Caravan have a song on their first album called Place Of My Own, which contains the words: I’ve got this place of my own
Where I can go when I feel I’m coming down
We’ll do our best to ensure
You’ll feel secure if you come.
I have a magic (actual) place that I go to, both in real life and in my head - not only when ‘I feel I’m coming down’, but whenever I can.
Its in Cornwall and runs up from Carrick Roads (a very large natural harbour), into the River Fal, up to Truro and Tresillian. It’s magically beautiful, with the trees carpeting the river banks, pouring down to the waters edge. It’s very peaceful. This photo gives an idea of what it’s like.
I’m sure, for many people, it’s just another pretty river, but, for me, it really resonates: it makes me feel happy and, yes, secure.
My magic place is truey a magic place: Colon, MI, the Magic Capital of the World… specifically during the Abbott’s Magic Get-Together.
The town of Colon, MI is a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere, but it has a very prestigious history in the world of magic. It was once the home of Harry Blackstone and also is the home of Abbott’s Magic Company. Every year they put on a magic convention that draws people from all over the world to this tiny little town in southwest Michigan.
What makes this place magical for me is that the entire town hosts this convention. Famous performers stay at the houses of various town residents. There are people I only see once per year at this convention that I consider very close friends. The fellowship and camaraderie one can experience during this week (well… 4 days) is absolutely amazing. It is truly a magical experience, but not because of the magic we see performed. We spend this time catching up, exchanging ideas and new tricks, and enjoying each others company. It is more like a family reunion than a magic convention.
The area where my family comes from is special to me. I get really relaxed and feel different when I am there.
I just recently found out that Dorothea Lange, who took the iconic Great Depression photo, also took pictures in that area for the Farm Security Administration. I checked the federal online archives but no photos of family members (but of neighbors). One photo has been recreated by a famous contemporary photographer. It features a certain Prominent Geographical Feature. Said PGF has been my computer desktop background image for years. I like the picture I took better. It’s in color!
Just about any natural spot where I can have the place to myself for awhile. Last weekend it was the Sky Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore. There was a stretch of 3 miles or so where I didn’t see another person. Just the forest, the birds, and the sound of the wind.
A couple in the township I used to live in.
A couple in the Black Hills.
A couple in the Boundary Waters that I haven’t seen in 15 years, but when I went there more often, I tried to go to those spots.
A spot in Wyoming, just a place on the side of the road, that I stopped at on three different trips. Frankly, I’m not 100% sure exactly where it is, but someday I’ll be there again.
Then, about once every 1-2 years, I dream of a stylized version of the landscape and region of that township and the surrounding towns. Very consistent every time and the scale is significantly different than the real place. As the real place changes due to development and I discover the changes, it temporarily disorients me, as I’m both remembering how it used to be, and how it is in those dreams.
The Face of Heavenly has always been kinda magic for me. So has the middle of Tahoe, driftin’ around just as the wind dies and the waves quite down about sunset, as well. And the Guard shack, after a couple of beers and with a good fire going.
Could be, could be. In my innocence, it never crossed my mind. But does your clitoris make you feel secure? The rest of the lyrics don’t seem to be very clitoris-y, either.