Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

Sometimes we just need that little pat on the back to keep going at the break-neck speed that comprises almost every waking moment of our lives. If you have already read my book, Hannah’s Art of Home: Managing Your Home Around Your Personality, then you know about one of those secrets I keep up my sleeves known as “magic rituals.” No, I don’t need an eye of newt or a tail of frog. It’s simply my form of motivation to get a room tidied up.

Ritualistic
In every room, I have some little “signal” that means to me that the room is clean and finished. For example, in my office I have a little water fountain that trickles quietly. In the kitchen, I always keep a scented candle burning. In the living room, I have throw pillows (usually thrown all over the place) that I stack on the furniture. These little magic rituals, as simple as they may be, encourage me to completely clean a room so that I can get to the official stopping point. Instead of just stacking the dishes in the dishwasher and leaving, I make sure the counters are clear and clean and the floor is mopped. After all, a scented candle in a kitchen that’s messy just doesn’t match up.

Home, Magic Home
The magic of these little rituals is that they compel us to complete our tasks. It’s so easy for some of us to abandon our efforts before we ever get any gratification from them. These rituals give us that extra little push to tie up all of the loose strings and finish the job. Our homes and our families are worth the effort to create little pockets of beauty here and there. And when we do have one beautiful thing in a room, it motivates us to keep the room at a state where it all flows together.

Here a Ritual, There a Ritual
If you would like to incorporate a little magic into your home, then all you really need is your imagination and some simple guidelines. Have one little ritual in each room (or maybe just the ones in the main living area to begin with). Make these simple little actions that you can switch one and off. And, finally, make them appeal to the senses. Here are some examples, but it’s your home, so cast your spells just the way you are!

• A string of white lights in a real or silk tree or surrounding a piece of furniture.
• Scented candles or a potpourri burner.
• Trickling water fountains.
• Relaxing or recharging CD.
• Pretty fabric-covered or glass mosaic accent lamp.
• Luxurious down pillows or throws placed just so.
• A drop of essential oil on a light bulb ring.