I Blew the Power to a Whole Building

On owning our magic

As a thank you to my paid subscribers, you can listen - in my own voice - to both this essay and the keynote speech “The Magic of Poetry” at the end of this post. I am also slowly phasing out my Instagram and soon, Substack will be the only place to follow my adventures.

If you would like to support my dreams and gain access to the speech & more of my magic, please consider becoming a subscriber - either free or paid. I would love to keep in touch!

Last weekend, I was invited to be the keynote speaker for an “Otherworldly Affair,” an intuitive arts market (think tarot readers, astrologers, reiki masters and tattoo artists, and plenty of local artisans selling crystals and herbal tinctures).

It was an event that was very aligned with who I am – a spiritual person who believes in the absolute magic of life; and by magic, I don’t mean Harry Potter or Houdini –

I mean magic, like when you think of someone or something and it materializes soon after.

I mean magic, like asking for the most random sign and receiving it, removing all doubt from your mind.

I mean magic, like journaling that your future partner drinks hazelnut coffee and is an Aquarius and having him show up 7-8 months later when divine timing arrives.

To put it in today’s colloquialisms, it was a market for all things “woo.” Like I said – my people. And said people aren’t just my people because we’re into the same “woo” shit. Said people are my people because we are on the same energetic frequency, by which I mean the people that are drawn to these kinds of things can typically see the panorama of life.

They are open-minded and even more open-hearted. They are accepting of all people and understand that life works based on energy, from the inside out; that no one is coming to “save us” because it’s an inside job; that there has always been enough room at the table for everyone; that love is the core of everything, the place from which every one of us originated.

If you’re here reading this, that’s you. Like attracts like. You were drawn here by that same frequency: love.

Given that the organizer knew who I was and what I was all about, I was asked to give a speech on the “Magic of Poetry.”

When I was first offered the gig months ago, I was unsure. I wasn’t in a great headspace at the time and was battling debilitating anxiety over some health issues (anxiety has always been my personal brand of poison). I sat on the idea for a while, riding my emotional wave, and eventually came to the conclusion that to turn the opportunity down would be to say no to who I wish to become: someone who believes wholeheartedly in herself and her dreams, who doesn’t fear the unknown but embraces it.

Here was an opportunity that was screaming my very name, and I was apprehensive about taking it because #public speaking, my number one fear that has no doubt carried over from lifetime to lifetime because of what it represents: speaking your truth. We’re still at odds sometimes, but as much as it scares me, I know it’s part of my destiny – to encourage and catalyze others by telling the story of how I grew from someone who hated herself and was terrified to speak up, to someone who stands passionately on stage and speaks to the wild, inexplicable magic of personal growth and self-love that can only happen from believing in ourselves and doing “the work.”

Simply put – I have a message. And this was a chance to spread it.

That morning, it was cold and moody with a very light drizzle – a perfect day for spending indoors connecting with all things mystical. I got dressed, donned my captain’s hat and downed a coffee. When I arrived, I checked in to the fair and wandered nervously (but excitedly!) around the space. I took note of the small platform stage with the red velvet rope in front.

Little did I know what rare and magical, deeply affirming occurrence would happen on that very stage to give credence and confirmation to everything that I’ve been so patiently and diligently working towards for years now.