Magic is no more than the art of making things happen. First, we realise what we want, then we create it as a reality in the world. At its simplest, it may be that the desire to find a job is followed by the act of looking for a job in the newspaper, calling the employer and getting the job. We do not ordinarily conceive of this as magic, but that is what it is. How happy we are, for a moment, when we get the job. We feel the magic of it.

Another way to practice magic is to find a high place or a sacred site in the physical world: the top of a hill, an empty beach or any place that is sacred to you. This high or sacred place may also be found inside yourself. For one person it may be found by sitting silently, for another in a moment of intensity.

In any case, the art of magic is twofold. One aspect is taking the practical steps. The other is to become clear on one’s intention, at once focused and relaxed, inviting it in, inviting it towards you. Seeing what is wanted and allowing it to fill you. Very simple. Try it and see! However, there are pitfalls to this approach to life. Whether it is understood as magic or, more ordinarily, as getting what one wants; either way, we are caught up in the wanting. And, what ever it is you want is what you don’t have at the moment. Once you have it, you start wanting something new. This experience is familiar to all of us. No sooner do we get the beautiful new car than we want a holiday to drive around and enjoy it, instead of all that extra work it is taking to pay off the car loan.

We may limit our freedom to travel, for example. Despite our best attempts at creative visualisation, when we invite world peace we acknowledge the reality of a world at war.

It is only when we learn to relax with our longings that transformation actually begins. Not that we can’t have the things we want, but we are not caught up in the wanting and healing can begin. If you can just be happy, that is all there is to it.

This is explained in the next column by the Indian master and mystic Osho.

This is my own experience. Just be happy and the beloved comes. Just be happy, and friends are there. Just be happy and everything follows.

It is not only that you place a seed in the soil and the tree follows; let there be a tree and there are millions of seeds. If cause is followed by effect, effect is again followed by cause. This is the chain! Then it becomes a circle -- start from anywhere, create the cause or create the effect.

And I tell you it is easier to create the effect because the effect depends totally upon you; the cause may not be so dependent on you. If I say I can only be happy when a certain friend is there, then it depends on a certain friend, whether he is there or not. If I say I cannot be happy until I attain this much wealth, then it depends on the whole world and the economic situations and everything. It may not happen, and then I cannot be happy.

Cause is beyond me. Effect is within me. Cause is in the surroundings, in the situations. EFFECT IS ME! If I can create the effect, the cause will follow.

Choose to be blissful and see what happens. Your whole life will change immediately and you will see miracles happening around you -- because now you have created the effect and causes will have to follow.
This will look magical; you can even call it the law of magic.

~ Osho
My Way: The Way of the White Clouds

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