How lion-like that the first week of March brought more snow than the entire winter season? The lion and lamb image and stories symbolize magical and mystical qualities. It also relates to lore of  March weather patterns. Wikipedia offers this: “In like a lion, out like a lamb” is a proverb having to do with March weather. It has been speculated that its origin is from astrological Leo (lion) being followed by Aries (ram). Is it magic that a lion may lay with a lamb without violence? For more biblical references to the lion and lamb click HERE.

We call something magical when we cannot fathom how it works or when we allow it to be unknown; maybe those things that require us to use our sense of wonder and imagination.

“Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that’s the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a great adventure. Life is like that. We don’t know anything. We call something bad; we call it good. But really we just don’t know.” ~ Pema Chödrön

magical
adjective ˈma-ji-kəl  (Merriam-Webster.com)

1: of, relating to, characterized by, or producing magic : MAGIC
magical powers: a story set in a magical world, a magical charm/spell/incantation, an amulet believed to have magical properties
2: produced by or as if by magic
a magical transformation
words that seemed to have a magical effect
3: extremely or extraordinarily pleasant, enjoyable, or exciting
a magical evening

Some things I think are magical:

WiFi, the world wide web, email, & technology in general: I realize there is a scientific explanation that can be offered, but as my friend Patty says, “It’s all magic”. I can air-drop photos, share passwords, watch TEDtalks on various devices. Bluetooth plays music in my house, at the studio, in my car and in plastic white things I stick in my ears called ear-pods. What?

Cell phones (this is technology, but it deserves its own listing): I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have one. Book a room, send emails, take photos, have an alarm clock, schedule appointments, visualize maps, get directions and more with this device. Oh, and maybe even give someone a call. My 85-year-old father gets tutorials from his grandchildren on how to text photos, send GIFs, and keep notes. Caution… this magic device can be hard to put down and turn off.

Air travel: Despite the fact that we have been using air travel regularly for nearly a century, I am still amazed that I can board a plane and land on another continent, in another time zone after a few hours. Not only do we fly through the sky, but we can watch movies, answer emails, eat a meal, walk around and do some yoga stretches by the bathroom. When life feels overwhelming, just think about this. As mystic Michael Singer has written, “Sitting on a planet spinning through vast outer space for a handful of years – in the broadest sense, this is the human predicament.”

Clouds: They move at various speeds. Sometimes they are full, dark and stormy. Other times they look like large cotton mounds.

Plants, trees, nature: It is no secret that I am a lover of plants; I surround myself in them and give them as gifts. The magic is in seeing a plant growing, literally. My house plants are already adjusting to the extended period of light as spring approaches; like the unfurling of a fern, I can only call this magic. Trees and nature educate us, reflect life and seasonal rhythms, and inspire me.

People: Coming off of two very powerful yoga retreats, I now believe in all things magical & mystical, hands down. Bring on the unicorns and the leprechauns! If you have not tried attending a retreat, it is highly recommended. Magic is the only way I can describe how people can come together as total strangers and create deep bonds with others in just a few days. Walls come down, armor falls away. People come together with a willingness to be vulnerable, radiant, and radically honest with “strangers” who become meaningful friends. It is an honor and privilege to bear witness to others in this magic-making. Yoga classes invite us to do the same… in 60-90 minutes, we relax, stretch, strengthen, open ourselves physically and energetically, connect to others, and MAGICALLY leave feeling transformed. Retreats are like weekend or week-long yoga classes with shared meals, adventures, quiet space, silence and self-reflection built in to the schedule. The magic though… that comes from the people who show up.

mystical
adjective: mys· ti· cal ˈmi-sti-kəl (Merriam-Webster.com)
a: having a spiritual meaning or reality that is neither apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence
the mystical food of the sacrament
b: involving or having the nature of an individual’s direct subjective communion with God or ultimate reality
the mystical experience of the Inner Light

Some things I find mystical:

The words from great teachers like Jesus, the Buddha, Mohammad; they seem timeless. Thousands of years ago, we as magical people identified with & benefitted from hearing the same messages we do today (without the magical devices to distract us). As humans we were encouraged to love, forgive, offer empathy & compassion for other sentient beings. Jesus was represented as both lion and lamb with a message of peace and loving thy neighbors. Even quotes from Rumi written in the 1200s seem ‘spot on’ in relevance to life in 2023.

“Life is a balance between holding on and letting go.”
“Where the lips are silent the heart has a thousand tongues” – Rumi

I suppose magic truly is in how we see the world. How about some wonder and awe to facilitate magic? Check out this article (shout out to Angie Krysiak for bringing it to my attention) to read more about the benefits: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/03/well/live/awe-wonder-dacher-keltner.html

We can see magic and allow wonder and we can figure out how things work and let magic inform how that it applies to the world. For the scientists, problem-solvers, engineers, and technicians of the world, what you do is both magical and mystical in my opinion.

For you to ponder:

What is your list of magical things?

How can you bring more wonder & awe into your day-to-day experiences of living?