Earth-Friendly Witchcraft

Whatever religious or spiritual tradition they identify with, most witches agree that there is something sacred about the natural world. We draw our power from the earth beneath our feet, the sky over our heads, and the air in our lungs.

And yet, many of us live in societies that are actively contributing to the destruction of the natural world. Most developed nations have a linear economy, which means resources are extracted and then sent on a one-way trip to consumers who will use them and then throw them away. This leads to overflowing landfills, air and water pollution, and quickly disappearing resources. The World Economic Forum predicts that, if our habits don’t change, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. And I dearly hope that by now we’re all familiar with the reality of climate change and its devastating impact on global ecosystems.

I’m not trying to scare you, but I do want to point out the hypocrisy of drawing power from the Earth in our magic while simultaneously contributing to her destruction. If we truly want to consider ourselves spiritual allies of the planet, we need to make an effort to live our lives — and practice our magic — in ways that are less harmful to her.

You don’t have to become an environmentalist or switch to a zero waste lifestyle, but we can all make little changes for a more sustainable life. There’s lots of information out there about how to live a more Earth-friendly lifestyle, so in this post I’ll be focusing on how to apply that same philosophy to your witchcraft.

Steps to a more Earth-Friendly Practice:

Limiting your consumption will automatically lower your negative impact on the planet. Follow my previous guidelines for avoiding consumerism to start shrinking your carbon footprint.

Avoid plastic as much as possible. According to the WEF, 70% of our plastic ends up in a landfill or in the world’s waterways, and according to Julia Watkins, author of Simply Living Well, only 9% of household plastics get recycled. Plastic (unlike glass and metal) cannot be recycled indefinitely — it can only be recycled a handful of times before it becomes too degraded to be repurposed any further. There really is no way to make plastic safer for the planet, so it’s best to just avoid it altogether. Look for tools made of metal, wood, or glass instead of plastics, and try to order things shipped in paper and cardboard when possible.

Create spells that won’t leave leftovers. One of the big contributing factors to our current environmental crisis is that we just produce too much waste. You can avoid this in your magical practice by crafting spells that won’t leave you throwing away a big ball of candle wax, herbs, and paper. Kitchen magic is a no-brainer for this, since kitchen spells are meant to be eaten. If you want to do a candle spell, use small candles that will burn up completely — I find larger candles are more likely to leave leftover wax. Making magical bath salts is another great option for leftover-free spells — just make sure everything you include is safe to go down the drain and won’t contribute to water pollution!

Forage for your own spell materials. One of the best ways to avoid plastic packaging and cut down on emissions from shipping is to use materials from your backyard! Learn about the plants, animals, and minerals native to your area, and take regular nature walks where you can gather what you need. Remember to only take as much as you need and to be careful never to damage the plants you harvest from. Make sure to carefully disinfect any animals bits you pick up — you can do this by burying them in salt for a full moon cycle and/or setting them in the sun/under a UV light for several days. If you find a dead animal and want to strip and clean its bones for use in ritual, this is a much more involved process and will require special research, equipment, and lots of time. And, of course, never eat anything you have foraged unless you happen to have an advanced degree in botany.

Keep a magical garden. Another great way to connect with the planet and shrink your carbon footprint is to grow your own herbs, vegetables, and fruits. You can, of course, grow food for your kitchen if you have space, but even if you live in a tiny apartment you can grow a handful of magical herbs in pots. For a list of common houseplants and their magical associations, check out this post.

Shop for spell materials at a local farmer’s market. Buying local is a great way to avoid the environmental impact of shipping produce, and it allows you to support small farms. Farmer’s markets also typically carry seasonal produce, which can help you align your magical practice with the cycles of nature. Farmer’s markets are a great way to find seasonal fruits and vegetables for kitchen magic, but you can use the produce you find there for other types of spells as well.

Trade paraffin wax candles for beeswax or soy wax. Paraffin, the material used for most cheap candles, is a by-product of crude oil, which is not only highly unsustainable but contains carcinogens (chemicals that may cause cancer). Beeswax is a sustainable alternative, and beeswax candles produce a “clean” burn, meaning it does not negatively affect air quality. Soy wax is a slightly pricier, vegan-friendly sustainable option that also produces a clean burn.

Use undyed, unbleached paper for your written spells. The bleaches and dyes used in most commercially available paper have a toxic effect on the environment. Colored paper cannot be recycled or composted because it will contaminate everything it touches. Use plain, unbleached paper for your written spells, especially if you plan to bury them in the ground or dispose of them outside.

Make sure your essential oils are ethically harvested. Essential oils are tricky — although they are marketed as natural, many of them are produced through unsustainable methods. Because essential oils are concentrated, it may take thousands of pounds of plants to produce a single pound of oil. This can have a devastating impact, especially for endangered plants like white sage or palo santo. Look for ethically-sourced, wild-harvested essential oils — these are oils that are gathered from the wild in ways that don’t hurt the local ecosystem. Mountain Rose Herbs and Eden’s Garden are two brands that are committed to sustainable essential oil production.

Instead of burying a spell in a jar, bury it in a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable. Many traditions call for spells to be buried in the ground. Items like jar spells and witch bottles are traditionally buried on the witch’s property. The problem with this is that plastic and glass bottles do not biodegrade, and will remain in the ground for years. Instead of putting these materials in the ground, bury your spells in a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable. As a bonus, you can choose this item to support your intention. For example, you might use an apple for a love spell or a spicy pepper for protection. Just make sure everything inside the spell is also biodegradable!

Keep a compost pile as an offering to your local land spirits. Compost is an easy way to reduce food waste, and it gives your garden a boost! Even if you don’t have your own garden, you can give your compost to a fiend who does or look into donating it to a community garden. When composting, it’s important to maintain a balance between carbon-rich “brown” ingredients (leaves, undyed paper, cardboard, etc.) and nitrogen-rich “greens” (fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.) — you want about four times as much brown as green in your compost. Start your compost with a layer of brown — preferably twigs or straw to allow good airflow. Alternate layers of green and brown materials as you add to the pile. Every time you add to your compost, verbally express your gratitude to the land spirits. Your compost should be moist, but not soggy — you’ll know it’s ready when it’s dark and crumbly and smells like soil.

Make your own tea blends with loose herbs and a reusable tea strainer instead of buying teabags. Witches and tea go together like peanut butter and chocolate, but the individual wrappers on teabags create a lot of waste. On top of that, since many of these wrappers are dyed, they may not even be recyclable. Keep your teas earth-friendly by buying dried herbs in bulk and blending your own teas. Making your own blends is not only better for the planet, but also allows you to choose each ingredient for a specific magical intention.

Find ways to use your trash in your craft. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Instead of throwing things away, find ways to use them in your magic! Use food scraps from cooking, like carrot greens and potato peels, in spells. Turn an old shoe box into a travel altar. Add your coffee grounds to spells to ground them and manifest results in the physical world. You get the idea. Be creative!

Research different models for Earth-friendly living, like the zero waste/low waste lifestyle, sustainability, and the solarpunk movement. This will give you more ideas for a sustainable lifestyle, as well as a sustainable magical practice.

The funny thing about Earth-friendly living is that, the more time you spend taking care of the planet, the more connected you feel to it. I encourage you to try some of the ideas on this list — you’ll be amazed by how quickly you develop a deeper relationship with the Earth and all her creatures.

Resources:

Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans, study says” from The Washington Post

A Sustainable Mind podcast

Practical(ly) Zero Waste podcast

The Wheel of The Year

I’ve been meaning to make this post so get your pencil, BoS, and get ready to learn cause this gonna be a long one! This is very important for any beginner witch to learn if you intend to celebrate the holidays Wheel of The Year This is the turning of the seasons based on the sun rather than the moon. There are eight holidays or Sabbats that are traditionally recognized. These sabbats represents birth, death, and rebirth, and are usually associated with The Lord/God but nothing is preventing you from honoring The Lady/Goddess or your own deities as well!

When it comes to celebrating these holidays, there is no set defined way to do it. Do whatever feels natural and fits into your practice best. Here’s some more traditional information though to get you going in a good direction. And when it comes to the decor, decorate however you see fit and don’t feel obligated to use real plants because faux flowers are just a good.

Yule About: Yule lands on the days of 20-21 December, and is traditionally celebrated with fire and family. In some traditions this is the time when the death aspect of The Lord/God is overtaken by by the rebirth aspect (sometimes referred to as the Divine Child.) This is the holiday where many of our christmas traditions come from and are based on, so this is a relatively easy holiday to celebrate! Colors: Red and Green Incense: Frankincense, Myrrh Decor options: Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Pine/Pinecones Herbs: Bayberry, Chamomile, Rosemary, Sage Traditions: Yule Log, this is a log to be decorated and burned at the end of the holiday. Instead of cutting down a tree, find an old log that’s been laying in the woods and take it home with you! It doesn’t have to be very big. When the holiday is over, you can dispose of this log however you feel fit, but make sure to keep a piece of the log for the new year as a good luck and protection charm! Yule Tree, essentially just a christmas tree! Traditionally this tree is real, but a faux tree works just as well.

Imbolc/Candlemas About: This is actually a holiday that most seem to ignore or forget about, but it’s just as important as the rest! Celebrated on the days of 1-2 February, this is typically a holiday to celebrate The Lady/Goddess in all her forms, Maiden, Matron, and Crone. This is the holiday to banish the winter season and welcome in spring. Imbolc is a good time to delve into fertility magick if that’s something you’re interesting in. Colors: White, Light Blue, Lavender, Silver Incense: Lavender, Vanilla, and any floral scents. Decor options: Flowers, and Angelica Herbs: Basil, Bay Traditions: Burning Lavender or White candles, and the best way to celebrate this holiday is spring cleaning! Clean the house, rearrange things, make a new altar set up, and take a nice warm bath to cleanse yourself. This is the time for you to be reborn into something new.

Ostara About: Falling on the days of 20-21 March, this is a holiday that represents the warrior aspect of The Lord/God, and it’s also the Spring Equinox. This is a holiday of balance, and fertility. Colors: Any Pastels Incense: Jasmine, Rose Decor Options: Wild Flowers, Acorns, Daffodils, Honeysuckle, Lily Herbs: Jasmine, Rose, Tansy, Violet Traditions: This is the best time to buy (or even make) yourself a new broom, or go out into nature to find a staff. Now is also a really good time to start a garden if that interests you.

Beltane About: This holiday falls on 5 May and is the last of the spring and fertility festivals. This is when The Lord/God and The Lady/Goddess join together to become whole, making this a good time for any workings in love or family. Colors: Dark Green, Light Blue, Lavender, Pink, Yellow, and White Incense: Frankincense Decor Options: Angelica, Bluebells, Daisies, Ivy, Rose Herbs: Almond, Angelica, Rose Traditions: The Maypole, a tall pole decorated with flowers or ribbons that is danced around during the festival. This is a little less likely for people to do (though i have a friend who does), so an easier way to celebrate this holiday is to make your space green, flowery and inviting!

Midsummer Night/Litha About:This is the summer solstice, and is usually celebrated on the days 20-21 of June. This holiday is a very powerful one and represents The Lord/God in his entirety. During this holiday, people celebrate success, drive, and passion. Colors: Dark Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Gold Incense: Lavender, Sandalwood Decor Options: Fruits, Pines, Roses (feel free to use a bowl of fake fruit!) Herbs: Chamomile, Lavender, Fennel, Thyme, Hemp Traditions: This is the best time to do magick dealing with business or financial affairs. But being that this is the summer solstice, honestly any spell will be exceptionally powerful so save your big ritual of the year for this day! Lammas/ Lughnassadh About: The first of the harvest holidays, this is usually when the prep for winter begins and the fall seasons really takes off. Colors: Yellow, Cream, Brown Incense: Frankincense, Sandalwood Decor: Grain, Corn, and Fallen Leaves Herbs: Heather, Wheat Traditions: If you have a garden, this is a good day to check and harvest what foods are ready. It’s also tradition to start stocking you magickal pantry for the cold months to come. Stock up while resources are a plenty. And one last tradition is the baking of bread, a good time to have some fun in the kitchen and get crafty.

Mabon About: This is the Autumn Equinox and the time when harvesting really gets going. This holiday is on the days 20-21 of September, meaning if you live in a more rural area you’ll start seeing the farmers out and about and the leaves have really started changing and falling. The year is close to its end! Colors: Red, Orange, Brown Incense: Myrrh, Pine, Sage Decor Options: Fallen Leaves, Vines, Acorns, Corn Herbs: Marigold, Sage, Rose Traditions: Collect, press, and save fallen leaves to use in protection spells!

Samhain About: Ahh, the witches favorite holiday and the holiday that signals a new solar year! This holiday falls on the same day as Halloween, 31 October. This is a time to celebrate, honor, and communicate with passed loved ones. This is another very powerful day in the craft, so save any big spells or rituals for this day! Colors: Orange, Green, Black, Purple Incense: Patchouli, Myrrh Decor Options: Pumpkings/Jack-O-Lanterns, Corn, Gourds, Leaves Herbs: Heather, Sage Traditions: Alot of the tradtions we have with Halloween actually have their origins based in the craft so feel free to celebrate normally! If you’re looking to communicate with the dead, this would be the night to do it (but be careful, spirits have heightened strength and negative entities/energies like to take advantage of those who are inexperienced.) And of course, if you have a big ritual or spell that you want to cast, this is a really good day to do so.

I know this was a long reply, but a really necessary one. Hopefully this helps!

Fresh Apple Autumn Cake with Honey-Cinnamon Glaze

It’s fall y’all, and while for some that means pumpkin spice season, but for me it means apple season! This cake is great for a Mabon or Samhain feast, and isn’t too complicated to make. Let’s get to it!

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okay y’all, take it from a southern queer kitchen witch: biscuits ‘n gravy IS indeed a witch meal (as is any meal you make, not just traditionally “healthy” food)! you’d be surprised what can nourish your body and spirit when you work from scratch and share your energy with your kitchen and ingredients.

below is my recipe, inspired by the spicy-fennel gravy my Appalachian grandma always seemed to have on her stove when we visited. i use to call it “glop,” xo

*to my weed witches, this is the perfect wake-n-bake w/ friends or lovers on a Sunday morning kindof meal*

🍴 Easy Biscuits: makes 6-8

*2c all purpose flour, plus more for dusting *2 tbsp baking powder

*sugar, 2 large pinches (think thumb + index) *1 tsp salt *1c whole milk

*5 tbsp COLD (!!) unsalted butter, cut into small chunks (i cut it then put it back in the fridge until i’m ready to blend)

-If using food processor, add flour / baking powder / sugar / salt and cut in butter (~7 pulses), until it resembles rough crumbs. otherwise, add the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and use a fork or dough blade to cut in the chunks of butter. your dough should look like a crumble, with no visible butter.

-if using food processor, transfer crumble to a mixing bowl. add milk and stir with fork until it resembles a sticky, rough ball. turn-over onto flour surface, sprinkle top with flour and begin patting into a round disc, gently pat it down, and fold over. do this once more. bond with ur dough, it loves you!

-rest a kitchen towel over the dough for 30 minutes. when you return, dust a cup’s rim to cut-out biscuits. return to fridge until ready to bake.

-preheat a cast iron skillet in the oven at 425°F. when preheated, add cold biscuits and brush with melted butter / oil. bake for 10-15 minutes, until the dough doesn’t give to your finger when you press the tops. if you don’t have a skillet, simple bake on a baking sheet according to the instructions above!

🍳 Grandma Irene’s Gravy: makes plenty for ur biscuits, plus a lil extra!

*peppercorns (lots!) + garlic, 2 cloves (protection, intuition) *red chili (cleansing)

*fennel seed (confidence, self-love n growth) *oregano (joy, fulfillment, health)

*1 lb ground sausage (or substitute) *2+ tbsp AP flour *3c whole milk

-toast ground peppercorns, fennel seed, garlic, dried red chili, and oregano (preferably fresh from ur plant bb) in a large cast-iron skillet or other deep frying pan.

-add sausage (or substitute), pinched off into smaller chunks and cook over medium-high heat until brown. sprinkle generous salt.

-add 2 heaping tbsp flour and mix into sausage until combined. add milk and mix well, bring mixture to a boil then return to medium - stir lots during this process. the gravy will begin to thicken, be patient and cook it down for about 10-15 minutes as the biscuits finish.

-serve to your liking, though i enjoy w/ a sunny-side up egg on top!!

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dorm friendly magick for broom-closeted student witches

Got roommates that aren’t into witchcraft/magick? Can’t burn incense in your dorm room? Don’t have time for elaborate rituals between studying for exams and writing papers? I’ve been there. Here are some of my favorite undercover spells and rituals for witches living that college life.

Journal Magick

Dorm Friendly Magick For Broom-closeted Student Witches

Keep a manifestation journal! Find a journal that really speaks to you and makes you feel good every time you open it, whether it’s a bulky leatherbound tome or has a holographic cover and hot pink pages – what matters is that you feel a connection to it.

Every morning, write down the things you want to manifest in your journal in the present tense, as if they had already happened. [Note: this works better if you are writing the same thing every day for at least a few weeks. Consistent intent is key!]

For more information on this type of manifestation, just search “scripting” on YouTube and you’ll find approximately 642934 videos on the subject.

This is a really great technique for closet witches, because no one is going to be suspicious of you writing in a notebook – plus, it’s normal for people to want to keep their journals private.

Work with correspondences just like you would for a normal spell! You can print out photos of herbs, crystals, tarot cards, astrological signs, or moon phases that correspond to your intention and glue them into your journal (or draw them, if you have artistic talent). You could even get an essential oil that matches your intention and dab a drop of it on the page. You’re essentially creating an altar dedicated to your intention, just on paper instead of in a physical altar space.

Tap into the magick of color by writing your intentions with a pen in a corresponding color (green = abundance/wealth, pink = love and friendship, yellow = academic success, etc.).

Tea and Coffee Magick

Tea and coffee are already essentially potions, and no one is going to think twice about a college student drinking a lot of coffee/tea.

Coffee is associated with grounding and protection, and it adds energy to any spell it is added to. Black tea is associated with protection, courage, and abundance. Green and white tea have their own, slightly different magickal uses. Based on these correspondences, you can use coffee and tea as a base for undercover potions!

For mental clarity and memory retention, brew a mixture of black coffee, lion’s mane, chaga, and ginger. For a caffeine-free alternative, brew an herbal tea with rosemary and peppermint.

To cleanse negative energy and release stress, brew a mixture of black coffee, Ashwagandha, cinnamon, tulsi or basil, and Eleuthero. This is based on a Four Sigmatic blend, lmao.

For a sneaky prosperity spell, brew a mixture of black coffee, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla. Yes, that is essentially pumpkin pie spice, and yes, you can use a pre-mixed pumpkin pie blend instead of buying the individual spices.

I could go on, but you get the idea. You can customize your morning beverage to suit any magickal or spiritual need.

Most plants have medicinal uses that are the same or similar to their magickal uses. So if anyone asks, tell them you’re adding these extra herbs for their nutritional and/or medicinal value.

You can also charge your tea or coffee with crystals. Just set a small crystal associated with your intention (amethyst for mental clarity, black tourmaline for protection, citrine for prosperity, etc.) next to the mug for a few minutes, or place it on top of your coffee maker. Be sure to charge both the crystal and the drink with your intention!

Candle Magick

If your dorm lets you have candles then congrats, because candle spells are both super powerful and a super easy way to hide your magick in plain sight.

Find a candle in a scent and color that match your intention. For example, you could use a pink, rose-scented candle for a love spell.

You can find custom spell candles made by witches for witches on Amazon and Etsy, and these have the added bonus of having been specifically created for magickal use. Some of the businesses I’ve personally had good experiences with are Art of the Root (available on Amazon), Esoteric Arts (available on Etsy), and Crystal Journey (Amazon).

That being said, I’ve gotten good results with $1.99 scented candles from Walmart, so please don’t feel like you need to spend a fortune on special candles for your spell to be successful.

In a pinch, an unscented white candle can be used for any intention. You can get these at the dollar store, and it’s never a bad idea to have a few on hand.

Oil Magick

Your dorm has a no-open-flames rule, so candles and incense are out of the question. No problem – you can get similar results with essential oils.

An essential oil literally contains the concentrated essence of a plant. Magickally speaking, this makes them a powerful way to add some oomph to your spells. They’re also commonly used for aromatherapy, so your roommate probably won’t be phased by you diffusing them in your dorm.

You can create custom EO blends the same way you would create an incense blend, by combining different plants based on their correspondences. You can also buy pre-mixed blends online if you’re feeling lazy or if you have a certain blend you know you’re going to use a lot like, say, a focus-enhancing blend for studying.

Another option, and one that’s more traditionally witchy, is to use magickal oils/ritual oils. A magickal oil is an oil that has been created for a specific magickal purpose – it’s like a spell in a bottle. A ritual oil is created for a specific use in magickal ritual. You can find tons of different ways to incorporate these oils into your daily life for some very subtle witchcraft.

You can create your own magickal oils by combining herbs, essential oils, and crystals that match your intention, or you can buy magickal oil blends from witch-owned businesses. Art of the Root has my absolute favorite oils – I have like six different blends, and they’re all ridiculously powerful.

Some ways you can use magickal oils: 1.) wear them as a body oil, 2.) diffuse them like you would an essential oil blend, 3.) use them to anoint and bless objects, like tests or study guides, 4.) add them to spiritual baths, and a million more. [Note: many magickal oils come with real herbs and resins in the bottle. These chunky bits could damage a diffuser, so do keep that in mind.]

Personally, I wear magickal oils on a daily basis in the place of perfume, since most of the ones I own smell really good. As I apply them, I say a small incantation to power them up. For example, if I’m wearing an attraction oil, when I put it on I’ll say something like, “I am powerfully attractive to the people and things that will improve my life.” Which oil I choose to wear depends on the day and the area of my life where I want some extra help.

Tech Magick

The nice thing about being a witch in the 21st century is that, if all else fails, you can keep your entire magickal practice contained on your laptop and/or phone. And even if you’re not doing 100% of your witchcraft in a virtual space, you can still use your technology as a tool in your practice.

Pinterest is the ultimate visualization tool. You can create a virtual altar to a deity or spirit guide by dedicating a Pinterest board to them, or create vision boards for the things you want to manifest, or create a brainstorming space to plan your full moon rituals… the possibilities are endless.

Keep your Book of Shadows and/or manifestation journal in a Word document. If you’re really concerned about privacy, you can even password protect these documents. Another pro of an electronic Book of Shadows is that most word processors have a “search” function that lets you look things up more easily.

Make a devotional playlist for a deity or spirit guide. Making Spotify playlists for my deities is one of my favorite devotional acts! I’ll put together all of the songs that remind me of that deity, and I can listen to it anytime, anywhere to instantly connect with them. And don’t be afraid to ask your deities what type of music they like – you may be surprised by the answer!

If any other witches have similar tips, feel free to add onto this! This is just stuff that I’ve found works for me, but magick is deeply personal and everyone will do things a little bit differently.

And not to shove my content in everyone’s faces, but I did just post a spell to enchant your school notebooks on my YouTube channel, so check that out if you’re interested!

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Keeping Consumerism out of Your Craft

Consumerism is a set of socioeconomic conditions and attitudes that encourage the continual acquisitions of goods and services. There is no “enough” in a consumerist society — members of the society are constantly pushed to buy new things, pay for new services, and keep up with the latest trends.

There are a few reasons consumerism is bad news. For one thing, it’s terrible for the environment — consumerist cultures usually have linear economies, where resources are extracted, consumed, then discarded, with no effort to replenish them. This is highly unsustainable, because at some point those limited resources are going to run out. Consumerism also has a human cost, as it often leads to the use of sweatshops, which violate basic labor laws. In many sweatshops, workers are not paid a livable wage, children are employed as workers, and working conditions are unsafe. Companies in countries like the United States get around labor laws by outsourcing labor to other (poorer) places. Consumerism also contributes to classism, as the acquisition of expensive items is often treated as a status symbol.

Consumerism is present in nearly every aspect of Western culture, and this includes spirituality and witchcraft. There are multiple “Beginner Witch Kits” for sale from Amazon and other online retailers which include candles, crystals, and incense — which is great, as long as that’s all stuff you’ll actually use in your practice. (I mean, do you really need twelve different varieties of incense?) Witchy authors and bloggers often treat magic like a matching game, where every problem requires a very specific herb or crystal. YouTube is full of “witch hauls,” videos solely dedicated to showing off new purchases. All of this contributes to a commercialized witchy aesthetic, which can only be achieved by buying the tools of the trade.

I get it. Shopping is fun, especially when you’re still learning about magic and magical items. It’s exciting to search for the perfect crystal or incense blend, especially if you have a local metaphysical store where you can shop in person. But owning the right stuff doesn’t make you a witch. All you need to practice magic is your will — everything else is optional.

I’m not saying every witch should be a hardcore minimalist, or that you can never buy new things. What I am saying is that all of us, witches or not, need to be more mindful of how we spend our money and the impact of our purchases on the world around us.

How to Avoid Consumerism

If you’re considering buying something, ask yourself if you’ll really get use out of it. For example, I don’t use a lot of tools in my practice because I prefer to work with my hands, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to buy an expensive wand or ritual knife. Don’t feel like you have to buy something just because another witch uses it — if you don’t think you’ll use it, don’t buy it.

Don’t buy multiples of the same tool. Instead of buying multiple different colored altar cloths for different times of year, buy one white altar cloth you can use year-round. Instead of buying multiple tarot decks, find one or two you really enjoy working with. You get the idea. (Obviously, there will be some items you need more than one of, like spell candles. This rule applies more to tools that can be reused.)

Replace things as they run out instead of buying them before you need them. Buying things in bulk can lead to unnecessary waste and drawers full of unused magical supplies. Buy things you know you’ll really use, and only buy one or two at a time. Use up the items you have before you buy more.

Invest in items that have multiple uses. For example, most kitchen spices can also be used in spells — search your spice cabinet before ordering special ingredients online. There are some items that have multiple magical uses, like rosemary and salt. Buy a couple of these multitaskers instead of a large collection of herbs with very specific uses.

Use the “two week” rule. This is something I do to keep myself from making impulse purchases. If I think I want to buy something online, I wait two weeks before I order it. If I still want it after two weeks, I take that as a sign that I’ll actually get some use from it.

Go “shopping” in your backyard. Familiarize yourself with the plants, animals, and minerals that are native to your area and go foraging for spell supplies instead of buying them. Items you can probably find near your home that could be used in ritual include leaves and flowers, pine cones, seed pods, tree branches, rocks, and naturally shed feathers. Just make sure you never harvest enough of a plant to hurt it, and make sure you properly disinfect any animal products you pick up.

If you can, make it yourself. Not only does making your own magic items save money, it also creates a much stronger personal link between you and that item. You can grow your own magical herbs in a garden or in indoor pots. Many common magical tools, like brooms and wands, are easy to make at home with some basic craft skills. Making your own items also means you can customize them, tailoring them to your own craft.

If you can’t make it yourself, but it used. There are some items you can’t reasonably make yourself, like incense burners, cauldrons, and books on the craft. But you can find most of these items used, either in thrift stores or online on websites like Ebay and Depop. Buying used almost always ends up being cheaper than buying new, and because you’re buying items already in circulation you aren’t contributing to a linear economy. Thrifting is also a great way to find unique items that won’t be like what anyone else has on their altar.

If you can’t find it used, support a small business. Sometimes, you can’t make what you need or find it in a thrift store. In that case, buying from a small business is preferable to buying from a big retailer like Amazon. When you support a small business, you’re supporting an individual rather than contributing to some CEO’s massive yearly bonus. A lot of small business owners make their items themselves, which avoids sweatshop labor. Pretty much everything I buy new for my craft comes from Etsy sellers — there are a LOT of witches on Etsy, so with a little digging you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for!

Don’t buy crystals. I know, I know. Thanks to social media, large crystal collections have become synonymous with witchcraft. But the crystal trade is highly unethical, with unsustainable mining techniques, dangerous working conditions, and child labor. Because of a lack of regulations, it’s virtually impossible to find crystals that are truly ethically sourced. Most sellers don’t know where their crystals come from and can’t guarantee that no workers were harmed in their extraction. No stone is worth the health and safety of other human beings, no matter how pretty.

Avoiding consumerism in your witchcraft means being less reliant on tools and set dressing. This will allow you to rely on your own energy and will, which will lead to a deeper and more meaningful spiritual practice.

Resources:

Revolutionary Witchcraft by Sarah Lyons

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“11 Facts About Sweatshops” on dosomething.org

“Child labour in the fashion supply chain” from The Guardian

“Bangladesh factory collapse toll passes 1,000” from BBC News

“Are crystals the new blood diamonds?” from The Guardian

“Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze” from The Guardian

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grimoire-archives

4 years ago

So here’s the apple pie cookie recipe, as promised. These were offered up during our ritual bonfire a few minutes ago, and the rest eaten by family and friends.

Enjoy your equinox!

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