Magical Creatures On Parade,

As Creative Companions, and in the World Around Us

Last week I attended the Festival of the Moving Creature at the University of Virginia. Seven fantastical creatures were created and puppeted by groups of students. They paraded from the drama building to the school’s rotunda with a police escort for the part walking on the road.

Members of the community, especially families with children came out for the event and others happened upon it in their regular walk through the area. I heard one child remark that they thought everyone in the town was there!

There was a sense of joy, wonder, and connection witnessing and celebrating these creations. The creatures felt particularly relatable and accessible as everyday objects were part of their construction, things like paper lanterns, Christmas lights, and balloons made parts of different creatures. The students carrying and animating them wore backpacks holding up different sections with additional posts in hand to animate arms, legs, and tails. For each creature to move required synchronized movement from those animating it. The creatures interacted with the crowd and with each other; they danced as they walked. Eyes and jointed mouths were especially expressive. This one seemed to sparkle with a knowing they were part of something magical.

This also got me thinking of one of the ways we can imagine relating to our creativity. I have recently finished reading Philip Pullman’s new series, The Book of Dust written about a world similar to ours but where each person has a visible spirit animal that accompanies them through life. These companion animals are called daemons and each has a unique personality; they take the form of all different kinds of animals.

Pullman originally introduced this concept in his first series, His Dark Materials. In this newer series, there is more focus on the individual relationships between human characters and their daemons.

If a human and a daemon are at odds, this reflects in all aspects of their life, especially their sense of creativity, agency and confidence. In one section, a group of people is described as finding daemon’s unfashionable and ignoring their daemons. What I found most interesting was that in the scene, the daemons were still watching and interested in the humans, even if the humans did not return the attention and affection. This reminded me of our creativity and the way it patiently waits for us, hoping for moments of connection.

There was so much sparkle of creative connection at the magical creature parade. From those showing off and animating their creations, those witnessing the spectacle, and all the people like me who were creating photos and videos to be able to share the event with friends.

It made me think about how we can imagine our own magical creatures and how they could companion us in our creative adventures. What would your creature look like? Would it be a known animal or something more mythological or fantastical? What characteristics from your companion creature would you seek to support you in your creativity?

And a big thank you to everyone who responded to my last newsletter, answering my creative questions survey. If you wanted more time to mull things over, I continue to welcome responses either by email or snail mail.

Upon returning home on Friday, I noticed a few of my milkweed plants looked like something had been eating them. Closer inspection revealed a couple caterpillars. By the time I checked all the plants, I found two dozen caterpillars! I have never seen caterpillars this early before. I saw a monarch butterfly a few weeks ago - also an early sighting. I am curious if maybe these are on their way on the northern migration. I usually find them in late July, August, and September and imagine they are part of the southern migration.

First monarch sighting April 11, 2026. Not a great photo but documents that one was here to visit my milkweed.

I am curious about these early visitors and reminded that we have magical creatures all around us to inspire us too.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and being part of creative community through this newsletter.

With a grateful heart,

Kathryn

Sharing my writing helps me grow this community and conversation, thank you for your support!

Watching the parade - photo by Kevin Coneway.