ORDINARY MAGIC by Mister Dizzy Everything is magic. The most ordinary things about life are the most magical things. The seemingly unimportant day-to-day things matter the most. Be careful, pay attention, and make sure you don't mess up the formula. EVERYONE LARPS If you're reading this and thinking, "Come on, really? Magic? You're just larping," well, yes, I am. And so are you. If you're somehow reading an online TXT file and still don't know this, (how did you get here?) Live Action RolePlaying, or larping, is roleplaying (like, say, Dungeons & Dragons) where you act out what your character is doing instead of just saying it. The thing is, everyone larps, ALL of the time. Life has nothing but the meaning we assign it ourselves. Those who accuse you of larping are themselves larping harder than ever. Ignore them and larp ON PURPOSE. PICK YOUR LARP(S) Everyone's a larping dork, always. That's great news! If you are aware of this fact, it frees you up to consciously try on different larps, and pick the one that works the best. As the Discordians say, "everything is true, even the false things." How is that possible? "I don't know, man, I didn't do it." If you can choose what reality you live in, and you can create a reality of your own, why not choose the one that makes you happier and more successful? Pick one and fake it 'til you make it. Or if you prefer, DON'T pick one, and just do it piecemeal, picking out magical bits and pieces that work for you and using them as needed. The point is, let yourself fantasize. Let yourself pretend. BUILD A ROUTINE Due to the constantly cyclical nature of life, like the day/night cycle or the seasons, a potent source of ordinary magic can come from building your own daily routine, and sticking to it. Don't think of it as showering and brushing your teeth; You are performing a CLEANSING RITUAL. You're not making tea, that's ALCHEMY, and you're making a POTION. The most ordinary things actually matter the most, so perform them accordingly. CREATIVITY If you engage in any sort of creative pursuit, you know already what ordinary magic is. The output of creative effort is seen by many people as intrinsically valuable, just by virtue of the fact that it is a work of creativity, regardless of whether it's especially good or not. This is why art majors have terms like "naive art," which is a piece created by someone without real skill or training who is compelled to create anyway. The creative act, itself, is a piece of ordinary magic. PAY ATTENTION The most potent magic can be found in the most mundane things, ordinary tasks, and everyday places. Pay attention to those things the most of all. Think of it this way: if you really were doing magic with potent components in a wizard's tower, carelessly casting spells and ingredients around would be a terrible idea. So, when you're in your creative space, or at work, or washing up, or anywhere, make sure you have your mind on the task, and your eyes on your tools. TOOLS I recommend gathering for yourself a set of general magical tools, whatever that word may mean within the context of your day-to-day ordinary magic. These things can be functional or symbolic, bought or crafted, useful or decorative, and it's up to you to choose your own set. A magical tool can be anything that demands your attention with its presence. A knife is an excellent example of this: Our apprehension about the possibility of getting cut draws our attention to the blade and makes us aware of its every movement. This is why so much ceremonial magic involves knives. Personally, I'd recommend physically taking an active part in the manufacture of some of your own tools. For extra potency, this could involve the use of other, existing magical tools. For example, carving a totem or a symbol with your favorite pocket knife. Or using your father's tools to build yourself a spice rack (for when you do ALCHEMY in the kitchen that results in dinner). ORDINARY MAGIC Everything is magic. The most ordinary things about life are the most magical things. The seemingly unimportant day-to-day things matter the most. Be careful, pay attention, and make sure you don't mess up the magical formulae.