For my witchy friends who spend varying amounts of time in the ER or Hospital for physical and mental reasons. May you all find something helpful or inspiring!
READ AND REBLOG THIS VERSION PLEASE!
Part One: What to bring.
Bring an altoids tin with things for “on-the-go” witchcraft, or create a travel altar. Keep it in your bag, just in case.
Keep mint gum with you - both for freshening up and for its magical properties.
Wear a crystal necklace.
Bring an electric candle for spells and a touch of witchiness.
A light-blocking mask with a sigil embroidered or painted on it to help with sleep/soothing headaches.
Make a little sachet with items that remind you of home/something nice. Add herbs, crystals, pieces of home, etc.
Rose water/moon water for cleansing yourself.
Scented wipes for a bit of glamour magic/staying hygienic.
Enchant fuzzy socks, earplugs, stuffed animals, anything really! Or enchant things for others in the hospital.
Poetry books.
Wear crystal jewelry specifically for helping with communication and getting the point across (fluorite, agate, lapis lazuli), clear quartz)
A list of symptoms and current medications (not witchy but helpful!)
Part Two: General stuff to do for longer visits.
Decorate pill bottles like potion bottles.
Incorporate the compounds and minerals in your meds into your craft.
Place intent into the color of your scrubs/outfits. Use color correspondences.
Get different types of teas from the cafeteria.
Use playing cards (or tarot cards) for divination.
Grab some sugar packets from the cafeteria for a little glamour magic if you need a pick me up.
Ground yourself regularly.
Do a bit of energy work.
Meditate, try dream magic or astral travel (if you can do it safely).
Say prayers to your deities to connect with them/to have them aide you through your stay.
Add sigils to the band aids they give you after poking around.
Braid your hair and use braid/knot magic for a speedy recovery.
Bless/enchant your meds or IV drip.
Create sigils!
Send positive energy to others. The man who is coughing in the other room. Whisper a blessing to the babies in the neonatal ward, etc.
Cleanse yourself while you’re then and when you get home to dispel the negative energies and spirits from the hospital.
Part Three: Things to take to help with witchcraft at home.
Alcohol wipes. Use them to remove old hexes/curses, wipe things away symbolically, gets rid of energies and brings them back to ‘neutral’.
Test tubes = storage and spell bottles.
Those little plastic baggies they have, perfect for small amounts of herbs or other random witchy things you find.
Take the scrubs home if you can. Cut them into bath bags or spell bags.
Swipe some salt or sugar packets from the cafeteria.
Gloves. They’ll always come in handy.
There’s more but I’m adding a cut so it doesn’t get too long!
Part Four: When you’re there for mental reasons.
(By @moonstruckmirab3lle) In case you find yourself a witch stuck in a psych ward.
Coloring is often a main form of entertainment offered, use this to your advantage. Choose a picture and colors for your intent, hide sigils in them, turn them into magic origami, etc.
You have so much time to come up with sigils and spells/chants.
They will give you as much tea as you want.
There are often meditation, spirituality, yoga, or music groups. Tune out their intent and use your own if their approach isn’t working for you.
If you’re lucky enough to get OT (arts and crafts time), then you have a field of opportunity.
They will often have little aromatherapy things to sniff such as lavender. Take that into your room and meditate while sniffing it, maybe hold your magic origami.
And from @spooniewitches:
The thing that we do when a family member is in hospital is take them something which smells nice, and familiar to them - whether that’s perfume, or a scented oil or a bunch of roses, and then I’ll enchant it with comforting and calming vibes. This is probably because most of my family are on a psychiatric ward at some point - and when someone is going through psychosis, a familiar, nice smell can be really calming and grounding.
Similar to this, if I’m going into to hospital for an extended stay, I’ll take my wrap which is basically a giant scarf that also works well as a blanket. I drew sigils on the label - you can make these for whatever you need ‘bravery’ 'protection’ 'comfort’ etc. Then when you get scared or homesick you can wrap yourself up tight and feel safer.
Part Five: @torque-witch submitted such great stuff I didn’t want to pick it apart to make it into lists, so here it is:
So, I’m going to preface this with the fact that I do not spend long periods of time in the hospital. Mostly that is because I can’t afford to, and my insurance doesn’t cover much. It’s out of the question unless I’m dying. So these are more like suggestions, or tips based on having to function in the workplace no matter how I’m feeling.
1. If you DO spend long amount of time around people, sick people, or environments that do not get cleaned often - invest in Vogmask. These are particulate masks that specifically help people who are prone to illness easier than others. They also come in different designs, which you can incorporate into your practice.
The whole idea of it being a filter means that it can work as an energy purifier.
Designs/colors can determine your intent. Floral: Peace, calm; Circuitry; Energy flow; etc.
2. Keep an emergency witchy hospital stay bag packed 24/7 in an accessible location.
Books (on witchcraft, especially)
Crystals that help with pain management, healing, anxiety, your particular issue, etc. (bloodstone, smoky quartz, amethyst, green fluorite, rose quartz)
Sleep sachets you can hold close to you or stuff in a pillow. I have never found sleep in a hospital to be easy or restful.
Headphones (You could listen to guided meditations, podcasts on the paranormal, audio books, etc.) These can magically act as an energy filter between you and your outside environment, fed and charged by sound waves.
Notebooks. You can use the time to brainstorm spells, theory, or copying down ideas to put into your grimoire/BOS.
Stuffed Animal. Simply put this can be a comfort item. Witchraftly speaking, you could program this earlier to hold a thought form that has specific jobs such as helping put you to sleep, helping you through anxiety attacks, reminding you of your worth, etc.
Cleansing wipes. If you can’t shower this is just a hygiene suggestion, but you can also use these to energetically cleanse your space.
** Please don’t rely on hand sanitizer to keep you well! After the 6th-9th daily use, it becomes ineffective. This goes for antibacterial soap as well. Simply wash your hands frequently with regular soap.
3. Ask what sort of drinks are available (and you are allowed to take).
Ginger Ale/Sprite - Calm
Green Tea - Healing
Black Tea - Energy (You can also attempt to scry in darker blends)
Orange Pekoe Tea - Uplifting
Coffee - Focus
Hot Chocolate - Comfort
Water - Cleansing
4. If you are into divination, ask a question and flip through channels on the TV until you feel compelled to stop. Look for synchronicity.
5. Reach out to the spirits at the hospital. Simply lay in bed and listen. Use the time to practice feeling different energies and interacting with them. If you really wanted to, use your notebook and pen to construct a disposable spirit board. Use a clear crystal as your planchette.
Other helpful things:
Some bedridden witchcraft posts - many of these could be applied in hospitals!
Spoonie sigils (to help with mental + physical illnesses and disabilities)
With Contributions from:
@solareys, @lavender-tarot, @healing-water-witch, @spooniewitches, @heatherwitch (me), @shadow-and-the-moon, @itsjoagainhello, @starysmiles, @a-nefarious-nobody, @adorkydruid, @luxiferia, @flounderingwitch, @moonstruckmirab3lle and @torque-witch!! Thank you all SO much!
