Do you believe in magic? Before you answer, here is one definition from Merriam-Webster:

Magic: something that seems to cast a spell, enchantment OR an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source.

Look at the picture below. That picture was taken on my recent backpacking trip on the Superior Hiking Trail. It is an un-retouched picture. Naked, if you will.

That picture is almost too beautiful to believe.

That picture captures a bit of the enchantment I often felt on that trip. Magic was all around me. It was in the golden light filtering through the yellow and green leaves. It was in the presence of every color of the rainbow in one forest scene. It was in the valley of a dry creek bed crossed by a narrow wooden bridge.

Nature exerted an extraordinary power, and I was in awe. I felt nature’s magic.

Awe, that feeling of respect mixed with fear or wonder, is an extraordinary power or influence in its own right. A Stanford University study found that experiences of awe increase feelings of well-being and cause one to behave in a more altruistic, less materialistic fashion.

In other words, exposure to awesome things makes you a better person. Experiencing nature was on their list of things that more frequently elicits awe.

So, nature has the extraordinary power and influence to make you a better person. If that’s not magic, what is?

Nature is all around us. Go find your own bit of magic.

When was the last time you experienced the magic of nature? When will you next? Share in the comments below.