Believing in Magic (And Clapping for Fairies)

Hello magical friends!

Call Me Woo, But I Believe

Call me spiritual, call me woo, but I have always been a believer in... something. I prefer to call it Magic.

Magic led me to the beach house. Magic helps me create when I write and craft. It even helps me make dinner.

I cannot tell you the precise recipe for making magic, but I can tell you some of the ingredients:

Generous helpings of serendipity and faith. Sometimes it’s as simple as believing you’ll get parking at the beach on a crowded day (works every time for me!). And sometimes it requires a bigger leap of faith, like going “all in” on a career pivot and becoming a full-time author.

Hard work, careful planning, and some degree of sacrifice are almost always involved in my magical endeavors. So much stirring and a handful of whimsy.

Patience and attention. You must pay attention. Check out for a bit and you might miss an important sign. One second your holiday cookies are barely browned at all, and the moment you get distracted, they’re burnt to a crisp.

Cookies, Cousins & Conjured Storms

Cookies are on my mind this week as I’m hosting a large crowd tonight for my annual “Bookie Cookie” party—part cookie exchange, part book swap, always a hit.

This year is extra special because my cousins are visiting from New Jersey and will be here for the festivities. They were supposed to go home yesterday, but all week long we joked about a storm keeping them here a little longer so they could enjoy the party with us and all our friends.

And then... voilà! A storm arrived, extending their visit.

Small Magic & Hummingbird Messages

We’ve been having so many moments of magic all week, both large and small. From laughing about our random quirky similarities (genetic magic!) to sharing old family memories and recipes, we’ve felt our departed relatives close on so many occasions.

Our grandmother, in particular, has literally been hovering near both of us. Her Hebrew/Yiddish name meant “little bird.”

Earlier this week at the beach, while watching the most glorious sunset, a (normally quite shy) hummingbird flew to my side and landed on the branch beside me. My cousin has been having hummingbird encounters too.

Maybe we’re imagining it all.

But what if we aren’t?

What if belief in magic, in possibility, and in connection are essential ingredients for positive change and results?

I’m not suggesting you do anything dangerous or reckless like quitting your job and starting a whole new career (though that’s worked out so well for me!), but clapping your hands for fairies can’t hurt.

Magical News on the Horizon

And speaking of my writing career, I have some very big, also very magical-feeling news that I’m quite excited to share. I’m hoping I will be able to next week.

Suffice to say, I’m feeling extra sparkly and bubbly this holiday season because of it. Stay tuned!

Cousins

A peek at the “Hanukkah Hedge” - I promise more pictures after the party tonight!