Waiting for the Magic The feeling of anticipation fills the air as we wait for the magic to happen. It's as if time stands still, and for that brief moment, everything else fades away. The world becomes quiet, and all eyes are focused on what's about to unfold. Waiting for the magic is an experience unlike any other. It's a mixture of excitement and wonder, with a touch of nervousness thrown in. It's that feeling you get on Christmas morning, when you can't wait to see what's inside the brightly wrapped packages under the tree.
Mama promptly adopts four dogs and a cat when Papa leaves her and their children, 10-year-old Will and 4-year-old Elinor, who’s a natural at magic from the get-go. Readers soon discover that the animals regularly speak to each other and to some of the humans, telepathically. Greek-chorus style, they also comment sagely and often comically on the family’s travails. According to the author's epigraph, only “the young, the old, the brave, the honest, the joyful” understand the magic, and gradually more family members are revealed as able to join in on the “conversations.” The real magic is not only that animals can speak but that they can effect real change in a family—and ultimately save it. MacLachlan shows how this family grows and heals in touching and charming ways, yet she doesn’t shy away from some of the honest emotions surrounding parental separation. She balances some tough issues with sweetness and humor, and there’s a happy, satisfying and cathartic ending, proving that magic is closer than one thinks and is worth the wait.
If you sit around constantly asking your brain how it s getting on, it gets fractious and distracted you need to leave it alone to work without joggling its elbows. Pet lovers know that their nonhuman friends are magical beings imbued with preternatural wisdom, and anyone who s experienced the special bond between humans and animals firsthand is fortunate indeed.
It's that feeling you get on Christmas morning, when you can't wait to see what's inside the brightly wrapped packages under the tree. But waiting for the magic isn't just about waiting for something extraordinary to happen. It's about creating a space for it to happen.
Waiting for the Magic to Happen
Back in December, Dan Newman wrote a wonderful post about the living through that moment in the arranging process that lies between the groundwork and the realisation. This is how he describes the experience:
I’m currently in the Land of Potential under the Shadow of OverAmbition. It’s a scary place.
This is the point in the process I have described as ‘magic happens here’, and I think anyone who arranges regularly will empathise exactly with Dan’s description of what this moment is like.
He talks through all the groundwork processes: memorising the songs, listening to different versions, analysing meanings, researching background. Basically, getting to know the material in as many different registers as possible.
And then there’s that moment: when you’ve basically done the prep, but before the vision has cohered:
Somehow, I have to trust that my subconscious will start making decisions for me, giving me inspiration of how the pieces fit together. After much headscratching and tea drinking, ideally there will be some plan of action on paper before I start putting note to page (which will be another creative battle on its own).
Two things leap out at me about this passage.
The first is the point about trust. This moment when you’re waiting for your brain to come up with something can be daunting. It can feel like you’re empty, that you’ll never have another idea again. ‘What if I can’t do it?’ you think. And the important thing to note is that everyone feels this way at this moment, and you just have to live through it. With experience, it doesn’t get any less blank-feeling, you just get used to feeling that way and, as Dan says, just trust that in due course your brain will come up with the goods. Don’t Panic.
The second is the tea-drinking. Tea helps the creative process. It doesn’t have to be tea, of course; it doesn’t even have to be a beverage. Going for a walk is very effective, or having a shower, taking a nap, doing some gardening. What is needed is something to take up the front end of your attention without tying up the bits of your brain that are trying to get on with the arrangement. If you sit around constantly asking your brain how it’s getting on, it gets fractious and distracted – you need to leave it alone to work without joggling its elbows.
(Brief interlude to contemplate what a brain’s elbows would look like.)
But tea-drinking can stand as a symbol for all of those different kinds of activities as it a traditional and effective facilitator of thought. The ritual qualities of the preparation help (and all regular tea-drinkers have their rituals, whether of the warming-the-china-pot or the dunking-teabags-then-flicking-them-across-the-room-to-the-bin variety), and the process of infusion itself seems to echo the relationship between song and brain that’s going on meanwhile. There is that sense that ideas need their proper time to brew – if we try to hurry things along by pummelling the mental teabag, then the result is more bitter and tannin-heavy, less fragrant than it would be if we were patient.
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- Liz Garnett's blog
It's about setting aside the noise and distractions of everyday life, and allowing yourself to be open to the possibilities. In this fast-paced world, we're constantly on the go. We're always connected, always multitasking, always moving onto the next thing. But waiting for the magic requires us to slow down, to take a deep breath, and to be fully present in the moment. It's during these moments of stillness that the magic can happen. It's when we allow ourselves to be fully engaged with what's happening around us that we can truly experience the wonder and beauty of the world. Waiting for the magic is a practice in patience. It's about embracing the unknown and trusting that something amazing will happen. It's about surrendering control and allowing ourselves to be surprised and delighted by what unfolds. Whether it's waiting for a sunrise, waiting for a loved one to arrive, or waiting for a dream to come true, there's something magical in the act of waiting. It's a reminder that life is filled with possibilities, and that sometimes, the most beautiful things happen when we least expect them. So, as we wait for the magic, let's remember to be present. Let's allow ourselves to be open to the wonder and beauty of the world around us. And let's embrace the unknown, knowing that something extraordinary is just around the corner..
Reviews for "The Magic of the Present Moment: How Waiting Can Teach Mindfulness"
1. Jane Doe - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Waiting for the Magic". The story was poorly developed and lacked depth. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions were predictable. The writing style was also dull and uninspiring, making it hard for me to connect with the story. Overall, I found the book to be a major letdown and would not recommend it to others.
2. John Smith - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Waiting for the Magic" based on the positive reviews I had read, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The plot was promising, but the execution was lacking. I found the pacing to be uneven, with long stretches of tedious dialogue and little action. The main characters were unsympathetic and their motivations were poorly explained. I struggled to stay engaged with the story and found myself losing interest halfway through. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2 stars
"Waiting for the Magic" was a book that had potential but failed to deliver. The concept of animals being able to talk and help a family solve their problems sounded intriguing, but the execution was lackluster. The writing style was plain and unremarkable, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The characters were shallow and their relationships felt forced. I found myself wanting to skim through the pages instead of fully immersing myself in the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
4. Robert Davis - 1 star
I found "Waiting for the Magic" to be a complete waste of time. The story was uninteresting and failed to captivate my attention. The characters lacked depth, making it hard to care about their struggles. The writing style was unimpressive and the pacing was all over the place. I couldn't wait for the book to be over and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling read.