But I care not for what makes sense; I care for what brings you alive.
— Rumi
Welcome, friend.
I love a hard-won truth. The harder the better.
Anything can happen, literally anything. Sit with that for a second. You have no idea what’s going to happen tomorrow. You think you do. But do you really? That possibility is what makes life worth it.
The Magic of What Happens is all about lived experiences and true stories as well as curated recommendations, for you.
It features the full spectrum of my life — what I’m trying out, failing at, thresholds I’m crossing, things I’m obsessed with and (the best bit) a list of what I’m reading, listening to, and discovering that makes my soul feel alive.
We all must remember our aliveness.
So, you’ve made it to my About page — well done. I am also one of those people that need to understand who I am speaking with.
This will be a semi-regular letter sent to you sharing a window into my life, featuring:
Things that happened in Ireland and Scotland on my pilgrimage following the words of John O’Donohue, plus gold advice from strangers and all the unbelievable kindness, synchronicity and magic along the way
My current obsessions — of which there are plenty, and I generally bare all
New discoveries like words, foods, people who rock, and poetry
A curated list of what I’m reading, listening to, songs, quotes and ideas
And the outcome of any quests i.e currently I am trying to find the perfect underwear, any leads appreciated
I’ve been writing on my website Life Curator for nearly ten years. Here is a list of things I’ve written that you can go ahead and make a cup of tea for:
As you will soon realise, I am on an endless quest to understand things more deeply. I am very fond of the em dash — and honesty.
A friend once said, “You know how most people say ‘long story short’… well you tell a ‘short story long.’” Thank you, I’ve never felt more SEEN in my life.
Long personal essays are my forte and they also take me forever to write, so the intention of The Magic of What Happens is to write and publish more regularly, while the revelations are coming in hot (with fries). Also, I read voraciously and want you to know about the really good books out there.
In 2020 for a year or so I wrote a private newsletter by invitation for my friends called Close Friends. It was a charm. This is a continuation of that.
Okay, question time.
Can you define ‘magic’ for us, AJ?
When I talk about ‘magic’ I mean “did that just really happen?” moments in everyday life — synchronicities that occur without your doing, chance encounters, signs, advice, manifestations that come out of left field (but never how you thought), downloads from nature or the Universe (I am auditory, not visual), and divination tools that provide big knowings and answers.
If I’ve lost you, don’t worry, I will explain it all.
What do you mean by ‘what happens’?
It’s real life — the glory and melancholy of being a human in the world. The maddening and exquisite mess of it all.
In short: I couldn’t make up what happens to me if I tried. That’s why it is magic. Also disastrous, awkward, unbelievable, and often very funny.
As Nora Ephron (who I adore) wrote:
I can’t believe how real life never lets you down. I can’t understand why anyone would write fiction when what actually happens is so amazing.
She is very correct. Also hence why I am an avid notetaker.
I basically walk around a lot and whenever I hear something brilliant I say, “I’m going to write that down.” And I do. And then tell my friends about it.
Now, you’re that friend.
So, what is the magic of what happens?
Delighted that you asked.
There is an old Irish story from the 12th century that goes:
The famed Celtic hero Fionn Mac Cumhaill challenged a group of men to name the finest music in the world. The first suggested, ‘The throaty song of the lark over Dingle Bay’. The next said, ‘The happy laugh of a gleeful girl’. A warrior replied, ‘The bellowing of a stag.’ Another offered, ‘The whisper of a loved one in the darkness of night.’
“These are all good sounds”, replied Fionn Mac Cumhaill.
Curiosity was high, and one of the men finally asked, ‘What would your answer be?’
Fionn considered the question for a moment.
“The music of what happens,” he said at last.
“That is the finest music in the world.”
The bloomin’ Irish and their fantastic spin on things. This is the guts of it.
I am here to share real, actual life stories and the living thrum of it — with lots of lyrics, laugh-out-loud moments, and intense longings.
Some things you will quickly realise about me:
I love quotes
I quote John O’Donohue and David Whyte a lot
I quote my friends even more
If you are just here for the quotes, you are more than welcome.
Currently obsessed with — astrocartography, witches, film photography, HOW OUR DREAMS ARE ACTUALLY REAL, period dramas, pressing flowers.
Always obsessed with — Ireland, John O’Donohue, David Whyte, baskets, human design (I’m a 1/3 Mental Projector), music (Bon Iver and Irish musicians will feature heavily), the origin of words (‘wyrd’ used to mean mysterious or supernatural), Zach Bush, potato in all forms.
I am deeply moved a lot. This is about things I’ve experienced or heard or read that have stayed with me.
Anything can change your life.
And it will.
May something be of benefit to you.
With love,
Andjelka
P.S. If you’re wondering why I’m peeking out from behind a mossy tree — my dream was to dress as Claire from Outlander and frolic in the Scottish Highlands. So I did.
There’s also a packet of lentil chips in the basket.
Photo by my friend Carlos who willingly galivanted around Glencoe with me despite never seeing the show. LEGEND.
