Enchant
There are two definitions of the work Enchant, v. in the Webster’s New Riverside University Dictionary: 1. to cast a spell over; 2. to Charm and delight completely.
Have you every encountered a scene in nature that has enchanted you? How about a person? Or a pet? Perhaps the place or person delights you and you have gathered some lovely memories around that place or person. If you are enchanted by a pet, you probably love spending lots of time playing with your critter friend. No matter the source of your enchantment, memories of spending time with that source undoubtedly bring you joy and peace.
Gratitude and Well-Being
What are your sources of enchantment? Take out a piece of paper and make a list. How many are they? Does writing about them and reading over your list lead to feelings of gratitude and well-being? When you think about them, does time slow down or stop for you? This happens to me when I write about aspects of my world that bring me a sense of enchantment. Here are some of the things on my list:
- Working in my garden
- Reading an enthralling book
- Playing with my daughter
- Playing with our hamsters
- Walking around my neighborhood during an evening snowfall
- Spending time by the seashore
- Playing my musical instruments
- Walking a labyrinth
Please feel free to share some of your items as comments below. I’d love to know about them.
Re-Enchanting Our World
I am reading a book by former priest and psychologist Thomas Moore, titled The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life. He is very Jungian in his perspective about how people form relationships with the world and how the modern world distracts us from developing deeper connections with nature, places we visit, animals, other humans, and the food we eat. The materials of the homes we live in affect our sense of peace when we are there. There could be too much of one element in a home, such as wood, and not enough of another, such as stone. There could be too little color or other types of creative stimulation in our work spaces. Such imbalances increase our levels of anxiety and affect our well-being. They detract from our health. If we give ourselves a chance to tune into what we need, we can create a more balanced home with a few adjustments, and begin our journey back to a greater sense of wholeness.
Once we can find enchantment daily in our homes, we have the freedom and openness to find enchantment in who we encounter there, such as family and pets. After that, we will be able to find enchantment in the places we pass through regularly, or visit occasionally, such as parks, schools, farm stands or local shops. Are there places in your town that you find enchanting? Are there favorite places that your family loves to visit? Our family loves to visit North Conway, New Hampshire and Acadia National Park in Mane. We also love to walk the trails of our local conservation land to our town library.
We Are Enough
When we look around us, do we find an enchanting place that warms our heart? If not, we can change that and make it more comfortable, more us. Our homes are meant to reflect what we love most, what makes us feel truly “at home” in the world. From that place we can have greater energy to meet the challenges that the world hands us, and respond with resilience and hope, perhaps sprinkled with playfulness. We can be a healing presence to others. Who we are is enough to light up the world. May we bless each other with our unique light!
gardenerdragon 
I love taking walks in the woods in the fall/I love walking on the beach with my wife when there is nobody around.Most of all we love our cabin on an island in Lake Sebago,Me and listening to the sounds of the night both there and at home.The peacefulness is overwhelming and calms one,especially when star gazing at late night,early morning-predawn listening to the animals starting to wake up and move around.
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Hey Dick ~ Thank you for reading and sharing some of what you find enchanting! Have a good night. ~:0)
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