Philosophy is one of those words that makes you think you're about to revise a mountain of names, dates and jargon fresh from an idea blender.
Here in the world of Magikitos, we've rummaged through nearly the whole library and kept the ideas we liked best. We'd like to share how we see things, in case any of it interests you or comes in handy. We should probably put the books back first, but here we are.
What is the Magikito philosophy?
Looking for everyday joy with curiosity, humour and a little mischief, without expecting ourselves to be cheerful all the time. What follows is our own mixture of ideas that inspire us. It isn't a philosophical school or a faithful account of every tradition we mention.
Being a Magikito has plenty to do with how you go about things. We enjoy poking fun at everyday chaos, but we also lend a hand when things go wrong. Kindness shows up rather more clearly there than in saying “Everything's brilliant” through gritted teeth.
Optimistic nihilism: a big universe doesn't make you irrelevant
Next to a galaxy, we're a tiny speck. Missing the bus is still annoying, though, and a problem at work can matter. The size of the universe isn't a reason to dismiss what's happening to you.
Here's the idea we take from it: if we can't find a meaning laid out in advance, we can decide what matters to us as we go. A friendship, a project, looking after someone, learning to make an omelette that doesn't need a shovel to get it out of the pan.
We like enjoying the moment. We also like looking after the people who'll be with us tomorrow. Freedom doesn't mean leaving someone else all the washing-up.
Wabi-sabi and Stoicism each have their own history
Perfection is a glass prison, and we'd rather live in the woods. Wabi-sabi invites us to look differently at imperfection and change. Your home needn't look like a film set for people to enjoy coming round.
Stoicism comes from a different tradition. At the start of his Enchiridion, Epictetus distinguishes what is within our control from what isn't. We use that question to find a place to start: what we can do, what we can ask for and what won't be solved by banging our heads against it.
That doesn't make us immune to anger or oblige us to put up with anything. Sometimes we need to speak, set a boundary or ask for help. If we mess up, we'd rather put things right than rename the damage “our wonderful imperfection”. Kintsugi interests us for the work of repair, not as an excuse to break everything.
Dadaist mischief: taking pomposity down a peg
The world takes itself far too seriously, so we answer with a little absurdity. Dada challenged artistic and social conventions. That irreverence inspires some of our silliness. One joke won't explain the whole movement.
A meeting about the official arrangement of socks might end with a sock chairing it. If we feel like mucking about, lovely. If a joke falls flat, we let it rest. Mischief is more fun when nobody is forced to be the punchline.
Fewer ties, more Brownie giggles. And if you like ties, wear one. We might put another on the sock.
Everyday Zen: noticing what's in front of us
“Everyday Zen” is our playful nickname here, not a definition of Zen. Zen belongs to Buddhism and has its own teachings and practices, as the Sōtō school explains. There's more to it than a quiet coffee.
Our suggestion is simpler: listen properly when somebody speaks, taste your food before wolfing it down or put your phone aside for a moment to watch the rain. A little at a time. If our minds wander to the shopping list, we don't issue ourselves a spiritual parking ticket.
Remembering the past and making plans are part of life too. Being here doesn't require us to erase what happened or what comes next.
Our manifesto for ordinary days
- Less pretending. You don't have to act as though you've worked everything out.
- Kind-hearted nonsense. We prefer laughing together to getting a laugh at someone else's expense.
- Pride without ducking responsibility. You can be yourself and take responsibility for what you do.
- A little attention. If you're washing a plate, start with that one. You needn't enjoy it as though you've discovered a continent.
- Room for different company. Some people arrive ready for a party. Others just want to sit down for a while.
Do you have to be cheerful to belong here?
No. You can turn up tired, sad, cross or with nothing you feel like saying. There's no good-mood entrance exam. Sometimes joy appears when two people listen to each other. Sometimes company is what matters, even when nobody laughs.
We like joy that's shared, not demanded. You can meet the gang in the Brownie section. The sock is still chairing the meeting, but we've withdrawn its speaking privileges.
