The Art of Perfect Timing: Harnessing the Spellbinding Charms of Magic Hour – There’s an astounding secret out there every day that I wasn’t aware of until recently and boy do I wish I had known about it years, even decades ago! That’s why I used the term “secret” because most people are unaware of it. I think it’s so wonderful, I want to make sure it’s not a secret to you and that you can experience it for yourself.
The secret is called “the magic hour”. Some folks have now heard about it and how amazing it is but fail to make sure they experience it and utilize its power. I feel it to be a sacred gift given to us and that turning our back on it is a dismissal of this gift.
The Magic Hour
What the heck is “the magic hour”? It is the hour right before sunrise and the hour right before sunset when the sky starts to paint the most beautiful colors. Sometimes the colors are bold and intense, other times very soft and subtle, but every time, they are magical. I’ve also seen some of the most beautiful cloud formations during this time.
My journey to discover this was destined to happen because as a licensed mental health therapist, life coach and wellness master, I know about the amazing effects that cardio movement has on us to create a happy and content state of mind. I became addicted to that state decades ago and wouldn’t miss a day without it. For me, having a state of mind that is energized, clear and peaceful every day adds up to making my life one of joy and fulfillment. And who doesn’t want that?
The World Seems To Glow
On some of my morning or evening walks, I would just happen to go out during this time period without knowing anything about it and I was ALWAYS stuck by the specialness of it. The world seems to GLOW. It felt to me like that time was somehow sacred and I always was thankful to the sky for gracing me with that unique beauty. I had no idea that every day we are given the gift of this at these very specific times and all I had to do was make sure I timed my walk just right. But how? THEN I heard of the iPhone app called “Magic Hour”. The title intrigued me because I thought maybe that app would contain information related to this phenomenon. Fortunately, I was right! It was exactly what I had hoped it would be and now, I check the app every day to know exactly when magic hour will occur so I can do my walk during that time. The app not only tells you the exact times, but it explains a bit about the specific angle of the sun during those times (and that’s what makes the earth glow.)
In my 70 plus years of being on this earth, it has become very clear to me that it is the little special moments in life that are the most important, even more so than the big events. The experience of magic hour is one of these special moments that make life exceptional and we get the opportunity to experience it daily as long as it’s not too cloudy out.
The Gift of Magic Hour
I have always loved the early morning and I find that doing my walk/hike early in the morning is invigorating. I especially love it in the winter when the sky is still partially dark, the air is crisp and it is quiet outside because no one is out yet. You have the earth and the horizon to yourself. You may even see the moon that is still out. I have seen the geese flying in formation under the moon during the magic hour in the early morning, which literally made my heart sing so much that I called up to them in the sky! I have seen amazing colors fill up the sky between the rows of trees. It used to be that I didn’t appreciate trees in the winter as they no longer had leaves and seemed so bare. Now, thanks to Magic Hour, I get to see the amazing array of colors of the sky behind the tall trees, framing them in splendor and highlighting their majestic power. I have an appreciation for them now, even in the winter.
This time has become a ritual for me. I start each day by greeting the morning and loving the physical movement in this period because of the extra beauty all around me. And then, at the end of the day, I go out to say my thanks for the day and absorb lovely colors before I turn in for the night. It is like a pair of “bookends” for my day. Doing this starts the day beautifully and ends it beautifully. It is impossible not to be grateful when you add this to your daily activities. Besides benefiting your physical health, it greatly adds to your emotional and psychological health. I also find the time to be quite a spiritual experience. All of this in one simple 60-minute period. It is hallowed time.
This is the gift that is waiting for you outside your front door…every day. Don’t miss it!.
More articles from our VIP Executive Contributor, Virginia Oman.