Beatitudes

At the last Magic Party, I quoted from Beatitudes, which Jonathan Singleton arranged and conducted for the Mystic Chorale Gospel concert. Here is the whole stanza with the part I spoke in bold. I love this message. We are already worthy; we have already been given the gifts we are praying for.

When my longing for a life that make sense has left me feeling weak

When I mourn for those like me who’ve gone astray

I find comfort in surrender

I’m blessed when I remember

To look up, to let go and receive the gifts already given me

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Posted by Kate Harper, Magic Council member

My New Future

My New Future

I want a new future

not a one day

someday

far away future

But a today

right here and now

reach out and touch with my hand future

A future that arrives

like the next in-taken breath

of cool air

Like the bulb that

sat under ground for the necessary time

sprouted

and set the bed

which now has only to unfold

Death has done

and will do

what death does

But my future

does not argue with death

My future opens its arms

and invites m

to dance

Carol Beasley © March 2008

Awakening The Woman Within

We had a great Magic Party this past Saturday with 30 women. Our largest Party ever. The topic we discussed was, Who is the woman inside each of us that is waiting to be awakened?" One of the things I, and many others discovered, is that the strong, sure, beautiful woman inside of me is me already, not something waiting to happen. And it is fear and uncertainty that keeps her buried, sometimes deeply inside of me. Through some great exercises led by Melanie Calitri Holden, Magic Faculty member we each declared what we wished for ourselves so that the best of us shines more brightly. I declared I am going to be more courageous and less afraid in my work. And today I took a small step in this direction by making a phone call to a business colleague that I had been putting off for 2 months. Yeah! What do you wish for yourself? And what's your small or big step in that direction?

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Posted by Wendy Capland, The Magic Party Girl and creator of The Magic Parties, LLC.

The Art Resides in the Pauses

Arthur Rubenstein was once asked by an ardent admirer: “How do you handle the notes as well as you do?” The pianist answered, “I handle the notes no better than many others, but the pauses – ah! That is where the art resides.”

The pauses in Rubenstein’s music is akin to the “white spaces” in printed material, or the part of the page that is left unfilled. As I write a brochure or flyer, I struggle to leave in white pace, as my desire to fill the page with words and images drives me.

I’m struck that my life contains the very same struggles. My days are so filled with activities, conversation, driving, working, doing, endlessly doing, that I rarely allow “white space” to exist in my day. And yet it may be in the white space that the meaning in my activities emerges, as in the pianist’s pauses being the true expression of the art form.

I tend to entrain with the activities, the “notes.” What if I changed my approach and entrained with the pauses?

Entrainment. What is it? Entrainment is the process by which the natural rhythms fall into synchronization with each other. In his book Timeshifting, Stephan Rechtschaffen tells us that entrainment is one of the great organizing principles of the universe, as inescapable as gravity. Entrainment is a well accepted concept in the worlds of the physical and natural sciences, but entrainment in every-day terms is less widely discussed. Yet we see the results of this happening every day, and it can drive us to lives our daily lives in ways that don’t really serve us well.

When I take the time to meditate, walk outdoors, or write in my journal I entrain with the “pauses,” as Rubenstein would say and there is magic to be found here. When I spend time with girlfriends talking about my hopes, my journey and my inner life, I am satisfied in a way that is too rarely felt.

Together we can create a pause in our busy lives; together we can invest time in the “pauses” of life, and we can entrain with a different rhythm… sisterhood, spirit and a little chocolate.

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Posted by Sue Blaney, Magic Party Council Member

Prayer Changes Stuff

I was out on a walk this morning and saw a bumper sticker on a car that read, "Prayer Changes Stuff." What a great thought for the day!

Posted by Wendy Capland, The Magic Girl

Hope versus Faith

It’s the middle of the week and I’m winding down after another hectic day. I am reminded of the last Magic Party. The topic was faith. I’ve decided that until the next Magic Party in March, I’m going to focus on “faith”. One of the women I met at the party, Fiona, commented that hope and faith are two very different things. That made an impact on me. Thank you Fiona! Fiona said that hope is like the lottery – sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but faith is active. I’ve started to pay attention to my mind set – when do I use the word “hope” and when do I use the word “faith”.

I take martial arts with my son. We recently earned our camouflage belts and are now in the intermediate level class. At times, it can be very intimidating. The students in our class are a few belts away from becoming black belts, and they are in command of their forms and kicks and very self confident. Last night, the chief instructor called me to the front of the class to demonstrate how to use body language to lead by example. I had to demonstrate this by having my team follow my lead in doing jump front kicks with a lot of energy and perfect technique while giving no verbal instructions. As I’m standing there, I’m thinking “I hope I don’t make a complete fool of myself!” My first kick was a little off, but then I pulled it together and finished strong. It occurred to me afterwards that I used the word “hope” versus having “faith”. The life lesson for our martial arts cycle is “belief” – having a “yes I can” attitude. I think having faith in yourself is the same thing. If I have faith in myself, I have a “yes I can” attitude. The next time I get called up front I’m going to think “I can do this”! When I used the word “hope” in this situation, I allowed an opportunity to exist in my mind that I might “not” do well, and initially, I didn’t. I am gaining so much from attending our magic parties. I am becoming more aware of my “self-talk”, and rather than minimizing my opportunities, I am going to work on my faith and my “yes I can” attitude! Until next time, remember – “yes you can!”

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Posted by Kelly, Magic Party Council Member

The Calling of My Heart

You know, as I bubble over with excitement and share about my experiences with The Magic Parties to most woman I meet, I have noticed something remarkable – we are all on the same wavelength – experiencing the same calling. So many woman have said to me that they, too, feel a connection and pull toward connecting with other woman to support each other in finding and remembering the beauty within us and living the lives we dream of. I have been a “Magic Party attendee” since the beginning and I have to say, The Magic Parties have become a grounding experience (or should I say a flying experience) for me. Magic Parties support me in living the life that I know I can!

I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed with life and even stuck – I love the companionship of other woman who help me to get un-stuck! There has not been a Magic Party that I leave without feeling like the topics, the sharing, the inspiration was designed especially for me. It is always what I need to hear or experience – and experiencing it with such a dynamic group of woman makes it more amazing. I carry the messages on in all aspects of my life – mother, wife, career professional, woman of faith, friend, etc. Thank you to Wendy – for taking the calling in so many of our hearts and making it into a reality. The magic truly has just begun!!

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Posted by Donna Iacopucci, Magic Council member