Bed Magic (for My Spoonie Witches):

A spoonie witch is...

A spoonie who practices witchcraft. Simple!

A spoonie is someone who for whatever reason (usually a physical illness/disability - but it can also be due to a mental illness) doesn’t have as much energy as everyone else. The Spoon Theory [X] is a handy way to explain this to others and remind us of our limitations. It also shows us that we can ration our “spoons” (energy) to a certain extent. An important thing to note is that identifying as a spoonie is a choice, not all ill/disabled people do.

Bedridden witch: Elements edition

Little ways to connect to the elements while you’re bedridden or stuck inside.

Earth:

Keep jars of dirt from special places.

Grow cacti or succulents.

Make a mini sand garden.

Hang macrame with crystals or stones.

Keep a bouquet of flowers.

Hang herbs from your walls/ceiling.

Get a little plant starter kit, keep seedlings by your window.

Keep some books on plants and geology around.

Watch nature documentaries.

Keep pebbles and crystals under your pillow.

Make a miniature garden/landscape using fake or real plants!

Reach down and feel the energy of the earth below you. Sometimes this is easier on the floor.

Burn candles that smell like the earth/forest/your favorite place.

Drink herbal tea.

Water:

Get a mini waterfall or fountain.

Keep plants that grow in water.

Get a water essential oil diffuser.

Make a spray from infused water.

Open windows when it rains.

Set up a bird fountain outside.

Fully savor your next glass of water.

Keep blues and sea green colors around.

Watch videos or documentaries on aquatic/marine life.

Watch the raindrops or condensation on your window.

Keep a bowl of water around. 

Listen to water/rain ambiance.

Burn candles that smell like the ocean or the rain.

Use a washcloth to wipe down your face/body.

Keep jars of water from your favorite places.

Air:

Open your window.

Use room spray/mist.

Burn candles that smell like the wind.

Hang wind chimes.

Listen to air/wind ambiance.

Get a small fan for some air flow.

Burn incense and watch the smoke move through the air.

Use your breath.

Hang feathers in your room.

Hang scarves and cloths around your room, watch the breeze sway them around.

Get some air plants.

Use an app that lets you see the sky/night sky.

Watch the clouds from your window.

Meditate, allow your senses to explore the air around you.

Fire:

Burn candles/incense.

Hang red or orange curtains.

Get a Himalayan salt lamp.

Use a wax melter.

Get an electric candle.

Use a heating pad or electric blanket.

Listen to fire ambiance. 

Use the heat of your body.

Watch gifs/videos of fire.

Keep a lighter nearby when you need a little flame. 

Place a little tealight in a fireproof vessel near your bed.

Feel the warmth and strength of the sun.

Build up energy with your hands, imagine it’s fire.

Drink tea with warming spices (cinnamon, cloves, etc.)

Click here for my other posts in this series!

Thanks to @healing-water-witch for giving me the idea and contributing!

Bedridden witch: Divination edition

Ideas for practicing divination while bedridden: Varying in energy + mobility required - please don’t push yourself, hopefully there’s options for everyone! Quick note: I’ve only included forms of divination I personally do.

Tarot:

Tarot apps are a great way to pull a card with a tap or two (Labyrinthos and Galaxy tarot have been recommended). 

Spread the deck on a flat surface, and move your hand over to pick (let your hands sense the energy), or pick based on intuition. 

Do a two-card (or more!) spread - you don’t have to lay it out if you can’t sit up, you can hold them in your hand or place on your lap.

Sleep with the deck under your pillow.

Pick one card that represents what you want from the next day and slip it under your pillow or mattress for the night, or place on your altar.

Memorize the meanings of the cards.

Make or buy a mini deck for easier use.

Do the easy “find this card and whatever is above or below it =X” spreads.

More limited mobility suggestions here

Scrying:

Use a black mirror or picture frame with black cloth/paper behind it.

Get a mini scrying bowl and fill with water, cradle it in your hands.

Pendulum:

Wear it around your neck.

Shorten the string so you don’t have to sit up.

Prop your hand on a pillow if you need the strength/steadiness.

Use off of the side of your bed if it’s too long (this can be a bit awkward)

Keep it under your pillow.

Use a mini pendulum or a necklace as a pendulum.

Make a simple board or don’t use one at all, just condition your pendulum with basic movements.

*You CAN use a pendulum even with shaky hands, it just takes a bit of bonding and conditioning.*

More limited mobility suggestions here

Tasseomancy:

Get a mug with two handles.

Keep in a sealable container until you’re ready.

Put a towel over yourself in case you spill.

Use a Tupperware container. No shame.

Runes:

(With a huge thanks to @adragonspath for compiling a list of suggestions!)

Sleep with your runes next to you.

Memorize their meaning.

Draw one rune and meditate on their meaning and how you can manifest them in your life.

Charge them with sun/moon light by your window.

Study their origin and reading methods.

Crystal and wooden runes: connect with the element Earth and the intent corresponding to the crystal/type of wood.

Other materials: meditate on the origin and development of that material. Connect with the corresponding element and intent.

Other ideas + Posts

Automatic writing

Astragalomancy - Divination using playing dice

Oneiromancy - Interpretation of dreams in order to predict future.

Stitchomancy - Get a book. Ask question, then open book to random page and read what pops out to you.

This awesome post

Bedridden witch: Nature edition

Bedridden witch: Worship edition

All my bedridden witch posts

Limited hand mobility + witchcraft

So, you want to be a witch?

It can be easy to feel super overwhelmed when you’re first starting off. This post is for very new witches who have limited knowledge and would like a broad overview! These are my opinions, feel free to disagree but be polite about it. 

Spells:

It’s okay to start by using other people’s spells and build the confidence to write your own! Spells can be spoken, or thought (in my opinion). Sometimes speaking spells into existence isn’t always possible.

Casting circles. Many witches cast circles to do spellwork. It involves calling energy from the four directions and building the “omph” to preform the spell. Most of these involve calling upon a deity/deities but you could easily alter them to avoid this, it is not necessary. 

Ingredients. The most important ingredient for a spell is… you! Most spell ingredients can be substituted with more common ingredients, following correspondences. What did that ingredient bring to the spell?

I’ve written a whole “so, you want to be a witch?” post on spells!

Names:

Many witches feel names hold power. 

I personally choose to not share my birth name/everyday name for both this reason, and to protect my privacy. A lot of witches choose a witch name (mine is Mouse!)

Wards: 

Wards are something that I feel are very important for any witch to have. They can be on your being and on your home, and protect from undesired energy and spirits. Picture them as a shield. 

Warding yourself. For me, my wards are my armor. I envision armor forming around me with specific forms of protection and use my energy to make it so. You could also view your ward as a bubble of energy! If you have a hard time with envisioning things, carry something physical (a necklace, crystal, etc.) as your ward.

Warding your home. Again, you could envision it (however you like). I picture light washing over the floors, walls, and ceilings and use my energy to guide it. I also have physical wards. An example would be to make a paper pocket, fill it with herbs, crystals, and sigils, and place in the four corners of your home.

Sigils:

I simply adore sigils, they are like little spells in a physical form (symbols). It’s okay to use sigils created by others.

Sigils are created with a certain phrase in mind, such as “I am happy”. You can then draw them on yourself or on something to carry with you.

Once drawn, you’ll need to do something to activate it. This can be done by forgetting about it, using your energy, or fun things like using the elements or your favorite song. To keep the sigil working, you’ll need to charge it every once and a while. This is the same idea as activating it!

Cleansing:

The ability to cleanse your space and yourself can be extremely valuable, whether it’s in preparation for a spell, or to get rid of the funk of a bad day.

Smoke cleansing. Can be done with sage, bay leaves, or any type of incense. Waft the smoke over yourself or your space.

Water cleansing. I enjoy making a spray with some lovely herbs (like lavender and mint) and spritzing my room or myself. 

The elements/natural world. The wind, the moon, the sun and many other things can act to cleanse as well. 

Divination:

Divination can be overwhelming at first - there’s so many different types! You don’t need to practice divination to be a witch, and you certainly don’t need to learn all of the ways!

Tarot. Tarot cards are cards that have drawings on them and an assigned meaning (usually more than one). They are often used as a way to get advice. The average deck has 78 cards, and a lot of us still use cheat sheets!

Pendulum. Pendulums are often depicted as a crystal hanging from a string, but they can be anything hanging from a string. Different movements mean yes, no, and maybe. Some people use them to communicate with spirits, but this only happens when you invite them.

Runes, scrying, and tasseomancy are also common forms of divination, but ones I am less familiar in! 

Tools:

Crystals, candles, tarot, incense, herbs. All tools. 

They all can boost your abilities and aid your craft, but are not needed. You have all the tools you need in yourself, and in your life. Don’t feel pressured to spend a lot of money on fancy tools right away! It can be beneficial to build your abilities without them, in my opinion!

Using your intuition can lead you to finding/creating some really awesome tools and methods! Let your instincts guide you. 

(Click here for the other parts in this series!)

Low energy cleaning + cleansing

I make a lot of posts for bedridden witches, but many of us aren’t bedridden all of the time or have varying energy levels. This post contains a range of ideas and suggestions for keeping your home both clean and cleansed with low or unpredictable energy. While I do refer to energy levels, it is also applicable to pain levels. 

Setting yourself up for success:

Quick note: these are things I do, you may not find the same things to be overwhelming or necessary, as discussed later in the post! 

Multiple waste baskets. I keep two under my bed, for garbage and recycling. This makes it easier to throw things away when done with them, rather than letting them become an overwhelming pile.

A box or tray for used dishes, cups and water bottles. This keeps the piles from feeling overwhelming, and makes them easier to move to the kitchen when that’s do-able. 

Extra blanket to protect the bedding.  It’s easier for to move/wash one blanket when food spills, rather than wrangling with a comforter. 

Fitted vs. flat sheets. Fitted sheets are exhausting to remove/put on. Flat sheets can be easier! (Also, I recommend having two sets of sheets, so you can switch them out right away and have clean bedding whether or not you have the energy to do laundry.)

Clean and dirty laundry hampers. A way to avoid piles and stay organized without needing to fold laundry or put it on hangers. Simply have a hamper for each (or lots of baskets if you want it more organized).

Cleaning supplies in each room/area. That way, when the motivation to clean arises, you don’t need to spend that energy walking across the house to get the supplies.

Bedridden witch: The setup

Focus on the main areas:

My bedroom is my number one focus, as this is the room I spend the most time in. The others are my bathroom, living room and kitchen. There’s no point in having a spotless spare room if you’re overwhelmed by the rest of the house. Prioritize the places you spend your time in.

Do what you can, when you can:

The excellent thing about having a good setup is it means when you do have more energy, you don’t need to do as much to catch up (which often involves paying for it later by overdoing it). You know your limits, do what you can. 

Have no energy? Do your best to do the things I listed above. With this setup its okay if you can’t do it right away, when you feel able to, its there. Maybe today you can get the tissues in the waste basket and tomorrow you put the dishes in the box.  

Have a bit of energy? Empty your waste baskets, bring the dishes to the kitchen, move your dirty laundry into the washroom, etc. One step closer to helping your future self.

Have a lot of energy? Now is an excellent time to do some dishes or get some laundry started. Hopefully this is now manageable because of the steps your past self took. 

Along these lines, you don’t have to do everything at once. Because I have cleaning supplies in each area, I can clean whenever I feel like it. 

Perhaps I feel really motivated to scrub the toilet. That doesn’t mean that I also have to wipe down the counter and the tub, shake out the mats and sweep the floor. Each of those things can be separate. Cleaning something partially is better than not cleaning at all (or overdoing it) in my opinion.

Take breaks! It’s okay if things take you longer than that rude inner voice says it should, or if you need to take multiple breaks. 

Create a routine:

Here’s a glimpse at my daily routine (which is the ideal; when my health doesn’t allow for all of these, I do what I can):

Bedroom: Open the curtains and the window to let light and fresh air in. This also lets my bedding air out. After a few minutes I do a quick sweep of the floor and make my bed (which I can do while sitting on it).

Bathroom: Every few days I’ll sweep it and empty the trash + laundry hamper.

Kitchen: Sweep the floors each morning. Empty the dishwasher or load any new dirty dishes into it. Also feed the cats and check their water.

Living room: Whenever I get up to go to the kitchen, I bring any dishes or garbage. Each evening I tidy up and put things back.

I almost seem obsessive over cleanliness because I constantly do little things. Done using the kitchen counter? Wipe it down. Dirty plate? Rinse it and load in the dishwasher. My energy is very unpredictable so I do little things whenever I can so that when I crash, everything is taken care of.

Prioritize:

Sometimes the ideal and the practical aren’t compatible. 

What MUST happen? For example, my cats come first. They have no control over their food, water or litter boxes. I ensure all of their needs are met early in my day. 

What will have negative long term effects? Shit happens, and it doesn’t always line up with our ability to handle it. Sometimes you must clean up a water leak or remove the gross thing, even if you pay for it with a flareup later or it results in other things not getting taken care of for a while.

Ask for help. I understand that not everyone is lucky enough to have a support system, but if you can, ask a friend or family member for help when you need it. Sometimes things get to overwhelming, and a little help can go a long way. 

Make a list:

Figure out what key things make the space feel clean or dirty to you. What would you like to maintain? What feels more manageable when you do it each day? What are you going to prioritize? 

Figure out the ideal frequency of each task. I’ve given examples of my daily routine, but what about the bigger tasks such as changing your bedding, or vacuuming the carpet? What about dusting and getting the cobwebs in those hard-to-reach corners? How often would you like to do those? Having a list can be helpful for your higher energy days so you know what to focus on. 

Cleansing:

For me, a lot of my cleansing ties into physically cleaning + having a clean space. This can be a bit tricky when you don’t have the energy to keep an entirely clean home, which is why I focused so much on that side of things! Do the best you can and prioritize the places you spend time in. 

A few basic methods:

Bedridden witch: Stale energy edition (lots of small tips for cleansing and changing the energy in a space). 

Smoke cleansing. Can be done with a variety of plants.

Steam cleansing. An excellent alternative if smoke isn’t your thing, boil the plants instead and allow the steam to act the same way smoke would.

Cleansing spray. Similar to steam. Be aware that some plants may stain surfaces, and avoid using undiluted essential oils. You can also buy natural room sprays if making one feels unmanageable. 

Sound cleansing. This is often done with instruments, but can also be done with song.

Visualization.

Elements. Open your curtains and windows, let the wind, the rain, the sunshine, the full moon, etc. do its work.

Absorbing. Sometimes we can’t open a window or actively cleanse, this is when having things that absorb negative energy can help, such as a Himalayan salt lamp, a bowl of salt, etc. 

Negativity absorbing buddy

Salt bowls to absorb negative energy

You may also like:

Home cleansing tips

Bedridden witch series

Spoonie witch masterpost

Witchcraft for the chronically fatigued

Housewarming magic

So, you want to be a witch? #5

Part one talks about spells, wards, sigils, cleansing, divination and more!

Part two talks about grimoires, crystals, wands, altars and more!

Part three talks about this vs. that for a lot of the common terms you hear!

Part four talks about types of witches, deities and more!

It can be easy to feel super overwhelmed when you’re first starting off. This post is for very new witches who have limited knowledge and would like a broad overview! These are my opinions, feel free to disagree but be polite about it. *And please note that you do not have to do every thing I listed, this is just an overview of basic terms/things some witches do.*

This post is a little different than the other ones, it’s all about casting spells!

Grounding and cleansing yourself:

It often is harder to focus on a spell if you are stuck in your own thoughts or have the energies from the day on you. I’ll often start with cleansing myself, by burning a sage or cedar herb bundle, and then sit and take some focused breaths and becoming present in my body.

Casting a circle:

Many witches cast circles as a way to protect themselves from outside energies or unwanted spirits while they’re performing magic. You can use the elements, a salt circle, invoking a deity, etc. Click the links to learn more!  [X] [X] It is recommend you stay in the circle until you finish the spell and close the circle.

Drawing energy from something:

(So you don’t draw all the energy from yourself, which can be draining). Energy can be drawn from the elements, from crystals, deities, and many other things. This can be done by visualization and energy work or by asking. 

Casting the spell:

This is when you use your ingredients and the guidelines of the spell. It is best to be completely focused so try to avoid having distractions (like your phone) and have everything you need ready to go. 

Closing any loopholes:

Often, this is not included in the written spell so this is up to you. I usually write a list of loopholes I want to close before starting this process, so it’s handy when I’m finished with the spell! If it’s a spell you want to come to light in a certain way or by a certain time, this is when you clarify that. This post has more info [X]

Completing the spell and dispelling any energies:

Once you have finished with the loopholes, finishing the spell can be as simple as “this spell is now complete”. I recommend dispelling any energies you called on and returning them to where they belong. If you didn’t cast a circle, now is the time to rid of anything you may have attracted by performing your spell.

Closing the circle:

Closing a circle is fairly simple! All you have to do is the reverse of how you cast it. (If it was with smoke for example, you would then undo the circle by burning the bundle in the opposite direction).

Cleansing and grounding:

Cleansing here is optional, depends on the spell, how you’re feeling, and if you want to do it. Grounding is highly recommended. This can come in many forms. I often use water, putting drops on the key points of my face (forehead, eyelids, cheeks, nose, lips and chin) and sit while taking focused breaths.

Other considerations:

Consent: If you are casting a spell on a specific person and they do not know or they have not given you permission, you do not have their consent. Spells cast to bring a general thing (to attract love instead of to make a specific person fall in love with you), with permission, or on yourself don’t need consent/already have it!

Ingredients: Ingredients are often an important part of the spell and are included for a reason. They either represent a part of the spell, what the spell is trying to accomplish or are something you can draw energy from.

Alternative ingredients: If you can’t get your hands on a certain ingredient, you can almost always use a substitute ingredient. Just use correspondences and trust your gut while searching for the perfect substitute. Many people believe: Clear quartz = any crystal, Rosemary = any herb, Rose = any flower. But really, look at what that ingredient is meant to bring to the spell, then find an alternative that still brings that!

Discarding used ingredients: (Click me)

Belief: If you don’t believe the spell is going to work - it probably won’t. To combat this, take the time to find a spell you really believe will work and write a list of ways you might expect it to present in your life.

Intention: Similar to belief. I’ve performed magic only using a pen, paper, and my powerful intentions. The more powerfully you want something and bring it into your life, the more likely it is to appear. Intent is the end goal, why you’re casting the spell. 

Deities: I do not use deities in my spellwork (or witchcraft at all). There is a huge amount of respect and connection-building that is required before asking a deity to help with your spell. I tend to avoid spells where a listed ingredient is a deity. (If you do have a connection with a deity, by all means ask them to help you out if that feels right to you!)

Energy: It is common to feel drained after casting a spell. Grounding yourself, casting a circle and drawing energy from other things all help with this, but allow yourself some time to recover. [X]

When your spell fails: (click me)

Nullifying your spell: (click me)

Writing your own spells: [X] [X] [X] [X]

Related posts: [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]

(Click here for the other parts in this series!)

Bedridden witch: Discreet edition

I realize not every witch has the luxury of being open about their craft, and this can be doubly hard when you’re restricted to your bed and often reliant on others. Not all of these may work for you, but may they inspire you all the same!

*If you are reliant on a caregiver who may not approve of witchcraft, please be extra cautious.* There are plenty of ways to practice that don’t put your care and health in jeopardy, and some of the things listed may put you at risk. Please use common sense! <3 

Online:

Keep your grimoire in a document or on the notes in your phone.

Make an altar on Pinterest, a tumblr sideblog, in a video game, etc.

Apps! Keep track of the lunar cycle, look at the night sky, use a candle app, pull some tarot cards, draw some sigils.

Emoji spells.

Witchy playlists.

Cleansing:

Open your window

Let the sun or moon wash over you

Manipulate the energy with your hands

Burn incense (or a scented candle), as the smoke wafts around the room let it push away any unwanted energy.

Visualization.

Listen to music that makes you feel calm, channel that. 

Lots of ideas on this post (Bedridden witch: Stale energy edition)

Warding:

Draw sigils using water

VISUALIZATION + energy manipulation

Make a witches bottle that looks like something else

Make/enchant a room spray that boosts protection (and smells good!)

Keeping magic items nearby:

Slowly changing your interests can allow you to have many things without raising suspicion. (Herbal remedies/tea blending = access to herbs, geology + the love of pretty rocks = access to crystals, jars of dirt, etc.). Additionally, the New Age/witchcraft aesthetic seems to be all the rage these days, which normalizes it as a thing many people just incorporate into their interior design!

Keep sigils in your pillowcase or under your mattress

Keep crystals in your pillowcase or nearby (crystals are becoming a common thing to just have/decorate with)

Herb/spell sachets under your pillow/nearby. I used to have one that was stuffed full of lavender but had crystals and sigils hidden in the center.

Make and keep sun/moon water in a waterbottle.

Ways to connect to the elements (often through decorating/mundane objects) can be found in this post!

Candles are great, real or fake! I like the fake ones because if I forget about it/don’t have the energy to access it, the worst thing that happens is the battery dies.

EO diffusers and Himalayan salt lamps.

Plants!!

Performing magic and the like:

Meditation, dream magic, astral projection.

Energy manipulation: Keep an energy source nearby and draw from it when you need it/to cast small spells, enchantments, blessings, etc. Manipulate the energy in the air.

Visualization can be a powerful thing. 

Enchant items in your room.

Plant magic! Bedridden ideas in this post.

Drink magic and enchantments are great, and teas often have correspondences already based on their blends!

Divination:

Tarot: use a mini deck, an app, playing cards or small two card spread that are easy to conceal under a blanket.

Scrying: use a small picture frame with a black background, a small bowl of water or your phone screen. 

Pendulum: they can be pretty easy to conceal! But you could also use one that doesn’t look like a pendulum, a necklace, or anything tied to a string.

You could also do automatic writing, shufflemancy, dice divination or stitchomancy.

Lots of ideas for bedridden divination in this post!

You may also like:

Bedridden Witch Series - All of my bedridden witchcraft posts!

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

My spoonie sigils: (1) // (2) // (3)

Spoonie witch masterpost - contains all of the spoonie posts I’ve made so far!

Bedridden witch: Weather edition

Keep jars of water from different types of weather nearby.

Create a page of sigils, one for each type of weather.

Try to guess the forecast for the day, then check it!

Burn rain scented candles, or ones that remind you of certain types of weather.

Utilize herbs and woods that are connected to weather magic [X].

Draw energy from whatever weather is happening outside.

Read/write poetry that makes you feel the weather.

Hang wind chimes and flags outside your window so you can easily tell the changes in wind.

Put a rain gauge in sight of your window.

Enchant a snow globe to bring snow.

Listen to ambiance tracks that sound like the rain or a storm. 

Use the raindrops on the window as a form of divination.

Make a file with videos and gifs of different weather and pull it up when you need to.

Use a glass of water to summon/dispel rain.

Make bottles for types of weather, shake to bring it and tap to dispel it.

Watch YouTube videos on different types of clouds and how they’re formed.

Use different weather’s waters for scrying, cleansing, or flinging something into manifestation. 

Use a super in-depth weather app.

Leave small offerings to weather/storm deities if it fits your craft.

Create a terrarium that resembles your area, and add things to manipulate the environment. 

Open your window!

Use a map to draw weather certain places.

Create art for your favorite types of weather.

Related posts:

Bedridden witch  - Nature edition

Bedridden witch - Elements edition

Bedridden witch - Winter edition

Bedridden witch - Ocean edition

All current bedridden witch posts can be found here!

Bedridden witch: Nature edition

Let’s be honest here. Most of us bedridden peeps don’t have an awesome bed setup like this, and our nature exposure can be limited. However, here’s some tips and tricks to staying connected to nature while stuck in bed, with contributions from myself (@heatherwitch), @thewitchofthenorse, @spooniewitches, @persephoneandthepomegranates & @theepagangrace!

Open a window, or crack the curtains

Hang rainbow prisms in your window

Keep a houseplant nearby

If regular houseplants require too much energy: Try cacti, succulents, lucky bamboo, or spiderplants!

Hang nature/forest/plant artwork around

Get air freshener or room spray that reminds you of the outdoors

Watch a nature documentary or shows with people exploring nature – check out nature (photography) videos on Netflix for calming videos

Listen to forest soundscapes [X] 

Set a nature scene as your screensaver

Keep a jar of soil around

Talk with any nature deities you work with

Follow nature blogs

Get sheets, blankets, or pillowcases with leafy designs, flower designs, etc.

Get a star map app on your phone to be more connected to the night sky

Have a vase of flowers (real or fake)

Keep crystals around that remind you of nature (Moss agate, petrified wood, onyx, selenite, agate geodes, etc.)

Use sigils designed to connect you to nature

Use air conditioning or a fan to make it less stuffy in your room

Read and write poetry about nature

Press plants/flowers or hang dried herbs by your bed

Spend some time looking outside of your window

Burn a nature scented candle or incense (Irish moss, myrrh, frankincense, opium, and lavender)

Use astral travel or dream magic to get to outdoor areas

Watch livestream videos of outdoor areas

Make a sachet of grass, oak bark (or whatever tree you like), quartz, and salt. Hang it near your bed.

With help from others:

Get someone to collect rainwater for you, and use it to wash your face

Ask a friend to take some pictures of cool places they go in nature and send them to you

Have someone collect rocks/plants/feathers etc. from each day and bring them back for you 

Have someone pick wildflowers for you

Drink some herbal tea

Have someone you trust harvest wild edibles/berries for you – or at least bring fresh fruits and veggies!

Skype or video chat with someone while they’re outside

Take the scenic route/detour to some natural areas the next time you need a car ride

Click here for the other posts in this series!

So, you want to be a witch? #4

Part one talks about spells, wards, sigils, cleansing, divination and more!

Part two talks about grimoires, crystals, wands, altars and more!

Part three talks about this vs. that for a lot of the common terms you hear!

It can be easy to feel super overwhelmed when you’re first starting off. This post is for very new witches who have limited knowledge and would like a broad overview! These are my opinions, feel free to disagree but be polite about it.

Types of witches:

As witchcraft grows more popular on the internet, it’s become helpful to categorize what your practice looks. This helps to share it more easily and find others who have similar practices.

That being said, it isn’t necessary to categorize yourself! If you were to pick a type (or few), here’s some things you’d look at:

What your lifestyle is like. Does where you live affect your practice? (city, country, beach, etc.). Does what you do affect your practice? (work, hobbies, etc.).

What you draw power from. Being outside? Baking in the kitchen? Making your house a home? Exploring the city? Being at the ocean? Etc. Etc.

What you like to do in your craft. What things call to you?

Outside influences. For example, I have a chronic illness so I call myself a spoonie witch. 

If you feel like you’re a lot of different things, you can call yourself an eclectic witch (as in, a mix of types) or simply be a witch!

Gender:

Gender and body type does not affect your ability to be a witch. Anyone can be a witch. It literally doesn’t matter. You want to be a witch? Congrats you can be a witch! Don’t fall for the gatekeeping shit.

Gods, Goddesses, Deities:

There is a common belief that you must incorporate divine beings into your practice. While that is certainly okay to do, it is not required in witchcraft. Nor is it required to believe in them. Religion is not an inherent part of witchcraft!

Many witches are also polytheists. For some, these mix and become a hybrid of witchcraft and worship. For others (like myself), the two stay relatively separate.

Some witches have patron deities/have devoted themselves to a deity. While this can be a very powerful connection, I encourage witches to explore their craft secularly first and build their connections over time. There’s absolutely no rush!

Some witches call upon the powers of the gods to boost their magic. Do so with respect, gods are not spell ingredients.

There is far more to be said on this topic, but this is the overview!

(Click here for the other parts in this series!)