Magic & Miracles: My definition of 8-8-08

According to Internet buzz, 8-8-08 is a day of numerological significance. While searching for meaning and definition of this, the top stories included the many weddings to take place today and how Chinese culture views 8 as luck, wealth, and fortune. Even astrology weighs in about it.

I'm no numerologist, astrologist, or cultural buff. What I am, is a fan of the unexpected good stuff. Time and again, life has surprised me with delightful experiences that I had no idea were coming. Things I thought weren't possible and couldn't even conceive of happening, have. I don't know why or how it comes together in this way. I just know that I like it.

I like shifting my perception to include possibilities that I hadn't previously considered. In celebration of this, I have decided all good magic and miracles are the theme for the day. And perhaps for tomorrow. Maybe the day after that too.

These are a few of the magic and miracles I've experienced:

~ In grad school, I was struggling financially. Living off of loans, working as much as I could, and not knowing anyone who could give me a money boost. A familiar story for many. I had prayed, asked, cajoled, journaled, and begged the great invisible money gods to bless me with some much needed help. (Yes, I'm a fan of taking action. I was more in the cultivating faith stage at this point in my life.)

After having purposely forgotten my worries and put my attention on other areas of my life, I receive an envelope, at school, with an anonymous card and money order for $1000! I had talked to no one about my need for money. I knew no one that had money. The begging solely took place in the privacy of my own head. The card had a picture of a child halfway climbing over a fence to a green pasture. Inside it said, "I believe in you. I know you can do it. Your friend." Years later, I still have no idea who sent this.

~ Many years ago, I was driving with a friend about an hour or so east of San Diego. There was nothing around. I mean nothing. No stores, people, cars. Just the full moon and miles of flat land. It was a hot night, sundress, windows rolled down, hair flying. We stopped to munch on the fruit we bought. I'm 20, trying to be cute and as I nosh on a grape, it squirts out of my mouth and the juice lands in the eye of said friend (who also happened to be a guy I kind of had a crush on and wanted to impress). That's not the unexpected good stuff, but it was too good of a detail to leave out.

I start getting these images of waterslides. They were nonstop. I was in the fantasy of being at a waterslide park. I said to him, "Wouldn't it be super cool if there were waterslides around here?" He nods, laughs, and says "Yeah, right. There's nothing around here." 10 minutes later, the scenery changes from flat and straight to mountainous and windy. The sun is setting. We see a sign for a...

waterslide park!!!!! No joke. It was a teeny local Native American Indian waterslide park. Too unbelievable not to stop. We pay our $3 to get in, and watch people watch us as the only white people there. Telling this story now, I'm even wondering, did this really happen. Andy, it did, right?

~ In addition to always wanting to be a writer, I've had dreams of being a speaker. Like the next new age superhero speaker. Sure, I'd given presentations here and there. And I still get nervous no matter how large or small the crowd. While in my coaching program, I professed of my desire to speak, be on stage, etc. After class, a peer came up to me and said that the non-profit she works for has an annual day retreat and would I like to speak. I say yes, of course, having a picture that it would be fairly small, maybe 10 people or so.

The day comes. It's at a 4 star hotel (or whatever the highest rating is). The gracious desk people give me directions to the room I'll be speaking in. It's a ballroom, with a chandelier, a very large ballroom with a chandelier (the epitome of fancy to me, at that time). I somehow convinced myself to stay grounded while inside I'm about 10 and completely freaking out. People file in. More and more people. About 70 total, not sure, lost count. It was fantastic and scary and amazing to get what I dreamed of way before I felt ready for it!

***

When writing notes for this post, I was blown away by how many magical miracles I've had. Those 3 above, they are just a drop in the bucket. Now, tell me...

What are yours?

Comments

[Mark David Gerson]

Wow! What a great topic for a post...any day.

I've experienced so many miracles in my life -- large and small -- I'm not sure I know which to share. There are multiple examples of money, people and other resources turning up at the precise moment they were needed, of thinking I was lost only to discover myself to be in just the right place for some miracle to manifest, of myriad synchronicities of all sorts.

Here are two of my favorites, though by no means the biggest:

1) Some years back, my ex-wife, our toddler daughter and a friend drove down from Sedona to Tucson for the annual gem and mineral show. This was at a time when finances for us were incredibly tight. For the occasion, our friend's husband (named Larry) had gifted us $300 to buy beads so that my ex could make jewelry to sell.

Just outside Tucson, we stopped at a Wal-Mart and had lunch at the McDonald's inside the store. A few hours later, when my ex was about to pay for her first batch of beads, she discovered that the three $100 bills were gone from her wallet.

We panicked. We retraced our steps as best we could. We called the Wal-Mart. No $300.

We bought a small amount of beads and headed back, stopping at the same Wal-Mart on the outskirts of Tucson.

Of course, we checked with customer service again, but no one had turned in our $300. As we passed the McDonald's, our friend strode to the counter and asked, "Has anyone turned in $300?"

"Why, yes," the young man said and retrieved three $100 bills from the office. His name? Larry.

2) The cover of my book, The MoonQuest, so resembles the face of the tarot card that inspired the story that it's uncanny -- particularly as the cover's designer had never seen the card in question. You can read that story -- and see the images -- at http://newearthchronicles.com/2007/05/horse-or-two-of-different-color.html.

[Mark David Gerson]

I think that blog link I included in my post may be the wrong one! This one should work: http://newearthchronicles.com/2007/05/horse-or-two-of-different-color.html

[Stephanie Bell the Spirit Coach]

One time several years ago while I was still living in England, I was preparing to come back to California for a visit. I looked everywhere but could not find my passport ANYWHERE. I was sure I knew EXACTLY where it was but of course -- it was NOT there. I was leaving early the next morning so there wasn't any time to get a new one. But instead of panicking -- I suddenly had this overwhelming feeling to just get very calm.

My husband was flitting about very concerned and I asked him to go downstairs and chill for a few minutes. I sat on the bed where I was packing, closed my eyes -- and just asked that if it was for my Highest Good -- please show me where the passport was.
Just a few seconds later, while my eyes were closed, but as clear as day in my mind's eye, I saw my passport in the pocket of a suitcase that I was NOT using for this trip.

I called my husband back upstairs to fetch the suitcase buried at the back of the storage cupboard, and with expectancy -- unzipped the compartment I had pictured to find my passport safe and sound.
It was a marvelous lesson in staying calm -- and from then until now -- I have used the same method to find many things!

Thanks for letting me share -- and thanks for the topic! Always a favorite!

EXPECT MIRACLES! : )
With Infinite Love and Gratitude,

Stephanie Bell the Spirit Coach

[Jeannette Maw]

LOVED this post, Vanessa! Thanks for taking us to such fun places in our minds with the inquiry about what our magic & miracles are.

I was just thinking of one this morning, as I sat out on my back patio watching the rainstorm pass. Thinking how nice it is that I get to choose whether I work inside or out, or at all, and what I'll wear, and when I'll eat. The freedom of working from home is DeeLishUS! And it feels like a miracle in comparison to the days I trudged to corporate work every day in a suit and nylons. Ugh!

And the magic of watching these foster kitties grow and thrive! Ah!

And the miracle of connecting with so many people across the globe right here from home!

The magic and miracles are everywhere, aren't they?!

Thanks again for a great post, Vanessa!

Love & Miracales -
Jeannette
www.goodvibecoach.com

[Linea Jones]

Today I referred to my mood as "dazed by my abundance”. Here are two stories that I would like to share.

1- When I was 15 years old, I can remember always telling my mom, "When I turn 18 I’m going to have my own apartment". I didn’t know how it would happen and I didn’t care. All I knew was that I will move out and have my own place - it will all work out. Well, about 2 weeks after my 18th birthday, I received a very good job offer at a large company. Then the following weekend I was jokingly offered to move into a vacant apartment. I say jokingly because the woman knew how old I was and she didn’t think that my mom would go for it. Well, with that being said, I took it as no joke my dream had come true and guess who signed her first lease at 18 years old!

2- Over the last month, I have been asking for more exposure. Out of the blue on Wednesday evening I received a direct message asking if I want to be interviewed for a new project. Guess who it’s about – Me! My story! In these last two days I have met so many great people, both on-line and face-to-face. I’m making awesome connections and it feels AWESOME to be ME!

Life is wonderful – thank you for letting me share the dream that I’m living!

Linea Jones

[Vanessa Smith, MA, CLC]

Thanks for all your great comments everyone! I love hearing these stories. Doesn't it feel good to talk about it? I was actually having an off day, stomach upset, foggy, then I wrote this post, and felt so much better.

PS, in example #2, I asked Andy if it did really happen because it seemed a little too magical and dreamed up in recollection. He remembered. That waterslide park was real.

Keep the stories coming.

[Stephen Hopson]

I came to your blog because we follow each other on Twitter. I am a huge believer in miracles and LOA. The mere mention of miracles and good news was too hard to resist so I came here.

Am I glad I did! You and I have similiar beliefs and experiences. Like you and others above, I've had numerous miracles or unexpected good fortune that would happen when I least expected them (even though I had been visualizing and preparing for their manifestation).

Why, I don't even know where to begin! But suffice to say I found this article delightful and enjoyable.