When did you stop believing in magic?
For some people, it’s when they first found out that Santa isn’t real. Or when they realize the money under their pillow isn’t from the Tooth Fairy. For others, it’s a gradual process that peaks when they’re older. After their first break-up, or when they don’t get the job they want…or just because the drudgery of life wears them down.
Whenever it happens, the end result usually looks the same. As we become adults, we stop believing in magic, so we stop looking for magic. And because we stop looking, we assume that it simply doesn’t exist. But recently, I came across a story that reminds me just how important magic can be…and how magic is actually very easy to find if we simply know where to look.
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One day, a woman named Therese Ojibway was walking in the forest when she stumbled upon an amusing sight: A bundle of tree twigs that were naturally tangled together in such a way that they resembled a tiny swing set. Immediately, Therese’s mind went to two things. The first was a memory of how, as a child, she used to make tiny furniture in her backyard for “fairies” to enjoy. The second was to her own child. Craig was a ten-year-old boy who, having been diagnosed with autism at age two, felt happiest and most comfortable exploring the peace and quiet of nature.
She decided then and there that the next time she brought Craig to the woods, there would be a few surprises waiting for him to discover. So, she crafted a miniature sofa out of dead tree bark, added a cushion made of moss, and placed it inside the hollow of a tree.
Thus began the South Mountain Fairy Trail.
As she expected, her son soon discovered the little fairy bed and was delighted. So, together, they began creating more things. A small cottage with trim made of branches. An elaborate dining set. An itty-bitty pebble staircase leading up to a miniature house. Everything was made from natural materials found along the trail. As the months went by, mother and son soon had an entire “fairy village” to call their own. Soon, their creations grew extensive enough that Therese felt she had better get permission before going any further. So, she went to the local conservation group that managed the trails around South Mountain. Luckily, they were fine with the project so long as she kept the village contained to the beginning of the trail.
By this time, though, word was starting to get out. Other hikers began discovering the cottages, too. Many began bringing their children to scamper among the houses, searching high and low for fairies. Others asked if they, too, could contribute. There was something truly, well, magical about coming across this diminutive, wee wonderland nestled amid the roots and hollows of the forest. Today, families and adventurers from all over come to explore the trail. Children often leave notes to the fairies. And the village now spans over half a mile and contains over one hundred fairy dwellings!
In 2022, Therese’s tenure as unofficial mayor of the fairy village came to an end when she and Craig decided to move closer to family. At first, she was worried about leaving the village behind. But to her joy, two other women came forward and volunteered to be the new stewards of the trail. Every week, they coordinate with local Scout troops, students, and other volunteers to help maintain and grow the village. They tidy the trail, mend roofs, repair furniture, and rebuild anything that falls apart. They even hold an annual “Fairy Tails at the Fairy Trail” festival.
As the new keepers explained, “[We’re] really proud to continue Therese’s legacy, because it helps draw more kids to the woods. [But] it’s not just about being in the woods every week. It’s about seeing the excitement in the kids’ eyes as they peer inside the houses and look for fairies. This trail nurtures their imaginations. We want to keep the magic going.”
In 2024, Therese and Craig returned to see the work they started. Said Therese: “I imagine that some of the little houses I made will have gone back to nature, and that’s how it should be. You gather up the pieces, and you make a new one. That’s part of the magic.”
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Magic. Therese Ojibway used the word. The two new wardens used it. And when you read reviews online about the “South Mountain Fairy Trail,” you’ll see how often visitors use it, too.
Reading this story made me realize something important about magic. As adults, we often forget the importance of childlike wonder. We stop looking for the magic in the world around us. But if we take the time to really look — beneath the roots of a tree, or under a stone, or even just inside ourselves — we realize that magic really is all around us.
You see, magic is not designated for a certain age; it’s sprinkled throughout our lives in small moments. And it’s not just for the biggest holidays or the grandest events. Magic is found in the little things and the unlikeliest of places. Most importantly, true magic, real magic, isn’t something to merely believe in. It’s something we create. Something we actively make and tend, and share. The more we think of magic that way, the more we see the world the way Therese and Craig did, the more we will see and experience magic all around us.
So, the next time you head out into the world, take time to look into the hollow of the nearest tree. You might just find a magical fairy cottage waiting. Or maybe, even better, the twigs and moss to create a little magic yourself.
Have a great month!