The Mystery of Magic

The Mystery of Magic - Rosalie Redd

What is magic? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary magic is:

a)              The use of means (as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces

b)             An extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source

c)              The art of producing illusions by sleight of hand

Magic inspires wonder, curiosity, and fascination with possibilities of life filled with something more, something magical. From man’s early days, the allure of supernatural powers has captured our imaginations. Every culture and civilization throughout history has stories and beliefs grounded in magic.

What draws us to the allure of the supernatural? What captures our imagination, makes us want to comprehend what we don’t understand? Our inquisitive nature as humans drives us to identify solutions to problems, think about how the world works, and our role in it. Magic gives us hope, faith, a belief that maybe there’s more than what we can see, hear, smell, touch, or taste.

Stories involving magic offer a glimpse into a particular culture’s views and customs. Over the centuries, the desire and need for these tales hasn’t abated. Books on the subject of magic abound online and on the shelves of brick and mortar chain stores. Some places even specialize in occult, new age, or alternative magic.

Even today, many fiction books include the use of magic. Specific genres such as science fiction, dystopian, fantasy, and paranormal all have an element of the supernatural. From mysterious and alien planets to time travel to otherworldly beings, the strange, weird and different call to us on a subconscious level. I believe we are drawn to mythical stories to escape and to understand a piece of ourselves as well as our world.

What do you think? Do you like magic? If so, why?

 

Author Bio

After finishing a rewarding career in finance and accounting, it was time for Rosalie Redd to put away the spreadsheets and take out the word processor. She writes Paranormal/Science Fiction Romance inspired by classics from the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres layered with a good, hot dose of romance.

She currently lives in Oregon, where rain is just another excuse to keep writing. When not at her computer, you can find her at Jazzercise, waterfall collecting in the Pacific Northwest, or relaxing with her husband and their pesky cat, Snookums.

Rosalie Redd

Discover Otherworldly love…

www.rosalieredd.com

Flowers as Symbolism

By Rosalie Redd

Throughout history, flowers have been an important part of many cultures and societies. Flowers evoke emotions, raise our spirits, and remind us of the life teeming all around us. We, as humans, have attached meaning to different varieties, imparting a bit of our own cultural imprint upon each one.

Flowers are so essential to us, we use them in our celebrations, our weddings, our important life events. We turn them upside down to dry them, press them into books, and place them under glass to preserve the memories. We use flowers to pay homage to our lost loved ones, placing them on gravestones and planting them in honor of their memory.

Some flowers have significance in the world of romance.

The red rose, in particular, is known for love. The delicate petals, sweet scent, and yes, thorns all play a part in its symbolism. Other flowers, such as lavender and chamomile have aphrodisiac qualities that lead to a sense of euphoria, arousal, and excitement.

What is the appeal of flowers? Is it the color? The scent? The texture? All of the above?

As a writer, I’m drawn to books with symbolism, whether flowers or other objects. One of the most popular young adult books ever written, Twilight by Stephanie Meyers, had an apple on the book cover. The apple represented ‘forbidden fruit’. Isn’t fruit a by-product of a flower? Using flowers as symbolism in writing is powerful.

In my novel, Untouchable Lover, I use a rose as symbolism for lost innocence. The untouched beauty of the rose floating down amid a tense, physical scene represents the falling away of innocence. The contrast of the rose amid the chaos is a nice contradiction.

Symbolism is everywhere if you look. Art, architecture, photos are just a few places. Gee, maybe there’s even symbolism in names? What do you think?

Have you seen flowers used as symbolism in everyday life? If so, how?

Note: I’ll be off the internet for a few days, but I appreciate your comments and will get back to you soon!

After finishing a rewarding career in finance and accounting, it was time for Rosalie Redd to put away the spreadsheets and take out the word processor. She writes Paranormal/Science Fiction Romance inspired by classics from the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres layered with a good, hot dose of romance.

She currently lives in Oregon, where rain is just another excuse to keep writing. When not at her computer, you can find her at Jazzercise, waterfall collecting in the Pacific Northwest, or relaxing with her husband and their pesky cat, Snookums.

Rosalie Redd

Discover Otherworldly love…

www.rosalieredd.com