Magic – 7

One aspect of living in North Carolina that I truly enjoy is the ability to experience all four seasons. Yes, summer is getting longer and hotter, but we get to have spring, summer, autumn, and winter and I’m grateful for that. Right now, we’re having a gorgeous fall day following two days of steady rain from Hurricane Isaias – nothing like That Bitch Helene from two years ago, thank goodness. (And if you’re looking for a charity to support as we head into the holiday season, please consider the still-hurting communities of western North Carolina. Here’s a great link to help you get started.) It’s still warm, but with an undertone of coolness, reminding me that soup and stew season is here, so I should add “slow cooker liners” to every grocery list I make.

Every season brings its own kind of magic. For me, autumn reminds me that change isn’t to be feared, but should be celebrated for showing us the beauty found in transitioning – in this case, to a slower pace. Summer’s bright colors give way to orange, rust, and copper hues as we move from thinking about beaches to thinking about harvests. I live in a semi-rural area, so some of the harvests are quite literal. (By the way, if you haven’t visited your local county fair in years, consider making a trip there – and be sure to see the livestock and agricultural barns. There is great truth in the bumper sticker “no farms, no food.”) But not all harvests are literal. Magic involves planning, sowing, and tending the seeds and I’ve worked hard on those tasks this year.  So what am I harvesting this autumn?

Glad you asked.

• I took a final dip of the season in the flamingo pool, this time under the full moon.

• I attended an evening craft market and became the fire eater’s “lovely assistant” for a few minutes – and purchased my first piece of uranium glass. Anything that glows like that under UV light has just got to have a little magic in it. (Seriously, though, it’s best to display it rather than eat/drink from it.)
• I reserved my spot at White Rose Manor’s monthly “Ladies of the Rose” excursions through the end of the year, ensuring that I have a spot of elegance in my often-overflowing calendar.
• Following my flu shot, I treated myself to some nail polish and gave myself a coppery manicure. I also traded my usual lipsticks for a gentle, classic brown shade.
• I took a shower by candlelight.
• I spent a lovely evening researching Advent calendars and ordered one to enjoy in December.
• I attended a two-hour class in garnish carving at the local Arts Council and, with some patient instruction, created a melon seal with a teensy kiwi seed eye.

• I ordered a subscription box devoted to old Hollywood glamour – I *think* I know who the focus of this will be; but I am prepared to be surprised and delighted. That will come in about a month.
• Leaving myself open to “side quests” led me to visit a Japanese Zen garden tucked away in Newberry, South Carolina on my way home for a daylong conference.

These things, dear Divas, do not happen randomly. “Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo” only works in Cinderella. To reap a harvest, you must plan, and sow, and tend. And if you plant discontent and grump, do not expect to harvest wonder and peace.

Harvests take time. Do not put yourself so far down your “to do” list that you never get around to planting what you want to grow in your life. If you need some help to take the first steps with this process – and it IS a process – check out the “Diva Drills” under the Resources tab.

You’re worth treating kindly.