My life has 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 I was reading up on spellcraft and how to plant my herb garden while many kids were playing badminton or taking trombone lessons. I grew up in the late 1990s with a lot of TV shows and movies. Channel-hopping without stumbling across a young woman with magical powers was almost impossible. I was drawn to witchcraft because of its connection with the world outside and the earth around me.
In the evening I wore scarves and blankets to watch the different phases of the moon, while at the same time learning the names of the wildflowers that were growing at the side of the road. These small things gave me an overwhelming sense of calm, and I was so enamored by the things around me that I couldn't help but look at them. My very first word was moon.
It was natural for me to return to witchcraft in order to recover from my mental health issues after a workplace incident left me suffering from depression.
The world looked a little hazy to me. I was told for a long time that I would do well in school, go to university and get a good job. In my new communications role at a fast-paced agency, I was waking up in cold sweats at 4am every morning and my hair was long and tendrils were pulling free from my head.
I woke up at 4am in cold sweats.
I noticed that the job grew more stressed out, and that my mood went down until I was in a state of depression for months at a time.
I knew something had to change after I realized I had become disconnected from myself and the nature-loving woman I used to be. I quit when I decided to break away.
After walking away from a job that paid my bills and gave me some semblance of a normal person, I decided to use this newfound time to re- connect with my love of bubbling cauldrons, flickering candles and the occult in an effort to restore balance in my life.
A form of spiritual practice that involves a deep reverence of the earth is called paganism. I think it is hard to find a Pagan who isn't involved in saving the planet, even though the term "witch" is more nuanced. I believe that a witch is someone who knows how to bring about change in the world through magic, and is deeply in touch with people, plants and animals. There are many ways to work with the magical world, but spells, ritual work, and concoctions made from potent ingredients are some of the possibilities.
The Romantic poets showed their appreciation for nature by writing about its beauty, but now the Pagans are more interested in the rain than in the leaves. The care for and worship of the natural world in the face of climate change is why witchcraft and paganism are the perfect practices to help us connect with the world and survive in the 21st century.
I took the first steps to recover my mental health after my year of witchcraft. I was hesitant to allow myself the time to do anything other than be productive. I started observing the festivals of the Pagans, including the winter solstice, Imbolc, and the spring equinox. During the winter festivals, I focused on spending time outside, soaking up the pale fractions of the sun's rays, and sitting under the trees to feel the power of the wind.
I gave myself time to be in nature and connect with its sounds and feelings, which helped me to heal my brain. I smiled when I saw the pink bullfinch in the hedgerow. The link to mental health is clear because of the intense nature of witching. Spending at least two hours outside every week could boost physical and mental wellbeing, according to one study. I began to feel hopeful for the first time in a long time as spring approached, instead of the dark fingers of anxiety that had tapped on the back of my neck for the past year.
I sat under trees to feel their power.
I spent a lot of time out in nature as a teenager, spotting birds with my dad and going on long family walks that ended with jam sandwiches and crisps in the car. I would come home shattered, but I knew the sounds of birds and remembered how my friends spent their weekends in malls. The idea that I had become so disconnected from these things made me nervous. The natural world had been missing for so long that I was able to appreciate the magic of the cycles of life again.
We are at a point in history where we are experiencing a massive shift in working patterns and environments and it is only natural that we would look to practices that were lost during the industrial revolution.
The Pandemic gave some of us a chance to reflect on our priorities. Research shows that 42% of people are looking to quit their job this year and do something different because of remote working. People are spending more time in nature and gardens, giving us the chance to ask if it makes us happy. What makes us feel like ourselves? What would we do if we were able to do something?
Add Himalayan salt to your bath and wrap seaweed around your face. Adding self-care to our busy days has become a compulsory measure to stave off the epidemic. The past two years have brought self-love practices to the fore, as people got exhausted before the 21st century. Big companies give their staff time off to help reverse the epidemic of anxiety, and employees are told to get out in nature, download Headspace and learn to meditate.
Wouldn't it be better if we paused before we got to the point of a panic attack?
Many people are looking to find a deeper connection with the natural world as we re-examine office structures and working life. Some of us need something more charged and immersive in order to rediscover our true selves, and birdwatching and outdoor yoga aren't for everyone. When I returned to my love of witchcraft, it helped me to see the world through a new lens, one where nature, cycles and my own wellbeing are the focal points.
As we continue to reach heights in the technological age, witchcraft can help us see the magic of the everyday and bring us back down to earth where we can plant two outstretched hands in the moss.
She is an author and nature writer. The Wheel: A Witch's Path Back to the Ancient Self is available from guardianbookshop.com.
