One of the gorgeous costumes captured by Kristin Nedopak on Outta This World: http://outta-this-world.com/2010/07/19/faerieworlds/
If you’ve not yet checked out Kristen Nedopak’s blog “Outta This World,” I highly recommend it. She describes her goal as being “to share the art and creativity involved in capturing the otherworlds that inspire us daily,” and in my opinion, she succeeds admirably. Star Wars finger puppets, incredible sci fi and fantasy origami, edible Star Wars, and the reason I’m linking to her blog now, a recent post with a gallery with dozens of the most spectacular photos of folks in costume at various FaerieWorlds events through the year.
Need inspiration? Just browse! I know I now have a list of about a dozen costume ideas I want to try… Her photography is stellar, and the costumes are simply amazing!
We’ve all had those days. Rushing from appointment to appointment, class to class, home to the office to home again with no time to breathe, let alone enjoy the beauties and wonder the world has to offer. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the pessimism of modern life and bogged down with the weight of responsibilities and trivialities.
What’s a faerie to do, trapped in a mundane world? Where can one find magic in a world of schedules, traffic jams, homework, and concrete?
Well, to find magic, you have to make time for magic. How you can best accomplish this is different for everyone, of course, but I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite ways to find a little magic in my everyday life.
A tiger swallowtail butterfly - a little bit of beauty.
1. Go outside. The ease with which you can do this will vary greatly, depending on the weather, your schedule, your location, etc., but I’ve always found that the most effective way to put a little magic in your life is to get out into nature. Even if it’s just a ten minute walk on your lunch break, you’ll be amazed at how rejuvenated it will make you feel.
2. Play with a child. The best way to recapture your sense of childlike wonder is to play with someone who hasn’t lost it yet. Children find joy in the simplest things, and if you take the time to not just humor them, but really interact, you’ll find that it’s incredibly infectious.
Look closely - there's magic in rainbows.
3. Look closely. Even in the heart of the city, there’s beauty to be found if you look closely enough. Make a point of actually pausing to look around you, even when you’re somewhere you’ve been a hundred times before. Stop to admire the curve of a wrought iron gate, or the play of shadows on a wall. Watch sparrows clamoring for crumbs at an outdoor café. See how afternoon light through a window creates rainbows everywhere.
4. Make some music. Sing. Play an instrument. Even something as simple as humming or whistling a tune. Better yet, make some music with someone. There is an undeniable magic in finding that perfect harmony, joining in on the chorus of a favorite song, or even just clapping along with the beat.
Sometimes it's magical to just sit and watch things grow.
5. Help something grow. Magic, like anything beautiful, must be cultivated. Find a piece of earth, and plant something. I’ve been nursing the same grocery store fern on my office desk for almost two years now, and even that small piece of green never fails to make me smile. If you’re lucky enough to have space for a garden, make use of it. Grow a little something to make the world a greener place.
Most importantly,
6. Take a deep breath and smile. No matter how busy you are, you can afford to take the time to take a deep breath, close your eyes or look up at the sky for a moment, and smile. Even if you don’t feel like smiling, do it anyway – it will make you feel better!