Being a Witch Can Be Expensive? Minimalist Witchcraft.

[euripides]

Listening to a youtuber who says 'let's face it, witchcraft can be expensive'... um, ok. Maybe your shiny youtube version is. And if crystals are your Thing, that could perhaps get expensive but how many do you really need? It seems to me that it's really easy to turn an enthusiasm for the material paraphernalia of an activity into a consumerist parody. What do you really need to be a witch? For some folk, nothing other than a pair of walking shoes and a patch of nature.  A window and the moon. A stone you've picked up and put in your pocket. You might want a vessel, a blade. A few dollar store candles. Make yourself a wand from a small branch of an oak tree. Buy a sage seedling.  Salt is cheap.

 

 

 

[Lady Butterfly]

I agree with you @archimedea, it could be pricey, but it certainly doesn't have to be.

 

35 minutes ago, archimedea said:

Listening to a youtuber who says 'let's face it, witchcraft can be expensive'... um, ok. Maybe your shiny youtube version is

Perhaps it should be rephrased to something more along the lines of: It can be expensive to look like a witch.

[euripides]

24 minutes ago, Lady Butterfly said:

I agree with you @archimedea, it could be pricey, but it certainly doesn't have to be.

 

Perhaps it should be rephrased to something more along the lines of: It can be expensive to look like a witch.

Yes I was pretty pleased to find some low key people who aren't all about the goth garb and silver bling.

 

I think we do this with everything - planners where it's all about the stationery. And suff can be cool, but I think the youtube/insta content churn, plus those folk jonesing for free review products, has really amplified it. I think we really need to resist this trend - part of tbe reason I'm here on Tarotea is to get away from the social mefia culture.

[katrinka]

The most famous seers and magical practitioners, pagan and otherwise, tended to live simply, even if they were making a tidy living. Large amounts of cash were reportedly found in Aunt Caroline Dye's house after she passed, but the two photos of her that exist show her dressed neatly and humbly in plain-looking clothes.
Biddy Early scryed in a simple little blue glass bottle.
Kenneth Mackenzie, if he existed, probably used an adder stone.
There are exceptions - I'm sure Marie Laveau was kind of flamboyant - but for the most part, people who like to dress up and use a lot of props are - well, dressing up and using a lot of props.
 

[Raggydoll]

An elderly and very experienced Saami shaman once said that “if you think you need tools (like a drum) - then you do, and if you think you need spells/galdrs/songs - then you do, and if you think you need herbs, oils and ointments - then you do.” No matter how it’s done, the results are the same. No better or worse. And to quote Castaneda “All paths are the same - they lead nowhere.” What matters is that you choose what works for you and what nourish you on a deep level. That is the path that “has a heart”. 

 

So that’s one side of it. The other side is this: People might not think they need lots of tools, they might simply like them and want them. And I don’t have an opinion on that. To each their own. And I think it’s good that people are different.

 

BUT. I do agree that it is the consumeristic and shiny version of witchcraft that is currently being displayed the most on social media. And that is a potential problem because it might give newbies a distorted view on what is truly necessary. I am sure it has people comparing themselves a lot and worrying more about aesthetics than results. And I have actually heard a famous witch say that she found herself holding back and editing her altar, knowing that other witches would comment on it on social media (she often featured her Sacred space in videos etc, trying to create valuable resources on the topic of witchcraft.)

 

Personally I am very much a minimalist. I have very few tools and most of them were created by me, found in nature or bought in thrift stores. I am also a minimalist when it comes to the practice itself. This means that I don’t perform magic on a regular basis. I rather deal with life and wait out things. But when I do do magic, then I will have a really important purpose and I will make it count. 

 

[Flaxen]

24 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

BUT. I do agree that it is the consumeristic and shiny version of witchcraft that is currently being displayed the most on social media. And that is a potential problem because it might give newbies a distorted view on what is truly necessary.

I agree and it leaves people a bit vulnerable to feeling that they need it to be a ‘proper’ witch. Don’t know if anyone else is a Terry Pratchett fan but Granny Weatherwax would have no truck with any of it. 😁

 

The desire for ‘stuff’ has massively increased as in line with social media use. I’m glad I discovered tarot at a time when most people just ended up with whatever deck the local shop sold. For years I only had two decks and it helped me hone my reading skills without the distraction of the ‘next big thing’. It meant having to work through all the tricky phases when learning a new skill instead of thinking that the next deck would be ‘the one’. 

[euripides]

Yeah I guess I have to remember to put in the usual 'each to their own' caviat, too. And there's nothing wrong with enjoying the paraphernalia or the aesthetic. I'm thinking there can be some good to it - conversations around these things and sharing enjoyment of things can be very bonding - and I think having some of this stuff with which to 'announce' their identity could probably be a useful thing for young practitioners. I think young folk generally have that stage of really trying to signal their identity to the world.

 

I've just come across Youtuber Thorn Mooney who talks about this issue from this sort of perspective. She's brilliant, I think I'm a fan. She's taking no nonsense. Though it helps, having been out of the loop, that I'm not aware of the tumblr/tube/community dramas that seem to have prompted some of her commentary, just enjoying that it reflects the way I think.

 

I oscillate wildly between acquiring loads of clutter and trying to be more minimalist. I used to do the whole layered hippie boho thing. My current black is more corporate than goth lol.  And the chances of me coming back to this thread in a year having spent irresponsible amounts on books are good... or is that bad?

[Raggydoll]

15 minutes ago, Flaxen said:

I agree and it leaves people a bit vulnerable to feeling that they need it to be a ‘proper’ witch. Don’t know if anyone else is a Terry Pratchett fan but Granny Weatherwax would have no truck with any of it. 😁

 

The desire for ‘stuff’ has massively increased as in line with social media use. I’m glad I discovered tarot at a time when most people just ended up with whatever deck the local shop sold. For years I only had two decks and it helped me hone my reading skills without the distraction of the ‘next big thing’. It meant having to work through all the tricky phases when learning a new skill instead of thinking that the next deck would be ‘the one’. 

Yes. This is my favorite YouTuber for no-nonsense minimalist witchcraft:

 

 

 

[gregory]

42 minutes ago, Flaxen said:

I agree and it leaves people a bit vulnerable to feeling that they need it to be a ‘proper’ witch. Don’t know if anyone else is a Terry Pratchett fan but Granny Weatherwax would have no truck with any of it. 😁

 

The two actual witches I know IRL have no paraphernalia at all. Absolutely none. Granny would be proud of them.

[ilweran]

I found Wicca as a teenager and threw myself into it, so have a fair amount of paraphernalia, some of it gifts, some cheap, some sightly less cheap. Even then, 25 years ago people were having this conversation.

 

I wouldn't call myself Wiccan now. More generic pagan. Don't need any of that stuff now, even at the time I knew I didn't really. Most of it is in my grandmother's old display cabinet now , my little boy and I were looking through it this morning. He loves looking at the crystals, and asking why I have a knife that looks like a small sword...

[Raggydoll]

44 minutes ago, ilweran said:

Most of it is in my grandmother's old display cabinet now , my little boy and I were looking through it this morning. He loves looking at the crystals, and asking why I have a knife that looks like a small sword...

Aww! 💜 I like to invite my sons into my Sacred areas and I have also enlisted the oldest (4,5 year old) to choose what items to put in our prosperity bag. It was a nice moment where we said thanks for everything we had and created a wish/plea that we may continue to be so blessed in the future. I realized just what a great taste in stones he had. That bag contained one of the nicest selections I’ve ever seen 😊

[DanielJUK]

I remember back on AT, Sulis used to always challenge people who were pagan / wiccan / witches and bought all the items to make their spiritual altar or place of worship. I mean from some shops online you can buy a complete pack to be a wiccan but it's all Chinese made tacky stuff. It's not personal or spiritual, it's consumerism spirituality. She would always make the point that spirituality comes from the things you find and make they have a meaning to you. Do you really want a wand with made in china on the bottom, one of 10,000 mass produced that day? or do you want to have a walk in nature and pick up a (FREE) stick you find!

 

Whatever improves or makes people feel more spiritual, I am not a moral guardian but personal things have a much more special meaning to me. Yes you can be spiritual with absolutely nothing (oooh that is very the hermit) or have everything on your altar like the magician. If we have learnt anything from all the religions over the years, money doesn't buy spirituality, it's a progress or study you work at and pay attention to.

[ilweran]

@Raggydoll my lovely boy is six and he particularly likes a piece of fluorite. He helps me pick beads for jewellery making as well and has made some of his own. And of course anyone who had been on the creative thread will know we made a Greenman and Greenwoman together. We've just been out on a little bug hunt in the garden - butterfly spotting today, the massively overgrown buddleia is living up to its name!

 

@DanielJUK 20 odd years ago I'd have claimed to have no ability to make anything myself. Yet now I've needle felted Elen of the Ways, and despite the fact I'm supposed to be making jewellery to eventually sell, I keep making special pieces.

 

And at the super cheap end, as said above, I've made a Greenman & woman with my little boy. I've also been stringing rowan berries.

 

Overall though, I'd prefer to be outside watching the butterflies than having an altar the denizens of Instagram would approve of.

[Eric13]

Well said @archimedea Somehow, I have a feeling that for centuries witches didnt go down to their local metaphysics shop and buy ready made objects. 

[Raggydoll]

21 minutes ago, Eric said:

Well said @archimedea Somehow, I have a feeling that for centuries witches didnt go down to their local metaphysics shop and buy ready made objects. 

Yeah and they would probably not order dragons blood incense from China. It’s become a thing to use exotic ingredients. I think many would benefit from getting to know their local environments instead. Lots and lots of powerful herbs and plants for free. 

[Eric13]

Locally made dragons blood is far more better. Especially when you know the person who makes it. 

Bats blood is pretty good too. 

Edited September 14, 2019 by Eric13
Bats blood.

[Raggydoll]

9 minutes ago, Eric said:

Locally made dragons blood is far more better. Especially when you know the person who makes it. 

Bats blood is pretty good too. 

Sure. But a proper, old-school witch use their own blood. Or so I’m told ☺️ 

[Eric13]

You never know.

I'm no witch, but I've had to take a crash course in deflecting bad spells and negative energy. 

I just read an article that said it's now scientifically proven Frankense helps those who are mentally unbalanced. 

[gregory]

For a non witch, that might not be such a hot idea....

 

People have known for YEARS that frankincense helps with depression etc; it's hardly "now proven". Mental "unbalance" is something else entirely. I can show you a serious article in Science Daily from 2008 for a start - and I could (if I could be bothered) find many older ones.

[Raggydoll]

1 hour ago, Eric said:

You never know.

I'm no witch, but I've had to take a crash course in deflecting bad spells and negative energy. 

That does not sound pleasant, but is it possible that you are misunderstanding things? I know there are some people that actively try to send out bad shit to others. I don’t get it. Why waste your energy on that? My own best defense is very simple. I just don’t care. I hug my kids, kiss my spouse or talk to my friends. And then I know exactly what’s real and what matters.  

1 hour ago, Eric said:

I just read an article that said it's now scientifically proven Frankense helps those who are mentally unbalanced. 

I’m not sure if you’re talking about yourself or handing out random advice. As a rule we always suggest that people seek medical help if they are unwell. 

[Eric13]

No @Raggydoll.

Honestly, this is just ridiculous. 

[Saturn Celeste]

Please, let's keep innuendo off this thread and stick to the topic. We ask all of our members to please contact staff if there is a problem with anything or anyone on this site.

[gregory]

What is ridiculous ? The idea that frankincense has been shown to help with depression ? I just wanted to make sure that no-one thought it could help with other serious conditions; it can't. But for depression - yes in some ways.

 

I agree with raggy that we should not be suggesting medical treatments to anyone. I haven't forgotten the death of a much loved member of AT which came as the direct result of someone pushing an alternative treatment and other members jumping on the bandwagon because "YAY alternative, better than medical treatment." 

Edited September 14, 2019 by gregory

[katrinka]

7 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

So that’s one side of it. The other side is this: People might not think they need lots of tools, they might simply like them and want them. And I don’t have an opinion on that. To each their own. And I think it’s good that people are different.

Occasionally treating yourself to something you like is fine. As long as people are conscious of that and don't think that they need it in order to do this or that, I don't see an issue.
We should all think about why we want to purchase an object, and be honest with ourselves. There's a big difference between a want and a need.

7 hours ago, Flaxen said:

The desire for ‘stuff’ has massively increased as in line with social media use. 

Amen to that.
I'm sure that there are people out there who think that you need crystals all over the table to read cards. But nobody did that before the internet.

 

There's a general tendency to problem-solve these days by thinking "What can I buy for this?" first. We've been bombarded with advertising all our lives and conditioned to do that, and it limits us a lot. Often there's something you can do, or make from what you have available already. "Necessity is the mother of invention", as they say.

7 hours ago, Flaxen said:

I’m glad I discovered tarot at a time when most people just ended up with whatever deck the local shop sold. For years I only had two decks and it helped me hone my reading skills without the distraction of the ‘next big thing’. It meant having to work through all the tricky phases when learning a new skill instead of thinking that the next deck would be ‘the one’. 

Yes! Decks and books were scarce, so we studied what we had. Any obsession we had was channeled into that.
I don't envy the people who are just starting out. It's too easy to get caught in the trap of Looking For Mr. Gooddeck.

17 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

 As a rule we always suggest that people seek medical help if they are unwell. 

Always.
You can find a lot of articles that say things are "scientifically proven."  Most of them are clickbait. You have to fact check these things: Is it peer reviewed? Are there other articles debunking it? What studies were done, and who funded them?
If I had a sick child and I tried to cure him with frankincense, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, or prayer instead of seeking legitimate treatment and that child died, I would be held responsible. And rightfully so.
I have a real issue with the term "alternative medicine", because in most cases, it's NOT a viable alternative. I think calling it "complementary treatment" would be a much better term. By all means, burn frankincense if you're already under a doctor's care. Just don't do it INSTEAD OF seeking treatment.

[gregory]

5 minutes ago, katrinka said:

I have a real issue with the term "alternative medicine", because in most cases, it's NOT a viable alternative. I think calling it "complementary treatment" would be a much better term. By all means, burn frankincense if you're already under a doctor's care. Just don't do it INSTEAD OF seeking treatment.

OMG I agree with katrinka. I think I need to go lie down. (You remember memries, katrinka  - I bet ? Lovely lady... )