Magical thinking is rampant. Religion is its favorite culture.

Every once in a while I’ll read a book I know I will recommend over and over again to those I think are ready, willing and able to read it. Have you read The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion? An incredible read! Her husband suddenly died and she noticed that for a year her mind played tricks on her. She discerned that the mind would think magically to buffer the intensity of loss and grief. As you might already know, Didion is an amazing writer and communicates this epidemic so excellently.

We do the same spiritually. We allow our minds to play tricks on us. We think magically. Why? To separate us from painful realities and live in a kind of fantasy that is more tolerable.

Coming out of this magical thinking is one of the most painful processes. But a necessary one.

Have you read the forum topic in TLS yet, “Prayer… this would be the time, but…”? That’s what we’re talking about.