I was scrolling Instagram recently and came across a woman’s post where she said she themes out her months. Nothing complicated, she just picks a phrase that guides her decisions. That idea stuck with me. I thought, what if I did that with intention? What if each month had a through line I could follow? A path that doesn’t box me in but helps me pay attention.
So, for October, my theme is Feed the Magic.
Here’s what that means for me. Magic has been my word of the year for 2025, but if I’m honest, I haven’t leaned into it the way I thought I would.
I notice magical things all the time, but noticing is not the same as feeding. Feeding requires attention. It requires energy. It requires me to choose what nourishes the spark instead of letting distraction run the show.
That’s where the filter comes in. Each time I’m faced with a choice, I can ask myself: does this feed the magic or feed distraction? If it feeds the magic, that’s an easy yes. If it feeds distraction, that’s a no. If it’s a maybe, that means I’m straddling the fence, and we all know there is nothing comfortable about straddling a fence.
I like this frame because it’s not about discipline or forcing myself into a rigid plan. It’s an invitation. A way to simplify the noise and move toward what actually matters to me.
I am traveling soon, and in the past, I would have packed damn near every art supply I could carry. That might look like preparation, but it was creative clutter. This time, I’m packing light. A mixed media sketchbook, watercolor pencils, a couple of brushes and pens. Enough to keep the creativity alive without drowning myself in choices. That little art kit is its own example of the theme. Carry what feeds the magic. Leave the rest.
For me, feeding the magic is sitting down to sketch without the expectation of a “perfect” drawing.
It’s posting something I’ve made instead of keeping it to myself.
It’s sharing my work so it breathes outside of my own head.
It’s choosing to spend my energy on things that fill me up instead of things that drain me.
This theme also helps me check myself on the patterns I fall into.
Am I scrolling when I could be making? Am I keeping ideas to myself when I could be letting them move? Am I pretending that “later” is a real plan? Those are all distractions. They don’t feed anything except delay.
The magic, on the other hand, only needs small, steady offerings. A page in a journal. A moment of play. A post shared without apology. None of that requires perfection. None of it asks for applause. It only asks to be fed.
I want to be intentional about this in these last three months of the year. I want to look back and say I didn’t just carry the word magic with me, I practiced it. I gave it shape. I made it real.
So, October is Feed the Magic. That’s the mantra. That’s the filter. And if you’re reading this, I’d love for you to think about your own. What phrase could you carry this month that helps you move with intention? Write it down. Put it somewhere you’ll see it. Let it guide you when the distractions start knocking.
10 Everyday Ways to Feed the Magic
Pick up a book that’s been sitting in your stack and finally read it. Bonus points if it’s completely different from what you usually choose.
Go outside and sit in the quiet. No headphones. No podcast. Just notice what you hear and see.
Write one page in a notebook. No need to worry about grammar, style, or structure. Let the words spill out.
Make something small. Sketch, collage, bake, knit, plant without the pressure for it to be “good.”
Share something you created with one other person. Not to seek validation, just to let it exist outside of you.
Revisit an old playlist, photo album, or journal. See what sparks for you now that didn’t before.
Give yourself permission to follow a rabbit hole of curiosity. Watch the documentary. Google the random question. Let wonder lead you.
Declutter one small space. A drawer, a corner of your desk, and notice how much energy is freed up.
Move your body in a way that feels playful. Dance in your kitchen. Stretch on the floor. Walk a new route. Jump rope.
End the day by naming one thing that felt magical, no matter how small. The glow of a candle. A conversation. The way the sky looked.
I’ll be sketching throughout my trip and sharing pieces of the process over on Layered. If you want to see what feeding the magic looks like in real time, that’s where you’ll find it.
I just finished “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls,” by Grady Hendrix and it has pumped my October full of a magic vibe! I have some good witchy lit throughout the month. I’m also bringing in the magic by focusing on sobriety this month and not reaching for that comfort glass of wine that’s become a little habit lately, so I can really feel and see the magic. I have a tiny watercolor book and set that I love to bring with me. I haven’t used it yet, because I’m not ready (when you’re ready, you just do the thing, and I haven’t done the thing yet, so the math is mathing), and I know I’ll know when I am, but it’s there when the time comes! I received a little “just because” package of gifts from one of my besties and that was serious magic. I might do something like that for someone else this month to keep it spreading. Can’t wait to see you Art! Safe travels!!
Love this! My word of the year is Cultivating Joy and I love the phrase Feed the Joy! Thank you for your wisdom 💖