Most of us don't think of ourselves as magicians, but in reality, each and every one is us is a magician. Everything within and around us is magical. Including me, including you. No kidding. Read on; you'll see what I mean.

Our Word is our magic wand, and we're using it all of the time. Just like Harry Potter and Dumbledore, or The Lord of the Rings' wizard, Gandalf and the Elven Queen Galadriel or Lord Elrond.

It just hasn't occurred to us that we have, and regularly use, our magic wands and words, every day.

Yes, magicians (by any name) use various rituals, depending on the tradition. And in the movies they're shown wearing certain costumes, with certain 'power objects'. But what it really comes down to is the power of the word - intention, focus, imagination, thought, and speech. Rituals -- simple or complex -- help provide a focus for the word(s) that create.

So we're all magicians. The question is 'what kind of magic are we practicing?' It's either benefiting others and one's self, contributing to desirable outcomes and effects, or not.

Think of all of the thoughts and words streaming out of mouths and minds, wandering around 'out there' around us, like millions and millions of little cars on a very jammed and complex highway. The words we use as individuals, those that go out under the banner of our organizations, from the media, television, and so on.

This is why, when someone speaks to you in a certain way, you either feel good about it, even uplifted, or you feel like we've 'been slimed' or deflated. You might watch a television or news show, and find yourself suddenly feeling anxious and fearful.

As a result of the way 'the Word' is used, you may feel healed, or injured. Or it's why you feel better or worse, even when someone else hasn't said a word, but just thought it. Those are just a few of the power of the Word in action.

I remember when I first really 'got' this, in working with one of my elder-mentors and teachers in the 1990s, I was more than a little bit horrified. It kind of stopped me in my tracks to think that my thoughts and my words were a form of 'magic' that rippled out and create effects.

Since then, it's been a long and often meandering path of 'unlearning' bad habits of thought, word, imagination, and speech; and learning new ones that have better effect. It's definitely a practice, and a process.

This is why every spiritual and wisdom tradition has teachings about watching what you say, think, envision -- various versions of 'be careful what you wish for' or 'what you reap, you will sow."

And yet, while the responsibility of using your word for benefit and not harm seems like a heavy burden, as with all magic there is the invitation and opportunity for real joy, playfulness, and beauty. Our 'word' can be a form of artistry, of healing, of beautiful creativity, and we get to feel the sense of joy and meaning of that.

As with anything else, we can choose the path. The beauty of being a magician, even if you never realized that you were, is that you get to decide, right here and right now, how you want to use your magic -- the magic of your Word. What do you want to create with it? How do you want others to feel? What do you want the effects to be?

If you would like some things in your life to be better than they are, or if you'd like relationships to improve, the 'power of your Word' is one great place to start.

Then you can use the wonderful practices that are available to us to 'clean out' what's not helpful -- those old patterns and habit trails -- and shift into a more inspired, joyful, beneficial magical mode.

This is part of your authentic and most beautiful power -- some would say Divine Gift -- and you have the power to use it as you will.

Why not become a magician of joy, beauty, healing, artistry, and inspiration?

How can you better-use the 'power of your Word', individually and organizationally? Learn more at Ivy Sea Online.