Why I believe in Magic: Part 2

At thirty-seven years old, you might presume I stopped believing in magic a long time ago, however it is just the opposite. As a child I witnessed magicians do their tricks and kept a close eye on their maneuverings, catching slights of hand. That's not the type of magic I'm speaking about. I'd like to tell you a story about how magic revealed itself in my life.

You see years ago I had an idea come to me, a performance of sorts to depict how people are shaped by those that they are surrounded by. I imagined a character interacting with a stage of characters dressed in various costumes and with each interaction the key character would adjust how they portrayed themselves. I envisioned two sides of the stage, the left side... being “Essence,” a little girl playing dress-up in her room simultaneously while the main character, “the Personality” interacted with the various characters. I considered it an interesting thought and kept it tucked inside of me, not knowing how I'd ever bring it to become.

Some of you may know that I have been a performer of many sorts throughout the years. While I was at an event I met a gentleman that was moved enough by my presence within my prayerful dance, that he invited me to perform on stage at an upcoming festival he was organizing. Puzzled, and also delighted, I summarized the story above, and said I had wanted to create it into a Play. He thought this would be the perfect outlet for it, the festival was going to be at City Park on the stage Pavilion.

It was 6 months away, and while I had an idea... I still had a lot of work to do in order to bring it into reality. The following months were filled with work, as it usually is, but I also reached out to people to see if they wanted to participate and thankfully, was met with many willing friends who thought it was a beautiful concept. My younger brother was dating a woman with a flare for theatre and she offered to play the role of the lead character (she has since become my sister-in-law). I also asked my young niece if she wanted to play the part of Essence to which she obliged.

As the week approached, every spare moment I was not at work I spent fine-tuning costuming and coordinating the costumes with performers. Not more than a month away from the date I was asked by my mother, “What is this play that I hear that my granddaughter is going to be in? I hear you are writing, directing and costuming it?”

“Oh, yes... it was just this idea I've had swirling in my head for awhile. It's a Play depicting how we shape ourselves by those we are surrounded by.” I responded. “My friend offered me a spot to perform it, and the Little is going to play a part.”

“What?! When? I'm coming to Colorado!” My mother exclaimed. 

My father, also being interested in what was going on, along with my other siblings, asked if it were okay for him to come and bring my brother and step-mom with him.

I was so busy organizing everything that I hadn't invited people, I was relying on the draw of the festival for our audience. I also grew up with three siblings... one of us always had something going on and I guess as a kid I just decided to stop inviting people to things that I was doing. To have my whole family show up... my two brothers, my sister, my niece and nephew, my mom, my dad, my step-mom... blew my mind. We hadn't all been together in one place, with all of the parents getting along... ever.

As the Play came to a close and I walked out onto the grass, I gave a marble to each of the audience members as a token and reminder of their own essence. While the audience was only 50-75 people, I was in awe of this idea actually coming to form. (I included a link to the pictorial representation of the play below if you would like to see it. )

Now to get back to what I was speaking about a little earlier... Magic.

There are some who would say the story above was a work of manifestation, or perhaps a strong wish had brought this Play to come to be... However within months I realized that the greatest outcome of the Play itself wasn't in the performance of We Become. You see... while that day I was in awe of my family coming together, what I had yet to learn... was that day would be the last day any of my siblings and my niece and nephew, would see my mom, and though she was sick then, she was still well enough to walk and get around. She passed away just a few months later, December 6, 2008, and while I was with her when she passed, none of them were able to be there.

Today I give thanks for that part of me that embraces creative ideas, and nourishes them, bringing them into form...I also give thanks to the people who participated in the production and in the creation and capturing of the event, because ultimately, it allowed for a healing space in my family history.

We Become photos were taken by Scott Strohmeier.