Enchantment Part 1
October 13, 2026
Photo by Marius Muresan
Welcome to this week’s series of Daily Reflections on the subject of enchantment.
When introduced, some people may use the French word enchanté to say they are delighted to meet them. The greeting comes from the French verb enchanter, which means to put under a spell, to charm, or to enchant.
Enchantment may conjure up all kinds of images—like knights in shining armor bowing before young maidens, enchanted Shangri-Las, and otherworldly places of mystery and beauty.
To be enchanted is to enter a pleasant, almost hypnotic state in which we are so entranced that we have the feeling of floating above the ground. A person, a place, an idea, a sensation, or even a situation can enchant us. For example, when people first fall in love, they may say they are enchanted with each other. When we are on vacation in a stunning new environment, we may feel enchanted by it.
There is a difference between enchantment and simple interest. As a boy, I was involved with my toys, our beach neighborhood softball games, and my dog. These were interesting and engaging. But when I experienced “sure ’nuff” enchantment, that was a different feeling altogether.
To this day, I recall some of my first real enchantments. One was venturing far into the woods to a mysterious house, bravely ringing the doorbell, and being invited inside by the colorful couple who lived there. They inhabited a world I had never seen before—a world of Persian cats, a talking parrot, blue ice cream, a shortwave radio that reached faraway places such as Japan, and a shrine of Jesus and the disciples lit from within. I was enchanted by the family stories my grandmother used to tell, and I was enchanted by my other grandmother who read tea leaves and embellished her readings with stories of her own.
When I observe the faces of young children, I often see enchantment. They are looking at something that has captured their attention, awakened their imagination, and stirred their fantasy life. Their eyes are often wider than usual, and sometimes they run with abandon toward the person or situation that enchants them. As they run with arms wide open to their ‘enchanters, we can watch their worlds expand before us.
Most people I know, including myself, do not typically say in conversation, “That person enchanted me,” or “That place was enchanting.” Yet, even if enchantment is not an often-used word, it is a much-loved state of being.
Why?
Because we love the bliss that enchantment brings.
What do bliss and enchantment have to do with our spiritual selves? This week, we will reflect on this question and explore the many dimensions of the world of enchantment and of the state of being enchanted.
Spiritual Practice
Many people say that when they experience bliss, they feel nearer to God. Jot down your thoughts about this idea, drawing upon your own experiences of your closest moments to the Divine.
Inquiry
What has enchanted you lately, and how did that person, place, or experience awaken enchantment within you?
Prayer
Dear God, Your natural world completely enchants me. It heals me and lifts me. It is infinitely wondrous, inviting me into that which I have never known. I am deeply grateful.
Amen
