Beneath a Twilight Gleaming: Playing With The Fairies

When we were young, we didn’t think twice about expressing our own unique creativity, completely free from self-criticism or fear of the judgement of others. We were just simply being ourselves. But somewhere in the process of growing up many of us lost touch with that playful-child part of ourselves. For many it was squashed out by society as we were told we needed to grow up, be serious and responsible. For some, the demands of adulthood took their toll, and that beautiful innocent part of us slowly receded into the background. But I believe we still have that magical, wondrous child inside, and if we can connect with it, I think it could show us who we truly are in our soul, without all the programming and the shoulds and supposed tos. At our core we are a miraculous spark of the divine—full of curiosity, deeply creative, full of delight in the simple joy of living.

I believe that if we can uncover that inner magical child, it will help us reconnect with this important, sacred part of ourselves. It can help us remember how we played, what we loved to do, and how we created. It can help us get in touch with who we really are and tap into our innate creativity—not to mention have a lot more fun! I believe that this creativity is unique, divinely given, and a clue to what we came to this world to offer. At the very least, connecting with our child selves and remembering how we played will help us enjoy our lives more. It’s so easy to get lost in the seriousness of the world and forget to see the beauty, to play, and to enjoy the precious gift of our lives.

One way I used to play was to lie under trees or large plants and imagine an entire world of fairies and elves set among the branches and leaves. I think this memory is behind my desire to create imaginative settings and tablescapes. And I truly felt the presence of magic when I was creating this tablescape. I’d been having a rough time, so I asked the fairies for help and allowed myself to get lost in the simple joy of playing. I love setting a fantastical table that makes people gasp and drop into their own child self and imagination. One of the most beautiful things you can do for those you love is to create a space for that to happen. You don’t have to go over the top like I do.

You can start by simply incorporating small bits of magical fun and play in your everyday. Take some of the elements I use in my tablescapes and put them into your own gatherings or even in your home as permanent magical decor. If you have children, let them help you. Take their lead as they unleash their own imaginations. Read a fairy story or watch a beautiful movie for inspiration. When you create a fantasy setting, you allow people a moment to pause, smile, and settle into their hearts. Best of all, you get to play and have fun creating the setting. I believe that when people are delighted, they’re filled with the light of the divine and are simply happier. What a lovely gift to give those you love—and indeed the world!

HOW TO BRING A SIMILAR MAGICAL LOOK TO YOUR OWN GATHERING

• Unite your look with a color story of no more than 3 or 4 colors to help the decor read cohesively and not feel overwhelming.

• You can also unite your design with a theme. Here are some ideas: Secret Garden, Magical Tea Party, Decadent Delightful Desserts, Through the Looking Glass, Enchanted Forest, Magic by the Stream. Or draw on a specific fairy tale, or a theme from the natural world, like beautiful bugs, butterflies, mushrooms, wildflowers, moss, and lichen.

Tips on setting up:

• Cluster your decor and have some open spaces to keep your table from looking too messy.

• Create different heights with nooks and crannies so the look doesn’t read as one-dimensional.

• For risers use books, cake plates, upturned baskets, logs, tree slices, fun boxes, and garden items.

• Use mismatched dishes and stemware for whimsy.

• Use live plants from your home or garden to save money.

• Think rustic with elegant, outside mixed with inside.

• Search for props in your garden and mix with elegant elements from your china cabinet.

• Sprinkle the decadent desserts or teas with edible glitter for an infusion of magic!