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<\/a>A few weeks ago I came across an article titled \u201cWhat\u2019s Wrong With Asking For a Miracle?\u201d It sounded rather click-baitish, but it grabbed my attention so I took a look. I assumed it would be some Catholic or Evangelical telling readers why they should just have faith that things would work out. Instead it turned out to be an atheist chiding Christians for refusing his demand for proof that miracles actually happen.<\/p>\nI have no interest in stepping into the middle of an argument between atheists and Christians. But I can\u2019t help but think about the original question from a Pagan perspective \u2013 why shouldn\u2019t we ask to receive a miracle? We are magical people (for the most part), whether we are casting spells, crossing the hedge, dealing with spirits, or refining our souls. Aren\u2019t miracles part of what we do all the time?<\/p>\n
Not exactly.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at the definition of a miracle<\/a>. Is a miracle something generally considered impossible, or does it include things that are possible but highly unlikely? If you\u2019re arguing over the existence of miracles, the difference is important. Winning Powerball<\/a> is almost<\/em> impossible, but people do win. On the other hand, winning without buying a ticket is truly impossible \u2013 that really would be a miracle.<\/p>\n In normal conversation the word is used both ways, and in practice it makes little difference. If you need a large sum of money, the fact that you could theoretically get it by \u201cinvesting\u201d in Powerball is of little help. I\u2019m a practical Druid, not a theoretical Druid.<\/p>\n Asking for a miracle, praying for a miracle, working magic for a miracle \u2013 whatever your approach, it\u2019s not a good idea. It\u2019s not an effective use of your time and energy.<\/p>\n Are you\u2019re still with me? You didn\u2019t stop reading because I didn\u2019t tell you \u201cmiracles are out there if you\u2019ll just believe!\u201d? \u00a0Good. Then you\u2019re mature enough to \u00a0know that trite sayings like \u201cwork harder\u201d and \u201ckeep trying\u201d are unhelpful\u00a0 things said by the privileged who don\u2019t have to deal with your reality and who just want you to shut up and go away. Industriousness and perseverance are virtues, but the idea that hard work alone will fix complicated problems is both na\u00efve and callous.<\/p>\n Fortunately, there are more helpful approaches available.<\/p>\n Reframe the problem<\/strong>. Magic can\u2019t help you walk through walls, but it can help you find a door. Or make a door. Magic can help you prepare yourself so that when a previously unseen door opens unexpectedly, you\u2019re ready to jump through it. Magic can help you hone your will so that when a door opens, you\u2019re willing to jump through it and not hesitate because your prison cell is familiar and what\u2019s on the other side of the door might be dangerous and scary.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found that once I start preparing to walk through doors, I start to see doors \u2013 and windows, and cracks that can be expanded \u2013 in places where previously I saw only solid walls.<\/p>\n To put it in baseball terms, if you\u2019re down 5 runs, remember that there\u2019s no such thing as a 5-run homer. Get one run, then another, then another. And change the pitcher, so your 5-run hole doesn\u2019t turn into an 8-run hole.<\/p>\n Try multiple approaches simultaneously.<\/strong> In the mid 1990s I found myself in the job from hell. The details would take far too long to list, and in any case they\u2019re not relevant to this post. Suffice it to say I tried working harder and working smarter and giving it time, but eventually I came to the inescapable conclusion I needed OUT. I needed out so badly I made finding a job my primary job. I called every recruiter who had ever called me. I called former bosses and co-workers. I bought out of town newspapers and went through the job ads (does anyone advertise jobs in the newspaper any more?). I even called some relatives who had business connections \u2013 I can\u2019t begin to tell you how much I didn\u2019t want to do that.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t need all of those approaches to pay off \u2013 I just needed one. But the more approaches I used, the more the odds of finding one that would pay off went up. Gordon White at Rune Soup calls this shoaling<\/a> \u2013 his blog post on it explains the process better than I can.<\/p>\n After several months of nothing, I ended up finding a magic newspaper: the Atlanta Journal-Constitution<\/em> of March 30, 1997. I sent off five resumes from ads in that paper. I got four call-backs, three interviews, and two offers. The offer I accepted eventually brought me to where I am now.<\/p>\n Was there privilege in many of those resources? Of course there was \u2013 and I used every bit of it I could. If you need a miracle use everything you\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n A current TV commercial makes fun of \u201csettlers\u201d \u2013 people who settle for a supposedly inferior product. We\u2019re told \u201cgo big or go home\u201d and \u201chold out for The Right One.\u201d Our pursuit of unattainable perfection keeps us dissatisfied\u2026 and ready to spend more money to try to buy what we can\u2019t find. Some things shouldn\u2019t be compromised, like ethics and values. But for everything else, take the half loaf, then work on getting the other half.<\/p>\n Meditate<\/strong>. So, where does one go to find these hidden doors, smaller bites, multiple approaches, and half loafs? Inward. Sit in silent meditation and clear your mind of all your worries and busyness. My favorite technique is to go for a long walk outdoors. Don\u2019t even think about listening to your iPod. Let Nature clear your mind, then let it go where it will. The natural world has a way of opening your eyes to connections and possibilities that is truly magical.<\/p>\n While you\u2019re at it, pray and make offerings. You have allies in the world of the Gods and ancestors \u2013 ask for Their help too.<\/p>\n Die valiantly<\/strong>. Eventually we all die. Perhaps we\u2019ll live on in the Otherworld or perhaps we\u2019ll return here via reincarnation. We don\u2019t know<\/a>. But we do know we will all die some day, and that day may be closer than we think. We can\u2019t choose if we\u2019ll die, but if we are wise (and a little lucky) we can choose how we die.<\/p>\n What does it mean to die valiantly? For some, it means a quiet, peaceful acceptance of the inevitable. For others, it means tying yourself to a standing stone so you can continue to swing your sword and die on your feet. I think about this from time to time and I don\u2019t think I can know what I\u2019ll do until I\u2019m faced with it. But I accept that death is inevitable, and it may not wait till I\u2019m 105 and I\u2019ve done everything I want to do.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Break the problem into bites<\/strong>. If you toss a fair coin, you have a 50% chance of getting heads. But you only have a a 0.1% chance of getting ten straight heads. Trying to throw ten straight heads falls into miracle territory \u2013 it could happen, but it\u2019s not worth your time and effort. Instead, break the problem into manageable steps \u2013 work on throwing one head, then another, and so on. One huge problem is insurmountable. Multiple small problems can be solved one at a time.<\/p>\n<\/a>Embrace the half loaf<\/a><\/strong>. Progress is often incremental. If you can\u2019t get everything you need, take what you can get. Problems requiring miracles can rarely be solved in an hour with time left over for commercials. Some things take a lifetime \u2013 or multiple lifetimes. If you can make things a little better, those who come after you can make them a little more better, and eventually things will be where they need to be.<\/p>\n