Quick Magic: Put a Candle on It

You know that Portlandia sketch “Put a Bird on It”? Well, I feel like the spiritual equivalent is “put a candle on it.”

Got a sad corner in your room? Add a candle. Need to make your tarot reading feel more legit? Add lots of candles. Want your journaling practice to look more mystical and monkish? Candles.

But there’s really something to it, as I realized the other day while sitting down for yet another round of zoom meetings and phone calls (for non-tarot things, mind you). I needed something to feel centered and refreshed; that would bring some much-needed magic to my everyday drudgery.

I lit a candle.

…and it worked wonders. Nobody could see the alluring light flicker next to my laptop as I chatted with my doctor during a Telehealth visit. Did the grumpy woman on the other end of the phone know that I was basking in the amber glow of a handsome glass taper? Not at all! But it elevated the moment and made being on hold for 30 minutes decidedly more bearable and glamorous.

Sometimes there’s big magic in the smallest things. My new ritual is to take a brief moment to ground myself before sitting down to work at my desk. I breathe in and out several times with my eyes closed, relaxing and settling into a new mode. When I’m ready, I light my candle and get started. When I’m done I blow it out, close my laptop, and walk away.

I often forget that I have the power to sanctify, embellish, and spruce up my daily life. These small gestures make all the difference and make me feel aligned with myself, even when I’m doing something soul-crushing like bookkeeping. In fact, it reminds me that I’m doing something soul-crushing like bookkeeping because it matters to me and brings security, awareness, and space into my life. Which, even though it took a long road to get there, is magical in its own way.

You may want to experiment with setting intentions or reciting a quick affirmation while lighting your candle, but like all magic, stay with what feels the most authentic to you. I’ve also found that it helps to keep things simple when adding new rituals or elements to your routine, that way you don’t overextend yourself and burn out, dropping the act once it starts to feel more of a burden than a help.

What about you? What rituals do you have around work that keep you focused and grounded? How do you feel magic intersects with the mundane? Can bookkeeping be transcendent? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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