labor and magic
I wanted to send out a love letter to any of you dreading the extra work involved in making the holidays "magical."
First off, you're not alone
I like reading the newsletters from Hedgebrook, a woman-focused writing retreat center on Whidbey Island. A few months ago the director of Hedgebrook, Kimberly Wilson, was talking about labor and magic and it really stuck with me. She wrote:
"A single word shows up in most every conversation at or about our island writing retreat, in every cottage journal entry and article, within every book acknowledgement. 'Magic' is the go-to descriptor for Hedgebrook’s 48 acres, equal parts forest and fairy tale....But I suspect they know, as do you, that there is nothing supernatural about radical hospitality, good food attentively prepared and beautiful spaces lovingly tended."
I loved reading the explicitness of this. And Kimberly Wilson went on to share how the term "magic" is also often used to "erase the holiday-related labor of women."
Like Hedgebrook, the holidays are not made up of magical forces making things special but detailed care work and emotional and physical labor. This needs to be named and chosen (or not chosen) rather than erased and assumed.
I remember my mom really downplaying the whole santa thing because she said she wasn't going to give santa all the credit for her thoughtful and amazing gifts. So true!
Having an honest awareness of what's actually involved in holiday traditions allows us (and our families) to discover choices. It shifts the energy.
Less erasing and more naming and choosing.
And maybe the holidays can be a little less "magically magical" but a lot more ease-full.
What do you think? And if you want some help shifting the energy this time of year, I'm here for you.
Warmly,
Brianna