Books and the arts are amazing sources of practical magic.
Photo by Mikołaj on Unsplash
I have no idea how old I was when I learned to read. I’d guess I was probably 3 or 4 – since I believe that I was able to read the famous text crawl at the start of Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope, if you must) before I was 5 years old.
Reading has been a love for as long as I can remember. I fell in love with books and the idea that not only could I be a reader – but I could be a writer, too.
At age 9, I wrote my first sci-fi book. Wildfire is 50 pages, illustrated by yours truly, and will never be shared. (I really wonder what child psychologists would have thought of it at the time. But that’s another story). I continued writing in fits and starts for the next 3 decades.
Over the years, I gained an interest in other arts. Acting and working behind the scenes in plays and musicals in High School led me to major in Theatre in college – mostly focused on directing. Deeply fascinated by Gothic architecture, I minored in Art History. My love of music took me to being a DJ for the college radio stations, and another minor in Audio Production.
Why did I focus my college career on the arts? On reflection, nearly 30 years after graduating, I believe the answer is the magic.
The creative arts illuminate me
If my college majors don’t make it abundantly clear – I deeply love the arts on multiple levels. Books, paintings, architecture, theatre, music, and so many more avenues of creativity.
I’ve tried my hand at multiple arts. Though I’ve done some drawing, unless it’s plans or a map, my skill is not very good (certainly not professional). The same applies to photography.
I took voice lessons in High School and developed a 4-octave baritone. Additionally, I sang as part of several musicals in High School and acted in a couple of other plays (I also loved building and painting sets and working behind the scenes in numerous ways). In college, I found my focus more on directing and producing plays, and then sound design (don’t get me started on how much that’s evolved since the early 90s).
But my first love has always been storytelling. And the best means that I’ve found to that end is via writing.
However, all the arts – those I’ve tried and many others I admire – illuminate me. They make me feel the most alive, as if they have magical powers to them.
And that’s because I believe they are, in fact, magic.
Fiction in its many forms takes us away from the world we know. Even when it’s based on history or historical fact, fiction is still a form of escape.
To be fair, there are both good and bad forms of escape in the world. Many of the most alluring means of escape include drugs, alcohol, sex, and the like. All are fine in moderation – but can become addictive and distracting.
Likewise, gaming, social media, TV, and streaming services are excellent escapes. The magic of these, however, can be just as addictive as sex, drugs, and alcohol.
I’m sure it can be argued that abundant time spent with books, music, painting, sculpture, and similar arts can be too much, too. That might be so. But I believe that the magic in books and the arts is still too important to life to be ignored.
Reading and looking at art can open your imagination. They can bring you to worlds that have never been, or alternative to our own. Similarly, they can teach you all kinds of new things both practical and amazing, as well as open you to ideas and concepts you might not have otherwise encountered.
If that isn’t magic, I don’t know what is.
Passion, magic, and life
For all his foibles, I respect many elements of Tony Robbins’ messages. One thing I loved about a program of his I listened to many years ago was his parting line after each lesson.
“Live with passion.”
To many people, passion evokes romance. But that’s not even a fraction of what passion can be.
Passion, to me, is drive. It’s a desire to be, have, make, and create. Passion is practical magic in the making.
What does that mean? To me, it means finding and seeking active learning. Learning is part of constant, ongoing evolution, and gives us reason to create physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
I am passionate about my writing. And I’m just as passionate about the other forms of storytelling I make use of. Books and the arts hold so much magic.
Why magic? Because magic is all about control and power for change.
Ever notice how all the stories with magic revolve around control of change? Whether it’s the elements, Universal energies, inner power, or another other-worldly source, magic is about control of change.
Change being the one and only constant in the Universe, I love the notion that the magic of books and the arts can be amazing resources of and for change – and what control we might be able to take of it.
The point is that books and the arts are absolutely magic and magical. They can transport you, transform you, entertain, inform, and do other amazing and incredible things to and for you.
Again, if that’s not magic – I don’t know what is. And I love everything about this magic.
What are you passionate about? How are you inspired to be your own creator – whatever form that takes?
Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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