Magnolia

This winter, Magnolia Journal is making space for connection—and all the shared experiences that deepen our understanding of ourselves and one another. Find a guide to Christmas lights, gather around fondue, and design a dining room that invites everyone to stay awhile.

Magnolia

A Letter from the Editor

Magnolia Post: Presence

Flashes of Light

In the Opening of Days

Minty Magic • IN LOOKING FORWARD TO WONDER AND TREATS, WHAT IS THE FLAVOR WE FIND IN SWEETS? WHETHER COOKIES, FUDGE, OR HOLIDAY PIES, PEPPERMINT IS WINTER’S WELCOME SURPRISE.

To You, from Me, with Love

Games That Gather • Pass the dice and the snack mix, and let the good times roll.

A Cabin in the Country • At a cedar-clad cabin, a family disconnects from devices and finds their way home.

Gift Guide • It only comes once a year: the season to offer friends, family, and special someones the gifts that show how much we care. Consider the exchange of joy when you see someone’s eyes light up—not just because they have an item they love, but because they were loved in the choosing.

We Are Here, Take Part in It

Holiday Garlands

An Ode to a Silent Night

All Wrapped Up • When we take the time to carefully consider how we present our gifts, the act of giving and receiving becomes all the more meaningful.

Savor the Day • THE SPEED OF LIFE OFFERS LITTLE TIME FOR THE SIMPLE THINGS. YET BY BRINGING FOCUS TO WHAT MATTERS MOST, WE CAN CREATE THE KIND OF MEAL THAT TRADES EFFORT FOR INTENTION. THIS SHORT MENU OF PREP-IN-ADVANCE RECIPES MAKES FOR A RUSTIC, HANDS-OFF SPREAD THAT LEAVES TIME AND SPACE TO ENJOY THE MOMENT.

Posture of Presence • Our days are shaped by how we move through them. Our postures say something about how we’re showing up for ourselves, for others. For the big moments and quieter scenes. A new point of view—even just a turn of a page—can open us up to reconsider how we position ourselves to the world we live in.

A Note from Jo: All Is Bright

Now, As We Look Up

Ease into the New Year • The change of the calendar to a new year can bring a sense of haste and a feeling of needing to do it all now. Instead of rushing, consider taking cues from the world around you. Let yourself rest, go slow, and recover while you wait for what will spring forth next.

The Quiet Call of the Mountain Town

The Stories We Tell • JO SHARES HOW THE PROCESS OF WRITING HER NEW BOOK LED HER TO SEE MORE CLEARLY THE FULLNESS OF HER STORY: EVERY PIECE, WORTHY. EVERY CHAPTER, A BRIDGE. EVERY MOMENT THAT SHAPED HER, BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE.

In What Moment from Your Life Have You Felt Truly Present? • It comes naturally in big milestone moments, the ones that are supposed to matter most. But there are those little moments, the ones that weren’t planned or anticipated, that stand out simply because we were fully there, fully present. With no preface and no context, we asked a group of people this simple question, and here’s what they said.

Worth the Squeeze • In freshly squeezed juice, we find nourishment to fuel new beginnings with satisfyingly sweet combinations of familiar fruits and veggies.

Here + Now • Presence is a meeting place. And the individuals in these stories show us the life-enriching communion that can happen when we choose to lean in a little more closely, listen a little more deeply, and lend ourselves a little more fully. How we show up in our lives—if we’ll choose to come awake and available to the moment—reveals a truth to us and others: You belong here. We belong to one another. Both here and now.

Chip Gets the Last Word

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