Not too long ago the world of spirituality was not very present in my life. I had a fast paced job in a start up that didn’t leave me a lot of time to think about being. Joining forces with my sister to build Magic is the Key has turned this around. I’ve been diving head first into spirituality, magic, shamanism, and the beauty of life. There is a lot to learn and maybe you, like me, are just starting out on this journey.

I thought it would be useful to share some words and the definitions I have learnt in my last few months of discovery. To the words and definitions I added my own thoughts. It fascinates me that there is always room for interpretation and the possibility to make existing words your own. We all have our own associations and contexts that we have been given, have chosen, or created.

If none of this is new to you, maybe by reading this you think about what these words spark in you and find something new as you grow your own definitions.

To start, I share the words with my personal thoughts the way I have lived and learned them in the last few months. This is followed by my favorite dictionary definitions, which I have placed here for extra inspiration, exploration, and to see the similarities and differences between them and my personal discoveries.

My thoughts and associations at this point in time:

Liminal - One of my favorite words that I have learnt. The in between. Between jobs, relationships, traveling somewhere or traveling home. Spaces where you are not here or there. There’s a lot of uncertainty, fear, opportunity, curiosity, and time to think. Sometimes the in between can seem like forever and sometimes you don’t even know your in it.

It is also the time at sunrise and at sunset. The time when the space between worlds is very thin and you can travel more easily. There is a lot of opportunity if you open your heart.

Spirits - Something I personally cannot see, but know that they are there. To me, they feel ancestral. They are here to guide me or to lead me astray. Not all spirits are good. You have to take time to find them and connect with them if that is what you are searching for. You have to open your mind.

Totems - It is believed that they have existed since before the stone age. They are animals that carry powers and symbols that can help us on our path in the physical world. My first association with totems were the totem poles of the Native Americans. They remind me of beautiful art and an old, cherished culture that carries knowledge that many people have lost.

Magic - Almost endless. There is everyday magic in small moments. Things that seem special. The magic of the stars at night. The magic of eating a meal. The magic of childbirth. The magic of Harry Potter and his friends and all other witches, and wizards. The magic tricks of a magician. The magical we see in a million different ways in movies, books, and stories. It is everywhere around us. If you look you can find it and more often than not, it brings joy.

Ritual - Anything that repeats on a regular basis and that you have given meaning to. For example, you probably go to the bathroom regularly but don’t really think about it. A family dinner every Sunday on the other hand is meaningful and special. Your morning coffee or tea might be a ritual, or it might not. It depends on how you feel about it and what kind of awareness you bring to the situation. A ritual can also be something more magical. Maybe you have an altar set up that you sit with and do a practice with regularly. There are endless options to build your own.

Ceremony - Special events for special purposes that usually only occur once. They are particular to a specific subject. The most obvious to me is still a wedding. Alternately, I recently had a little ceremony to bless a small jewellery item to help me follow my heart. It took place in my hometown forest together with my sister, Pipaluk and a very dear friend from Holland. A ceremony gives meaning and can remind oneself of what is important in life.

Shaman - They are rare. They can heal, or see things others can not, or speak to ancestors and the spirits. Some can probably do it all. I assume that they are old souls, as they carry a lot of wisdom. It is a gift that you are born with, but still you must learn the Shaman ways. They have a deep connection to our world and beyond in spirit, mind, and soul.

Dictionary Definitions:

Liminal ⎢ lim•i•nal

 1 : of, relating to, or situated at a sensory threshold : barely perceptible or capable of eliciting a response

 2 : of, relating to, or being an intermediate state, phase, or condition : IN-BETWEEN, TRANSITIONAL

(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liminal)

Spirit ⎢ A particular way of thinking, feeling, or behaving, especially a way that is typical of a particular group of people, an activity, a time, or a place.

The characteristics of a person that are considered as being separate from the body, and that many religions believe continue to exist after the body dies.

The form of a dead person, similar to a ghost, or the feeling that a dead person is present although you cannot see them.

Enthusiasm, energy, or courage.

A strong alcoholic drink.

Some types of spirit are alcoholic liquids used especially for cleaning, mixing with paint, etc.

(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/spirit)

Totems ⎢ to•tem

 1 a : an object (such as an animal or plant) serving as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry

   b: a family or clan identified by a common totemic object

 2 : one that serves as an emblem or revered symbol

(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totem)

Magic ⎢ The use of special powers to make things happen that would usually be impossible, such as in stories for children.

The skill of performing tricks to entertain people, such as making things appear and disappear and pretending to cut someone in half.

A special and exciting quality that makes something seem different from ordinary things.

Used when you think something is very good and you like it a lot.

(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/magic)

Ritual ⎢ A way of doing something in which the same actions are done in the same way every time.

A fixed set of actions and words, especially as part of a religious ceremony.

(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ritual)

Ceremony ⎢ (A set of) formal acts, often fixed and traditional, performed on important social or religious occasions.

(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ceremony)

Shaman ⎢ In particular religions, a person who is thought to have special powers to control or influence good and evil spirits, making it possible for them to discover the cause of illness, bad luck, etc.

(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/shaman)