The enchanted path
Discover the magic of walking.
I'm inspired by walking and enchanted by magic. Weaving these two ideas together is partly what led me to begin writing Pilgrimagic, creating a place where walking meets wonder.
Magic, for me, isn't just about spells, candles and oracle cards. Over the past decade, I've come to understand that having a magical worldview is an essential tool in helping me navigate an uncertain landscape, engage with the wonder of nature and collaborate with mystery.
I appreciate that talking about magic can evoke strong feelings. I used to be firmly rooted in a rationalist atheism that told me magical thinking was misguided at best and delusional at worst. But as I quieted my inner cynic, I came to appreciate that the unseen can illuminate my path as brightly as any torch, and that intuition can direct my steps as clearly as any waymarking.
Moving with magical purpose can be a catalyst for self-discovery, transformation and connection.
These are some of the steps I've taken along the enchanted path.
Opening the door to wonder
Holme Fen in Cambridgeshire is the largest birch woodland in England, and it stands at the lowest point below sea level. In early spring, the endless acres of silvery white trunks and soaring branches bring forth a shimmer of bright green leaves in their canopies. It's hard not to be enchanted, walking on the soft mossy ground at dusk and hearing owls call through the silence.
I took my first tentative magical steps among those trees at the lowest point of my life. My path eventually led me to training as a nature connection facilitator, embarking on the academic study of the environment, and beginning my journey in druidry. Looking back now, it seems so obvious to me that I was engaging my heart, mind and spirit to understand my place in the family of all things. But back then, I was just following my curiosity and walking the trail that unfolded before me.
My academic studies culminated in my research on people's connection to meaningful places in nature. Listening to their stories and reading countless others, I saw that being swept up in wonder at the natural world can be a transformative experience.
I also learned that a sense of wonder at the world can be actively cultivated. Gazing at murmurating starlings, staring at the intricacy of tree bark or noticing the gentle curiosity of a young deer can provoke powerful feelings of awe. In those moments, the world is no longer a backdrop to human drama, but a community of active participants in the story of life.
My personal worldview is animist; I believe that every part of nature is brimming with wisdom and generosity of spirit. But you don't have to believe in the soul of the sunset to feel its glorious colours singing in your heart.
I walk into the world carrying the belief that everything I encounter is capable of being in relationship, and that if I approach another being respectfully, it might tell me something about itself. Opening the door to the wonder of encounter transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.
For me, wonder is the foundation of walking a magical path.
Enacting magical rituals
Many of us engage in ritual, perhaps without recognising it. Whether we're blowing out birthday candles, saluting a solitary magpie or touching wood for good luck, our engagement with symbolic action is intuitive. The structure of ritual provides a grammar that makes those actions conscious, creative and meaningful.
I like to think of ritual as poetry in action. Much like a well-crafted poem, which can use a few spare words to touch on the profound truths of human experience, the simple actions of ritual can be a gateway to deeper enchantment with the world.
As I move my body through the world and attune my senses to the patterns of nature, I can come to an embodied knowing that transcends my rational consciousness. Sometimes, as with wonder, those moments of knowing come as a surprise. But ritual allows me to intentionally approach a different way of being in relationship with the world.
I've found that some ritual practices are natural companions to walking. Intentional wandering is, in itself, a profound ritual of departure, initiation, transformation and return. But ritual can enliven any exploration. In search of insight, I might cross a threshold and find myself wandering in liminal space, coming home with some answer or none. I can carry symbolic objects that are imbued with my intentions, transforming a pocketful of stones into a treasure trove of magical possibility. Sometimes, I stand in the protection of a circle of trees and simply open myself to the spirit of the woods.
Each of these simple rituals can be a crossing point into a world where magic is possible.
Enchanting the landscape
I live in the ancestral lands of the Setantii, a pre-Roman tribe who made their home in Morecambe Bay’s salt marshes, creeks and sand banks. Their story is largely lost beneath the waves, but in common with other Celtic peoples, they lived in a world that was alive with gods, spirits and magic. Every river, raven and raincloud pointed to the dynamic presence of the otherworld, hidden just beyond sight.
On these islands, there are countless tales of human interactions with the unseen. Head to Wales, the most toponymically rich country of Britain, and you can't help but stumble into a wealth of folklore and mythology. Elsewhere, history is harder to find, and imagination becomes a vital tool for enchanting the landscape.
But I think there is no place in Britain that hasn't inspired wonder at some point in its history. Whenever I venture out, I am following in the footsteps of hundreds of generations. If I sense the magic of a place, it's likely my ancestors did too. Whether the otherworldly beings they encountered are still a vibrant community or have faded into stories, it's always important to approach the place they live with respect. Others were here before me.
So my curiosity about the places I walk is always grounded in gentleness, and enriched by my sensory experiences. Nature is alive in the sights, sounds, smells, textures and tastes of a place. I pay close attention to my body’s responses as I notice the intricate details of the world around me. My senses bring me into communion with the living world.
Every place holds memories of its past. And any place might be home to a wild god slumbering beneath an oak tree.
Practical magic
If you already have a magical practice, consider how you might integrate it into a walk. The focused working of magical intention or divination can direct your steps, and turn an ordinary walk into an encounter with mystery. I'm not a fan of leaving magical objects in nature, even as offerings. A burnt out candle is litter, just as much as any carrier bag, so be creative in using what you discover in a place and leave the environment more pristine than you find it.
And if all this talk of magic is unfamiliar territory, here are some simple first steps along the enchanted path:
Walk from a place of stillness. Set a clear intention before you step out, focusing your energy on the path before you. And be open to the reality that sometimes the insights you seek will come to you indirectly. The best teachers show us who they are, and hold up a mirror so we can see ourselves more clearly. That is as true for a human educator as it is for magpie, beech tree or spring rain shower.
Cultivate a deeper sense of wonder, actively looking for the extraordinary within the ordinary sights, sounds, and subtle textures that surround you. Allow the living world to woo you with its beauty. Give yourself time to sit quietly, to stare towards the horizon and let your imagination wander over the landscape.
Slow down as you pay attention to your sensory experience of nature, noticing the tangible feel of the ground beneath your feet, the gentle touch of the air on your skin, and the diverse sounds of the environment. Your separation from nature has always been an illusion, so let yourself dissolve into a place.
Experiment thoughtfully with simple rituals, such as dedicating your walk to a specific purpose or pausing at significant points to engage in mindful reflection. Look for a threshold to cross, like a fallen branch, a gate or a gap between twin trees. Pause. Leave your inner cynic behind as you open your heart, mind and spirit to the magic of crossing over.
Cultivate a deeper relationship with another being that intrigues you. Observe them in their natural habitat, sink into their folklore, and find your own meaning in their story. Become as familiar with them as with an old friend, and seek encounters with them on your journey.
Be open to answers in nature as you respectfully connect with the more-than-human community. Recognise that the world is alive with wisdom. Ask a friendly tree what it has to teach you, and sit quietly to listen to the whisper of a gentle stream. Let nature tell you who it is, and show you who you are.
Most of all, the enchanted path invites you to open yourself to the mystery of the journey. You cannot know where your steps will lead you. But you can trust your intuition to guide you as you allow more space for wonder.
Stepping beyond the ordinary can be a deeply transformative process of profound self-discovery. Whatever progress you make on the enchanted path, I hope you encounter the inherent magic of the world all around you. And I’d love to hear about how mystery meets you on your journey.
This is beautiful, heartfelt and strong. Thank you.
"Opening the door to the wonder of encounter transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary." Love this!