3 Tips for Neurodivergent Witches
My craft changed significantly following my ADHD diagnosis almost 4 years ago. I was suddenly given this new frame of reference that helped me understand that I wasn't struggling because I was wrong/bad/lazy, but because I wasn't using the right tool set. With this new awareness, I was able to adjust my practice in order to best fit my brain, rather than exhaust myself trying to do things the way you're "supposed to".
Important Note: I'm ADHD, specifically the combination inattentive/hyperactive presentation. But I do experience a lot of the symptoms that fall under the overlap between ADHD & autism. That's why this is deliberately called 'Neurodivergent Witch Tips' and not simply 'ADHD Witch Tips'.
Tip #1: Use Medication as an Anchor Point
It's difficult for ND brains to maintain consistent routines, but daily medication can be a great way to establish a daily habit within your practice. It's much easier to form a new habit by linking it to one that already exists.
So when you take your meds- pull a tarot card, pray, practice grounding, make a libation or other offering, set your intention for the day, etc. Start small, don't try to do an entire ritual every time you take your meds. Once that habit is strong, you can add more onto it.
I also intentionally leave my medication on my altar. Apollo is a God of healing and medicine; by taking my medication at His altar, it's my way of showing devotion by taking care of myself in the best way possible. Our deities want us to thrive and our mental health is part of that.
Tip #2: Integrate Hyper-fixations & Special Interests
ND brains don't really have a meh setting. We're either fully invested or not interested. As a result, we can pick up new skills and knowledge fairly quickly. We have a wide range of interests and tend to know a good amount about a lot of different things.
And witches are curious by nature. We're always studying, always developing ourselves and our craft. So what aspects of that hyper-fixation could you use in your practice?
"Kate, are you seriously suggesting I try to integrate Minecraft or insects or cross-stitch or true crime into witchcraft?"
Hell yeah! I love playing Dungeons & Dragons- so why can't I do luck spells on my dice or draw protection sigils on my character sheets or create spells to amplify my creativity and storytelling? Why not? Imagine how much more powerful your magic will be when you're working with things that are truly meaningful to you.
(Side note- for my neurotypical witches, ask your ND friend to tell you about their special interests. Listen and ask questions. Getting to talk freely about something that we're excited about without worrying if we're being annoying or "too much" is an absolute gift.)
Tip #3: Design Your Practice to be ND-friendly
One of my favorite Youtubers has a running theme of how to make our lives and homes ADHD friendly, which you can watch here. And this idea of building our craft around our brain makes a huge impact by removing the limits of 'how' we can practice.
Break spells or rituals into more manageable parts if you're worried about maintaining focus for that length of time. Include your fidgets or sensory aids in your ritual materials. They are just as sacred- using what you need will not negatively impact the spell.
If you struggle to regularly maintain wards or protections, try using protection sigils with masking tape or sticky notes. I really like using these for sigils in general because I can move them easily and stick them anywhere I need. And if they no longer stick, that's a good sign that they need to be redone.
This can take a lot of trial and error to find what really works for you, but it is worth it. Please don't get discouraged or frustrated with yourself.
Almost everything in our world is built in a way that actively goes against how our brains are structured. Your spiritual practice should be something you don't have to fight with your brain to participate in. It should remove stress, not increase it.
These adjustments don't make you a lesser witch, it doesn't make your magic less effective. On the contrary, using your strengths and making the best choices for you is an incredibly powerful mindset for a witch.
I hope this helps! If any other neurodivergent witches have tips, please share through reblogging or send me a message because I'd love to hear them and maybe try them for myself.
Brightest of blessings!- Kate
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