Granny's Luck   Creating Magic in the Lives of Those You Love

Remember "kitchen witches?" Back in the seventies, everyone was buying them or giving them as wedding shower gifts. They were supposed to protect your kitchen, keep your pots from boiling over or your cookies from burning. I had quite a few friends who still had culinary disasters and major messes, in spite of these little dolls. What was often missing was an element that made the witch special for the kitchen of a particular person. What was there was a sweet thought of the giver when they were given as gifts. That sweet thought is the magic.

There are many little things people generally regard as lucky. Rabbits' feet, shamrocks, St. Christopher medals, Amish hex signs on the sides of barns, Native American dream catchers...lots of things. What we tend to believe is we must search outside of ourselves for luck or magic. It is interesting that we should believe this since no one is as familiar with your own special magic as you are...because it dwells in your heart.

Now, what is all this charming magic, really? Here are a few dictionary definitions:

mag·ic (m²j"¹k) n. 1. The art that purports to control or forecast natural events, effects, or forces by invoking the supernatural. 2. a . The practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects or control events in nature. b . The charms, spells, and rituals so used. 3. The exercise of sleight of hand or conjuring for entertainment. 4. A mysterious quality of enchantment:

charm (chärm) n 1. The power or quality of pleasing or delighting; attractiveness: a breezy tropical setting of great charm. 2. A particular quality that attracts; a delightful characteristic: A mischievous grin was among the child's many charms. 3. A small ornament, such as one worn on a bracelet. 4. An item worn for its supposed magical benefit, as in warding off evil; an amulet. 5. An action or formula thought to have magical power. 6. The chanting of a magic word or verse; incantation.

The are several parts of these definitions that appeal to me: that "mysterious quality of enchantment", or the "quality of pleasing or delighting". I sincerely believe that in all she did, Granny strove to please and delight and that all who had contact with her definitely considered her mysterious in a charming sort of way (and she probably did everything with that charming mischievous grin).

So, you ask, how is it that Granny received all the knowledge to work all this magic? Apparently, she was a German girl who married a French Canadian. From what I am told, life with my grandfather was no picnic. However, Granny's mother-in-law taught her the craft that had been handed down in the family as a strong oral tradition. That is why we don't exactly know where all of this came from. Some of it appears to have come from my great-grandmother and some of it seem to be based on Granny's spiritual experiences, both from nature and her religion.

The contribution from her French Canadian mother-in-law is very similar to practices brought to North America by the French settlers in the southern United States who came from Africa. Hence the popularity of this sort of thing among those of French extraction who live in Louisiana. For centuries, young women have gone to the wise women who told their fortunes, prepared potions or made gris-gris for them.

The fact is, in every culture, there is always a desire for wishes to come true. It is nothing out of the ordinary. We wish upon stars, toss coins in fountains, all sorts of things. But the magic, you'll find, is in wishing for someone else and finding joy in their happiness. Granny knew that. I'm learning. So are you.

So then, what is this magic we're talking about?

Magic is opening your heart to imagine something for someone other than yourself.

Magic is a manifestation of love.

Magic is a result of selfless caring.

Magic can be as simple as a friendly hello or as complex as raising a child.

Magic can be wishful thinking.

You can make anything magical.

Prayer is Magic.