A skilled science writer, Zimmer brings life and interest to each of the 600+ pages in this informative look at various elements of inherited and environmental genetics.

It is a stellar read and one I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in fields such as heredity, anthropology, social sciences, or genealogy.

While this post is not a book review, it was my recent reading of She Has Her Mother’s Laugh that reminded me of a topic I’ve been keen to write about for quite some time now.

Specifically, how to incorporate your generational designation into your witchcraft and magickal workings.

What is a “generational designation”?

This is a term that is often used to describe the demographic cohort to which a person belongs. Or, in other words, the societal generation that one is born into.

Societal generations encompass those living and born during a specific time period that generally spans about 15 – 30 years.

When discussing generations from a kinship perspective (that is to say, familial generations), generations are measured in similar lengths of time, typically ranging from about 20 to 30 years.

This span is considered to be one in which, especially historically speaking, an individual could go from their own birth to adulthood and the (potential) birth of their own offspring.

While one’s familial and societal generations overlap in the sense of that each of us belongs to both of these categories, for the sake of this post, we’re going to focus on your generational designation.

A brief look at the history of societal generations

Whether they applied specific names to societal generations or not, chances are humans have been viewing past, present, and future generations as being at least marginally different in some respects from one another for a very long time now.

However, the act of defining a generation and designating a specific name for it is a relatively modern concept.

Before to the 20^th century, and especially prior to the Industrial Revolution, the pace at which society and technology (not to mention areas such as science and medicine) advanced was, generally speaking, slower than it has been over the past 200 or so years.

People and their lives often experienced less pronounced change from one generation (be it kinship or societal) to the next.

The continuation of certain elements of daily life, personal and cultural beliefs, and the pace of advancement are likely contributing factors to why few societal generations prior to the 20^th century were not designated with specific names of the sort that are now part and parcel to modern sociology (e.g., The Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, or Generation Z).

Social generations are groups of people who were born in the same general time period (again, usually a range of 15 to 30 years).

These individuals are further united by certain shared cultural experiences, both at a personal level and, to a degree, those which transpired during their lifetime (though as the latter applies to everyone alive, irrespective of their societal generational, at the time when a cultural event occurs this is less of a defining factor).

Many factors contributed to the emergence of societal generational groupings. Delving deep into the intricacies of such is beyond the scoop or focus of this post.

However, it is safe to say that in addition to industrialisation, other factors included modernisation, elements of the enlightenment era, societal changes and advancements, economic growth and mobility, and (I would go so far as to argue) a more pronounced period spanning youth and adulthood (aka, one’s teenage years).

There is something very natural about viewing humanity through the lens of societal generations. Though it is important to remember that, ultimately, the creation of these groups is fundamentally a humanmade perspective and one that is, by no means, set in absolute stone.

As well, it is not uncommon for there to be varying degrees of overlap between generations, including a span of 5 to 8 eight years as one generation melds into and is ultimately surpassed by the next.

Only time itself will tell if we continue to assign names to societal generations as life proceeds on this planet in the decades and centuries to come. I suspect that we will, but – as with so much – only time will tell.

For now, the practise going strong and shows no sign of slowing down.

A list of named generations

While there is often some degree of debate as to the start and end dates of various generations, broadly speaking, the following is a general outline of the named generations of the 20^th and early 21^st centuries as they have been applied in a Western context.

-The Lost Generation: Coined from the writing of Gertrude Stein. Also known as the “1914 Generation”, “The Generation of 1914″, and “The Great War Generation”, this cohort encompassed those born from the early 1880s to the early 1900s.

These individuals reached adolescence and early adulthood during the time of WW1 and the 1920s.

A key defining feature of the Lost Generation (whose name stems Stein’s epigram to Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 book “The Sun Also Rises”, in which she stated “You are all a lost generation”) is that they experienced, and often were intimately involved with in any number of capacities, the First World War.

-The Greatest Generation (aka, the G.I. Generation): This societal generation covers those born from the early 1900s to around 1927.

Individuals born into the Greatest Generation endured the Great Depression and either both World Wars or, if born after WW1, “just” WW2.

This group is sometimes further broken down so as to distinguish between those born early on in the generation and those who came along later. Earlier members of the Greatest Generation are commonly referred to as the Interbellum Generation.

The term “The Greatest Generation” was popularized and further cemented in societal history by journalist Tom Brokaw’s eponymously named book.

-The Silent Generation: This group encompasses those born between the mid to late 1920s and 1945. Such individuals are sometimes referred to as the “Lucky Few”.

A large percentage of military personnel who were involved with the Korean War, and many (though not all) who fought in the Vietnam War were born into The Silent Generation.

Individuals born during the last few years of the Silent Generation are sometimes referred to as the “Sandwich Generation” or “Sandwich Group”.

-The Baby Boomers: Long before the term “Boomer” took on the contemporarily derogatory connotation that it now houses in various settings, the “Boomer” in “Baby Boomers” referred to the pronounced boom in birth rates that occurred in the immediate aftermath of WW2.

Baby Boomers, who are also sometimes known as the Me Generation, were born between 1946 and 1964 or so.

Many of us who are presently in our 30s or 40s – myself included – are the children of Baby Boomers.

Similar in some respects to how the Lost Generation can be further broken down into two groups, so too is the Baby Boomer generation. With those being born between the years of 1954 to 1964 sometimes being called Generation Jones.

Various factors are thought to contributed to this term, including the concept of “keeping up with the Joneses”, which was a common societal theme in much of the Western World during the relatively prosperous post-WW2 years of the 1950s and early 1960s.

-Generation X (aka, Gen X and Thirteeners): This generation followed the Baby Boomers and was quite prolific in number itself, though not to the same degree as the Boomers themselves.

Gen Xers are those born between about 1965 and either 1979 or the early 1980s (depending on your source, this could be anywhere from about 1980 to 1985). 

While this term can also be applied to some Xennials and early Millennials as well, Gen Xers are also known as the Latchkey Generation.

This is in reference to the fact that some members of this generation experienced reduced adult supervision over previous generations, at times returning home after to school to an empty house that they had to unlock themselves (as, presumably, no adults were home at the time).

The concept and cultural experiences of Gen Xers were further cemented in Canadian author Douglas Coupland’s excellent 1991 novel, Generation X. With Coupland himself being credited for coining the name Generation X.

-Xennials: A microgeneration, Xennials are those born between the late 1970s and mid-1980s. They share much in common with Generation X, but also grew up experiencing certain elements that are now seen as being characteristic of the Millennial generation.

It was with no small amount of joy that I received the news that the word Xennial had been included in the 2020 Oxford Dictionary of English, as this is the societal generation that I identify with the most (having been born in 1984 and personally identifying more, in many respects, with Gen Xers than with Millennials).

Another term for Xennials is the Oregon Trail Generation in reference to the extremely popular commuter game, The Oregon Trail, that was a common feature of some Xennials’ childhoods.

Despite this alternative name, those born into the microgeneration of Xennials often had a relatively analog childhood that shifted into a digital era during their teens or young adult years, and it is this “bridging of the generations” that helps to make those of this era their own generational demographic.

-Millennials (aka, Generation Y or Gen Y): If we encompass Xennials into the birth year range as well, those born into the Millennial generation span the period of approximately 1981 to 1996.

As some Xennials, myself included, identify with their own microgeneration, however, this range could in some contexts be shorted to (again, approximately) the years of 1985/86 to 1996.

Data released by the Pew Research Center shows that as of 2019, Millennials edged out in number over Baby Boomers (with some 71.6 million Boomers and roughly 72.1 million Millennials, respectively).

-Generation Z (aka, Gen Z, Zoomers, iGeneration, or Centennials): The second most recent generation, Gen Z encompasses people who were born between the mid to late 1990s and the early 2010s (some sources cap Gen Z at the year 2012).

Today, the eldest Zoomers are young adults, whereas those born at the tail end of generation are presently in elementary, middle, and high school.

Generation Z is sometimes further broken down to differentiate between those born earlier and later in this generation.

Later born members of Gen Z are known by various names including Zillenials, Zennials, MinionZ, and The Snapchat Generation.

-Generation Alpha (aka, Gen Alpha): A standout designation for Gen Alpha is that it is the first societal generation comprised solely of individuals born in the 21^st century.

Generation Alpha, which is named after the first letter of the Greek alphabet, is the newest generation and is projected to reach (or exceed) two billion members globally by the year 2025.

As Gen Alpha is the current generational designation for young children born from about 2010 – 2012 onward, its duration has not been officially established yet.

Following conventional generational timeframe guidelines however, it is likely that Generation Alpha will be succeeded by the next generation around the late 2020s or very early 2030s.

By the time Generation Alpha reaches adulthood in 2030s, it is estimated the world population will have reached or surpassed nine billion inhabitants.

-Cuspers: Those who have a keen interest in astrology or who were born on a date that coincides with sun’s transition from one astrological sign to the next may be familiar with the Zodiac Cusp Theory.

While some astrologers put more weight on the concept of Cusp Theory and how it may or may not influence peoples’ lives, it is an established part of astrology at this point and something that many a Cusper prides themselves on.

We also see the word Cusper used in terms of societal generations. In this context, it refers to those who were born at the end of one generational time period and the cusp of the next.

Much as in the example above of Xennials, Cuspers in general often encompass life experiences and societal designations inherent to both generations that they were born on the cusp of. They may identify more strongly with one generation than another or feel like their life and experiences reflect a fairly even-handed mixture of both generations.

Note: These generational designations are not universal to all cultures. Names, date ranges, shared experiences and other factors all combine to create various other generational designations in various parts of the world.

For example, a microgeneration called the “Born-Free Generation” exists amongst South Africans who were born between the years of approx. 1994 and 2000.

If your own respective generation was not included here, please know that the overriding concepts and suggestions outlined in this post apply every bit as much to you as well.

Identifying with your generational designation

Many of us are already familiar with what generational cohort we belong to. Some people pride themselves on using their generational designation as a defining factor of who they are, others pay little to no attention to such, and some fall in between.

There is no right or wrong here and one is not obliged to wave the flag of your generation wherever you go.

As with much in life, this is an area where doing what feels right and natural to you is usually the best path to follow.

Historians, sociologists, and genealogists (amongst others) find generational designation to be a helpful and important classification tool in various respects.

As humans, we are often drawn to defining ourselves in terms of various groupings, and generational designations are just one of many ways we’ve opted to do so over the course of our collective history.

There are exceedingly few individuals alive today who were born prior to the Silent Generation, and with each passing year, less and less members of both that generation and the Greatest Generation are still with us.

As such, it is safe to say that the majority of those reading this post belong to one of the generations that span the Greatest Generation right on up to, potentially, Generation Alpha (or at the very least, Genertion Z).

Statistically, the majority with be Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Xennials, Millennials, and Gen Zers.

This should go without saying, but (especially given the shade that is often unjustly thrown at various generations, such as Boomers and Millennials) no one generation is inherently better, superior, or “cooler” than the others.

Each generation has strengths and shortcomings, heroes and villains, triumphs and failures. We are all human and most of us do the best that we can with the knowledge, resources, and societal context available to us in the moment.

Generations are like pieces in a quilt. They are all connected to something larger than themselves and all play an important role in the fabric of society as it exists today.

What generation do you belong to? Do you feel a strong connect with it or do you feel as though your life and inner self relate more to a previous or later generation?

The topic of generational designation is a highly fascinating one and I encourage you to seek out reputable books, magazine articles, online content, TV programmes, podcasts, and so forth that explore this subject further.

How to incorporate your generational designation into your witchcraft

Now that we have briefly explored the topic of societal generations of the 20^th and early 21^st century, let’s take a look at some of the ways that we as witches and Pagans can incorporate our generational designation into our witchcraft.

Objectively – and yet, to my mind, rather surprisingly – this is not a topic I have seen other witches, Wiccans or Pagans discuss much over the years.

I have long been weaving my generational designation into my own witchy workings, however, and thought that doing so would appeal to many of my readers as well. Thus, the creation of this blog post.

For the sake of the following suggestions, it is helpful to determine which generation (or generations, if you identify as a Cusper) you belong to based both on the year you were born and the general characteristics + experiences shared amongst members of your generation.

Here are twelve ways to weave elements of your generation into your witchcraft.

1. Read, or revisit, books that were new during the generation that you were born into. While, these days, a near endless stream of new witchery, Paganism, and spiritually focused books hits the shelves each year, such was not always the case.

What was the first book you remember reading about witchcraft, Wicca or Paganism?

Was it by Scott Cunningham, Raymond Buckland, Silver RavenWolf, D.J. Conway, or someone else entirely?

Do you still own a copy today? If not, could you track one down online or off?

How has your practice evolved and changed since you first read that book?

If you didn’t grow up reading the witchery and Pagan related titles of your generation at the time, why not investigate some books from that era that would be of interest to you now and see if you can buy or borrow them.

A lot a has changed in the world of Neopaganism and witchcraft in just a few short decades, but plenty is still much the same. Connecting with books that were popular when we were growing up can give us an eye-opening look into some of the ways in which these areas continue to evolve and develop with each passing year.

If you have a book that you especially enjoy or find interesting, consider performing a working, divination ritual, guided meditation, etc that it suggests.

2. Connect with a standout cause of your generation. From the (US) civil rights happenings of the 1960s to things such as plight of the rain forest and devastating AIDS challenges of the 1980s, every generation has experienced certain standout problems and put forth efforts to tackle them that help to went on to help define that era.

What were some of the most pronounced challenges for your generation back in the day? What causes continue to be championed by those in your age group nowadays?

Looking at these areas through the lens of your spirituality, are ways you can support, bring awareness to, or otherwise assist with one or more important cause?

3. Create a magickal meal using foods of your generation. Many, if not most, of us instantly get nostalgic when we think back to some of the foods that were commonplace when we were growing up.

Whether they were homemade by mom, dad, grandma, an older cousin, or another loved one, served at our favourite local eatery, savoured at sleepovers with our childhood besties, or dishes we made ourselves as we began to cook and back, these foods hold special, meaningful places in our hearts and minds – not to mention our stomachs – alike.

Prepare a meal using kitchen witchery that focuses on some of the foods that either helped to define the culinary landscape of your generation and/or which were your personal favourites when you were growing up.

As you tuck into your meal, reflect back on the role those foods have had on your life over the years, the people who made them for you or with whom you shared those dishes in years past, and the ways that these ingredients or recipes continue to shape your culinary activities to this day.

4. Decorate an altar with items from your generation: While one could certainly create an altar to honour a time period itself, in this instance, I’m referring more to utilizing items that are characteristic to your generation or which were especially important to you when you were younger.

Our altars should always reflect our true selves, our beliefs, and our traditions. Even if you weren’t a witch yet when you were growing up, there’s no reason why you can’t include some of the things you adored back then on an altar today.

From toys to books, tarot decks to travel souvenirs, family photos to home décor pieces, there’s no shortage of possible items from your generation that you can include on an altar.

If you have, or able to source, pieces from that era itself, all the better, but if not, no sweat! Newer iterations convey the same concept and work every bit as well.

5. Do shadow or other forms of retroactive healing work pertaining to your youth. Almost everyone has experienced difficult, painful times in their life.

Whether on a personal level or in terms of some of the struggles that impacted a broader range of people at the time, if you are feeling called to do so, consider undertaking a healing journey to help further process, come to terms with, and, hopefully, move beyond some of the challenges that rocked your existence when you were younger.

Shadow work and intensive healing work is not something to be undertaken lightly. You will want to ensure that you’re presently emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually well enough to take on the myriad emotions and memories it may bring to surface and to find healthy, responsible ways to deal and move beyond these things.

Successful shadow work and retroactive healing (much as with things like ancestral and generational trauma awareness and healing) are amongst the most liberating, empowering, and eye-opening acts we can preform for ourselves, frequently proving to be life-alterteringly positive in the long run.

6. Incorporate music from your generation into some of your rituals. Or have it playing in the background while meditating, resonating through you earbuds on a nature walk, or as the auditory ambience to a delicious meal.

Many of us already listen to some of our favourite songs from when we growing up, but there’s a difference between having such tunes as part of a larger playlist and purposely selecting and mindfully connecting with them.

Consider making one or more playlists (or cue up relevant records, cassettes, or CDs if you are an analog music fan) of songs that were meaningful to you when you were younger.

Explore how they make you feel today vs when you were coming of age? What thoughts and emotions do they trigger?

In addition to listening to these types of songs, you can also sing, hum, or chant them yourself (happily, the lyrics to countless millions of songs can easily be found online these days) or perform them on a musical instrument, if that’s a skillset you possess.

You can also select lines or passages from songs to use as personal mantras, as part of the spoken portion of a spell or ritual, (printed or handwritten) displayed on your altar or elsewhere in your home, included in a spell bottle or mojo bag, broken down into a sigil, or even tattooed onto your skin, if a particular verse resonates deeply with you.

As well, you could design a piece of jewelry, garment, craft project, or home décor piece that either incorporates elements of a song that matters to you or which was inspired by a particular tune.

7. Make a tarot or oracle deck with imagery the evokes your generation: From photos to clip art, original illustrations to magazine images, there are plenty of ways to gather relevant images if you want to make your own tarot or oracle card deck.

How cool would a deck of all, say, 1950s or 1980s images be? You could seek out images that directly represented the various cards in a standard tarot deck or let your imagination soar free and create an oracle deck with images and related associations that hold meaning for you personally.

This can be a wonderfully fun, creative project and one that produces an item that then allows you to quickly connect with your generation anytime you please.

Plus, I find something highly meaningful in the act of utilizing elements of the era that gave us life to help us navigate the waters of the present day.

Note: If working with antique or vintage images, I would highly suggest photocopying or scanning and printing them, so as to preserve, and hopefully not damage, the originals.

8. Perform a working using only items that would have been available when you were in your teens or early adult years: Depending on when you came of age, that list may differ little from today or the two may be quite far removed.

For example, if the internet wasn’t around at that time, do not refer to it for any aspect of your working. Likewise, if there were no metaphysical shops around when you were growing up, try to use tools and ingredients that you could have purchased, wildcrafted, or made instead at the time.

By performing a magickal working as it would have been plausible at an earlier point in time, you are honouring the past and reminding yourself in the process that spellwork rarely needs to be fancy or elaborate to be effective.

9. Devote a part of your BOS, Grimoire, or other magickal journaling book to your generation: Reflect on your youth and on society as a whole at that time. How did those decades shape the person, and witch/Pagan, that you are today?

(If you’re not a heredity witch) Did you feel that you were a born witch? Where there any clues in your youth that you were headed on a path to becoming a witch?

Did the era that you came of age in support, hinder, or have little discernible impact on your ability, and ultimate decision, to become a witch, Wiccan, or Pagan?

Did you know any fellow witches or Pagans when you were younger? Who do you view as being amongst the most famous (or infamous!) witches/occultists of your generation? Have any of those people influenced your own spiritual path and if so, how?

These are just a few of the thoughts and questions you may wish to ponder or incorporate into your writing as you delve into exploring your generation in your magickal book.

10. Discuss how witchcraft and/or Neopaganism has changed since you were a youth with any young witches/Pagans in your life: Many of us feel fortunate that things like witchcraft and Paganism are becoming more accepted and understood by mainstream society.

Not everywhere, or by every person, of course, but thankfully we are seeing a general trend in that direction.

Yet, as little as ten or twenty years ago (and certainly further back in time still) this was not always the case by any means and many of us had to practise our witchery differently to protect ourselves and/or families.

If you have young witches or Pagans in your life, share about the experiences that you and other witches of your generation went through, how public views on witches have changed since then, how the internet and social media has impacted the craft, and any other comparison you desire.

In turn, ask these youngster how they think witchcraft/Paganism is perceived today, how they feel when practising or learning about these areas in the 21^st century, and then mutually discuss where you see witchcraft and Paganism heading in future generations.

11. If you work with a coven or other group of magickal/spiritual practitioners, devote part (or all) of a meeting to sharing memories and other tales from each person’s generation: This could be incorporated with some of the other suggestions above (such as generational kitchen magick or songs from different eras) or carried out as a standalone happening.

You could also ask each group member to bring a meaningful item from, or which represents, their youth and have the group cleanse and bless each item with the energy of the group itself.

12. Incorporate generational witchery into your ancestor work: Honour and celebrate the generations of your loved ones who have crossed over or who are of a generation other than your own.

For example, at Samhain you could prepare a dumb supper (aka, a silent supper) using only foods and recipes that would have been available to some of your ancestors at a given point in their lives.

Likewise, you can leave offerings of foods, beverages, or other items that would have been commonplace during your ancestor’s lifetime, play music from their generation when contacting or otherwise working with your ancestors, or make a point to actively learn more about what life was like for some of the family members that came before you.

And, while on the subject of ancestry and witchcraft, be sure to check out my post on 5 Ways that Ancestral DNA Testing Can Benefit Your Witchy Life.

Generational designation witchcraft is for everyone!

Like many witches and magickal practitioners, I have plenty of tried and true traditions, techniques, and methods that I turn to in my workings.

However, by the same token, I love to continually expand my practise by trying new things or approaching established ones from fresh perspectives.

There is a seemingly limitless number of ways to do this, both in general and when it comes to working with one’s generational designation.

While incorporating generational groupings into witchcraft may never become as popular, say, as things like herbology, candle magick, or doing tarot spreads, I hope that reading this post has inspired you to give generation related witchcraft a try.

This is a fun, personalized, creative, and engaging form of witchery that is open to every human on the planet, as, rather beautifully, we are each born into at least one generation.

The post How to Incorporate Your Generational Designation into Your Witchcraft appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Some adore it more than Cupid loves shooting arrows, others would happily strike it off the calendar completely if they could.

Plenty fall in between and enjoy taking part in various February 14^th traditions, but don’t have overly strong feelings either way about Valentine’s Day.

For some of us, Valentine’s Day – like many holidays – stirs up a strong sense of nostalgia.

The mere return of the second month of the year puts us in the mind for handmade Valentine’s Day cards, cinnamon heart candies, gorgeous red roses, scrumptious chocolate-covered strawberries, and time spent listening to our favourite love songs.

Personally, as a perpetual romantic, I’m quite fond of St. Valentine’s Day and enjoy embracing the general messages of love, sweetness, and all things that make your heart skip a beat.

I fully understand (and trust me, some years I’ve been in far more of a Feb. 14^th mood than others) that Valentine’s Day isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea – or rosé wine, if you prefer.

However, Valentine’s Day is an excellent point in the year to focus on the subject of love in general.

I realize that sounds a touch obvious, so please allow me to expand.

While we often associate Valentine’s Day with romantic love, or perhaps more plutonic forms of love such as that between relatives, close friends, etc, there is nothing that says the “amour train” has to stop there.

Valentine’s Day is an incredible time to reflect on things that we hold near and dear to our hearts, our greatest passions, everyday loves, and those areas of our lives that excite us to our cores.

For witches, Wiccans, and any other form of magickal or witchcraft practitioner, it can also be a superb opportunity to reflect on our current practices and beliefs. To evaluate where we’re at, what we cherish most about our witchcraft, and how we can strengthen our witchery all the more.

A fair number of us, even amongst the most devoted and active of witches, have felt their spiritual practice take a hit, or have had to put it on the backburner to a degree, in the midst of the challenging global pandemic we are all enduring.

As such, you might feel like your witchery is need of some self-love, TLC, and revitalizing. If so, I truly hope that the suggestions below will be of benefit to you.

Just as I hope that they are useful for all of my fellow witchy souls, whether you’re currently going through any form of spiritual struggle or not.

So without further ado, let me imbue the following words with my love and positivity for each of you, along with the wish that they inspire and aid you in your witchcraft both today and the whole year through.

14 ways to love your witchcraft even more

1. Start something new. Always wanted to blog about your practise, passion for tarot, life as empath, communing with spirit guides, light working, hedge riding, or any other spiritually focused subject?

Dying to take an online course about herbology, reiki, crystal healing, or spellwork?

Long yearned to make your own set of runes, scrying mirror, poppet, or magickal oils?

Ready to make this year the one that you start your own grimoire, Book of Shadows, or other magickal journal?

Go for it!

Sometimes the best way to inject an extra bushel of love into our practice is to stop thinking about what we want to do “one day” and make today the moment we turn thoughts into tangible actions.

2. Give your altar, witchy room, or other sacred space a tidy – and a makeover, if needed. Sweep off the incense ash, treat yourself to some new candles, dispose of any finished spell remains that are still lurking around, straighten crocked art or décor items, and look for ways to spruce up your sacred space.

Whether you work with a nightstand altar or have devoted your whole home to your witchery, show the magickal spaces(s) in your life some extra love this February.

The positive impact that doing so stands to have on your daily practice and spellwork virtually a given, as there’s just something about a clean, tidy space that helps to facilitate our witchery and innermost desires all the more effectively.

3. Make peace with the fact that not every day is going to be the witchiest day to have ever witched. And for that matter that, in all likelihood, not every spell or manifestation intention is going to come to fruition for you – at least not in the way you might have intended.

Our spirituality should not feel like a stressful job, heavy burden, or point of anxiety in our lives. If you are constantly berating yourself, feeling blue, or comparing yourself continually to other witches, it’s time to stop.

Really and truly stop.

You are going to have days when you’re at the top of your witchy game and others when you might not even think about witchcraft once. That is normal, that is okay, and that is all part of the continual journey that is being a witch.

Let go of the stress, celebrate and give thanks when you are able to focus on your path, and know that pretty much none of us – no matter what the internet might have you believe – operates at max witchy capacity 24/7/365.

4. Be mindful of who, and what, you share your magickal energy and spellwork with. Sometimes, as witches, it can be tempting to run to our herbs and candles so as to create spells for nearly every negative situation, difficult to deal with person, and worry that comes our way.

This isn’t a bad thing per se (and situations like these can be amongst those that are most aided by our witchery), but it is possible to stretch ourselves a bit to thin energy and focus wise, and to perhaps pour too much effort into causes and people that do not warrant it.

By mindfully focusing on fewer workings and aiming to ensure they have your full time, attention, and energy, your magick and connection to your practise stand to deepen and blossom all the more.

Plus, you’re less likely to feel like someone has drained the last ounce of juice from your witchy inner batteries.

5. If this matters to you, determine what kind(s) of witch you are. One need not apply labels to themselves to have an awesomely rewarding experience as a witch. However, plenty of folks love the idea of knowing what kind of witch they and in leaning all the more into that identity.

There is a seemingly endless number of blog, website, and social media based posts out there that discuss some of the various kinds of witches, and a simple Google search for “types of witches” or “kids of witches” will deliver scores of them your way.

If you’re in the mood for some lovely and enjoyable YouTube viewing on the subject, may I suggest Hearthfire Fox’s terrific video 100 Types of Witches?

Once you determine what kind of with you presently are (note: you are free to change interests, paths, areas of focus, etc when it comes to our witchery anytime you desire and not absolutely not locked into being, say, a cottage witch, weather witch, literary witch, sea witch, kitchen witch, forest witch, or chaos magick witch for life), look for ways to foster your own special blend of witchery.

You can build an altar focused on such, incorporate elements of your witchy personality into your wardrobe, read up on the subject, connect with other witches you also associate similarly online or off, and, if so desired, find ways to tie the type(s) of witch that you are into as many of your spells, rituals, sabbat and esbat workings, and other witchy activities as possible.

6. Connect with your ancestors all the more via DNA ancestry testing. If you’ve read my post on 5 Ways That Ancestral Testing Can Benefit Your Witchy Life, you may be aware of the fact that I’m a big proponent of incorporating the results of DNA-based testing into one witchcraft and spiritual journey as a whole.

DNA testing isn’t everyone’s first choice and I fully respect that fact. However, if you feel pulled towards it and are curious to discover how it might benefit your witchy, why not show yourself and the generations that came before you some extra love by discovering even more about your own unique, wonderful ancestral history?

7. Share the love. Are there unused or gently loved items pertaining to your spirituality that you are no longer – to borrow a term from Marie Kondo – spark joy for you? What about ones you may have outgrown (literally or physically)? How about purchases that were made with every good intention, but never actually used or enjoyed?

Are there fellow witches, Pagans, or others in your life that you could gift some of these items to?

If not, what about local charity shops, free item based Facebook groups in your area, or any budding new witches you might happen to know?

8. Research and incorporate non-Wheel of The Year sabbats into your witchery. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who loves each of the eight sabbats on the Wheel of The Year more than this witch.

By the same token, I also enjoy embracing other holidays and special events that are culturally and spiritually appropriate for my path. Just as I’m keen to encourage others to do the same.

Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, and Yule are incredibly important and enjoyable aspects of being a witch for some of us, but there are many other days of the year that we can celebrate in the context of our spirituality as well.

These include, but are certainly not limited to:

-Our own birthdays

-Lupercalia (observed on February 13^th, 14^th, and/or 15^th)

-International Women’s Day (March 8th)

-Earth Day (April 22^nd)

-Yggdrasil Day (also April 22^nd)

-Walpurgis Night (April 30^th)

-All Souls Day (November 2^nd)

-Saturnalia (on, or around, December 17^th)

-New Years celebrations rooted in ancient cultures (such as the 5 Ancient New Year’s Celebrations listed in this History Channel post).

-The monthly esbats

If you follow a particular branch of witchery and/or Paganism, research what the traditional holidays and other highly important points on the calendar were/are for this group and consider incorporating more if them into your spirituality, if you’re not already doing so.

For example, here is a list of holy days observed by many modern Heathens; here’s a list of Baltic Pagan holidays, and here is one for Hellenic Pagans.

9. Create one or more of your own witchy tools or supplies. While DIYing seems to come intuitively to many witches, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we always listen to the siren’s song to do so.

It can be ever-so-easy (especially since the advent of online shopping) to purchase some or even all of our magickal supplies.

There’s nothing wrong with doing so, of course, but if you have the time, abilities, and, if applicable, finances needed making some of your own magickal items can be a highly rewarding experience.

The sky is the limit on this front, but possible options include brooms and besoms, wands, pendulums, sets of runes, handmade and/or hand drawn decks of tarot and oracle cards, candles, oils, incense blends, altar clothes, offering dishes and bowls, travel altars, and magickal jewelry, to name but a few possibilities.

10. Have a witchy elevator pitch. While chances are you won’t actually have to pitch why you’re a witch in a business world setting any time soon, it can be beneficial to your spiritual journey to be able to succinctly summarize the core tenants of your current beliefs and practices.

Take some time, if needed, to get down to brass tacks when it comes to what your own witchcraft path is all about. What do you believe? What matters most to you from a witchy perspective? What are your core witchy tenants? What is your spiritual truth? How would you describe your path in just a few lines?

The more we hone in and focus on what matters most to us, what we believe, and how we chose to presently witch, the more we stand to feel happy with, and confident in, our witchery. And that, my friends, is a very good thing indeed.

11. Remember what drew you to witchcraft in the first place – or, if you were born into a family of practising witches, why you’ve opted to continue down a witchy path as you’ve grown up.

Sometimes it can do a world of good for our spiritual practises if we go back to our roots.

Strip away all the Instagram accounts you compare yourself to, the reams of spells sitting in books on your shelves you’d like to do, but never seem to have time to accomplish; the infighting and gatekeeping of the Pagan world, and the things you tried and didn’t bond with as you might have hoped.

Let these elements go as best you can. Banish them from your life or least spend less time focusing on them, and really explore the humble beginnings of when you first started your witchery.

What drew you to being a witch? What have you changed since then? How have you grown as a witch (and a person in general)?

What do you wish you’d known then about being a witch that you know now? How has being a witch (hopefully!) benefited your life? Where do you want to be as a witch in a year, five years, twenty years from now?

Honour your roots, celebrate the days when you were a witchling, and ask yourself if there are elements of those early times that you’ve not focused on in a while but which could serve you well again today (then try to put them into action).

12. Just have fun! Seriously, not everything has to be solemn, serious, complicated, or challenging. There is a place and time both inside and out of witchery for such, but there is also ample space for lighthearted fun.

Goodness knows that most of us have had an incredibly challenging past several months and that fun hasn’t always been our top priority.

If you can spare even just fifteen or twenty minutes here or there to focus on fun, I highly encourage you to do so.

Your fun can be Witchcrafted based or otherwise, as you desire. The aim is to enjoy yourself, smile, relax or conversely amp up your energy, experiencing the pleasures of living the moment and feeling free to let your hair down for a little bit.

Being and feeling happy is one of the greatest gifts we can ever give ourselves. Be it for Valentine’s Day or any other point on the calendar.

13. Utilize music in your practice. Whether you create it yourself (singing, chanting, drumming, playing another instrument, etc) or turn to the creative works of others, music can often heighten and deepen our spiritual journeys for the better.

We’re blessed that music abounds in the world and that we can make it ourselves in a multitude of ways

What types of instruments and songs make you feel most connected to your path? Have you ever sung to the moon or the faeries? What about your ancestors or your spirit allies? Could you compose the words of a spell set to music?

What about making a sigil from one of your favourite song verses? Have you ever tapped rhythmically on elements in nature such as rocks, trees, or even bodies of water?

If the universe as a whole had an anthem, what do you think it would sound like?

Are there any types of music that help you to feel more connected to the deities (or Spirit) that you work with?

Think outside of the (music) box and look for fun, creative, meaningful ways to add music to your witchcraft.

14. Remember that the most powerful magickal tools you will ever have are your own energy, intention, life experiences, and believes. Physical tools, exciting tarot decks, gorgeous crystals, healing herbs, and a plethora of other witchery related items all have their places, of course, but at the end of the day you, and you alone, are the most powerful source of magick you will ever work with.

And if you’re looking for additional ways beyond these fourteen ideas to help up your witchy practice all the more, be sure to check out my post on 12 Ways to Live a More Magickally Focused Year.

Loving wishes to you on this beautiful day

With each passing year, my Valentine’s aesthetic and focus becomes ever more Valoween. This makes my witchy + gothy soul purr like a contend black cat.

However, I also adore Victorian, Edwardian, and mid-twentieth century styles and vintage items as well, and find that merging the two is a snap.

As February 14^th draws near, I send either store bought or handmade Valentine’s Day cards to some of my loved ones whenever possible.

I scour the house for every red, black, and pink candle, candle holder, and heart shaped item, pairing them with our black dishes and dusty pink hued drinking glasses to create a festive tablescape that is just the romantic ticket for me and my honey.

We’re always been the type to express our love actively throughout the year in myriad ways, which means that Valentine’s Day has the added bonus of being a pressure-free day for both of us that we can enjoy to our heart’s content.

On a spiritual level, I adore working spells pertaining to love, friendship, vitality, romance, and my goals (which often pertain to things I love) on Valentine’s Day.

I also try to make a point to reflect on those areas of my life that I’m loving most at the moment, the people who are closest to my heart, and on Valentine’s Days past.

I also focus on sending loving energy out into the universe, directing it everything from the genus loci in our area, to my ancestors, and, of course, to my fellow witches and Pagans the world over.

Whether that is a heading you fall under as well or not, I encourage you to take some time today and through February in general to access if there are areas of your life that could use a little more love and attention.

If there are, seek out realistically doable ways to pour more of your heart and energy in these areas. They matter to you for a reason and deserve to be nurtured and celebrated whenever possible.

However you opt to observe (or not) Valentine’s Day, I hope that you feel loved, have people and passions to adore in your own life, and will experience an extra sweet moment or two today.

Happy February 14^th wishes, dear ones, with love and kisses from my heart to yours.

The post 14 Ways to Love Your Witchcraft Even More appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

For many witches, Wiccans, and Pagans, the Summer Solstice – also known as Midsummer, though in many modern calendars and cultures alike, it is generally seen as the official start of summer, not the middle of the season – corresponds with the sabbat of Litha.

Because both the Summer Solstice and Litha are inextricably linked to the sun, so they are inherently connected with nature itself.

While certain rules regarding self-isolation are loosening in some parts of the world, and the number of businesses and public locations such as parks and beaches that are once again open is steadily increasing, a good many of us remain in self-isolation this month either by necessity/ordinance or personal choice.

My husband and I have opted to voluntarily continue sheltering at home throughout June, which means that I’ll be celebrating Litha right here on our property.

We’re fortunate to have a lovely little slice of rugged woodland for our backyard. And though it will play an important roll in my Litha celebrations, today I wanted to shine the spotlight on Summer Solstice activities that you can do indoors.

Regardless of the Covid-19 situation, not everyone has a backyard or easy access to a public park, forest, beach, etc..

You may be indoors on the Summer Solstice due to medical reasons, your job, caring for loved ones, personal choice, or an array of other reasons.

And, while for many of us witchy and Pagan folks nature is akin to oxygen for soul, not everyone goes gaga for the great outdoors – which is perfectly okay!

If it’s currently safe for you to do so, and nature is your personal jam, you can certainly involve the outdoor world in your Midsummer celebrations.

However, as the ideas in this post detail, it is entirely possible to celebrate the Summer Solstice without setting foot outside.

When is the Summer Solstice?

The Summer Solstice has a floating date and takes place each year between June 20^th and 22^nd.

This year, the Summer Solstice takes place on Saturday June 20, 2020.

The exact time of this year’s Summer Solstice’s occurrence will be 11:43 UTC, which equates to 2:43 PM PST and 5:43 PM EST, respectively.

This Solstice is one of two times in the year (the other is the Winter Solstice) when one of the Earth’s poles – the North Pole – is titled as closely to the sun as it possibly can be, thus making the South Pole as far as away from the sun as it can be.

This explains why the Summer Solstice is the day with the longest number of daylight minutes.

Hard as it is to believe, from the very next day onward, we gradually start to lose light again.

Thankfully, we won’t start to see or feel the impact of this in too many notable ways until summer starts to wind down and the beautiful season of fall, with its notably shorter hours of daylight, returns.

Are Litha and the Summer Solstice the same thing?

Although they frequently fall on the same day – and plenty of witches and Pagans (myself included) will sometimes use the two terms (as well as Midsummer) interchangeably, technically speaking, Litha and the Summer Solstice are not the same thing.

Well, not entirely at least.

The Summer Solstice is an astrological event involving, as we just discussed above, the day when the North Pole is at the closest point it will be to the sun in the entire year.

Litha is one of many forms of Midsummer festivals or sacred days that have been held to celebrate the Summer Solstice throughout the course of time.

Today, Litha is celebrated by many contemporary witches, Wiccans, and Pagans as a way to honour and work with the longest day of the year.

Though as with each of the eight sabbats that comprise the Wheel of the Year, not all observers of Litha may opt to celebrate it on the exact same date as one another. Thus, for some people, their personal (or group) Litha celebrations may not transpire on the Summer Sabbat itself.

Various individuals and belief systems see Litha as a day that witnesses the eternal battle between light and dark in our annual cycle of life here on this planet (a fight which repeats itself on the Winter Solstice in December).

This is sometimes portrayed as a battle between the Oak King (who rules over the light-filled half of the year) and the Holly King (who has domain over the darker half of the year).

In short, the Summer Solstice refers to the longest day of the year, whereas Litha is a sabbat that corresponds with and is often celebrated on the Solstice, but which does not always transpire for all observers of the sabbat on the exact same day.  

Whereas plenty of people who are not witches or Pagans may choose to observe and possibly honour/work with the Summer Solstice on a spiritual level, relatively few individuals who are not of a witchy, Wiccan or Pagan persuasion are likely to observe this day as the sabbat that is Litha.

And as a fun, relevant fact, in case you were curious, the word “solstice” is an amalgamation of two Latin words. Sol, which means sun, and sistere, which means to stand still.

And just as the ancients looked upon the solstices as times when the sun may have seemed to stay or stand still for a little longer, so too can we opt to hold these days with reverence. Devoting some introspective time to honouring what they mean to the planet and to our own individual lives alike.

12 Ways to Celebrate Litha Indoors During Covid-19 (or anytime!)

The ideas presented below include some that are of a more witchy or Pagan nature, but all are open to anyone, regardless of their personal spiritual path or beliefs who may want to engage in them.

The Solstices are an ingrained part of the year which occur whether we make a point of celebrating them or not.

Observing the Summer and Winter Solstices (as well as the Spring and Fall Equinoxes), however, can be a highly meaningful way for us to feel an even stronger and more poignant connection to the changing seasons and to nature, whether we’re inside or outdoors.

1. While you might not be able to do so on the shores of a beach or heart of the woods, if you have access to a window (and an at least somewhat unobstructed view), you may be able to watch the sun rise on the Summer Solstice.

This seemingly simple act can be one of the most intensely meaningful and memorable. I love to watch the sun rise (and later, set) on Litha, often grounding myself first, practicing mindful breathing throughout, setting intentions, giving thanks, saying Pagan prayers, and sometimes even singing straight from my heart to the rising orb that has sustained life on this planet for millions of years now.

2. Cook, bake or eat foods that correspond with the colour of the sun and its light in their raw state.

Bananas, lemons, apricots, starfruit, mangos, yellow kiwi fruit, golden raspberries, eggs, corn and cornmeal, pancakes, yellow zucchini, yellow potatoes, yams, yellow peppers, chanterelle mushrooms, pineapple, yellow apples, yellow plums, yellow figs, yellow watermelon, yellow cheeses, yellow/golden cakes and cupcakes, honey, many different cooking oils, chamomile tea, mustard, turmeric, and saffron are just some possible – and delicious – yellow food options.

If you practice kitchen witchery, you may wish to select foods whose correspondences align with the overall themes – such as life, bounty, hope, love, fertility, abundance, and manifestation – of Litha/the Summer Solstice.

Just as you want to work kitchen magick while preparing your delicious yellow foods, stirring your intentions, desires, and magickally focused thoughts into your meals.

3. Use the return of summer’s sunlight and warmth as an ideal time to metaphorically burn away negatives in your life.

Much like how we tend to shed layers of clothing as the weather heats up, this point in the year is an ideal time to take stock of your life and actively look for areas that are no longer serving your well, which are holding you back, or that may be hampering you in other ways.

Engage in releasing, banishing, dispelling, grounding, and balancing spellwork and rituals during the season of Litha to help cleanse your life of negatives and better prepare yourself mentally, physically and spiritually for the dark half of the year that lays ahead.

4. Make a new magick wand. Various tools are associated with each of the sabbats. When it comes to Litha, candles, staffs, and wands in particular are closely tied to this sacred summer celebration.

Get creative and make a new wand using items you have on hand or can easily, and safely, access outdoors.

Create your wand in the days leading up to the Summer Solstice and consider consecrating, blessing and charging it with the rising sunlight on the Solstice morning (or at any point that day).

You may wish to create a wand that you use specifically on Litha and during the summer months or one that will be a year-round magickal tool for you.

In either case, utilizing colours (such as yellow, orange, red, green, white, and gold, as well as clear), crystals, and other materials that correspond with Litha and the sun can help to imbue your beautiful new wand with an even deeper connection to the Summer Solstice.

5. Burn candles! Bonfires have been lit at Midsummer since the time of the ancients and remain an important part of many Summer Solstice and Litha celebrations around the world to this day.

If having or attending a bonfire is out of the question this year, turn to the radiant energy, light and beauty of candles instead.

Now, I’m not suggesting, of course, that you gather up ever last candle in the house, place them side-by-side, and have an indoor bonfire. Goodness, NO!!! Please do not do this!!!!!!!

Instead, what I am proposing is that the twinkling flame of one or more candles can be used a meaningful and potentially magickal way of honouring both the sun (+ its warmth and light) and the traditional bonfires of the Summer Solstice.

While not mandatory, if you have some to hand, you may wish to burn candles in solar colours such as yellow, orange, and red that correspond all the more to the sun’s own colours and energy.

You can add further magick and intention to your candles by doing things such as anointing them with various oils/herbs/charged waters, carving sigils or other meaningful symbols or signs in the wax, and charging the candle before using in the sunlight on the Solstice.

As always, be sure to make safety your top priority when working with candles. Never leave them unattended or around curious pets or children. Burn them in appropriate candle holders and have an easily accessible source of water available in case any flames start to get out of control.

6. Make paper oak leaves to honour the Oak King. The mighty oak tree has a long and highly venerated connection with the Summer Solstice, as does the figure of the Oak King, who presides over the waxing half of the year leading up Litha.  

The Oak King is a folkloric representation of the warmer half of the year, which is usurped by the Holly King who in turn rules the waning half of the year until the Winter Solstice.

Fascinatingly, the Celtic name for Oak (“Duir”) means doorway. This is especially apt given that from this point onward, we will technically be entering the dark half of the year, closing the door on the lighter months that lead up to the Summer Solstice.

Whether freehand, tracing the real deal, using a die cutting machine, or with a printable oak leaf template, the Summer Solstice is an excellent opportunity to create a flurry of our own paper (or fabric/cork/felt) oak leaves.

You can use your homemade oak leaves as the paper for spellwork, as home décor, on your altar, create a wreath or wearable crown with them, make garlands out of them, involve them in crystal grids, use them to write down your favourite summer blessings or memories on, as place cards at a Litha meal, and much more! Let your imagination soar and have a delightful time crafting your own handmade oak leaves this summer.

7. Create a sun-filled summertime music playlist. Did you know that there are over two hundred songs in the English language that include the word “sun” (or some variation of sun, such as sunshine or sunny) in their title?

As this list of songs with the word sun in them attests, this is definitely true.

Why not create a playlist of songs that involve the sun and/or other summertime lyrics to pump up your mood, or conversely, to help you relax and unwind, this Litha?

If you’re a fan of dancing, swaying, or singing along to the beat, go all out and let your inner musical spirit soar. Summer is an inherently fun time of the year for many of us and music can help make it all the more so.

8. Honour your inner light. It is anything but a state secret that this year has been incredibly challenging for both the world as a whole and many individuals themselves.

It is completely understandable – and natural – if you’re feeling more drained than a bathtub right about now.

What are some simple, meaningful and enjoyable ways that you can honour your own inner light and allow it to shine all the more, (especially) if it’s been put on the back burner in recent months?

Litha, the longest day of the year is an ideal time to honour and nurture your inner light.

Permit yourself some self-care time, engage in an activity that makes your heart sing, create a list of reasons why you’re amazing, treat yourself to a favourite meal or activity, breath deeply, and know that no matter how dark life may get at times, your own inner sunshine is with you always.

9. Bake and decorate an edible version of Stonehenge. Not only is Stonehenge in the UK strongly connected to both ancient and modern Paganism, but it one of the most visited ancient sites in the world each Summer Solstice.

This year’s festivities have been shelved due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring a hit of the magick and mystery of this sacred monolithic site into your own Summer Solstice celebration.

Why not try making a lovely gingerbread Stonehenge and (optionally) decorating it with things such as sugared flower petals, chocolate-coated sunflower seeds, sweet herbs and spices, candied citrus peel, and frosting in solar shades of red, orange, or yellow?

You could create your gingerbread Stonehenge as an offering, to use on your Litha altar, to enjoy as part of your Summer Solstice feast, to utilize in spellwork, or for any other reason that you fancy.

This is a fun activity for the whole family. If you have little ones at home, consider getting them involved and sharing some cool facts about Stonehenge and its historical significance as you bake and decorate your impressive Summer Solstice dessert.

10. Integrate a new spiritually meaningful activity into your life. Back in early January, I posted about 12 Ways to Live a More Magickally Focused Year. Now is a terrific time to take a few minutes and assess how you’ve been doing on the daily magick front so far in 2020.

It is also a great point in the year to start (or pick up) a spiritually meaningful activity, habit, or focus that you’ve been wanting to begin or reconnect with.

Let the longest day of the year shine its light on your life to help you see your deepest desires and drives that have yet to be fully addressed.

Which of these can you begin doing something positive about this summer? What skills would you like to learn? What areas of your life may need some TLC?

All of these things are excellent points to give mindful, focused thought and corresponding action to at Litha and straight on into the second half of the year.

11. Put together an energy bag. Select or make a pouch or bag in the size of your choosing out of a sheer, mesh/tulle, or other gossamer type fabric.

If sewing isn’t your – cough, cough – bag, but you want to make one from scratch all the same, I highly suggest checking our Silver Raven Wolf’s excellent tutorial on How to Make a No-Sew Magickal Bag.

You’ll want to fill your energy bag with items that pertain to the vibrancy, warmth, light, joy and sense of thriving life that the sun and summertime give off.

Examples of such items includes the following:

-Small candles in solar colours

-“Fiery” crystals and stones such as sunstone, yellow appetite, pyrite, orange calcite, carnelian, rose and yellow quartz, garnet, yellow aventurine, citrine, tiger’s eye, yellow tourmaline, and aragonite.

-Charms or pieces of jewelry in warm metals such as gold, brass, copper and bronze

-Beads, especially glass and crystal beads, in solar and other summertime colours

-Fresh, dried or artificial flowers (do keep moisture content in mind if using fresh flowers, especially if you wish to keep this energy bag for more than a few days)

-Dried herbs, dried herbs, dried seeds (including sunflower seeds), dried tea leaves, and/or dried or dehydrated summer fruits

-Small vials or other containers of beach sand

-Ethically sourced shells, sea dollars, sea glass, and other small items from oceans or lakes

-Ethically sourced feathers from birds that are especially active or visible during the summer months

-Small vials or other contains of glitter in sunny colours such as yellow, orange, red or gold

-A warm or “fiery” incense blend

-Pieces of dragon’s blood resin

Gather the items you wish to use, place them in your energy bag, charge your bag in the sunlight on Litha, bless or concrete the bag and its contents, and either use the mixture as part of spells workings, as offerings, on your Litha altar, or as a personal source of strength, energy and vitality throughout the summer months.

12. Do something pertaining to genealogy. Trees are one of the first things that I associate with Litha. I adore trees, working with tree spirits and energy, doing tree magick, spending time in the company of trees, you name it!

Save perhaps for small potted trees of the indoor variety, most of us don’t have a lot of branch filled friends under our own roof. One tree that we do have with us at all time, however, is our family tree.

Whether you’re a passionate family genealogist or would be hard pressed to come up with your grandmothers’ maiden surnames off the top of your head, there are activities pertaining to our family trees that nearly all of us can do.

You may wish to research branches of your family tree that you don’t know much about, speak with or even interview living relatives about your family history, frame and display treasured family photographs, create family trees stretching back 3 – 5 generations and give copies to your immediate family members as gifts (this site has over 370 different free family tree templates), record facts about your own life for posterity, or research the history of surnames in your family.

If you are adopted or otherwise do not have much (if any) information about your birth parents or ancestors, you could opt to work with the family tree of your adopted parents, if doing so felt right to you.

Or you could focus more on your own life instead, documenting facts about yourself and putting together a budding new family tree starting with yourself, any biological siblings you may have, and your own children and/or partner(s), if applicable.

You can also use this time to call upon, work with, provide prayers or offerings to, or otherwise engage with your ancestors, whether you know them by name or not. (As I’m very fond of saying, we might not always know our ancestors’ names, but, from the other side of the veil, they know ours.)

Litha and summertime are natural fits for family related activities of all sorts, so don’t be shy about making your nearest and dearest (be they living or departed) an especially meaningful part of the sunny season.

And a few additional ways to celebrate Litha indoors

I had such a blast compiling the twelve ways to celebrate Litha indoors for this post that as I was putting the finished entry together, I felt compelled to share a few more ideas.

These ways to celebrate Litha are not detailed to the same degree as the twelve listed above, as I feel they’re fairly self-explanatory.

Naturally, if you have any questions or would like me to expand on any of them, please do not hesitate to let me know in the comments below.

-If you have a piece of it leftover, burn the remnants of your Yule tree or other natural Yule season greenery (boughs, wreaths, etc). Inside the house, this is often best done in a woodburning stove or fireplace, or a large fire-safe cauldron. (Ensure that you have a working fire extinguisher at the ready.)

-Decorate and actively work with your altar for Litha. I really enjoy adorning my altar for Litha and often do so with fresh or dried flowers, decorations and images of the sun; sand, grass, leaves, various animal figurines, crystals in Litha related colours, and anything else that feels right to me in the moment.

-Do an oracle or tarot card pull or spread for Litha (such as this lovely example of a Litha Tarot Spread).

-Charge your crystals and/or other magickal tools of your choice in the sabbat sunlight to imbue them with the might and majestic energy of the longest day of the year.

-Leave offerings to the fae and/or otherwise work with or honour the faerie folk.

-Plant an indoor herb garden in pots or other suitable containers, ensuring that they’re able to get enough daily sunlight.

-Make a summer themed centerpiece for your Litha dinning table, altar, mantle, dresser, coffee table, or other spot of your choosing. The sky and your imagination are the limit when it comes to what to include.

Some fun ideas include fresh, dried or article flowers and/or leaves, seashells, sea glass, miniature beach toys, beads or charms, springs of lavender or rosemary, small figurines or toy versions of animals that you associate with summer, candles, glass pebbles (available from many craft stores, florist supply shops, dollar stores, and big box stores), small vintage linens or crocheted doilies, items depicting the sun, and fresh or artificial summertime fruits.

-Create a piece of art or another type of craft project that depicts or represents the sun. Bless and imbue it with positive, radiant energy and display it on your altar or elsewhere in your home to enjoy throughout the summer – or all year long, if you fancy.

These are but a few more ideas regarding what to do on Litha and how you can celebrate this beautiful summertime sabbat when you’re indoors.

Naturally, if such is feasible for you at the moment, you can carry out some of the activities listed in this post outdoors or bring your completed projects with you when you go outside.

The Midway Point in The Wheel of The Year

That is precisely what Litha/the Summer Solstice is, and as such, it has a unique advantage of being able to pull from the strength of the earlier sabbats in the year, and to help propel us onto those that still remain.

Many see the next sabbat in the Wheel of the Year, Lammas/Lughnasadh, which transpires in early August, as the first of three harvest festivals and, in some respects, the very earliest start of autumn.

Thus, Litha is the main summer sabbat and its position as such enables us to truly celebrate and honour the present season.

No matter how much we may miss spring or love fall, summer is here and it deserves to be venerated and enjoyed.

Whether you spend the whole day inside, outside, or a combination of both, take time this year to reflect on what the Summer Solstice means to you, your life, and your spiritual journey.

Get creative, give thanks to the sun, have fun, and carve out some time to embrace the warmest season, starting with the Summer Solstice straight on to the third week of September, when we’ll once again say hello to the Fall Equinox.

What are your plans for the Summer Solstice/Litha this year?

The post 12 Ways to Celebrate the Summer Solstice Indoors During Covid-19 (or Anytime!) appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions. Never have been, doubt I ever will be. If the need to resolve or change something in my life is present, I’ll start putting in the effort, leg work, time, intention, and supportive magickal workings to implement that change at any point in the year.

I can see the value in New Year’s resolutions and are not dissing them or saying they don’t hold merit. I firmly believe that they do for some people, but for those of us of a witchy ilk, we know that we have the ability to change, grow and transform our lives within us 24/7.

One of the best ways to help support ourselves, our spiritual paths and our magick all year round is to ensure that we make these things an important focal point of our lives.

Today, I’m going to be sharing twelve effective ways to help you create a more magickally focused year.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the witchiest witch who has ever witched, a complete witchy newcomer, or anywhere in between. We can all continue to add to, finetune, and hone the ways in which we actively and consciously work to foster magick in our lives all year through.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others, both inside and out of the witchy/Pagan community

This is a subject that I’m passionate about. If you follow me on Instagram you may have heard me talk about it in depth there before, as it’s something that becomes all the more crucial to me the older I grow.

You are you, plain and simple. When and why this stopped being not just “enough”, but “good enough” is up for debate.

The fact of the matter is that many of us currently live in a world where we are under more pressure than possibly ever before in human history to “live our best life” 24/7/365 and to make sure that every Tom, Dick and Harry on the planet knows about it.

Enough. Seriously, enough.

Free yourself. Let go of impossible standards, of factors that comprise other peoples’ lives not your own, of the sense that you’re failing, when chances are, you are not.

Own who you are. Accept who you are. Love and nurture who you are.

Take that energy, that worry, that thought, that anxiety of comparison and transform it in creating a life and spiritual journey that you yourself adore with all your heart, regardless of if it will ever generate a single social media like.

This can be easier said than done, I know, and may not occur overnight. However, you owe it to yourself to start now. Literally right now. Just think about the progress you may be able to make come this time next year.

2. Eat well. Really well.

As adults, we’re usually free to eat whatever our budget, health and taste buds permit. There are pros and cons to this, and in the latter camp is the fact that it can be dangerously easy to eat food that barely warrants being called as much.

You’ve likely heard the classic adage before that our bodies are temples. They truly are, but moreover, they are machines and like any machine that we want to have function at the best level that it possibly can, we need to take care and treat our bodies with love and respect.

One of the best and most effective ways to do this is to eat as well as we can on a regular basis.

The better you eat, the healthier you stand to be, the more energy you are apt to have, and – depending on your own personal diet – the more you may be able to help the planet in the process.

Aim to eat clean, whole, healthy, nutritious foods as frequently as possible. Build (or further cement) loving, mindful relationships with your food. Try to eat on the run as little as you realistically can. Turn off the TV, set the table and eat your meal mindfully. Create and partake of food with those you care about.

Weave kitchen and cottage witchery in your meals. Grow, if possible, some of your own food. Learn about the magickal properties of what you’re putting into your body. Share some of your food as offerings to the deities, ancestors, spirits, fae, etc that you work with; use food as part of your sabbat activities, stop eating anything that makes you feel poorly.

3. Tie up loose ends and ditch clutter

You know that mountain of junk mail and old bills on the dining room table or kitchen island? What about those spells you started on your altar, didn’t get immediate results with and just sort of let peter out over time? How about the closet cleanout you’ve been promising yourself you’d do ever since you read Marie Kondo’s book?

Yep, that, all that and so much more weighs on us in ways both subtle and more perceivable.

Anything that steals joy, impacts your mental, emotional, physical or spiritual well being, causes you undo stress, and takes away from time and/or mental focus that doesn’t have to be a part of your life needs to go.

Trust me, you’ll be surprised how much having a clutter-free dining table impacts your happiness levels and how renewed you will feel when you can look around your house, your sacred spaces, and your life as a whole and know that you’ve unburdened yourself from things that serve no meaningful purpose any longer.

4. Set limits on the amount of time that you spend online – especially on social media

Our time is one of the most precious, sacred and limited resources we will ever have. There is no getting a moment back. As soon as it has passed, it becomes part of the collective memory bank of the universe.

This year, why not set daily limits on the amount of time that you spend online, including on social media, which is one of the biggest time sinks of modern life for countless people the world over.

Personally, while the amount of time I spend on the web varies most days, for about two years now, I’ve maintained strict limits on the amount of time I spend on social media (which for me, primarily consists of Instagram and Pinterest) each day.

I set the cap at three hours all total per day, but do not feel that I must “use up” all this time. I also intentionally have 1 – 2 social media free days per week and at least one wholly internet free day each week.

I set my own cap at three hours, because that is just over 1/10^th of the total number of hours we all have in each twenty-four day. I’m presently okay with allocating that much of most of my days to this activity, but I have no desire – or need – to live on social media around the clock.  

My time, just like yours, is invaluable and while I enjoy many aspects of the web and social media, it is vital to me that I spend ample quantities of time focusing on off-line activities as well.

From going outdoors to working at my altar, enjoying time with our dog, reading books, creating craft projects, doing spellwork and rituals, meditating, writing snail mail letters, and much more, it is imperative that the online side of my life never eclipses my offline one (believe me, I’ve been there before and I’ve long vowed to never let it happen again).

Only you know what is good amount of time to spend online and on social media is in the scope of your own life.

You may find that a 2 – 4 hours per day feels right for you and still allows you time to focus on other areas of your life (while continuing to do the things we need to accomplish in our days, such as working, tending to our homes and families, and making time for our spiritual well being).

Or you you might prefer 30 minutes, 5.5 hours, or zero time at all. Social media may be exceedingly commonplace, but it that does not mean that it has to be a part of your life. Not for a moment.

5. Read non-witchy books to foster your witchiness

I’m the first person to delve into a great witchy book and am not, in any way, advocating that you don’t read such titles.

Instead, I encourage you to also read about other subjects that will foster your path, deepen your knowledge, broaden your mind, and provide you with knowledge and/or helpful skills that you can put to work in your spiritual journey.

Nearly any non-fiction book could potentially relate to at least one person’s path, but in general, some topics to consider reading more about are:

-The history and environment of where you live (all the better to know the genius loci in your area by)

-The history of countries that you have ancestral ties to

-Forest bathing

-Forging

-Wildcraft

-Traditional ways of living

-Candle making

-Religions/faiths/spiritualities other than your own

-Cooking and food history

-Astronomy

-The weather

-Earth science subjects

-Animals and insects

-Mycology

-Cemeteries and the broader subject of death in general

-The history of the Burning Times and the persecution of witches in general

-Cunning folk

-Alternative medicine

-How to make your own personal care and/or beauty products

-Herbology

-Substantial living

-Arts and crafts

-Personal growth

-Living mindfully

-Time management

-Paranormal topics

-Philosophy

-Psychology

Reading doesn’t have to mean a physical book either, though many of us do prefer this classic information delivery method.

Audiobooks and ebooks are great options, too, and countless titles abound in both camps.

6. Be grateful and count your blessings

You know the fact that you’re currently alive? Do you happen to know what the astronomical odds of that happening are? (About 1 in 400 trillion.)

Start with the miracle of your existence and then take time on a regular basis to reflect on the blessings in your life and to give thanks for the positives that you are fortunate to have.

I know that this can be tricky at times, especially if your life is in turmoil right now, but that is often when it is even more imperative that we focus on whatever good/positive things are part of our current reality.

Being grateful doesn’t mean that you’re accepting your current lot in life and throwing in the towel.

It means that you acknowledge those rays of light that are still managing to shine through the darkness of this bleak and difficult time.

No matter if things are going well or not for you right now, consider creating an altar or designating part of your existing altar (or other sacred space) specifically to giving thanks, keeping a gratitude journal, or meditating on your blessings.

You might be surprised to realize just how many blessings and reasons to be thankful there are in your life already.

7. Cleanse on a regular basis

While it is a good idea to shower or bathe regularly, in this instance, I’m talking about your home.

Whether we live on our own, with a partner, or ten other people, a certain amount of energy naturally accumulates in a house over the course of time. Some it is good, some of it, well, not so much.

The lingering energy of stress, medical challenges, arguments, heartbreak, bad news, and conversely, yes, even the OTT exhilaration of special events and important milestones can all impact the energy flow and levels of where we reside. As do all of those seemingly mundane things, from cooking to putting the kids to bed, that fill our daily lives.

If you’re not already cleansing your home on a regular basis, consider doing so once a month (or more often as needed – though if you need to do so on a highly frequent basis, you may need to deal with the root issues that are calling for a cleansing in the first place).

You can smudge, use incense (always ensure fire safety when using any lit item), sweep with a broom or besom, use purposely created cleansing sprays, singing bowls or drum beating, salt, charged water, essential oils (ensure you either wipe them away after or use oils that are safe for pets and children, if there’s any risk of little ones coming in contact with the essential oil you’ve used), crystals, or whatever method suits your needs.

Remember after every cleansing to allow the negative/stale energy that you’re riding our house/living space with to escape by opening up a door or window and directing the undesired energy out of that opening (otherwise you stand to have it linger in your home, potentially rendering the cleansing ineffective).

8. Set, and complete, small spiritual-related goals on a regular basis

A lot of times people experience spiritual burnout or begin to feel disconnected from their practice because they think that they need to turn every spell, BOS writing season, sabbat, full moon and visit to their altar into some grand, elaborate production that requires copious amounts of time.

While I believe that it’s important to devote larger swaths of time to spiritual-related workings, when realistically possible, if one feels inclined, I also believe that it is vital to engage with our witchery and/or Paganism on a regular basis.

Look for ways that you can set and keep spiritually focused goals that don’t require heaps of time or larger goals that you can break down into smaller, easier to tackle pieces.

Examples of small, meaningful goals could include things like doing one spell that requires 30 minutes of time or less a week, planting a some herbs in pots on your deck or a window box, spending 15 minutes three times a week outdoors to mindfully connect with nature in your area and grow more familiar with how each season and type of weather looks and behaves where you live, performing a five-minute tarot or oracle reading, scrying for a few minutes, changing up your altar, creating a no-cook or no-bake dish for a sabbat or other spiritually important event, creating a witches jar or bottle, or putting your crystals out to charge.

There is so much positivity, happiness, sense of accomplishment, renewed energy, and mental clarity – not to mention, creativity and inspiration – that can come from setting, carrying out and completing goals.

Honour yourself and your practice by experiencing these wonderful benefits, while focusing on your spiritual journey at the same time.

9. Figure out what actually works for you and ditch the rest

No matter when you began your magickal journey, chances are that along the way, you’ve added things to your repertoire that you thought you needed to do (or be), often because just about every witchcraft or Paganism or Wicca 101 book told you to do/be/practice/believe/buy those things.

Even if you were born into a family of witches/Pagans already (aka, hereditary witchcraft), it’s highly likely that there are still things you picked up from others along the way that don’t actually jive with your own unique spiritual path.

And sometimes, the things that once did the job for us, may no longer serve us in the ways that we want and need them to function in our lives.

This is totally normal and perfectly okay.

When we’re just starting out with something that we enjoy and feel passionate about, it’s practically part and parcel that we throw ourselves (and often our pocketbooks, too) into trying and buying all manner of things relating to that area of interest.

As time goes on though, we may find ourselves doing or holding onto practices, beliefs, and physical items out of habit or the fear that we won’t appear “witchy enough” we don’t do or own certain things.

This, I can wholeheartedly assure you, is not the case. In fact, I would argue that the more you concentrate on those areas of your practice that feel most align with your heart and soul at the present moment, the greater your power, energy, and spirituality stand to be.

So if you’ve been pulling tarot cards and just not feeling it, no matter what you try, or you’ve been meditating like it’s going out of style but feel like you’d rather have a root canal instead, try stepping away from those things and focusing your attention on the areas of your practice that spark joy and which you’ve had success with instead.

10. (If you celebrate them… ) Get to know the sabbats better

While there is no shortage of witches, Pagans, and even a percentage of Wiccans who do not actively observe some or all of the eight sabbats that comprise the Wheel of the Year, plenty of us do.

If that includes you, why not make this the year that you learn even more about the history, traditions, correspondences, changes in nature, foods and other elements that comprise Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, and Yule?

Humbly, I consider myself pretty well versed on the sabbats at this point in my life. I’m the first, however, to actively seek out further information, particularly when it comes to the historical roots of these days that are a sacred and integral part of the lives of many 21^st century witches and Pagans.

Think about ways to put the knowledge that you acquire to work in your practice, use them to help you connect all the more with the sabbats, and let them support your magickal workings all through the year, not just on these eight highly meaningful points in the year themselves.

If you do not observe the sabbats, consider learning more about, and deepening your connection, with the days that you personally hold as sacred instead (including, if applicable, the key lunar cycle stages).

11. Hone your intentions

Chances are you’ve heard or read that intention is at the heart of most successful magickal workings. I don’t generally disagree with this statement, but I think it is important that we approach intention knowing clearly and concisely what it is that we’re being intentional about in the first place.

Just as a recipe wouldn’t be overly successful if someone told you to just add any six ingredients together in whatever proportions floated your boat, so too do magickal working operate most effectively when we lay out specific perimeters in terms of what we want and how we’re going to help make those things happen.

It is important to be as specific about our intentions as possible. Be mindful of what it is you truly want and need, what steps you’re going to take to try and make those things happen, what you wish to manifest in your life, and how you’ll respond if things do or do not go as you’d hoped or intended.

12. Be kind to yourself and others

If there’s one thing our world is in serious need of as we enter this new decade of human history, it is more kindness. Towards our planet itself, toward one another, towards animals, towards ourselves.

There are many scientifically supported benefits of being kind. I personally think that there are scores of spiritual benefits that stem from kindness as well.

Kindness is a gift that we have the ability to source from a never-ending well inside ourselves.

This doesn’t per se mean that we should spend every second of every day focusing solely on kindness (taking this approach can potentially backfire and cause burnout or even a sense that one is being taken advantage of), but rather that we have it within ourselves to be kind in a multitude of ways all throughout our lives.

Whether one personally believes in the Threefold Law or not, generally speaking, we tend to experience positives in return when we’re kind.

Can doing something nice come back to bite us in the behind? Sometimes, yes. That isn’t fair, but it’s life. Thankfully though, for most of us, such occasions are the exception, not the norm.

Acts of kindness are a vital part of life. I firmly believe that we’ve made it this far as a species and a planet in no small part because of kindness. It is a fundamental building block, part of the glue that holds society together, and just a flat-out lovely thing to give of yourself.

And speaking of yourself, be sure to extend kindness your own way throughout the course of your daily life.

We’re often our own harshest critic and toughest taskmasters. We let our inner monologues say things to us that we’d likely never sit ideally by and take on the chin if someone else said the same words to us.

In many other ways, we can be unwittingly or unintentionally harsh on ourselves, too. Find methods to be kinder to yourself, such as listing at least three things a day that you did which you’re proud of yourself for, engaging in acts of self-care, carving out time to focus on your deepest passions, ensuring that you’re spiritual needs are being looked after, connecting with nature, making your health a priority, and doing things that are just plain fun.

How to stay magickally focused this year (and beyond)

Much like with New Year’s resolutions, which are notorious for starting strong and fizzling out long before the intended goal was reached, it is possible to head into a brand new year with the aim of making it a more magickally focused one and quickly lose steam.

To help prevent this from happening, I encourage you to be realistic. You do not need to do all of the entries on this list, nor do you necessarily need to do more than one of them at a time (though some do have a natural degree of overlap).

Start with the one(s) that speak to you most powerfully or which you’ve already been meaning to incorporate into your spiritual path to a greater degree. Consider approaching some now and others later in the year.

If, as the year progresses, you feel overworked, overwhelmed or like you do not have enough time, scale back, but stay mindful of ways to apply the guiding principles that appealed to you in the first place to your life and magickal workings.

Consider keeping track (journaling, social media posts, book of shadows/grimoire entries, etc) of which approaches you’re currently engaging with and what sorts of results you’re experiencing.

Use these ideas as jumping-off points for other ways that you can continue to make this one of your most meaningful and magically focused years.

And remember, to have fun, be realistic, never stop growing and evolving, and to celebrate each day that you’re blessed to draw air.

Here’s to 2020 and all of the magick it holds in store for each of us!

The post 12 ways to live a more magickally focused year appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.