How to Fill that Witchy Cup
Iâve been asked a lot lately how to keep the witchy vibes alive and well when you are busy with everything else in life. Whether it is kids, work, school, friends, or any other kind of time-consuming tasks that seem to take away from our time to connect with the universe, you need to keep that spiritual part of yourself alive and well.
Now, before I go into my own little tips for keeping your internal Witchy Cup full and accessible for you (which will immensely help with other stressors you encounter), I should add that these are not Earth-shattering tools and tips. They are simple things you can do every day, and they are fairly mundane. How did I figure them out? Through experience!! I am a student, business-owner, and mom to two little witchlets that take up all of my time. On top of that I have a house to take care of, and a husband that I do in fact want to spend time with (shocker, I know). These little activities are quick ways that have subtley helped me throughout the day WHILE I get things done. Seriously, efficient witch here.
Anyways, enough rambling! Here are a few things I do when I need that little release/boost of connection with my witchy self:
I know this seems like a no-brainer, and it is!! Almost every witch (not all, as I have encountered witches that are afraid of having open flames around) feels a heck-of-a-lot better when candles are burning. This is not without reason! On the one hand, the glow given off by candlelight and the small flame is very soothing to our minds and bodies. It gives off a feeling of safety and warmth. Comfort and ease. When I light candles, it actively helps release the tension in my chest that is basically a constant.
The other reason for this, energetically speaking, is due to the FIRE. Fire is one of the basic elements that makes up this world, and it is known for its purification properties. Burning a candle in a room not only provides a source of light and comfort, it also helps purify the energy in its given space. It quite literally clears the air, so to speak. Especially when you use candles that have eco-friendly wicks, and ones that create less soot (shameless plug: soy candles in my shop have this kind of wick, and soy wax is known for creating little to no soot).
I have used candles in situations where the tension/emotion in my home was running high, and we were all crabby and mean toward one another. After a few minutes of candles burning, the house felt brand new! It will help clear your brain space a bit, as well, so this is my number one tip for filling your Witchy Cup. As a bonus, who doesnât feel mystical with candles burning everywhere?!
2. If possible, open your windows!
This goes right along with clearing your area, and connecting with an element. Just like you could with candles! Now, this one is another one that is more of a home activity, as I imagine you canât open windows in a cubicle or other office environment. However, the fresh air will help you feel renewed, and clear away any stagnant energy that might be clumping up in your area and making you feel a little overcrowded.
3. Take a moment for three deep breaths.
HmmâŚitâs almost as if these tips are common ways to help with anxiety and other negative emotions! Thereâs a reason for it. A lot of these problems and feelings are caused by pent up energy and emotion that needs an outlet, or by an increase in negative thoughts that we are holding on to. A third cause is that we arenât able to properly open the proper channels within ourselves, such as keeping our third eye free and clear, or our connection with the universe clean and stable. (Thatâs not to say there isnât medical evidence to support conditions such as anxiety and depression, as someone with diagnosed severe depression, these are simply tools in the toolbox to help with the daily struggles of these very real conditions). Blocked chakras, stuffed down emotions, and pent-up energy are all common reasons for negative experiences and manifestations. Cleansing is a necessary part of life, witchy or no.
If possible, place your feet flat on the floor (you can do this sitting in a chair, standing), inhale to a count of three, hold for a moment, and release to a count of three. Hold for another moment before inhaling again, and repeat this process a few more times. If you can, close your eyes and shut out the world for a moment. Put your focus on your inner self for these three breaths, and release the outside world. You wonât be able to help the greater good for anyone else if you arenât centered and stable within yourself. So take these few short moments to gain your footing again before trying to tackle any obstacles or problems within your day.
4. Take a minute to clean your space, and organize.
Alright, we have all been the person with the messy desk, the messy room, or other work space where the mess just builds up. For some people, this means they havenât dusted or wiped their space down that day, for others it could be that they literally donât have any room to work in because their space has been taken over by clutter.
Clutter acts as a physical representation of our minds, and our bodies. If you arenât able to take the five minutes to pick up your space, in my opinion that only means you need it MORE. Itâs similar to the idea that when you least want to meditate, you actually need it the most. It means that it has become an obstacle you are avoiding rather than working through. It will do wonders for you, and if you clean your work space, even just to the point where you feel even a little better and can exist in it, this gives you the chance to take a fresh look at what is troubling you. Once my desk is clean, I like to take a moment with my bullet journal (gasp! Witches have them too!), and lay out the problems in short on paper. By emptying my brain of trying to hold everything in it, I actually am given the chance to use some of that brain power and brain space to figure out solutions to my problems, and I can come back to the others later. They are written down in a safe place, and they arenât going anywhere. Give yourself some outer as well as inner space to work things out!
Lovelies, I am a huge advocate of journaling. It is a ritual/work of magick in and of itself. Iâve been doing it as long as I can remember. A lot of people get turned off by it because they arenât into sitting down and filling a whole page with words. Either they simply donât have the patience, or they donât feel comfortable expressing themselves that way. And to that I say:
Seriously, I know most people think of diary pages filled with words upon words upon words, but journaling in essence is not about the words. Itâs about the expression. Similar to how I mentioned in the previous suggestion, journaling is any possible way that you empty your brain of the clutter and put it into a safe space in front of you. I canât tell you how many problems I have dealt with in this way. And, as soon as it is in front of you, I swear itâs like putting on glasses for the first time and seeing clearly! Things just seem to line up. Emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, all things benefit from this kind of expression. Thatâs why bullet journaling has become such a craze as well! The idea behind it is giving yourself a space to hold what your brain is normally trying to juggle. (Sorry, tangent!)
I used to hate calling my notebooks I journaled in a journal or a diary. Because thatâs not all they were! They werenât just journal entries. I called them my âThought Booksâ because they were the physical manifestation of whatever was in my brain that needed to be let out. Stories, songs, drawings, journal entries, poetry, doodles, scribbles, flowers and leaves from outside, and notes from friends that I cherished. These were all crucial parts of my life, my mind, and my understanding of the world that needed to be expressed in a safe space so I didnât have to try and remember them forever without a reminder. Our brains are not perfect, even as wonderful as they are, and we will forget things. Write them down when you can, print pictures, and give yourself something to look back on so that your brain can keep working on new things. Healthy brain!
Expressing your inner thoughts and emotions, whether it be in writing, pictures, poetry, doodles, bullet points, scribbles, stickers, paint, color, or black and white, is like making a magickal mark on the world. In letting yourself breathe, and taking care of yourself, you help the greater good. Surprising and counter-intuitive, I know. But this is a deep truth about our world. Keeping yourself clear of energetic and mental clutter, as well as free of these negative emotions that clog up your spiritual pores and channels, helps the world. If everyone did this, I truly believe the world would be a happier place. So, I donât care how you do it, witches. Journal. Fill a notebook with your innermost experiences, thoughts, and emotions. This is magick. Pure and simple. You will be amazed at the manifestation and power that comes along with doing this, as well as the spiritual experiences once you are once again open to the universe around us. Activities such as this are forms of ritual, magick, and meditation all on their own. Nothing is witchier than knowing yourself, and helping the greater good through helping yourself.
Okay, so now you might be thinking âWhat the heck, Lauren? These werenât witchy tips at all!â
False. These tips are equally as witchy as putting on robes and performing a full ritual on the full moon with a coven.
Being witchy is about more than aesthetic, more than brewing potions and writing spells, divination, or wearing symbols of your faith and spirituality. It is about more than the right herbs, the right stones and gems, or the right words. It is about opening yourself to the universe, the elements, the divine around you and helping the world through your own understanding and application of these principles. Each of us has the power to attune ourselves to the energy and consciousness surrounding us, and help others to do the same by clearing our own inner space to hold others that have not seen how to do so. By keeping ourselves in balance, we hold a small part of the world in balance as well. Now, imagine if everyone did this! These tips are ways help you feel balanced and renewed. Fresh and aware of solutions that may have seemed impossible before. That, my lovelies, is witchcraft.
