A mutual exchange of energy and support can take many forms, from barter, to responding in kind to pleasant social advances like waving at each other, to a trade of ideas for products or monetary support. The last one is very different from capitalism, which is about power and using the labor of others to advance that power, rather than a trade that benefits both parties, like commerce.
Most creative types that sell their work are involved in commerce. I do it when I sell books or one of the cute story related items from my shop, and the money I bring in from that helps me make more items to sell and spread my stories to more people.
But unfortunately, it doesn’t pay my bills, which frankly sucks. That’s the dream job, of course, and it’s going to take a long time before that’s a possibility. Thing is, I love writing. Even more, I love the creativity that pours from me constantly n so many different ways. It’s the biggest gift I’ve received next to being given a chance to experience being a living being.
Here’s something that some people don’t realize: creativity is a gift, but it’s also a skill. You can be born with it, but you can also learn it. And even more important? The gift needs to be practiced and honed. The most innately talented person still benefits from regular practice of their skills.
What’s this got to do with Magic Seeking?
Magic Seeking is what I call the practice of mindfully paying attention in order to find the often-missed magical moments in the world. Usually it’s something small, and it can be natural or human-made, but I’ve found it to most often be a “blink and you’ve missed it” moment that only those who practice observance catch. One of my favorite personal examples is how when I take the train or light rail, I always spot wildlife like deer, beavers, or eagles. The other folks surrounding me miss them because they’re all looking at their phones instead of out the window. I make it a regular practice to watch the world whizz by instead of distracting myself, because now I’ve come to expect those magical moments. They light up a creative part of my brain that plugs that wonder and sense of possibility into the stories I create.
Magic Seeking involves deep dives, too. Asking myself questions about what I believe, how I feel, what parallels I can draw between instances in my life – they all help me clear away the crap that keeps me from accessing the magical parts of myself. Tapping into the more innocent, childlike aspects of myself is a lot easier when I’m not dwelling on the day to day weights that drag me down, and deep dives help to clear some of that away.
The biggest part of keeping creativity alive through Magic Seeking is actively looking for inspiration. That can be something as simple as a quote, poem, photo, or piece of art that sparks something inside us. Or we might find it through talking with other like-minded people – casual chat or brainstorming both can yield results. Inspiration is all about active sharing and letting the magic of what others have created speak to us about what we could bring forth in response.
I decided that the best way to have something I want in the world is to make it for myself, so I put my ideas together and came up with the Magic All Around community. Currently, the membership is just myself, but I’d really like to expand that to others who think this is something exciting and want it in their life, too.
I added a membership level on Ko-fi with this in mind, because although I’m doing it for me, sharing it with others takes work and time and I’d like to think that those things are worth something. [they are!] In exchange, there will be regular exclusive posts happening through Ko-fi, as well as a space on my Discord especially for Magic Seekers. Lots and lots of perks for members! I want it to be something precious to you. We do a trade and we both benefit: reciprocity.
Magic Seeking is a good fit for anyone who wants to embrace a slower, more focused way of looking at the world, especially – but not limited to – those who pursue artistic endeavours. Writers, visual artists, crafters and artisans, musicians, and more can all benefit from these exercises and techniques, as well as my focus on sustaining hope, embracing whimsy, and nurturing ourselves.
Want to learn more? I’ll give you the link and answer any questions you have! I post regularly on Ko-fi as is, so even if this doesn’t do it for you, you can also follow me and get all the non-membership content directly sent to your inbox.
