All aboard the magic bus, I'm leaving

Erica. 49. Tasmanian witch. I've been a witch for over 20 years, but the last few years have been tough and 2021 nearly broke me. I'm feeling lost so I'm trying to find the core of myself again, and work out who I am now after everything I've been through. Also trying to keep myself witchy with chronic illnesses, which is superfun.

[celtos]

[graveyarddirt]

@l-u-c-i-i-e

[alienpupy]

dandelions are magic. literally tiny suns in the grass that turn into the moon and then the stars when you blow on them. fucking insane.

[doodle-devil]

Fucking insane

[heatherwitch]

Bedridden witch: Worship edition

Sometimes as someone who is stuck in one spot, it can be hard to feel connected to your gods/goddesses/deities. However, it’s not as hard as you may think to find some solid methods! Please note that your deities understand your situation and don’t expect you to suffer for them or consistently do things for them!

Burn candles or incense that remind you of them. If you are unable to do this, try an oil diffuser or room spray.

Use blankets, sheets, pillows, etc. that have colors you associate with them.

Make an online devotional blog or altar. I do this [X]

Chat with other people who work with them. 

If your body is okay with it, eat foods that are sacred/connected to them.

Hang pictures or decorations that correspond with their sacred animals, plants, or what lessons or teachings they present to you.

Write devotional poetry, or make drawings for them.

Draw sigils for them and hang them on your walls, ceiling, or put under your mattress.

Find a stuffed animal that you feel captures their essence or reminds you of them, and hold it close when you need the support.

Research them/browse their tag on tumblr.

Keep stones and crystals you associate with them near you – on a bedside table or under your pillow.

Use astral travel or dream magic to connect with them.

Listen to music that makes you feel closer to them.

Watch shows or movies that remind you of them.

Pray to them, talk to them, write them a letter. Stay in communication with them, especially in times of need.

Meditate.

Drink something warm or cool that helps you connect with them.

Make a spell bottle/jar that you feel captures their essence. Charge during good days, use for connection and support during the not-so-good days.

Make emoji spells to feel more connected to them.

Expose yourself to natural light (or gentle artificial light) or complete darkness, depending on the deity.

Devote small, everyday tasks to them. (Example for the Greek + Roman pantheon.)

Read books about them, or that remind you of them/their values.

Make herb sachets for them, keep them under your pillow or hang on your wall.

Wear scented oils, perfumes, lotions, or pick a shampoo with a scent or ingredients that make you think of them.

@thewitchofthenorse also has a post on this here!

And here is a post about nature connection while bedridden, which is great for nature deities!

Again, please note that you don’t need to do anything to be connected to your gods/goddesses/deities. They know and understand what you are going through, and are patient. 

Click here for the other posts in this series!

[heatherwitch]

Witchcraft for the Chronically Fatigued

Fatigue looks at things such as tiredness, drowsiness, exhaustion, weakness, lethargy and memory issues and says “I can do all that and more!”. It leaves you feeling utterly trapped in your own body; unable to move, or even think at times. It fluctuates, but is always looming. 

While this post is open for all, it is written for those who truly relate to this all-consuming feeling (due to ME/CFS, other chronic illnesses, mental illness, or undiagnosed causes). Not all of these may work for you, but hopefully they inspire something that will. For general low energy witchcraft, check out my Bedridden Witch Series!

As always: witchcraft is to be used in addition to proper medical care, treatment and medication; not as a sole alternative.

To draw energy:

If you cannot produce your own, magically created will be just fine!

Crystals. 

I tend to use clear quartz for an energy boost, but trust your intuition; if something calls to you, it’s for a reason. 

Keep it near your bedside table, under your pillow, hold it in your hand or place it on your body where you feel the fatigue most strongly centered. 

When on the go, carry it in your pocket or wear as jewelry. If it is larger, carry in a bag and hold it when you need it. 

Charge using a charging board or the elements. 

Crystals for fatigue

Waters.

Physically touching water brings me energy. I keep jars of snow, rain, storm, river, stream (etc, etc.) water and will dip my fingers in it and mark that parts of my body where the fatigue feels strongest. Be aware of pollutants and do not ingest!

The same method can be done with tap water (or water charged under the sun or moon)

Drink sun water or sun tea (start with drinking safe water and let it absorb the energies of the sun).

Some people find moon water to be energizing (same process as above, just with the moon). 

See also: Bedridden witch: Bath edition.

Other elements.

Note what is energizing to you and what is draining to you. Consider: the sun, moon (and it’s phases), weather (rain, overcast, snow, storm, wind), cold vs. hot, the earth, fire, air, etc.

Once you find which elements are energizing to you, find ways to incorporate them into your life. Examples: jars of different waters or soils, rocks collected from places, candles, and more.

I usually draw energy up from the earth by placing my palms flat towards the earth by the sides of my body. So if I was lying down, my arms would be at my sides with my palms facing down.

Expose yourself or protect yourself. I’ll use my personal experiences as an example here… Rain often energizes me. When it rains, I’ll open my windows, and if I’m able I’ll step outside or collect some water. On the flipside, full moons often drain me. I’ll close my windows and curtains, hang an extra blanket over my bedroom window, use water to paint protective sigils on the window and increase my wards.

See also: Bedridden witch: Elements edition and Bedridden witch: Weather edition

To manage symptoms:

Brain fog:

Brainfog lifting

“Brainfog begone” sigil

Fatigue: 

Spoonie spell for energy

Energy gain spell

Energy boost spell

Energy bath

Fatigue recovery spell jar

Headaches (and migraines):

Headache healing

To banish a headache

Anti-migraine spell

Anti-migraine spell bottle

Migraine relief bath

Joint pain:

Arthritis pain relief oil

Joint pain spell

Healing spell for joints

Memory:

Memory masterpost

Memory and concentration spell

Mental reboost tea spell

Muscle pain:

Muscle pain sachet

Warming salve for sore muscles

Crystals for muscle pain (external site)

For more categories of symptoms please see my posts for symptoms relating to chronic illness and mental illness!

Practicing the craft with energy limitations:

Tips and tricks:

I highly recommend preparing things when your energy allows, so it’s always ready to go when you need it (and isn’t dependent on current energy levels). 

Cleansing: Let other things do your work for you. Open your windows/get fresh air, steam or smoke, sound, etc. Bedridden energy cleansing.

Divination: Use apps when physical movement is hard. One card spreads, shorten your pendulum so you don’t need to lift your arm, divine using the elements, etc. Bedridden divination.

Spells: Make your own spell kits. Spell jars and sachets are also an excellent way to already have the spell prepared, set it up so you can simply shake it to re/activate the spell.

Warding: Create physical ties for your wards that aren’t reliant on consistent upkeep (as a failsafe), and reinforce your other ward layers when you have the energy. I create far more layers than I need so when I am unable to reinforce them, they still protect me. 

Worship: Compile prayers and devotions somewhere you can easily find and read them, have a wall altar for easy maintenance, keep offerings simple (a glass of water, for example). Bedridden worship.

Many more tips and tricks in these posts:

Bedridden witch series (masterpost of all my current bedridden witch posts, including some that weren’t linked here!)

Limited hand mobility + witchcraft (divination, spells, working with flames, recording information and more)

Nonverbal witchcraft

You may also like:

Magic to replenish energy

Spoonie witch masterpost

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Witchcraft & Meds

Low energy cleaning + cleansing

Sigils: (pain + symptoms) (mental illness + energy) (healing + misc.) 

Drink magic masterpost

Rejuvenating witchcraft

Do none of these posts fit your needs? Let me know, I’m always looking for more ways to make witchcraft accessible!

**Do not repost or share on other platforms - reblogging is okay!**

Last updated May of 2020. Please check for updates and inform me of broken links via askbox!

[heatherwitch]

Bedridden witch: Seasons edition

I made a series for The Wheel of the Year many years ago but I realize that not everyone follows it and dividing suggestions into the four seasons as well might be more helpful for some!

Spring 🌿

Collect the first rain of the season and keep it in a jar

Drink floral or fruit teas

Burn floral or fruit scented candles

Light a candle or turn on an electric candle.

Open the curtains to let light in. 

Visualize a light cleaning each and every room in your home.

Decorate with dried, fresh or fake flowers.

Spray a cleansing spray throughout your bedroom.

Clean an area in your home, big or small. (It could be as simple as making a pile of trash so it’s easier to move later.)

Bathe yourself (either in the tub or sponge bath style). Infuse some herbs/flowers into the water!

Water your plants and whisper blessings to them.

Plant something new! It can be as simple as a beansprout in a paper cup.

Meditate and imagine yourself out in your favorite area in spring.

Make a terrarium.

Spray floral water in the air and on your bedsheets.

Watch for and welcome the returning birds

Learn about local plants.

Crack open all your windows to let in some fresh air.

Bedridden witch: Garden edition

Summer ☀️

Make sun water/tea

Drink fruit teas, infused water or juices

Burn floral or fruit candles

Decorate with flowers and crystals.

Wake up earlier than usual to enjoy a full day of light.

Try to be awake and witness both the sunrise and sunset.

Decorate your windows with rainbow prisms.

Make flower crowns with fresh, dried or paper flowers.

Make sure sunlight and fresh air can reach you.

Enjoy some fresh fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds.

Decorate with/wear/create things with bright colors:

Decorate a new pot for your plants (painting, sharpies, ribbons, etc.)

If you can, put a bird feeder outside your window or just watch them as they fly by.

Pour an offering of water for the plants (indoors, outside or out the window).

Have a picnic (outside, on the kitchen floor or in bed).

Find a way to incorporate honey into your day (scrubs, food, tea, etc.)

Burn beeswax candles.

Listen to music that just sounds like summertime.

Autumn 🍂

Collect the first rain of the season and keep it in a jar

Drink spiced tea, apple ciders

Infuse berries into water.

Burn spiced, woodsy or autumn scented candles

Eat things like breads, nuts, grapes, pomegranates, pies, apples and root vegetables.

Start a new project like crocheting or knitting. This is also a great time to finish that project you’ve been avoiding.

Wear and decorate and create with browns, golds, dark greens, oranges and yellows.

Decorate your home to make it look more like Autumn (fake or real leaves, acorns, paper cutouts, etc.)

Create a picnic/feast wherever is reasonable, with a little bit of everything.

Pull up a video of leaves falling or a fire crackling.

Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spiced-things, pumpkin seeds.

Decorate with small pumpkins, paint them or draw on them if carving is too high-energy.

Create an altar honoring loved ones who have passed on, either a material one or a photo album online.

Pull up a video of a burning fire or light candles.

Turn off all of the lights and sit/lay in darkness.

Visualize your wards and boost your home protection.

Do spirit work/leave offerings for the spirits.

Burn incense/make a spray that smells of spices (cloves, basil, etc.)

Watch spooky/witchy movies.

Winter ❄️

Collect the first snow/make snow water and keep it in a jar

Drink seasonal teas, ciders and hot cocoa

Burn spruce, pine or winter scented candles

Watch gifs/videos of snow, ice forming, fire crackling, etc.

Get/make a small wreath and keep it indoors!

Keep clear quartz and snowflake obsidian around.

Make paper snowflakes! Or find an app/website where you can do a digital one.

Use your heat to draw sigils on frosted windows.

Put a bird feeder outside your window so you get winter visitors!

Get empty glass ornaments and fill them with herbs/pine needles/things that remind you of winter and hang them around.

Get some cute little snow globes. 

Decorate with winter colors! White, blue, silver, grey, dark green, etc.

Create an apple pomander with cloves or dried orange slices.

Decorate with evergreen boughs, holly, pine cones, etc.

Wash your face with snow/cold water.

Make rosehip, peppermint, vanilla, rooibos or spiced tea.

Step outside/open a window to feel the cold air (if you live somewhere warm, do this in the early morning/night).

Handcraft gifts for loved ones or write heartfelt cards/letters to the people you care about.

Put birdseed outside/a bird feeder by your window.

Make a simmer pot, or use this idea to create a scented spray.

Bedridden witch: Winter edition (more ideas in this post!)

You may also like:

Bedridden witch series

Bedridden witch: Wheel of the year edition

Bedridden witch: Elements edition

Bedridden witch: Weather edition

Bedridden witch: Nature edition

Witchcraft for the chronically fatigued

Spoonie witch masterpost

[ts-witchy-archive]

Low Energy Devotional Activities and Ways to Connect with the Gods

Let's be honest, religion and consistent practice can be HARD, especially when you're chronically ill, disabled, mentally ill or neurodivergent. This is a list of lower energy practices you can do to connect with your Gods when you're having a rough day.

Pray. You don't have to say the prayer. You don't have to do the full cleansing and offering. Just think about the prayer. It could be as simple as "'Deity Name', thank you. I'm thinking of you and appreciate you."

Dedicate any self care you do to the Gods. You've got to take meds? awesome. it's now a devotional activity.

If you can, light a tea light candle. You can think about who you're dedicating it to as you're lighting it.

Tell them about your day. Have a simple conversation with them (again, this can be in your head if needed).

Offer some water! Water is a great offering if you don’t have the energy to cook, collect or buy something.

Incense is also a great offering because you can light it then forget about it and your house won’t burn down (if you follow regular safety measures). 

Resting. Your deities want you to be okay. Dedicating your rest to your deities is especially great if you feel guilty for allowing yourself time to heal.

Turn on a video of someone reading mythos! 

Put on a deity playlist. There are plenty of pre-made ones on Spotify. 

Veil or bind your hair! Whenever I’m low energy I’ll throw my hair in a ponytail and bind it that way. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. 

Make a Pinterest board for them!

Post on a digital altar! There are plenty of discord servers that have digital altars and temples. You could also make a devotional Tumblr blog. 

Change your phone lock/home screen to something that reminds you of your Deity.

I hope this is helpful to anyone who needs it! Take care of yourself first and foremost. If you don't think you can manage something on this list then thats perfectly fine too! you're not a bad person for not being able to do something spiritual or religious. Ultimately, these things are not a necessity. Don't stress :)

[bone-deep-witch]

The Nine Days of Solstice is already a struggle, and I'm only on day two. My doctor increased one of my meds to try and make things better, and I'm exhausted and irritable, and I really hope it gets better soon.

I ordered a triquetra candle holder, received a pentagram one instead, and didn't even realise for a couple of hours. And I think I'm just going to keep it, because I'm just too freaking tired to email and organise returning it and all that palaver.

I've done two single card draws from the Call of the Morrigan Oracle deck. Right on the money. Bluntly so. I know I'm going to be facing some hard truths, which I need. But which I've been avoiding facing, because I'm so tired of dealing with hard shit.

IDK. It feels like I need surgery to extract the capsule of UGH from my chest so I can start being myself again.

Have a picture of my kitten having a disagreement with my egg basket as a palate cleanser.

[bone-deep-witch]

I finally emptied the wardrobe in the caravan so I could start setting up my Morrigan shrine. And I discovered that the leak in the caravan roof goes through into the wardrobe. Ugh. I definitely don't want to set up a shrine, and then have it ruined by water.

Now I'm sitting here gazing around the van trying to figure out where I could fit a small cupboard to make a closed shrine. Or if I'm going to have to make do with a different solution.

[bone-deep-witch]

Happy Winter Solstice from my little town!

My health has been keeping me from doing a lot if what I want to do, but from tomorrow, I'm going to endeavour to do a "Nine Days of Solstice", and find at least a small thing I can do and post each day until the end of the month. ☺️🌨

[wolfteacreations]

[bone-deep-witch]

I've been doing the bare minimum with my sacred space revamp for the last week and a half or so. But today, I decided it was time to get the things that were there unpacked, and get the cover onto my couch thing. The cover is a big, double-sided curtain that belonged to my Gran, which has a matching cushion. I need to find a new insert, it's a very droopy and sad cushion.

The blanket is one of the few decent presents my ex got me in our relationship. Largely because it was picked from a wish-list I supplied.

The shawl was Mum's, from her youth as a lover of folk music.

I have many things to find homes for, and I'm pretty sure I have another box packed away somewhere, as well as all the stuff inside that I haven't even touched yet. Yike.

[bone-deep-witch]

Lavender-dyed cow skull with red-lit eye sockets, destined for the shrine to The Morrigan which I'm planning for my sacred space. I really like the effect of the lights!

[yolas0]

[raincanyon]

@friend-crow

[friend-crow]

the Hanged Man

[bone-deep-witch]

I started unpacking some of my witchy decor in the van today - partly to remind myself of all the things I've bought over the past few years. Money and abject grief will do that. 🤷‍♀️

I have a bunch of cute stuff to decorate with, as well as my devotional stuff, and my altar tools and so forth. I think I'll be able to make the space a nice mix of my eclectic, long-term, changing and evolving, pagan and witchcrafting life. I've decided that I'm going to use the table as a working altar, and I'm going to use the wardrobe as a shrine to The Morrigan. I have a couple of great things to put in there. And I'm sure that I'll find more that I've forgotten about as I unearth more storage boxes! (Not to mention random stashes I've "put away in a safe place" 🙄)

I've often wanted a completely separate space for this, and now I have somewhere much sooner than I thought I would, thanks to my son. I do love and appreciate him so much. 🥰

[bone-deep-witch]

I'm not having the best day today. I'm pretty sure I'm developing a dental abscess, which is the thing that triggered my chronic fatigue syndrome back in 2004/2005ish. So that's super fun. Doctor for antibiotics tomorrow, with any luck.

But my son is still working with me to help sort through the stuff from storage, which helps a lot to stop me from getting overwhelmed and burnt out.

And I have my two support animals doing the most to keep me rested and snuggly.

Tarka the spaniel was quite angsty about me this morning, he gets himself in a bit of a state sometimes. Morgen the lab, despite being younger, is quite sensible about my health, and keeps a paw "on the pulse", even while she's sleeping!

[bone-deep-witch]

My beautiful batty lights, which I bought from Aussie shop, Beserk, almost 2 years ago (😅) have finally taken the next step towards independence, and moved from the lounge room out into the caravan!

There are no convenient hanging points on the outside of the van, so until I work out a post or porch or something, they're hanging out in here to supervise the ✨️transformation ✨️

[bone-deep-witch]

"There is no completion without overcoming the challenge."

Nine of Bows, Wildwood Tarot app.

An appropriate card to draw while I'm sitting here procrastinating gathering more things to take to the van, and taking the poultry their feed...