What about magic?

To answer this question, let's set aside the first definition that usually springs to mind: magic is illusion. We'll set it aside, for now, because that definition is correct. Let's look instead at the definition of magic that we WISH were real.

We would like to believe in magic as power. Power over other people. Power over illness. Power over circumstances. Power over nature.

I like to have my students write about their magical imaginings, because I think it's very telling what a young human mind does with this topic. Kids dream of all kinds of magical abilities: flying, immortality, super-strength, invisibility, and size-changing are the most-common ones they come up with.

Maybe you can remember when you were young, some of the magical wishes you held in mind. Maybe you can recall how these fade away as the 'realities' of adulthood begin to confront you. Not that adults give up all magical thinking. Even adults have superstitions, beliefs in the power of words, beliefs in the power of spells, astrology, earth elements, prayers, and priesthoods.

Regardless of the age group, or the form of magical thinking, what they all have in common is the idea of POWER. And, set in the ego framework, this power must be individual power. (Remember, even group thinking is still individualistic as long as it appears to contrast with the group thinking of another, separate group.)

Non-duality proclaims that Reality is God and God is Reality. There is no power other than God. Any appearance of another power must be illusion.

If we accept that premise, even if only for the sake of argument, we see that not only are our wishes, dreams, and fantasies in the realm of magic, but so are almost all of the aspects of are human existence! A human body flying through the air is a magical thought; but so is a human body walking on the surface of a planet. An invisible person is magic; but so is a VISIBLE person! The power to leap over tall buildings is magical; but so is the ability to leap over hurdles in a track race.

This world is founded on the assumption that magic exists, that there is power other than God, and that we humans wield that power.

This thought is false. This thought is illusion.

So, our first thought was correct; magic IS illusion, and can be nothing else.

And there is no escape until we begin to at least wonder if we could be wrong. Usually, the next step is just to substitute a new magic spell for the one that's been discarded.

But, with an open mind and enough experience, we begin to see that these various forms of magic are all alike in all crucial aspects. They don't make us happy, or safe, or satisfied. . . for anything other than short snippets of time.

Eventually we begin to see that the world can offer nothing, because that's all the world is: nothing. That's all illusion is: nothing appearing to be something.

Magic doesn't exist. We wish it did, though. And this wish is obscuring our Will.

So, what if we wished to stop wishing? It can be done. For most of us, it will take time.

But one day, we'll truly see that time is magic, too. And we can give up the illusion of time just as easily as all the others.

Our True Power can only be experienced when we stop wishing there was another power. When we stop desiring magic, we will see Reality and will see our inclusion in It.

To the person who called my spiritual views “Epic Bullcrap.”

At first, I was elated that someone had actually looked at my blog! I mean, so few people visit you can hear crickets chirping over here!

Then, I was a little miffed at your use of a linking verb. The exact statement was “Non-dualism is epic bullcrap.” Is? IS? As in, another name for it? The same thing as? But, soon, I relented and reminded myself that you were just expressing an opinion, your own perspective, your own angle, your take. And, let’s be honest, that’s all any of us can do. When we make any kind of declarative, we’re just expressing our own opinion. And you know the old saying about opinions and the analogous body part.

Then, the Golden Rule kicked in. So you disagree with my views, okay. But calling them “bullcrap?” How would you like it if I called your views bullcrap? Is it appropriate in any public forum to categorically label a fellow human-being’s perspective as “bullcrap?” Is it okay to call Mormonism bullcrap? Catholicism? Sexism? Racism? Oh, wait. . . yeah. I guess if I put my views out on-line, I should be prepared for some people to simply put them in the category of “Male Bovine Excrement.”

So, where I’m at now, is I’m feeling dismayed that you felt the need to post your opinion anonymously. I would have enjoyed a dialogue! At the very least, it would be fun. And possibly, you have some viewpoints that may help me in some way. As a seeker of truth, I have to be willing to admit that my beliefs and paradigms may be incomplete, faulty, or totally false; and I must be willing to follow truth whichever way it leads, even if it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.

I’m going to post this missive on the blog and also on Facebook. Maybe you are some random blog surfer, and you’ll never see this. Maybe you are someone I know, and you will reconsider the chance to chat about some of life’s mysteries. Regardless, writing this has made me feel better. Even if my views are bullcrap.