Multimagusism

I have three daughters. One is a fairy princess, the second is a wizard, the third is just ten months old, so we really don’t know quite who she is yet. It always amazes me how different people can be, even if they share the same house. Or castle, as the case may be. My fairy princess enjoys her own company, quietly and efficiently ruling her share of the kingdom. She dances around the castle gardens with grace and has tea with the forest animals and the sprites. Sometimes she is so quiet in her dealings that you don’t even notice her moving gracefully in the shadows among the fairy-folk.

My little wizlet is quite different. She is all light and no shadows. She is a small explosion of sound and sights. She whirls and whizzes around the castle, a small explosion of energy. Sometimes, when she is not casting spells about her, the river of energy reverts inward. Quiet but alert, she reflects this about her like the quiet pulse of sunshine.

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Under Duress

Writing is sometimes like going to the dentist. It has to be done, it will make you feel better, but its process is painful. Today writing is made particularly painful for me by the fact that I have a wicked witch planning to poison me and two dwarves ready to axe down my front door. You see, the criminal element in Magusville has discovered that I am writing this little blog and intend to do something about it. As a wizard of the the Wizerly clan I have been sworn to secrecy about our secret wizard society (though, luckily, I have never had to take the Severe Oath – a curse that would cause me death or worse for divulging clan secrets.) I am one of a number of many wizard radicals who would befriend mankind, protect them not only from evil wizards but also from themselves. However, it would seem that the ruling Superior Magus does not, unfortunately, share our views. Excuse me, I think I hear- yes, it seems that my life will be spared for one more day. The ogre next door just helped himself to a little free lunch. I really must invite him over to tea – its wonderful having an ogre for a neighbor…well, thank the Great One that he’s on Our side, anyway.

Have yourselves a magical day, friends.

The Colour of Magic

Blue sky, blue sky, what secrets do you hold? Watching fools and sages from lofty heights untold!
– from “Wizardry Throughout the Ages”

Here in Magusville we have always been Green. That’s right, Green with a capital “G.” We wizards view ourselves as protectors of the earth, trying to undo some of the environmental damage done by some thoughtless human beings. Of course, having magic as an unlimited supply of clean natural energy certainly helps a lot. Is your garden overrun with weeds? Is your home teeming with vermin, or stuffed full of unwanted junk? Just call an earth wizard, she’ll have you tidied up in no time. Certainly, it may cost you a few drops of bat’s blood, five fingernail clippings and your firstborn child, but a wizard will get the job done right.

We also know when to leave well enough alone. We don’t mess with our enchanted forests, for example. Who knows what damage the venerable old trees would do to us if we dared to harm them? We’d have trees protesting in the streets, their roots pulling up the roads and blocking the thoroughfare. Sure, we have spellbooks that use paper, but that’s by a tree’s choice. Becoming a book is an honour reserved for the very oldest, most gnarled trees in the forest. Trees that have a story to tell. Old greybeards with tendrils of ancient moss that have more magic in one of their roots than in all the famous wizards throughout history. We love and revere our trees. We wouldn’t last long if we didn’t.

Intimations of Royalty

Today it is my great privilege to have breakfast with a fairy princess. It is not as daunting as you might think. Yes, she is startlingly beautiful, with manners and graces that only her race can achieve, but a more natural unaffected creature you could never hope to meet. She’s only three and happens to be my daughter, but that’s just some happy coincidence. She smiled at me over her bowl of granola cereal, her large eyes dancing to their depths and I am humbled and awed that such a magical creature has deigned to make my acquaintance and even enjoys my company. Where did she learn to move like that? Something about the precise movement of her hands, the graceful tilt of her head, the impromptu dance as she sits perched straight-backed in her chair reminds me that I am in the presence of royalty. I watch her reach out and touch a branch of a tree that had been a chair only moments before. She glides away into her enchanted forest-kingdom to fulfill some secret agenda, and I sigh gratefully, taking another contemplative sip of my tea. I have been given a gift.

Welcome to Magusville!

Welcome to Magusville, city-under-the-mountain and jewel of Wizardom. My own journey through Magusville has been at once perilous and fascinating. I have wrestled with witches, explored enchanted castles and argued with testy dragon-familiars. I have even seen the Kuldron mountains riding dragon-back! I hope your journey is equally frightening and amazing.

If you get a chance, visit the tea-room for a cup of fairy-tea or strong wizard’s brew. Its better than any coffee I’ve tasted (and believe me, with all my travels I am becoming something of a connoisseur!) Also, if magic books tantalize you, don’t forget to stop by the Wizerly Book Shoppe in our neighboring small-town Wizenbury.