Are you a Wiccan on a budget? Don't worry, there are plenty of wallet-friendly options when it comes to purchasing Wiccan supplies. Wicca, a modern pagan religion, often requires different tools and ingredients for rituals and spells. However, many of these items can be found at affordable prices or even made at home. Candles are an essential part of Wiccan rituals. While specialty candles in various colors may be available at metaphysical stores, you can also find affordable plain candles at dollar stores or discount shops. These can easily be dressed with oils or herbs to suit your specific intention.
Look for colors and shapes, and listen to messages that come through. Take notes on what you see with a pen and paper.
Visiting your local metaphysical and witchy stores is also another way to connect with your community and invest more deeply in your magical learning. Well, I have a book out Inner Witch A Modern Guide to the Ancient Craft that is meant to lead you in creating your own practice with witchcraft, tailored to your life, needs, and beliefs.
These can easily be dressed with oils or herbs to suit your specific intention. Herbs and crystals are another crucial part of Wiccan practices. While some rare or exotic herbs may be expensive, many common herbs can be found at reasonable prices.
Ask A Witch: Can I Practice Magick On A Budget?
Cycles are a beautiful, albeit bittersweet thing. Just as after each end there's a new beginning, so, too, must all new things eventually end. Those of us who identify as witches know the power of cycles more intimately than most. We practice our magick by the wax and wane of the moon, by the rhythm of the seasons and by the shifting of the zodiac. We watch our energy ebb and flow as the cosmos and earth do. We recognize the power of death, of things ending, of the importance of decay and decomposition to usher in new life and new beginnings. We work alongside — and not against — the cycles we move through spiritually, emotionally, and physically. And that's why after three amazing, magical, life-changing years heading this Ask A Witch column, I am retiring her.
This column has been such an integral part of my journey with witchcraft, and it has been one of my favorite things to write. Over the past three years, I've shared advice and bewitching wisdom on everything from how to work with tarot,sex magick, and shadow work to how to bind toxic exes, establish your own magical practice, and use magick to communicate more confidently. We've talked about working with the phases of the moon, how to cope with being scared of your own power, and how to work with witchcraft as a path to self-love; and that's not even the half of it. Knowing I am leaving this column behind with an abundance of articles and advice makes it easier; but don't worry, later on, I will also be sharing where to go from here to further deepen your personal relationship with witchcraft.
But before I answer a couple more questions and guide you back into your own spiral path, I would like to say thank you. Thank you to every one of you who has read this column, asked me a question, and supported my writing. Ask A Witch helped me land my first book deal (Inner Witch), which led to my second book deal (Bewitching the Elements) and me writing for even more magazines, sharing magick with even more of you. Magick mystifies and beautifies our life, and it weaves us more deeply into connection with all living beings on this planet, especially with one another. Witchcraft is love, and with witchcraft, we will change the world. So thank you for being here and helping me usher in this new paradigm, for the highest good of all involved. To close this column with a bang, I talk glamour magick, broke witch tricks, and where to go from here.
Do you have any rituals for the changing of the seasons that aren't related to a specific sabbat, i.e. fall and winter glamour spells?
I love this question! Specifically, because I love glamour, and I'm personally not ready for the nights to continue getting longer as we move even deeper into the waning year, which peaks with the longest night of the year on the Winter Solstice on December 21. We're spending more and more time in the darkness, at home with our shadows, and it can be more difficult than usual to keep our spirits up. But thankfully, glamour can be a wonderfully potent tool to help us do just that. If you're crafty and like to knit, you can turn this into a spell by setting an intention (i.e. for warmth, protection, and support throughout the fall and winter) for whatever you're creating. As you knit, or crochet, or sew, you focus on this intention and weave the spell into the article of clothing. Then whenever you wear the piece, it cloaks you with the spell.
You can also bless any piece of clothing you have with an intention as well; try outerwear like a scarf, hat, or jacket for the season. You can write out an intention and create a sigil, or charged magick symbol, out of this by crossing out the repeating letters and using the leftover ones to create a symbol. Charge this symbol by raising energy through dancing, chanting, or masturbation and at the peak of this energy raising, direct it to your intention. Write the sigil on the tag of the clothing to transfer this energy to it. Or try leaving your clothing on your altar to charge, with crystals associated with your intention on top of it, and then cleansing this with sacred smoke. You can also say a prayer over your clothing for your specific intention.
You can also bless a talisman or a crystal to help you move through the change of the season with confidence and support. Try a warming red, orange, or yellow stone, associated with the root, sacral chakra, and solar plexus chakras respectively, to help keep you supported, confident, and inspired through the rest of the waning year. You can wear or carry a stone like jasper, carnelian, citrine, or blood onyx as a personal sun to warm you through the cold and dark days.
And let's not forget makeup, glamour, and color magick! If you want to lean into the darkness of the season, think of the colors of late autumn and fall — deep auburn, burnt orange, mossy green, charcoal gray, black, deep purple, and pearlescent white. Try wearing these colors in your wardrobe and makeup, whether it's through lipstick, nail polish, a scarf, shirt, or whole outfit. Blending into the environment through glamour may help you feel more at peace with the cycles of the season. Or, if you're sensitive to the changing of the seasons, counteract this by wearing bold and bright colors. Think orange, yellow, magenta, red, gold, silver, and white. Counteract the darkness by beaming your own inner light. This past year, I have embraced wearing magenta and decorating with pink and red, and it has been so powerful and beneficial. Don't doubt the power of a pop of color, or of a full-fledged monochrome glamour, when it comes to keeping you bright and cheery during the shifts of the season. Color magick is powerful stuff, and I always recommend incorporating this into your glamour practice. Also, turning to the tarot (and cards like the Sun) for inspiration for glamour is a powerful spell in itself as well. Pick a card that resonates with how you want to feel and use the symbols, colors, and visuals to help inspire your look for the day. Carry the card with you or make it your phone background so you see it throughout the day.
Short list of important tools for broke-ass beginners?
Witchcraft can be expensive, and rightfully so. Spiritual products should be made with care, and we should compensate all involved fairly. Those witches offering their services should be paid a fair rate. And yet, those who don't have the big bucks to spend should also be able to practice witchcraft freely! So here's some advice on tools you can use on a budget.
Salt: Buy non-iodized salt from the drugstore or dollar store. You can use this to cleanse your space by sprinkling it in corners, making circles out of it, or by creating a line of it in front of doors for protection. You can also put pinches of it in water, stir clockwise, and create holy water that you can sprinkle through your sacred space and anoint yourself with to cleanse and banish negative energy. You can also buy Epsom salt and take baths with this to cleanse your aura, ground your energy, and banish anything that's not serving you.
Sacred herbs to burn: You can buy herbs like bay leaves and mint at most grocery stores or Spanish groceries or botanicas. Buy the fresh herbs and then dry them on a paper towel at home. Bay leaves are great for protection and banishing, and mint is wonderful for abundance and calling in wealth. You can also buy cinnamon sticks and burn these to welcome in passion and abundance and help protect and cleanse your space. Other herbs like mugwort, rose, and lavender are also easy to find and great for helping you connect to your intuition, to your heart, and to a sense of calm and healing, respectively. Try working with teas featuring herbs you want to connect with as an easy ritual.
Rocks and stones: Instead of spending money on crystals, why not find your own? Set the intention to find stone allies to work with in the wild, and then go on a walk and see what you find. Yes, crystals are sacred, but so are all rocks! Collect your own and work with them in meditation and place them on your altar to charge. Make sure to say "thank you" to the earth whenever you find a stone, and leave an offering of sweets, food, alcohol, or seeds.
Your mind and body: The best part about witchcraft is that you don't need a damn thing to practice it. You don't need anything but your mind to meditate, visualize, and raise power. If you really want to see your witchcraft evolve, create a consistent meditation and ritual practice for yourself. Raise energy with your own body, by dancing or singing or chanting or masturbating. Write your own incantations and invocations to the cosmos, to the divine feminine or masculine, to the forces that be, to love, to yourself — and say them regularly. Work with the cycles of the moon. Use your artistic practice to create in the name of something bigger than yourself. Cast your circles with nothing but your body, honor your ancestors with nothing but your voice, work with your intuition to divine the future or to see if something feels "right." There's no such thing as "too broke to be a witch," so don't worry.
Where to go from here….
So, as we end the saga of Ask A Witch, I couldn't help but wonder… now what? Well, I have a book out Inner Witch: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Craft that is meant to lead you in creating your own practice with witchcraft, tailored to your life, needs, and beliefs. My next book Bewitching the Elements: A Guide to Empowering Yourself Through Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit comes out in April and is meant to lead you even deeper into your own practice by working with the divine feminine and elements through meditation, ritual, crystals, embodiment practices, and astrology. There are plenty of wonderful podcasts out there exploring the archetype of the witch as well; I love Pam Grossman's The Witch Wave and her book Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magick and Power. If you're looking for magical support during this difficult political climate, Theresa Reed and Shaheen Miro's Tarot For Troubled Times: Confront Your Shadow, Heal Your Self and Transform the World and Lisa Marie Basile's Light Magick for Dark Times: 100 Spells, Rituals and Practices for Coping In A Crisisare potent and powerful resources. If you want some sex witchery, Kristen Sollee's Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive is a staple in exploring witchcraft from a feminist and sex-positive lens. If you want to work with cannabis and magick, I have a whole column dedicated to that called "The High Priestess" with High Times. If you're looking to dive into an online course to help keep your learning structured and on track, then check out sights like Plant Coven and Insight Timer's courses. Visiting your local metaphysical and witchy stores is also another way to connect with your community and invest more deeply in your magical learning.
More than anything, follow your own inner guidance. Wander around the occult section of your local new and used bookstores, spend time outside in nature, use the internet to connect with more witches, and always follow your intuition. Thank you so much for the past three years of spellbinding magick, support, and love. If you want to keep up with my latest bylines, mantras, musings, and magick, make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram.
Blessed be to all of you, and Rest in Power Ask a Witch.
Brown: Earth magick, animal magick, house blessing, finding lost objects
Look for bulk herb suppliers online or even at local farmers' markets for affordable options. Crystals can also be found at affordable prices, especially if you opt for smaller or tumbled stones instead of large or rare ones. Altar tools, such as athames (ritual knives) or chalices, can often be found at affordable prices at metaphysical or pagan stores. However, if you're feeling crafty, you can also make your own tools. Thrift stores or yard sales can be great places to find old, unique items that can be repurposed as altar tools. You can also create your own athame using a simple kitchen knife or even a wooden stick. In addition to physical supplies, books are an essential resource for Wiccans. However, you don't have to break the bank on expensive books. Many books on Wicca and pagan practices are available at affordable prices, especially if you look for used books online or at local bookstores. Additionally, there are numerous reputable websites and online communities where you can find free resources and information. Lastly, don't forget to utilize the power of nature in your practices. Wicca is deeply connected to the earth and its elements, so incorporating natural materials can be both affordable and meaningful. Use leaves, flowers, or twigs from your backyard for rituals or create your own natural incense using dried herbs and resins. In conclusion, being a Wiccan on a budget is entirely possible. By exploring various options and getting creative, you can find affordable or even free Wiccan supplies. Remember, the most important aspect of Wicca is your intention, so don't stress over having the most expensive tools or ingredients. The universe will hear your thoughts and desires, regardless of the cost..
Reviews for "Thrifty Witchcraft: Tips for Finding Wallet-Friendly Wiccan Supplies"
1. Emily - 1 out of 5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with the selection and quality of the wiccan supplies at this store. The prices may be wallet-friendly but that's because the products are cheap and poorly made. I bought a few crystals and candles, and within a week, they either broke or stopped working. The staff was not helpful either, they seemed uninterested and lacked knowledge about the products. Overall, I would not recommend this store to anyone serious about their wiccan practice.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - While the prices were indeed affordable at this store, the selection was extremely limited. I was hoping to find a variety of herbs, oils, and other ingredients for my spellwork, but all I found were a few common options. The quality of the items was also questionable, as some herbs appeared old and stale. Additionally, the store was disorganized and cramped, making it difficult to find what I needed. I would suggest searching for a more comprehensive and well-stocked store for your wiccan supplies.
3. Samantha - 2 out of 5 stars - I recently visited this store hoping to find some unique and affordable wiccan supplies. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the limited selection they offered. The prices may have been low, but the quality of the items did not meet my expectations. The candles I purchased burned unevenly and produced little scent. The tarot deck I bought was flimsy and poorly printed. I believe it is worth investing a bit more in higher-quality supplies for a more fulfilling and effective practice.