The Magic of Circus.

A bit of magic won't make you any harm.

What happens to the things that disappeared with no one noticing?

This question was posted on twitter by Fernando Anitelli, a Brazilian musician, that wrote a song entitled "O que se perde enquanto os olhos piscam" (What is lost while we blink) based on his followers answer.

He formed a musical group without a record label called Teatro Mágico (Magic Theatre). Back in 2003, the word "followers" was not so popular on the internet, but they managed to have a bunch of them - in person.

When I want to connect to my creativity, their lyrics are my inspiration. The show is pure magic, similar to  Cirque du Soleil. It is captivating poetry with a mix of acoustic guitar, flute, fiddle, and acrobatic performance. They play with the words as much as their performers flip and fly through the air.

Anitelli named the group based on the novel Steppenwolf from Hermann Hesse,  in which the main character runs into a man advertising the Magic Theatre.

Thanks to the influential power the books had in his life, in combination with his fantastic mind, this incredible group travels all over the country spreading words of love, hope, and joy.

 "Opposites distract each other and the disposed attracts one another"

Recently I saw a video from Elizabeth Gilbert’s substack where the guest of the week, Nadia Bolz-Weber, mentioned something that woke up my inner child. She asked a simple question. Dear Love, what would you have me know today?  And love answered:

"I am more wizard of Oz than that. I'm because, because, because. Because you are worthy of love, there is nothing you can do to earn it."

If I were to answer Fernando's twitter question, I would say that I tend to forget my inner child not noticing its absence, blocking my innocent imagination and consequently behaving like a bitter, hopeless person. When I realize it happened, I disconnect from the reality around me and escape to the magical world of poetry and rhythm.

The importance of literature, tales, art, music to our soul and our mental health is priceless. The Wizard of Oz has a special place in my heart together with other songs, movies, and books. When I experienced the most devastating disappointment in my life, a stranger at a salon recommended "The Shack" to me - that happened in 2009 - and it was worth it. I never saw that person again, but the book guided me to overcome that situation.

"Writing a song is like sewing your own clothe with a very delicate thread."  says Anitelli.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and… sober. Disappointments in life can crush our inner child, making us less creative and pessimistic. A little bit of magic will not make you any harm and it won't solve your problems either, but it'll soothe the way we deal with them.

I really don't know who I am
I've tried to measure my worth
But I always find a smile, and my paradise is where I am
Why are we like this
Creating a concept for everything that's left?
Girls are witches and fairies
Clown is a man made up in jokes
Blue sky is a roof for the entire world
Dream is something that remains inside my pillow
I found out where life came from
From where I entered, there might be an exit
And everything is supported by faith
In truth no one knows what it is
Old people are kids born a long time
With water and flour I can paste stickers and photos in IDs
School is a place we learn big words
Drums in my chest make a beat in my heart
I realized that each minute
There is an eye crying with joy and another from mourning
A mad jumping a wall, a body falling ill
There's people praying in the dark, there's people feeling the absence

Song written by Fernando Anitelli called, Eu não sei na verdade quem eu sou
(I really don’t know who I am).

Thanks for reading. Tchau.

*All portuguese quotes and lyrics were loosely translated by me.