Wish Upon A Star by Poppy Gee

Since we just wrapped “spooky season,” do you subscribe to any writing superstitions? Any mythical or spiritual practices that help your process?

Coffee to start. After two hours, another coffee with a sweet treat such as cake, a nice biscuit or a piece of chocolate. These are not superstitions but a beautiful ritual which must be observed. Writing is such a pleasurable activity and it goes perfectly with coffee and cake. If I’m still writing at the four hour mark I definitely deserve a toasted cheese sandwich for lunch. If it’s a Friday I will buy myself something nice from the deli such as rice paper roll or a gourmet sandwich. In the late afternoon if I’m still writing, I have an apple cut into flat slices with pieces of cheese on it and a glass of sparkling mineral water. 

I'm not spiritual but clearly food motivated. Apart from that I have no other rituals, let alone superstitions, that help me with my writing. 

But this topic got me thinking. I love Halloween and we decorate our house, put out a big plastic bowl of candy, dress up and go trick or treating in our neighbourhood. This year my 9-year-old boy took charge of our decorations. We had a collection of skulls in the front yard with black rubber rats chewing on them, human bones poking out of my birds of paradise flowers, a ghost hanging from the pink trumpet tree, and witches hanging from the wraparound veranda of our Queenslander. We live in a very pretty area of timber cottages and tropical gardens and it’s lovely seeing the children running along the footpath with their friends in their adorable Halloween costumes. 

I used to like sharing pictures of this on social media. I don’t anymore and I don’t know if I ever will again. I know this is a terribly depressing thing to say but the reality is that since October 2023 my social media feed is full of so much death, dying and destruction that it feels ghoulish to share our fake bones and nightmarish decorations. 

I try to keep this blog upbeat but the truth is, life is not wonderful for many people, for different reasons, especially at the moment. 

Superstitions are rooted in ancient beliefs and fears, in times when people felt that there were greater powers controlling their lives. There’s no scientific proof behind common superstitions such as wishing on a shooting star or not walking under a ladder. Still, sometimes we find ourselves being mindful of superstitious traditions. Believing that there is something we can do to improve our luck, helps us feel a tiny bit more in control and gives us comfort in uncertainty. 

Maybe today is as good a day as any to wish on a shooting star. Let's try it!