Inside the Witch’s Library:
Mundane Magic by Molly Donlan
A few weeks ago I found myself at a loss. I am an ADHD witch who lives in a small space with my partner, who has diagnosed OCD. I’m sure you can imagine the challenges that brings 😅
So I came here for a little advice. My magical practice has continuously enriched & enhanced my life in all ways, so I figured someone on this site with hearth magic expertise might have some advice for me. Thus, Mundane Magic entered my life (I’d like to thank @our-marvel-universe again for this book rec).
This book has a great introduction explaining ADHD thought patterns and why certain tasks might be more difficult for folks with brains wired like mine. Off the jump, Donlan suggests adding novelty to mundane tasks to “trick” the brain into having more fun, and using the Moon & Earth cycles to keep track of deep-cleaning chores.
The rest of the book is broken up into sections based on different areas of a typical Western home. There are spell ideas, but what I love the most were the ways of adding magic/whimsy/novelty to home-keeping tasks. While nothing I read was revolutionary, just the information being organized in this way has had me reaching for this book almost daily since initially reading though it.
Yes, there are spell ideas, but what really resonated with me was the information on how certain areas of the home could influence my magical life. The bed, for example, I hadn’t realized could make me feel stuck or groggy in the mornings if it wasn’t being regularly energetically cleansed. A simple solution for me was a magical cleansing pillow spray I made and have been using daily, in between weekly washes.
This book has really helped me decontextualize cleaning and has helped the magic in my home flow with less restrictions. And I can feel the spiritual benefits! My hearth spirits have been much more lively, and I’ve felt their involvement in my daily chores too, helping me out.
I’m really grateful I found a resource like this, from a mundane perspective and a magical. I highly recommend this book for other ADHD witches or anyone who’s learning to keep a home for the first time.
Life is life and sometimes you take a break from or lose touch with your practice for a time. Once that moment passes and you want to get back into it, it can feel different from was before and can be really daunting. So, what to do you to get back into the swing of things? These are just a few of my ideas and tips that I personally use as an ADHDer who constantly swings ona spectrum between hyperfixation and total apathy.
Step 1 - Cleaning up
Usually when I grow distant from my practice I just kind of drop and leave things as they are and don't touch them for a while. That means that the first thing that I do is clean all of that up to pick up where I left off. In this step you can do things like:
Clean up your altar(s)
Cleanse your space
Refresh/reapply protections
Get new supplies
Step 2 - Clarifying intentions
In this step, I like to clarify why I'm getting back into my practice. I like to look at the issues that I'm facing and how my practice can help me overcome them and in what ways. Sometimes I also like to plan what I want to research in the future so I know what to go for once I get to that point. In this step, you can:
Write a list of issues in your life that you can tackle through your practice
Write a list of research topics you're interested in
Write a list of things you want to do such as spells and rituals
Check the date for any upcoming astrological events, moon phases or celebrations
Step 3 - Do it!
In this step, I look at the lists written in step 2 and figure out what to do. Sometimes I get stuck here so I would suggest doing whatever seems the simplest or what you're most excited to do. This helps you stay motivated and stops you from getting overwhelmed with complicated and intricate spells and rituals. Once you've done the first thing, it's easier to keep going and you're no longer as intimidated.
The list in step 2 can also help you with further research topics and stuff to focus on, so if you struggle with keeping up with your practice in general, I would suggest keeping that one up to date and using it regularly.
Now, I want to make it clear that I'm NOT forcing you to do anything. I'm just fellow neurodivergent witch that would like to share the tips that might help fellow neurodivergent witches.
Most important thing that I have to say is that, we, neurodivergents, are taught that our ADHD is a flaw. Oh you can't do this and that because you have ADHD, you can't focus well, may not be able to sit still, get excited and end up interrupting people...they view us as flawed.
But not in witchcraft. You genuinely won't get far if you think of your ADHD as flaw.
"But it's hard for me to do spells" "I cannot focus on my spells" "I end up skipping the steps" yes, that's could very much be because YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO IT THAT WAY, NOT THAT IT'S A FLAW.
We were taught to mimic others and mask ourselves in order to fit in the society, hence that's why you might be trying to fit in with other witches here too. But you're literally turning deaf ear to the voice within you.
You were taught that if you skip a step that was already designed for neurotypical people, then you are doing something wrong. But in witchcraft, what if you skipped the step because your body told you to? Because the step in question wouldn't work for you? Have you ever thought that your ADHD might not be flaw, but the way your body is telling you something, but you were told to ignore it?
Someone's structured spell might not work for you, David's money spell might not work for you, Anna's love spell might not work for you. Because you can have your own structured spell that works best for you, but in order to know it, you have to listen to yourself.
Of course, I'm not saying you should completely ignore the basics and what is used for what, but I'm saying, after you educate yourself, you can quite literally have your own spell that works best for you.
It's hard to follow someone's structured spell, so don't. No, it's not flawed response from your disorder that you cannot follow someone's routine and structures, it's your body saying that there is structured spell for your own.
Do not push your ADHD away from witchcraft, embrace it. Witchcraft isn't just spells, it's a way to make a change outside and inside of yourself. So make a change for yourself.
I also have to warn you that there are certain spaces and communities that just isn't for you. I'm talking about "I'm doing this like that, because it's correct" type of spaces and communities. Again, YOU know what works best for you, YOU have that voice within yourself, so listen to it, instead of someone else's.
Also, if you feel like you should use stim toys during meditation, rituals and spells—do it. Feel free to do it. "B-But your mind is supposed to be blank" "but your focus should completely be on the ritual/spell" yes, and stim toys help you with that, no? It's not wrong to use them, no matter what anyone else tells you.
Personally, I really struggle with meditation a lot. It's soo hard to sit still and focus without getting so many thoughts, I keep getting distracted. I barely can last 3 minutes before I completely lose my focus. It's because my mind always rushes through thoughts.
What I learned, though, is that do not force your mind to just go...blank. Acknowledge the thoughts you have and get. Yes, they can be random, but acknowledging them helps you better than fighting your own self to focus.
If you need a calmer mind, I'd recommend listening to forest or ocean sounds from YouTube. The reason? It keeps your mind busy with processing the sounds and imagining it, hence it gets bit easier to focus.
You aren't obligated to watch a candle without taking your eyes off either. It's much better to keep it with you, but you are also free to keep your mind busy.
Also, it would be better to do shadow work. Personally, I unintentionally start masking and mimicking other people just to fit in, sometimes I cannot control it, so I ended up knowing less about myself. Hence, I started doing shadow work and it helps me out a lot!
Ever had a moment where you were doing a spell, shadow work, doing something for your deity and you just...got distracted and completely forgot about it?
Yeah...that's fine actually. If you feel the need to move and walk during important things like that, I'd advice for stimming toys or maybe tapping but if it doesn't help, genuinely, go and walk. You can always go back to it.
But please, if your spell involves fire....try to stay still unless it goes out. I know this can sound torturous but speaking from experience, you don't want your house set on fire.
Now, forgetful ADHD gets on my nerves, srs. But usually, setting reminders help a lot.
Also...Our brains are designed to work best on something we have interest in. Hence, focus on what you have interest in first. It helps you to don't burn out easier.
Now, if you mark something as "important", our brains are more likely to kind of just...ignore it. I'm talking about if you want to do spells or prayers for your deity and etc, don't think of it as "important" but as your hyperfixation. You're more likely to do it.
Well, of course, there's also thinking of the task as deadly urgent, like you'll die if you don't do spell or something but let's...don't do that. You'll burn out more and your brain will start to enjoy it less.
Speaking of burnouts, taking a walk in nature helps me with it soo much y'all. But during this time, please, focus on yourself. Like literally, focus on yourself.
AND AND ANDDD DON'T BE SHY TO UNMASK WITH YOUR DEITY. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM BUT IN GENERAL, THEY LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOURSELF. NOT THE MASKED UP YOU, BUT THAT NEURODIVERGENT YOU.
They can be so considerate of it too if they know! So don't be shy to tell them, truly. It's better if you talk to them about it than writing cuz we will get distracted easier, it's hard for our body to keep up with our mind at times cuz we get 5862 thoughts at once together.
NOWWWWW HOW DO WE DEAL WITH TASK PARALYSIS?! no, on this one, I'm lowkey asking y'all cuz idk either..
Well, that's it, I fear. This might not have been very helpful, because I'm still struggling to find tips for myself as ADHD person. But I'm sure I will collect more tips with my own experience too, and I PROMISE y'all I will not gatekeep the tips!
Tagging my one and only moot I can tag: @devildarlins
We need more adhd witch tips so here, have these. These are the things I have learned and seen done over the past 3 and a bit years of practicing witchcraft. As always, if you have anything to add, please comment them and I'll add them to the list with credit to you and a link to your blog!
Make witchy playlists with intention. Music is the most accessible way of doing magic in my opinion, especially if you're using spells that already exist. You can listen to these while working, traveling or just doing things around the house. If you sing along then you're adding to the manifesting power of the playlist!
Use really large spell candles so that you don't have to make a new one everytime you want to do a spell. I used to have 1 really big protection spell candle that I would light daily. Not having to make a new candle every time made me so much more likely to practice
Learn to meditate. I know, I know, hear me out. This is less of a witch tip and more of a mental health thing. You can meditate while colouring in, listening to music, cleaning, going for a walk. You don't have to sit down with your legs crossed. Mediation is an important skill that none of us do regularly enough.
stop caring about aesthetics. Are they nice? yes! absolutely! but unless it makes you more likely to practice then it's not worth it. caring too much about how your craft looks can also lead to burn out.
Be aware of your energy levels. Burn out is a serious issue among the neurodivergent witch community. Rest and pacing yourself is just as important as actually practicing.
Audio books <3333333
Try to combine your hyperfixation and witchcraft practice. This could mean using sigils in fanart or dedicate your writing to a deity.
Use hearth craft as a way to motivate you to clean your home or to cook meals/eat.
Have affirmations on your phones home screen so whenever you unlock your phone you reminded of your intentions
Meditations by the Shadow: The Mystery of Nephthys in the Modern Age
A reflection on Nephthys, the shadow, and the grief for the person we could have been
In the course of my many years of searching—though interspersed with breaks—into the realm of Egyptology and the nature of the netjeru, I have repeatedly encountered moments of profound reflection. On my altar today stand the figures of Thoth (Djehuty), Bast, and Set. I might sound like a hypocrite, then, pointing out the particular interest many modern Kemetics have in the most recognizable deities of the pantheon. There is, of course, nothing wrong with that—these powerful figures draw us in with their brilliance, strength, and clear presence. However, the closer I came to understanding the nature of the gods, their energy, and trying to give them a hidden meaning—striving to cultivate Ma’at and Heka in the 21st century—the more I looked elsewhere.
We live in an era of great turbulence; we face ecological disasters, humanitarian crises, growing inequalities, and a paralyzing uncertainty about tomorrow. As I reflected more deeply, and even immersed myself in literature about Ancient Egypt, a figure whose nature has remained in the shadows for centuries kept returning to me: Nephthys (Nebet-Het). Attempting to understand her was never easy, as even in many books where her name appeared, she was rarely described beyond a few words. I was often haunted by the question: "What about her?"
The Silence of the Greeks and the Trap of Definition
The fact that the Ancient Greeks, while performing their systematic interpretation of the Egyptian pantheon (interpretatio graeca), almost completely omitted Nephthys remains a mystery to me to this day. Why was a deity of such fundamental importance to the Osirian myth pushed to the margins? Perhaps the reason lies in the very nature of Greek polytheism, which, despite its tragic elements, was deeply rooted in the affirmation of life and the light of the sun.
Although the name Nebet-Het literally means "Mistress of the House," she was far from being the Greek Hestia. Hestia represents the warmth of the domestic hearth, the center of family life, heartiness, and the security of walls. Nephthys, by contrast, is the house in a state of mourning. It is the house where the mirrors are covered and where silence reigns after the departure of a loved one.
While Osiris (Ausir) became Dionysus or Hades to the Greeks, Set (Setesh) became the terrible Typhon, Horus (Heru) the luminous Apollo, and Anubis (Anpu) a specific hybrid of Hermes and Thanatos, Nephthys found no simple counterpart. Even her sister, Isis (Aset), was so powerful and multidimensional—combining traits of Selene, Demeter, Athena, and Aphrodite—that the Greeks integrated her into their pantheon without forced substitution. Isis presented what was clear, life-giving, and magically effective to the Greeks. Nephthys, however, accompanied the stages of grief, transition, and the "hidden." She was the goddess of what happens behind the veil, in a space that the Greeks, lovers of rhetoric and form, perhaps feared to touch without clear necessity. Thus, Nebet-Het did not enter the mainstream, remaining "the other," the nearly invisible companion.
The Cultural Dominance of Anubis
I often notice that much of what modern practitioners associate with the cult of Anpu actually lies within the domain of his mother. This is not an accusation against practitioners or a devaluation of their cult, but merely a small observation regarding the dynamics of energy. Anpu is recognizable—the jackal head, gold contrasting with black, the role of the embalmer and guide of souls build an incredibly strong, "dark" image that is easy to adapt onto a t-shirt or a tattoo. It is an aesthetic that perfectly hits the taste of modern man—it is dark yet elegant, effective, and ritualistic.
I believe that 19th-century Egyptologists and Egyptomaniacs are partly responsible for this state of affairs. They were more inclined to look for active male deities in the pantheon, relegating female deities to passive roles. After all, the head of a wild dog stirs more enthusiasm than the figure of a woman with a hieroglyph on her head.
And yet, if we look deeper at the netjeru through the prism of Ma’at, we see that without Nephthys, the figure of Anubis loses its foundation. Anubis may deal with embalming, but it is Nephthys who watches over the process of transformation. He weighs hearts, but she prepares the soul for the moment of truth. To ignore the mother while working with the son is like looking at a building and ignoring the foundations upon which it stands. Goddesses like Nephthys do not need a spectacular form to be present; she is the very essence of the transition itself.
Dualism: Isis and Her Shadow
Before expanding on the connection between Nephthys and Anubis, I want to share one more reflection. If we view the netjeru not as individual "persons" but as manifestations of deep Ma’at, we notice a fascinating dualism. It isn’t just the struggle between Set and Horus or the dualism of Bastet and Sekhmet. The most subtle division is the one occurring between Isis and Nephthys.
Isis and Nephthys are two sides of the same coin. Isis represents the light, the life, that which is overt, visible, and known in the sun. She is what stands before us, before our eyes that see the external world. Nephthys, however, is her shadow—the silent presence that always stands behind our backs.
We can try to look at her face, but she will always be one step behind our gaze. It is a beautiful and painful metaphor: we can see our hands and torso, but we cannot see our own backs at the same time. We see the world, yet we fail to see ourselves in the act of seeing. If we search for treasures deep underground, the moment we find them and bring them to the surface, they cease to be part of Nephthys's domain—they become part of the kingdom of Isis. Every solved mystery is a triumph for Isis. But the silence, the uncertainty, the hesitation, and the question itself hanging in the void—that is the kingdom of Nephthys.
When we discover a painful truth (Isis's domain) and feel a deep emptiness after that discovery, it is Nephthys who stays with us. When we walk through the darkness with a flashlight, Isis is the light that tears a piece of reality from the gloom. But in the blackness itself, where the light does not reach, Nebet-Het keeps watch. Not to frighten us, but to be with us in our helplessness. She does not dissipate the darkness—she teaches us how to breathe in it.
The Psychology of Loss and Mourning for Oneself
Nephthys is the goddess of liminal spaces—the thresholds where we stand, no longer belonging to the old world but not yet part of the new. In a therapeutic context, Anubis is like a skilled surgeon or doctor who can "stitch us up" and organize our daily lives. But Nephthys is the caring nurse who watches by the bed when no medicine can soothe the pain of the soul.
She leads us through the stages of grief, and her particular domain seems to be the last and most difficult one: acceptance. This is not always a joyful reconciliation with fate. It is the painful realization that "not everything can be fixed."
I write this as a person who, at the age of 31, received an ADHD diagnosis after a previous diagnosis of autism. My grief is specific—it is a mourning for myself, for the person I could have been if I had only known that I had ADHD alongside autism. In this process, Anpu can give me the tools: medications, therapies, organizational techniques, and the reminder that "it's not your fault, it's your neurology."
But it is Nephthys who places a hand on my shoulder when I cry over my wasted past. She doesn’t say "everything will be fine." She says: "Yes, you lost those years. It hurts, and you have the right to feel this tearing grief. We cannot turn back time." Reconciling with the fact that some things are irreversible is agonizingly difficult, but it is there, in that darkness, that Nephthys is most powerful. It is a handshake with one's own shadow.
Nephthys and Hecate: Goddesses of the Margin
Ultimately, if I were to find a counterpart for Nephthys in other systems, I would point to Hecate. It is she, rather than Isis, who shares the most traits with Nebet-Het. The magic of both these goddesses is born of pain, night, and darkness. Both are mistresses of the "in-between," guardians of thresholds and crossroads. Both accompanied other goddesses in their moments of greatest despair.
They do not promise spectacular healing or a return to former "glory." They do, however, promise that in the blackest night, before we see even the thinnest silver sliver of the new moon, someone will be with us. Nephthys reminds us that even when we feel broken, "spoiled," or cast to the margins, her arms remain open.
Nephthys teaches us that being a complete human being is not just about looking into the light of Isis, but also about the ability to stand in the darkness with Nephthys without trying to immediately illuminate it. While Isis may lead us toward tomorrow, Nephthys allows us to survive tonight. In this lies one of the fullest realizations of Ma’at—in recognizing the wholeness of existence, where the light of Isis and the shadow of Nephthys are equally sacred.
Being hyperfixated on my religion is definitely an experience. Trying really hard to make prayer and offerings into a habit so that when the hyperfixation runs out I won’t neglect my deities.
Question for fellow neurodivergent witches / helpols / pagans / theistic satanists and luciferianians / demonologists and basically ANYONE who uses divination to communicate with spirits/dieties.
Asking as someone neurodivergent who needs clear instructions, communication & guiding to know they're not messing up / putting words in their dieties mouths and therefore offending them :
How do you know wether something you think/ read in your cards / pendulum is not just you overthinking or overinterpreting something ?
I'm already struggling at interpreting what info I get from divination but then think I'm doing it wrong or something because OF COURSE there are no right or wrong ways to do it written in stone but my neurodivergent confirmation seeking ass just keeps telling me "mhh that might not be what they meant.."
I know that divination and spirituality as a whole is not straightforward and that I should trust myself more but damn.
Hello and welcome. You’ve found Hearth at the Crossroads, a space dedicated to my journey as a liminal witch and what I’ve come to call a “Hedge Doctor.”
You can call me Emmy. I'm the practitioner behind the veil here.
Neurotype: AuDHD (Neurospicy and tuned into strange frequencies)
Role: Widow and single mom to two incredibly smart, funny, and creative neurodivergent boys. They are my world and often the brightest light in my hearth.
⛥ My Path & Deconstruction ⛥
About five years ago, I walked away from a rigid Christian upbringing. My spiritual experiences - the things I could see, hear, and sense - simply didn’t fit into the boxes I had been told all my life not to question.
Since then, I’ve been on a mission of "Spiritual Triage": figuring out who I am, why the spirits seek me out, and how to bring my gifts together into a practice that finally makes sense. This blog is the living document of that growth.
⛥ The Practice: Hedge & Hearth ⛥
I practice primarily as a Hedge Witch, serving as a bridge for spirits who have called out for help. I don't walk this path alone; I am guided and protected by:
🦉 The Owl: For the sight to see through the "warping" of the veil.
🖤 The Crow: My sentry at the gate.
🗝️ Hecate: My Patron Goddess and the Lady of the Crossroads.
I also work extensively with Candle Magic, Scrying, Herbalism, and Divination. Whether it’s documenting a complex spirit case or sharing a simple abundance spell, this is where I record the "medicine" I find along the way.
🏠 House Rules for the Hearth: This is a sanctuary. To keep the energy clear and the hearth warm, the DNI rules are:
🚫 Fascism, Racism, & Xenophobia
🚫 Sexism, Homophobia, & Transphobia
🚫 Ableism & Bigotry of any kind.
🚫 Negative or Predatory Energy.
“As within, so without. Only those who walk in peace may cross this threshold.”
Feel free to stay a while by the fire. We have much to discuss.
