We are once again presenting the concept of Stealth Magick: What to do when you can’t be open with your practice for some reason. It's a new year, the world is changing, and it's still not always possible to practice as you'd like. Perhaps it’s because of family or community disapproval, or restrictions present in the place you live. Whatever the reason, there are sometimes (unfortunately) situations in which you’re interested in magick, but you have to keep your interest and your workings secret. What to do? First, you have our sincere sympathies. Second, here are a few ideas.
If you live in a dorm or other place where burning candles or incense is not allowed, there are substitutes you can use. There are LED candles (‘flameless’) available in various colors and sizes, or you can experiment with small battery operated lamps. If you can’t have incense, you might try scent diffuser sticks, or anoint your altar items with scented oils, or even include a dish of potpourri on your altar instead. If you can’t find LED candles in the color you need, you can put them on an appropriately colored base, or decorate them with colored tape or stickers.
If you don’t want to risk having an altar because of the possible reactions of those around you, perhaps you could have a minimal altar that doesn’t look like one. Few people would think it strange if you had a few ‘interesting items you’ve found’ arranged on a shelf – pretty stones, seashells, figurines, etc. The items you display don’t have to look like standard ‘altar items,’ they just have to represent something to you. Let everyone else think they’re just cool trinkets.
Love jewelry, but can't wear a pentacle? There are other options, like crystals or semi-precious stones, other mystical symbols like stars or the moon, or pendants with animals or mythical beasts that mean something to you.
If space is an issue, or you don’t have a permanent place available to use, you might choose to have small altar items that can fit easily in a box or drawer and be moved or cleared away quickly when necessary. These could include things like LED votive candles, birthday candles, small statues or photo images of a deity, shells, stones, feathers, and necklace charms.
Whether the candles that accompany it are wax or electric, spellwork can always be disguised as prayer. If you sit in a quiet place with eyes closed, perhaps with a lit candle, who’s to say whether you’re silently speaking a spell, praying, or just meditating? If your situation is such that you can’t have magickal items, all that really matters is your intent, your will, and what you do to help the spell along.
If you can't have magick or occult-related books, again, you have our sympathies. Could you keep books at an understanding friend’s house? Or there’s always the library. If all you can do is look up information on websites, do keep in mind that not everything you find online is accurate or reliable. Don’t believe the first thing you read; look up a variety of sources. Compare what you read online to books in the library or bookstores. Ask the advice of trusted elders or shop owners in the magickal community.
These are only a few suggestions; feel free to add whatever others work for you. We wish you the best of luck, and we hope that you may soon find yourself in a time and a place where you’re able to practice as you wish, without worry or opposition.