Wave Your WONDER WAND
Add Surprise to Your Writing
A spirit of playfulness can lift the heaviness that many of us feel as adults, with the pressing demands of life. Play can fill our hearts with bubbles of joy (even in the tough times). But what does play look like beyond childhood? Sure, we can do the things we enjoyed as kids; finger paint, walk barefoot in a creek, swing high at the playground, whatever it was for you. This might get your inner child squealing with pleasure for a while. As adults, though, we crave more. What sort of play might delight both our adult and child selves? Games and sports? These are socially acceptable adult play, but the competitiveness can soon turn sport into just another serious endeavour.
Let me suggest that the perfect portal to playfulness is creativity, true creativity that draws from the well within, that is not too market driven, that is unafraid to make mistakes. Creativity for the pure joy of creating. Making. Experimenting. Sounds great, doesn’t it? But too often, when we sit down to make, or to write, we freeze. We panic. It’s too hard. What if our words are not good enough?
I’ve thought a lot about how we might get past these fears to enter the flow zone, to enter the playground of the imagination. This is why I create write sparks, to get the juices flowing. And this is why I create write tools. Perhaps, these tools would more aptly be named toys, though I don’t want to give the impression that they aren’t real. In my experience, these write tools are power tools. They jumpstart our word flow. They also bring forth miracles of surprise, little gifts of unexpected ideas and phrasings that we didn’t know we had within us. So, let’s start playing.
Today I want to introduce you to the Wonder Wand. Firstly, I suggest you go out and find a wand that you love. I have a star wand, and also a unicorn wand which reminds me of the uniqueness of everything. And the unique essence of things is what this wand is going to help you discover. If you prefer, you can make your own wand, pouring your love and personality into its design. Or you can settle for an imaginary wand. It’s up to you.
How to use the wand
The wonder wand is designed to bring out the magic within you, and the magic (or essence) within all things and places. This is how I use it. I begin by writing an invitation, a prayer if you prefer, or a spell... whatever fits your worldview. In your invitation you will ask an object or place to reveal to you it’s wonders, to show you its unique essence. Write as if you are addressing the object or place, imagining it is alive, that it can hear you, and will reply. I know this will be a stretch for many of you, but think of it as a game. Remember your spirit of playfulness. Here is an example (though it is always better to write your own):
Dear (name of object or place),
May I see you with fresh eyes. Please unveil to me your wonders, the treasures that you hide within. Tell me what you’d have me know, for I am listening now. What are your secrets? Your quirks? Your essence? What are the things that make you, you?
Abracadabra, please speak now.
With your invitation ready, it is time to choose an object or a place to write about. You might like to wander around your house, or out in nature, until an object draws your attention, or calls to you.
Next, wave your wand over the object with a flourish, as you read your incantation aloud. Pay attention to the thoughts that arise in your mind. Catch them before they fly away. Write, doodle, or mind-map what you ‘hear’. Write for at least five minutes without stopping. If you’re flowing, keep going.
Re-read your words and highlight any surprising insights. Let your jottings prompt a piece of writing, perhaps a love letter to your object, or a message to the world from the perspective of your place.
Don’t give up if you find this difficult at first. The real power is in your mindful focus and expectation. By focusing our thoughts on a single object or place, with an expectation of discovery, we invite our subconscious minds (or intuition) to go to work and reveal something special. So, perhaps you need to pop on your Xpectacles to amplify your hearing (silliness intended).
It might also help to imagine you are an alien, come from a far off galaxy. You’ve never seen this object, or visited this place before. What strikes you about it? What does it look like, sound/smell/feel/taste like? Does it remind you of something else? How is it designed? What is its function? It’s beauty?
If all else fails, sprinkle some fairy dust, and try again.
Mandarin Discoveries
As I was writing this piece I was eating a mandarin, so I decided to wave my wand over it. I jotted down my thoughts and spent time shaping my words into 3 short poems. I find that the moulding and shaping of words takes me into an even deeper meditation on the wonder of the thing.
You can’t wonder about every little thing in this sort of detail, but by taking time to wonder deeply about some things, the fruit of wondering leaks its juice through your life. When I see any kind of seed now, I’m reminded of potential. (And if my kids ask for lollies I know what to give them!!) The more you use your wonder wand, the more you’ll notice wonder popping up all over the place. AHA moments will come quicker and more often. Wonder lurks all around us, hiding in 1001 ordinary places, but too often we miss it. A wonder wand can help us see more.
The Important Thing
This wonder wand-ering reminds me of a book that my kids and I had fun with, when they were young. It was called The Important Book, by Margaret Wise Brown. In this book, Margaret describes various objects, listing a number of features, but emphasing ONE important thing.
This became a game for our family, as we chose our own objects to describe in a similar way. We would always end, as Margaret did, by looking at ourselves, and pondering what the most important thing was about each of us. What we chose would often change, but it always led to conversation and laughter.
What we were doing here, of course, was trying to identify the essence of each thing or person. The playfulness of waving a wonder wand can take us to the same place, uncovering all sorts of unexpected wonders and essences. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, just interesting possibilities to explore. Why not give it a go, with or without the kids.
A Gift for You
Here are some playsheets to use with your Wonder Wand-ering. Please enjoy.
Much love,
That doesn't surprise me at all from the things you've written. I wish I lived closer to take part in your sessions. Thanks for your lovely feedback.
Phoebe, I love this so much! The Wander Wand is such a beautiful concept. I especially love the alliterative line: "the perfect portal to playfulness is creativity." Even though we've only recently met on here, you won't be surprised to hear that I have a thing about wonder too. In fact, I planned a guided writing and walking session months ago, called Words, Walks, and Wonder 🤩