reading and commenting.

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like…

List-making in a Dark Time

List-making in a Dark Time

For any other list-makers out there, I published this on HerStories yesterday.""In this time of quarantine, my lists are offering me space outside of the walls of my home, a way of making sense of chaos, a self-imposed structure on structure-less days, and even a way...

Simple Things

Simple Things

"In our deepest self we keep living with the illusion that we will always be the same." Henri Nowen "It's really very simple," my late spiritual director, Gladys, once said to me. She was talking about how she lived each day, waking up, having a written conversation...

Continuous Living

Continuous Living

"Anxiety turns us toward courage, because the other alternative is despair." Paul Tillich I've claimed "seasonal affective disorder" for years, and that may be so, but I'm starting to realize it's not only summer to fall that is hard for me. It's winter to spring, and...