I have seen other practitioners chime in the last year. Not one to let a perfectly balanced wagon go by, here I am! Let’s fly right in, shall we?

Covens and Groups are not for everyone!

This took me a while to figure out. Covens, drum circles, “relaxed” groups, “organized” groups, churches – whatever you want to call them. The bottom line is that they are not for everyone 100% of the time.

It took me some trial and error to realize that every religion/belief system has it outliers. Every belief has its zealots, its naysayers, its gatekeepers to balance out the leaders, the inspirations, the laughter, the community. Do what is best for you.

As a long-time solitary and eclectic practitioner, it took YEARS for me to practice my own way. I struggled in my faith over and over, and I forced myself to try different groups. While I have made some great connections and friendships from those experiences, I am still a solitary witch. I passionately hate people who drill rules and regulations into my rituals and spell work. I am freeform. I have a strong foundation knowledge that I spent years accumulating so I wouldn’t accidentally bind myself to a deity or spirit that would do me and others harm. I study continuously. If you are uncomfortable in groups, really analyze the reasons why. Maybe they just aren’t for you at this stage of your journey.

Closed Practice vs Open Practice

I really suggest doing your research on this one. There are closed practices, but there are also numerous open practices. Beware of self-expressed gatekeepers who want to make themselves seem greater by belting you in the face with unwanted criticism. Social media is an especially dicey area for this.

DO your research! Really analyze where your knowledge is coming from. Does the person have credentials of some kind? Are they certified or experienced in the knowledge they are sharing? Are they part of the culture and/or community?

I did not have this as a baby broom, and my experiences with “Covens” added to my confusion. I had to learn new ways of practicing and unlearn others. Keep growing, keep searching, and most importantly respect your practice as much as you respect others.

Herbal Magic

My mother has the biggest black thumb. She is great with tomatoes but struggles with pretty much everything else, I am late to herbs and herbal magic. But, I have lofty fantastical dreams of being a Green and Kitchen Witch to the depths of my soul!

In recent years, I’ve discovered I have a knack for growing herbs and garden plants. Very exciting! I love being able to grow a plant and use it in my kitchen. I don’t have a lot of time to truly dedicate to full blown rituals, so I tend to things when I am cooking and cleaning. Using plants from my own garden is one small way to add magic to my home, life and practice every single day.

That being said, your spice cabinet is a GREAT place to start. (Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!). If you are short on financial resources, hit up your local dollar store. YES, they sell spices! I struggle with the desire to be a Green/Kitchen witch without the space to have a fantastic, amazing, fantasy garden or the time to devote to one. Dried herbs, flowers, and other plants remain my go-to items to this day., and I supplement with my few small herb and fruit/veggie pots during the right seasons.

The slippery slope of “Love and Light”

Let’s be honest here. NO ONE is sunshine and rainbows every day of their life. The idea that all you can think, say, and do must be positive is incredibly toxic. Yes, the energies you put out there have an effect on your life and those around you. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t feel/express the negative as well.

I tried love and light, and every time I had a bad day I felt like I was failing. I felt like I wasn’t enough because I couldn’t manifest the “right light.” Which is where the toxicity comes in. Light has a dark, love has a hate – that’s just part of human nature. I 100% work to bring positivity into my life, but to understand where I need positive influence, I also need to understand how negativity affects me as well.

Research and invest in some shadow work. I LOVE shadow work. Understanding the light and the shadows is worth it to feel whole and balanced. It is also incredibly helpful to learn what makes you tick on each side of the scale. The key here though is to understand that shadows are tough. They aren’t meant for you to understand other people, but to understand your own gray areas, your own darkness and experiences. It is difficult though! Be prepared for some hard moments.

It’s cliché, but prepare yourself for a journey

Twenty years has had a lot of ups, downs, and more wrong turns than I remembered to count. I’ve been stressed out, elated, doubted myself, successful and everything in between.

Your journey is going to be bumpy. There will be times when you will feel like you are zooming ahead, and times when you are going nowhere. I’ve stepped away from my faith many times over the years, just because I felt stagnate. I’ve learned that the moments where I feel stuck, are also the moments where there is something trying to grab my attention. Most recently, it manifested in a desire to learn a little about tarot – which I’ve never been interested in before. The time before that, it was ways to make my cleaning supplies more magically infused.

Small changes are still change. Everything does not need to be giant leaps forward and great revelations of the 21st century. Give yourself leeway as you are learning.

That’s it my fellow broomies!
Until next time! I’ve been able to keep up with my reading this year and am excited for a few witchy reviews!