Our world is a wonderful magical place. Creation is filled with mystery, beauty, and wonder. Don’t believe me? All it takes is watching a sunset, holding a newborn baby, or listening to ancient hymns to understand it. Although, arguably how we understand things is the problem. Because of the never ending march of scientism and rationality, I think that our sense of wonder of the world has gone entirely missing. A volcanic eruption is not an indictment of a city by the gods, but rather it is a building up of magma in a magma chamber, which then forces its way up to the surface causing an eruption. One of these definitions is honestly just lame, whereas the other is oozing with magic and folklore. I believe we are all the worse for losing our enchantment of the world, and I think that if we shift our focus and keep in mind the important things in life, we can have it back.

Let me begin with a disclaimer. I am not in any way endorsing paganism, witchcraft, idolatry, ancestor worship, voodoo, or anything else that would be contrary to scripture or tied up with mystical spiritualism. Any ‘magic’ or the idea of being enchanted, as I hope to describe more as we go on, is less inwardly spiritual, as much as it is outwardly and aesthetically spiritual. I also hope to take a traditional Christian and trinitarian lens as we continue through this conversation.

Let me also say that I am not against science or the scientific method. My only point here is that I think by boiling everything down to purely its elemental and scientific components, we lose a lot in the process. For example, a hurricane can be caused by a low pressure area moving through a moisture-rich area as well as a judgment by God of a nation. Likewise a rainbow can be both a scattering of sunlight through water particles and a reminder of God’s promise not to flood the world again. In these scenarios and in many more alike, these truths do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Early every morning and late every evening we are reminded of the beautiful cycle that the Earth goes through everyday with mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets. Sure, we could explain it anyway with technical jargon and relate it to the rotation of the Earth around the sun, but why do that? If we are scientists, that may be useful, but for the average layperson, that knowledge really is not useful. By examining and deconstructing the rising and setting of the sun, are we really gaining from this experience? Or would it be more beneficial to just be in awe of it. I would put money on the latter.

Let me add yet another caveat. I am not saying we shouldn’t pursue knowledge. I am just saying that the technical specs of the universe should not be our first thought about the things we see. We as mankind should have knowledge of the Earth’s rotation and heliocentrism, but when we are enjoying a sunrise or sunset, why not give glory to God for the gift of the daytime? 

Another example would be life itself. This may be one of the few areas where there is still a little enchantment left. We know how ‘babies are made’ and how plants grow. This does not and should not take away from the fact that life is being created! New souls are entering the Earth and it is a glorious blessing, regardless of the specifics of how. Growing a garden or orchard is a wonderful endeavor that allows one to become closer to nature. Amateur botanists may know some tricks for how to help their plants grow better, but many techniques will fail for no apparent reason, and that is okay. We do not have to know why. Not always, not even usually, but sometimes ignorance can be quite the blessing. We cannot know everything, so we should not try to know everything.

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. – Ecclesiastes 1:17-18 (KJV)

With talking about magic we have to talk about one of the most magical things on Earth: music. Like everything else we could explain what it is and why we like it to frequencies, harmony, rhythm, and so on, but why? Why should we reduce music to its scientific basics? I think we ought not to! It can be hard to explain to others why we like certain styles of music, and that is fine. Just liking and appreciating certain genres is great, and it is truly a mysterious thing. We should enjoy and have some fun with the mystery. I would argue that even modern music has a deep connection with the ancient. Music is as old as language, if not older, and by singing a song/hymn/chant we are directly connecting ourselves with all of mankind throughout all of human history. Technologies, fashions, and scientific theories change, but the love of some type of music is part of the human experience. Just as every human being needs to eat, sleep, and breathe, we all like music. Not always the same music, but music is a deep part of every single culture on Earth. Even cultures and people who never invented the wheel still had music, and I think that says something about its magic. The right song can calm us down, fire us up, lead our hearts to worship, or unfortunately lead us to sin. Music is at least a spiritual experience, if not a magical one.

One of the mosting enchanting and magical institutions in the world is religion. Whether we are talking about true religion (Christianity) or even false religion (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Mormonism, etc) there is a whole spiritual world. There are rituals, smells and bells, chants, prayers, meditations, and much more. The modern church in the West is really quite a sterile place, compared to what once was, so the feeling of magic is largely missing. When our churches are as bland as can be and when our worship songs are no different than regular songs, it is inevitable that we forget the spiritual. However, if you have ever been in an old church with all of the accompanying traditions, you will know what I mean. Entering into an old European cathedral is like entering Hogwarts (go figure). Seeing a pastor or priest in vestments, singing old hymns, lighting candles that adorn stone walls with stained glass windows really makes Christianity feel like it is not of this world. The Kingdom of God isn’t of this world, and yet while sitting in soft chairs in our strip mall churches, singing contemporary Hillsong and Bethel, with the pastor wearing skinny jeans and a flannel, it really feels oh so worldly.

All of these examples I have listed may feel very surface level, which is fine. I am not advocating for sorcery or magic as in spells or curses, but rather I am promoting experiencing the world through a lens of enchantment and the divine. I think verses like Leviticus 19:31, Exodus 22:18, and Leviticus 20:27 very much still apply, at least in principle.

A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. – Leviticus 20:27 (KJV)

At this point, I think it is important to address the idea of style versus substance. Pretty much all of my examples so far are connected with style and aesthetics and are somewhat against substance. There are many scenarios and times where substance is of the utmost importance, but I think that as a society we have gone way too far towards it. We completely ignore style and assume its uselessness. Whether it be the deconstruction of everything or even just modern architecture, we by-and-large ignore style. While style may not be everything, it certainly is something. This is the importance of re-enchanting the world for ourselves. Yes, we can talk about the chemical properties of dihydrogen-monoxide, but that does not make a waterfall more beautiful or enchanting, if anything it breaks it down and reduces it to useless parts.

Let me reiterate, style is not everything, but neither is substance. Having a good mix of both is important, and if we are to enjoy and experience creation to its fullest, we have to embrace the magical, the mysterious, and the mesmerizing. I think far too much emphasis is given to truth and goodness, with little attention given to the equally important beauty. By re-enchanting the world and by looking at our surroundings through an alluring and supernatural lens, we will be all the better for it. Do not be disheartened, the Earth is not bland or materialistic. It is not void of dragons, elfs, spirits, magic, or cantrips, but rather we have just stopped looking.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. – Colossians 3:1-3 (KJV)