MAGIC is a word that encapsulates the purest of joys or wonders experienced by the human spirit. It is the most beautiful feeling that lifts a soul to heights, never imagined. However, it is fast becoming extinct, lost in the hustle and bustle of modern life. We have ceased to look for enchantments, the small but wondrous experiences that have the potential to transform our lives. Without magical experiences, life is insipid and reduced to mere mechanical movements.
To discover magic is to discover yourself. But where does one look for it. It is neither found in our sleep nor at the desk at our office where the only stimulating object is the glass of water. We need to bide our time for experiencing the golden moments. They come slowly, even unexpectedly and fittingly, waiting briefly to be picked up and embraced. Like all beautiful things, these moments are sensitive, hence they leave as quietly as they come.
We do not notice magical moments because we have forgotten how to be happy, relaxed and truly ourselves. We need to free our minds from the whirlpool of thoughts that are with us most of the time; the thoughts of a mechanical mind rather than a human one, the thoughts that have everything in them but poetry and romance. Once we learn to be ourselves, we have already extended the invitation to these magical waves. Sooner or later they will come, albeit briefly, wrapping us up in an unseen warm embrace that goes beyond the skin to the soul.
Of late, in the crispness of mornings, these magical waves have started paying brief, but frequent visits to me. Their distant acquaintance is now finally turning into a more regular and amiable contact. I have now learned to discern them, to value them and enjoy them.
It lifts me to the world where time loses its importance, where colours run riot, the burden of regrets, disappointments, jealousy and pessimism banish and gives way to hope, brightness, ambition and plans. My priorities become clearer. All this in turn awakens my dormant, nearly extinct creativity.
This magical time introduces me to myself, a forgotten friend, now almost a stranger, whose views are original and pure when compared to my own. His grudges, grievances and enemies are no different than mine, but he has learnt to forgive and forget. He has defeated greed while I have surrendered before it without a fight. He has shaken off jealously but I wear it as my skin. Ardently, he remembers his literature, his Thomas Hardys and William Wordsworths, while I have long forgetton them. He is all that I am not.
I am pleased to meet this fellow. In my subconsciousness, he is what I always wanted to be, but in the rut of life, I have lost track of this desire. We exchange pleasantries and our views about life. His presence redeems me and fills me with hope. It thrills me. For a brief, fleeting moment, we become one.
Then the spell is broken rather abruptly once my car is parked and I disembark. I only remember it as a pleasant dream that fades fast. I step into the routine world which is fast paced and allows us to live at its own terms, where experiences are not of an uplifting kind but of a mechanical and stifling type. It allows little time for personal introspections. The magical dream waves put the things in perspective even when we are carrying out our routine activities. Magic does not hold your hand to lead you all the way, but it shows you the way. One still has to struggle to reach one’s destiny but he can derive inspiration and guidance from the thoughts experienced in that dreamlike magical state. Some make use of these thoughts, others just let it slip away. I do not have to tell you who the losers are.
Magic does not reside in music alone. We can experience magic through good literature, poetry and even movies. In short, any art form has the capacity to stir our imagination and senses. It leads us towards accomplishment of deeds that we thought were beyond us. But the key is the willingness to embrace it when it comes and use it as the guiding light. We must try to upgrade our existence from a sub-human level to human level. We should not be content with our mundane life that consists of bragging, flattery, backbiting and domestic politics. We need interjection of art in our life. Hence, exposure to the finer and artistic side of life is vital.
Those who are convinced that magic is a necessary tonic and want a quick experience before discovering the real thing need to sit down with an infant and observe his smile. This forthcoming, spontaneous and honest expression gives you the glimpse of magic for this expression cannot be matched by any other expression in its purity. If you feel the thrilling sensation going right through you at this incidence, the magic is yours for the taking.
MAGIC is a word that encapsulates the purest of joys or wonders experienced by the human spirit. It is the most beautiful feeling that lifts a soul to heights, never imagined. However, it is fast becoming extinct, lost in the hustle and bustle of modern life. We have ceased to look for enchantments, the small but wondrous experiences that have the potential to transform our lives. Without magical experiences, life is insipid and reduced to mere mechanical movements.
