The Enchanted Life

1. Recognize and address the pervasive disenchantment of modern life.

We have allowed ourselves, as the price we pay for so vigorously enrolling in the prevailing Western cult of progress and growth, to become disenchanted with ourselves and each other, and with our lives.

Modern life's paradox. Despite objective markers showing increased safety, health, and wealth in the West, subjective life satisfaction is low, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression are rising. Many feel alienated from themselves, others, and the world. This disconnection stems from a cultural focus on progress and consumption, leading to a sense of something critical missing.

The cost of progress. Our pursuit of endless growth has led to treating the planet and other species as mere resources for exploitation. This disenchantment with life extends to the world, resulting in environmental damage and a loss of our place within the natural order. The author contrasts two ways of walking in a wood:

• Woman A: Distracted, anxious, sees nature as separate objects.
• Woman B: Present, connected, sees nature as living beings.

A call for change. This widespread malaise and environmental crisis demand a fundamental shift in how we approach life. We must reconstruct our way of being in the world, turning ourselves inside out to find meaning and feel at home again. This book offers a practical guide to this re-enchantment, starting with understanding the problem's roots.

2. Reclaim enchantment by participating fully in a living, interconnected world.

To see the world in a participatory fashion is to refuse such dualisms, to refuse to be separate from the world, to insist on always participating in it and with it, and with the other objects and forces which are present in it.

Beyond separation. Western culture teaches us to see ourselves as separate from the world, often categorizing everything else as an inanimate 'it'. This dualistic view, rooted in philosophies like Plato's and Descartes', distances us from nature and diminishes our sense of belonging. Indigenous worldviews, often animistic, see everything as alive and interconnected.

Mystical participation. The concept of 'participation mystique' suggests a belief in mystical forces and reciprocal relationships between humans and the non-human world. This isn't just anthropomorphism but potentially a recognition of genuine, autonomous presences. Examples include:

• Feeling a connection with a thermal while hang-gliding.
• Sensing the aliveness of a hyacinth or a stone.
• Indigenous beliefs that plants 'tell' humans their medicinal uses.

Unitary reality. Psychologists like Jung and Neumann explored this as 'unitary reality' or 'knowledge of the field,' where mental and physical boundaries blur. Synchronicities, or meaningful coincidences, might be expressions of this underlying interconnectedness. Re-embracing this participatory view allows us to feel enfolded in a vast community of life.

3. Cultivate wonder, curiosity, and embrace the mystery inherent in existence.

To live an enchanted life, then, is to be comfortable in the company of mystery: to be willing to penetrate beyond the shadows; to take a walk in the dark.

Wonder as antidote. Wonder is a key constituent of enchantment, distinct from awe (which humbles us). Wonder makes us feel possible, opening us to new realities beyond physical senses. It's a natural state for children but often lost in adulthood due to cultural pressures and education systems prioritizing facts over imagination.

Rekindling curiosity. Children's innate creativity and curiosity are declining, partly due to passive technology and reduced outdoor time. Education often stifles imagination by focusing on standardization and measurement. Projects like The Wonderment aim to harness children's creativity to build a better world, showing that their perspectives are valuable.

• Kids' creativity scores have decreased.
• They become less imaginative, less unconventional.
• They lose the ability to connect seemingly irrelevant things.

Embracing mystery. Mystery is unknowable to the rational mind and essential for an enchanted life. It keeps us alert and alive, transforming the world into something to be revered. As philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, "Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved." Cultivating wonder involves:

• Observing the world as if for the first time.
• Exploring creativity and learning new things.
• Slowing down and practicing 'flânerie'.
• Trusting intuition and instincts.

4. Become fully present and at home by re-embodying your physical self.

But belonging begins with the body, and if we cannot be enchanted with the miracle of our own physical existence, how can we ever hope to become enchanted with the wider world, and our place in it?

The disembodied self. Western thought, influenced by Descartes, often views the mind as separate from and superior to the body. This leads to disavowing the physical, seeing the body as a mere container or tool for self-improvement. We live primarily in our heads, detached from sensory experience and the physical world.

Body's wisdom. This disembodiment contributes to feelings of detachment and can manifest as psychosomatic illness. Our bodies carry wisdom and communicate through sensations, often when our conscious minds are oblivious. Learning to listen to the body is crucial for healing and connection.

• Chronic hyperventilation as a physical symptom of being unable to 'breathe' in a situation.
• Psychosomatic illness accounts for a significant portion of GP visits.
• Physical symptoms can be the body's way of telling a story.

Cultivating bodyfulness. Unlike some forms of meditation that encourage dissociation, 'bodyfulness' involves fully inhabiting our physical form and its interaction with the world. Philosophers like Merleau-Ponty argued that the body is our primary vehicle for knowing the world, and we are intertwined within it. Practices include:

• Tuning into the body's sensations (e.g., Tibetan yoga's 'somatic awareness').
• Respecting the body's natural rhythms (seasonal, menstrual).
• Weaving movement into daily life.
• Engaging all senses to blur the boundaries between self and world.

5. Embrace the power of myth and story and understand the power of stories.

The fact is, we can’t extricate ourselves from story – we are storytelling animals, hard-wired for story.

Stories shape reality. Stories are not mere entertainment; they are fundamental to how we perceive, explain, and make sense of the world. They are universal across cultures and history, shaping our understanding of who we are and what is possible. Neuroscience suggests our brains simulate experiences when we hear stories, making them feel real.

Mythic guidance. Myths, legends, and fairy tales provide foundational narratives, moral codes, and archetypal characters that guide us. They teach lessons about courage, endurance, love, and transformation. They reveal deeper truths and possibilities, helping us navigate life's challenges and envision our potential.

• 'The Wild Swans' teaches endurance and transformation through suffering.
• 'The Girl Without Hands' offers a metaphor for healing from trauma.
• Archetypal figures (wise old woman, trickster, hero) are universal energies guiding us.

Cultural narratives. Civilizations are built on guiding mythologies that determine worldviews and values. Western myths like 'the myth of more' (endless progress/consumption) and 'the myth of the hero' (individual triumph) are currently dominant but failing us and the planet. These narratives, often presented as objective truth by those in power, lead to alienation and destruction.

Re-storying the world. When cultural myths decline, mythmaking resides in individuals. By exploring old stories and creating new ones, we can challenge dominant narratives and imagine more sustainable, meaningful ways of living. This involves:

• Analyzing personal connections to myths and characters.
• Working creatively with story elements (writing, art).
• Recognizing archetypes in dreams and daily life.
• Supporting initiatives that use story for social change (e.g., Hedgespoken).

6. Create a sense of belonging and enchantment in your home and garden.

In one way or another, our homes are mirrors of the people we are and the things we care about.

Home as sanctuary. Our homes are more than just buildings; they are containers for our lives, repositories of memory, and reflections of our intimate being. They can be places of shelter, creativity, and self-expression. The objects within them, especially those handcrafted or found, carry meaning and connect us to our history and the world.

Enchanted dwellings. Unlike the sanitized, mass-produced ideals often presented by media, enchanted homes are lived-in spaces filled with items that have meaning and history. They are places where the artisanal and handmade are valued, and where we are not afraid to incorporate elements from the natural world.

• Jung's stone tower as an externalization of his psyche.
• Tiny houses and ecovillages as responses to the myth of 'more'.
• Joanna Gilar's house built with reclaimed materials and intention.

Gardens as living spaces. Gardens, too, can be places of enchantment, working with rather than against the natural landscape. They are not just manicured spaces but places where nature's energy can flow, fostering a reciprocal relationship between humans and the land.

• Mary Reynolds' approach to 'garden undesigning' and working with nature's intentions.
• Incorporating native plants, wild edges, and intentional spaces (wishing trees, fire pits).
• Growing your own food to connect with the earth's cycles.

Tending our spaces. Creating an enchanted home and garden is an ongoing process of care and relationship. It involves making conscious choices about what we bring into our spaces, how we tend them, and how we allow them to reflect and nurture our souls. It's about breaking down the barriers between inside and outside, letting the world in.

7. Develop a deep, reciprocal relationship with your local place and landscape.

To put it quite simply, we cannot be human without the land.

Shaped by place. The landscapes we inhabit profoundly shape our identity and sense of being. Every ecology has a unique 'personality' or 'geopsyche' that imprints on the people who live there. Our relationship with place is fundamental to our humanity, providing context and grounding.

• The author's feeling of being an 'island'.
• Pat Mora's identification with desert women.
• C.S. Lewis's longing for 'northernness'.

Beyond nostalgia. True belonging is not nostalgia for a lost past but an active process of 'place-making' in the present. This involves remembering a place's history and imagining our future within it. Rootlessness, exacerbated by modern transience and technology, contributes to anxiety and 'place pathology'.

Becoming native. 'Becoming native' to a place means digging in, knowing it intimately through all seasons, and accepting its complexities. This involves:

• Learning its geology, flora, fauna, history, and culture.
• Spending time outdoors, observing and listening.
• Finding something to love about your place, even difficult ones.
• Recognizing urban areas as ecosystems too.

The land's stories. Places hold stories – geological, ecological, and human. Knowing these stories, like the Irish 'dinnseanchas' or Aboriginal Dreaming, weaves us into the land's history and fosters deeper bonds. The land itself is seen as speaking through its features and stories.

• The Ironing Stone in Connemara linked to Fionn Mac Cumhaill.
• Inishbofin's name story.
• Western Apache belief that "The land makes people live right."

8. Foster kinship and respect for the other-than-human world.

In losing our respect for other life forms, we have also lost a sense of who we are.

Beyond utility. Western culture often views animals and plants primarily as resources or, at best, objects of distant admiration. This leads to an inability to tolerate wildness or inconvenience, resulting in practices like badger culls or the destruction of urban fox habitats. This reflects a deeper problem with accepting 'otherness'.

Kinship and communication. Many myths and folk tales portray animals and plants as sentient beings with their own languages and wisdom, blurring the lines between human and non-human. Stories of shapeshifting and animal allies reflect a time when kinship with nature was more deeply felt.

• Stories of humans understanding animal speech (Fionn, Sigurd, Dr. Dolittle).
• Celtic goddesses associated with animals (Morrígan, Epona).
• Totemism: identifying with animal or plant patrons.

Listening to nature. Modern science is beginning to confirm plant communication, but many indigenous cultures and herbalists like Asia Suler believe plants can communicate with humans too. This requires intuition and a willingness to listen beyond conventional understanding.

• Asia Suler's healing journey through talking to trees.
• The doctrine of signatures: understanding plant medicine through their form and habit.
• Traditional herbalism and respect for plant properties.

All our relations. The concept of 'all my relations' emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life forms. Our current environmental crisis, including deforestation and mass extinction, stems from our failure to recognize this kinship and our place within the web of life. Re-enchantment requires restoring respect and relationship with the non-human world.

• The devastating impact of deforestation and species extinction.
• The need to move beyond protest to a fundamental shift in worldview.
• Engaging with nature through observation, interaction, and creative expression.

9. Find meaning and connection through handcrafted work and slow living.

What is this strange magic which resides in objects that are made by hand?

Magic in the making. Handcrafted objects carry the spirit of their maker – their care, love, thoughts, and dreams. They feel alive in a way mass-produced items do not, offering an antidote to the anonymity and disposability of globalization. The revival of interest in traditional crafts reflects a longing for genuine connection and meaning.

Craft as connection. Making things by hand, like spinning wool or quilting, can be a deeply grounding and enchanting process. It connects us to materials from the land, to ancestral traditions, and to the satisfaction of creating something unique and lasting.

• Spinning sheep's wool dyed with local plants.
• Chiara Vigo, the last sea silk weaver, treating her craft as sacred.
• The Arts and Crafts Movement as a reaction to industrialization.
• The success of platforms like Etsy.

Slow living. The 'Slow Movement' advocates for doing things at the right speed, prioritizing quality over quantity, and savoring moments. This aligns with 'downshifting' and 'simple living,' which seek balance, reduce consumption, and increase self-sufficiency.

• Carl Honoré's definition of the Slow philosophy.
• Downshifting as escaping the 'rat race' for meaning.
• Simple living as reducing clutter and environmental burden.

Beyond busyness. Modern life encourages constant activity and connectivity, often preventing us from slowing down, reflecting, or engaging deeply with ourselves and the world. This busyness is a major obstacle to enchantment.

• Scheduling every moment, leaving no space for spontaneity.
• Increased reliance on screens and gadgets.
• Research showing creativity benefits from periods of rest and wandering.

10. Live a life of purpose, guided by your inner thread and core values.

To live an enchanted life is to pick up the pieces of our bruised and battered psyches, and to offer them the nourishment they long for.

Finding your thread. Living an enchanted life is about finding and following your inner thread – a sense of purpose or calling that persists amidst life's changes and challenges. This thread is unique to each individual and guides us towards what truly matters. It's about living authentically, rather than conforming to external expectations or societal pressures.

Beyond societal myths. The dominant cultural myths of progress, consumption, and heroism often lead us away from our true thread, leaving us feeling lost and unfulfilled. Breaking free requires questioning these narratives and evaluating what we truly value in life.

• The author's decision to leave a corporate job for a simpler life in Ireland.
• Rejecting the pursuit of 'more' and external validation.
• Challenging the idea that bigger is always better.

Making conscious choices. Living a life that matters involves making conscious choices aligned with our values, even when they go against the mainstream. This includes decisions about work, home, relationships, and how we interact with the world. It's about finding work that has heart and meaning.

The journey of becoming. The path to an enchanted life is a continuous journey of transformation and growth. It involves:

• Healing from past wounds and societal conditioning.
• Reconnecting with intuition, imagination, and the senses.
• Building relationships with the human and non-human world.
• Contributing to the ongoing story of the world's becoming.

A necessary choice. Ultimately, living an enchanted life is an active choice and a leap of faith. It is necessary not only for our own wellbeing but for the wellbeing of the Earth. By falling back in love with the world, we are challenged, awakened, and gripped by the extraordinary that lies at the heart of
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Last updated: May 3, 2025