6 Ways To Re-Connect To Our Inner Magic

“Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.” ~ Dr. Seuss

When we are children, we have a sense of wonder and awe about us; everything is fascinating, intriguing and interesting.

Everything shines and sparkles or makes us laugh, and if something doesn’t interest us, we move on, never sparing it another thought.

Our minds are always present, we live in the here and now always. Always rooted to the present moment, to the task at hand, be it looking at a flower or coloring on paper with crayons, playing hide and seek or watching woodlice crawl out from under logs and over our hands (a personal favorite).

We are never bored, never apathetic, always amused and entertained. Our minds are our playgrounds for the imagination, and our playgrounds are kingdoms where we fight dragons, build castles and conjure other worlds.

Life is always magic. Always fun.

Then we grow up. And the fun turns to responsibility and seriousness.

But we don’t have to grow up, not ever, not really. If we learn to tap into our inner childlike awe and wonder, and re-adjust how we see the world, we can remain childlike and playful. We can incorporate magic into our everyday lives, no matter how sensible or responsible we have to act.

Inside we can always be children, fascinated with beauty and nature. We can always be surprised, as if every time we see something, we see it with new eyes. We can make sure our hearts and minds are always curious.

We don’t have to ever really grow up. Society tells us we should. But I say we shouldn’t. I say we should always stay amazed by life and be grateful for the small, simple things. For sunshine, for friendships, for beauty, for music, for nature and to move our bodies and stretch our imaginations.

Here are 6 sweet ways to unlock our inner childlike magic: 

1. Daydream. “If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less, but to dream more, to dream all the time.” ~ Marcel Proust

Dream big, dream often and dream unapologetically. We used to be told off for daydreaming in class but really daydreaming is so important  to keep our imaginations, and therefore magic, alive.

Dream of plans, travels, love, food, fantasies and the future of the planet. Dream of beaches soaked in sunshine and all the things you want to be. Dream of having superhero powers and of saving the world. Once you begin to dream, you are capable of anything you can put your mind to. Dreams are the gateway to goals. Plus you can never be bored with an active imagination.

2. Laugh. “If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” ~ Roald Dahl

Laughter is the best medicine. Our ability to laugh and joke and see the humor in life is what keeps us sane (or insane). Laughter is contagious, good for the soul and makes us live longer. Seeing the good in people and the silliness in situations can save us. Magic is found in the moments we are transported away from the seriousness of life, and there is no better way to find this magic, than laughing.

Learn to laugh easily and life will get easier.

3. Spend Time Alone.  “I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person.” ~ Oscar Wilde

When we were young, we could potter about in our own worlds, sit and draw, run and play outside, talk to imaginary friends, all on our own with no worries or cares. When we get older, we feel bad for being alone, we see it as lonely or sad. But spending time alone is vital for keeping your inner magic alive. When we’re alone we can rest and connect within, to our inner childlike nature. We can discover the yin to the yang, the peace to the chaos, and the silence to the noise.

4. Play. “It is a happy talent to know how to play.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Playfulness is not something delegated to children only. We have every right to be able to play and be silly all our lives. Whether we are in public or in private, playing is a beautiful acknowledgement of our inner child and an expression of our creativity and imagination. We can do crafts, run around outside with a hose in summer, build a fort out of sheets or play with a child or animal. Playing is fun, and fun is not age exclusive.

A child who is lost in playtime is the epitome of presence and mindfulness. We can learn a lot from children’s uninhibited ability to play for no reason other than to enjoy the moment.

5. Dance. “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche 

As children, we would move and dance without a care in the world; we hadn’t yet discovered the shame of self-consciousness and were still connected to the purity of spirit which ran through our veins. Magic is awoken in our bodies and hearts when we move, when our bodies let go of the shackles of appropriate andsensible and we transcend into the realms of instinctive movement.

Those moments when you close your eyes and let your body move whichever way it wants to, swinging hips and arms and wild spins, a sense of freedom and liberation releases you. Find your own rhythm, dance to your own music, beat your own drum, and move any damn way you want. Even if it’s just in your bedroom. Music and dance are sacred, divine even, and will help you connect with your inner magical source.

6. Enjoy Nature. “To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature.  Most persons do not see the sun.  At least they have a very superficial seeing.  The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and heart of the child.  The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Remember when you were a child and you would run around in the rain, tasting it on your tongue and splashing in puddles? Or when you would paddle in streams, climb trees, run through fields and lie looking at the clouds? I remember taking walks in the forest, and finding secret caves and hollow trees, convinced I’d found the home of fairies and hobbits.

Nature is our mother, and as children we feel comfortable around her; soothed by her maternal energy. We feel a deep connection with flowers and bugs and leaves and rivers as children, but we often move to cities as we grow older and lose this sacred bond. Spending time in nature revives all our senses, raises our vibration and opens up a word of magic and wonder inside of our hearts and souls.

Keeping the magic alive is not just for relationships, it’s for our own souls; to always remain amazed at what’s in front of us and to always find the humor and color in life.