The Everyday Witch

Paganism is a living tradition. It isn’t meant to be on a shelf, taken out only when you feel a need to interact with it. Paganism is meant to be lived, experienced and practiced. This doesn’t have to be difficult or awkward. In fact, it really shouldn’t be.

Each day there are many ways to walk your path even on the well traveled road. When doing something with intent even a task you have done countless times can be a magical and sacred act. From the color of your shirt to the meal you prepare there are ways to align the mundane with the sacred. These are some ideas to get you started. You will likely have many more ideas of your own in no time!

Each day of the week has an energy associated with it. Monday is ideal for feminine concerns and emotions. Tuesday is great for business and strength. Wednesday rules communication and technology. Thursday can help with issues of abundance and energy. Friday is good to work with the energy of romance and love. Saturday’s energy is great for banishing and protection. Sunday magic aids in wealth and success. Of course there are more correspondences for each day, but these can get you started. Add in the phase of the moon, time of year and even planetary alignments and you can get even more creative. Each day also has an associated deity and color. For example, you could dress in the color of the day to attract certain energies to you in conjunction with doing a candle spell and working with a particular deity for that day. There is plenty to work into your daily routine for some added magic.

The Buddhist tradition has a wonderful saying: "Before Enlightenment chop wood carry water. After Enlightenment, chop wood carry water.” The chore is still there to be done, but your intent can make all the difference in the world. When making your bed, think of peaceful things. Focus your intent on a restful space which invites tranquil sleep and good dreams. When gardening, send gratitude to the soil that will nurture your plants and vegetables. Send love to all that grows there. When cleaning the house, magically cleanse as well. Use empowered floor washes, charged with your intent, to the water. This can be done by brewing a tea with herbs and adding a part of the tea to your water. To bring prosperity into the home, for example, brew a tea with mint or basil and add it to the water. Wash in a clockwise direction from the front door inward. To rid the home of stagnant or negative energy, add a protection herb such as rosemary or bay and clean in a counter-clockwise direction towards the front door. When doing laundry, add protection to the clothing by chanting over the water as it fills the washing machine. Better yet, add a bit of tea made from lavender and/or rose to the water to bring love and harmony to those who wear them. Again, this is limited by your imagination. Any chore can be made into a spiritual act!

This is probably the easiest way to add a sacred, enchanting element to your day. Even making tea can be a loving and spiritual act when intent is added. Foods and herbs have associated energies and can feed more than just the physical body. There are many excellent lists of herbal correspondences available, so I won’t give a complete breakdown here. I can, however, give you a quick idea based on herbs you probably already have sitting in your kitchen. I do have to add a caveat here - please keep in mind that you should not meddle in anyone’s free will. When you add intent to something meant for another you are merely sending blessings and healing where needed. Okay, with that said, here are some ideas. To bring prosperity, mint and cinnamon are excellent. If you are preparing a family meal for a group that normally ends up bickering, you can add sage, rosemary, anise or something sweet. When preparing the food, stay focused on your intent and stay in that energy. So, if you intend to prepare food to bring peace, stay centered and tranquil. Think calming thoughts. Stir clockwise to bring an energy to you, counter-clockwise to banish an energy.

When journeying along any spiritual path, it is important to walk your talk to the best of your ability. Make your beliefs part of your life in an active way. It is nice to talk about helping others but it is even better to actually do it. This will not only be good for the community but it is good for your soul as well. If your path puts an emphasis on hospitality, then be certain that you honor those who visit your home (within reason, of course!). If you walk a path that holds trees as sacred, do something that will benefit trees - even if it means picking up trash in your local park as you are walking in it. Your actions do not have to be grand. Even the smallest thing can be of great importance. If the only thing that you can do is to clean up after yourself, then that matters! Maybe your action is simply to smile at someone who looks sad. Never underestimate the smallest of kindnesses. It may mean the world to someone else.

There are so many ways that you can bring your practice to life. The more you connect, the stronger it will be. Intent is so important in all that we do. Also, these are simply ideas to get you started. Make it your own. Incorporate your own ideas into your everyday path and bring it forward. Play, connect and have fun! That should be part of everyone’s journey!