Practical Magic: A Witch’s Guide to Creating a Magical Life

we’re all witches

Magic is your birthright. I believe that we’re all born with the power to imagine a life we love, then take the steps to create it from scratch. I believe in the mystery of the unknown and live in that secret place between dreams and reality. You have this power, too, whether you realize it or not. For many, learning magical practices isn’t learning at all, but a remembering.

Today, there are hundreds of different types of witchcraft, folk magic, earth medicine, and energy healing modalities. It’s all rooted in the same place: a connection to the earth, to the self, and the movement of energy.

Before we can dive into small spells and rituals that help to foster magic in your everyday world, here’s a quick recap of how magic works and what it means to practice witchcraft and other magical healing modalities.

A new generation is making witchy waves in the wake of the #metoo movement and in the face of political and social justice issues coming to light.

What is Magic, Exactly?

Magic is the things that we don’t understand yet. I also like to describe it as a practice that helps you bring your intentions and dreams into the physical realm. In more practical terms, there are three parts to any magical practice: 

Connection
Magic stems from your connection to the earth, to source energy (Spirit, god, goddess, etc.), to ancestors and guides, and (most importantly) to yourself.

Intention
Creating intentions sounds easy. But they don’t mean much if you don’t have a really good idea of what you truly want. That means getting to know yourself —shadow and light — on some whole other level. Magic doesn’t just help you get what you want. It helps you solidify what you want to begin with.

Mystery
To me, mystery means not knowing how the magic is going to show up in your life and practicing is anyway. It’s exploring the worlds between worlds… or, the space between dreams and waking reality. Mystery means not totally understanding why or how we have guides but trusting in them anyway. Embracing and surrendering to the mystery of it all may be one of the most important aspects of magic.

If you combine these three things… my dear, you have a spell on your hands! (More on these in next week’s post!)

Witches are innately healers. Healers of the self, of the earth, and of their fellow humans. They’re energy healers, lightworkers, herbalists, chefs, mothers, and caretakers.

Wait… Am I A Witch?

The witch as a symbol and archetype is officially back in action over the last few years. Although, she never really left. More likely, a new generation is making witchy waves in the wake of the #metoo movement and in the face of so many political and social justice issues coming to light.

Because you see, witchcraft puts the power in the hands of the person. Whether you’re using simple tonics, teas, and tinctures to build your health, or using incantations of protection over your house during pandemics, witchcraft has a way of bringing your power back in a society that doesn’t always want us to feel powerful.

Witches are innately healers. Healers of the self, of the earth, and of their fellow humans. They’re energy healers, lightworkers, herbalists, chefs, mothers, and caretakers. I believe that anyone, of any shape, color, cultural or religious background can be a witch. You don’t have to be a “second or third generation” anything. Or, have a rich ancestral line of any culture in particular. (Although EVERY, and I mean EVERY, culture has a strong history of healing magic.)

So, to the question, am I a witch? I have two answers: One, if you are a creator, from cooking your meals every day to creating babies, to making hilarious memes for the Internet, you’re a witch in my book. Two, do you want to be a witch? Then abracadabra! You are one!

Of course, there are traditions that require years of study and a group initiation into titles like high priest and priestess, but you are also a powerful witch if you care to be one.

And if you don’t vibe with the title? Then you can call yourself whatever you want and still practice the spells and incantations I’ll share next week!