Returning to Spiritual Practice

When it comes to maintaining a consistent spiritual practice, I’ll be the first to admit that this is an area I could definitely improve in. I struggle with consistency at the best of times, so when life gets crazy (as it inevitably always seems to do), unfortunately my practice often takes the back burner.

When this happens—when I lose my spiritual groove, or fall out of touch with my craft for a while, I find that it’s often quite difficult to get back into it again. Despite the fact that I know my life and sanity will improve exponentially when I do pick it up again, for whatever reason I struggle to take that first step. Having had some time away from my spiritual practice, sometimes I’m just not sure how to go about getting back into it.

April, for instance, was an insanely busy month for me, as I was pretty much exclusively focused on writing papers for my courses and planning out my summer research. Then after I submitted my final paper, I spent about a week straight doing virtually nothing but playing Animal Crossing—excessive escapism at its finest. Did I go a little overboard there? Probably. But I definitely think I needed the break.

Now that this little break is done, and I’m slowly starting to immerse myself in research and writing once again, I’m also in the process of returning to a consistent spiritual practice, so that I can truly start feeling connected and alive again.

I know that I feel my best when I am living in a spiritually-engaged state. I know this, and yet, I still allow my spiritual practice to fall to the side whenever things get hectic.

I like that saying— “you should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” It’s so true—the busier one is, the more time they should take to foster stillness and contemplation.

Unfortunately, I’ve never been very good at taking my own advice, or doing the things that I know are good for me. Is it self-sabotage? Maybe. But I think I also struggle with the notion of productivity, and tend to feel quite guilty when I’m not doing the things I would necessarily deem “productive.”

I’ve come to realize that I often fall into unhealthy patterns of procrastinating, feeling guilty about procrastinating, and then working extra hard to make up for it. Of course, this inevitably leads to burnout, and then something like a week of sitting on the couch playing Animal Crossing to recover from it.

Procrastination. Guilt. Working too hard. Burnout. Unhealthy mental recovery habits. Repeat.

What a life. And unfortunately, not one that leaves much room for spiritual practice. Particularly when I find myself in these periods of intense work, I find it hard to justify taking even fifteen minutes a day to meditate or do yoga, or even just pull a few tarot cards. If I do, I feel guilty all over again for not being “productive” enough, which errects a barrier to genuine spiritual experience.

After years of falling back into these unhelpful patterns, I’ve come to learn that what I really need (in addition to better time management skills) is a shift in mindset, so that I am able to see spiritual practice as something that is productive and worthwhile in its own right.

Spiritual practice—whether expressed through pantheistic reverence, pagan rituals, witchcraft, meditation, whatever—helps me find balance, stability, and mental clarity, ultimately making the rest of the “productive” work I undertake that much easier. I’m learning (however slowly) that it can’t be go-go-go all the time—every now and then I need to take a step back, breathe, and really appreciate the magic that is with and all around me.

I’m also slowly learning to take a more holistic approach to life in general, including balancing work, play, spirituality, etc., and appreciating where these areas may actually overlap. My academic research for instance, continues to overlap with my spiritual interests more and more, so I consider myself quite lucky in that regard.

Increasingly, I’m applying an integrated perspective to spirituality, wherein it permeates almost everything I do. There are so many things that we can all do on a daily basis to infuse our everyday lives with magic, and to blur the boundaries between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Sometimes this might involve something like casting little spells here and there throughout the day, such as setting your intention while putting on lipstick in the morning, saying an incantation with your afternoon coffee, or throwing up a quick protection spell before leaving the house. Other times though, all that’s needed to enchant your daily life is simply a change in mindset–going from seeing the world as mundane and inert to vibrant and utterly alive.

I believe that the most important factor in achieving this change is, quite simply, mindfulness. As a “skeptical” witch, as a pantheistic pagan, and as a nature lover, while I find casting spells and pulling tarot cards and the like to be fun and often highly enriching, I also realize that the most intense “magical” experiences I’ve had have been while doing seemingly mundane things, such as taking a walk through an overgrown garden or swimming in a crystal clear lake. Moments when I have been fully present in the world, and appreciative of the utter beauty of my surroundings. Here, I am able to get out of my own head, as the ego steps aside so that I may reassert myself within the great web of interconnected being.

And this, this feeling of interconnectedness, of holistic unity—this is what it’s all about for me.

Personally, my spirituality isn’t about any “otherworld.” It isn’t about deities or unseen spirits. It’s about this world and the magic that runs through all of it, if only we can pause long enough to see it.

And this pausing, this mindfulness, is ultimately the number one thing that has been helping me get back into my spiritual practice lately. Simply taking the time to appreciate the enchanted wonder of this world, and immerse myself within its vibrancy.

Seven Tips for Getting Back into Spiritual Practice

In addition to practicing mindfulness, I’ve put together a list of a few more things that have been helping me ease myself back into a regular, consistent, and effective spiritual practice, after over a month (!) of doing very little in this area. Hopefully these tips will be helpful for you, whether you may also be unsure of how to get back into a spiritual/witchcraft practice after taking some time off, or if you find that you’ve been stuck in a spiritual rut lately!

1. Start Small

I know some people can just jump right into things full force, but unfortunately, I don’t operate like that. Whether it’s a major project, a lifestyle change, or a new spiritual practice, I find that I need to take my time and ease into it, starting small and working my way up from there.

So, don’t feel bad if you don’t feel quite ready to dive right into your witchcraft or spirituality headfirst. Be kind to yourself, and take it at whatever pace feels right.

If you’re trying to build up to a daily spiritual practice, maybe just start by doing one small thing a day, such as lighting a candle and pulling an oracle card, doing five minutes of yoga in the morning, or setting your intentions for the day as you water your plants. Remember, nothing is too small, and it doesn’t take very long for little daily actions like these to become habits!

Any kind of spiritual practice, witchcraft/pagan-based or otherwise doesn’t have to be big and flashy all the time. It is whatever you make it!

2. Remember Nothing is Invalid

Building off of the previous point, keep in mind that when it comes to your personal spiritual or witchy practice, nothing is invalid. If something works for you, then no one has the right to tell you that it’s not “good enough”—not even those who may seem to be of particular authority on the subject.

When it comes to witchcraft in particular, there is no right or wrong way of doing things. Of course, there will always be “tradition,” and particular traditional ways of doing things, but it’s up to you whether you necessarily want to stick with them, or do things your own way. Personally, I’m a big fan of the latter, as I believe that any kind of spiritual or magical practice is most powerful when its tailored to YOU as the individual practitioner, created to suite your own specific needs. So, while I am respectful of tradition, and certainly draw inspiration from it, I also think it’s important to figure out what your own unique practice looks like. And if it’s something that differs from what other people seem to be doing, I say just embrace it and go with it!

In keeping with this note on empowered witchcraft, I would highly recommend checking out this video by my favourite witchy YouTuber, Kelly-Ann Maddox on finding your personal power within the craft. One of the reasons why I love Kelly-Ann’s videos so much is because unlike a lot of other witchy YouTubers who seem to cover the same witchcraft basics or “wicca 101” over and over again, she’s much more focused on helping people walk their own path—for her, witchcraft and spirituality are largely about finding what vibes with you (what makes you feel “fizzy” as she puts it) rather than simply going along with pre-existing templates of what we think a witch “should” look like.

Your witchcraft, your spiritual practice, whatever it might be, is your own. Don’t be afraid to experiment with and incorporate things that may seem weird or different. Because as long as you’re not hurting anyone, when it comes to your personal spirituality, it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

3. Buy Yourself Something New (If You Can)

So this one might be a little controversial, particularly as we’re currently in the midst of a pandemic and many of us are out of work, but I have to admit that sometimes buying myself something to add to my witchy collection comes with a renewed excitement for my spiritual practice, and ends up being that little extra boost I need to get going with it again.

Of course, though witchcraft, particularly the kind of “aesthetic” witchcraft we see a lot of online these days tends to be associated with lots of stuff, the truth is that you don’t actually need any of it to practice the craft. All you really need is your mind and a clear intention. So, if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like to spend much money (or any money at all) on your witchcraft/spirituality, your practice is just as valid as someone who drops a lot of cash on tools and trinkets.

Personally, I like stuff. I’m a collector, and a little bit of a hoarder. I like to be surrounded by objects that excite me spiritually—things that help pull me out of my mundane, everyday reality, and help situate me in a much more spiritually heightened, magical existence.

Crystals, candles, tarot cards, incense burners, plants, you name it, I want it. Generally, I like to fill my sacred space with objects that have particular meaning to me, either because someone I care about gave them to me, because they symbolize something important to me, or because I’ve assigned them a certain meaning, and can therefore be reminded of whatever that may be when I look at or use these things.

As often as possible I try to buy things for my sacred space from thrift shops, as second-hand buying is better for the environment and can yield some pretty neat finds. However, with a lot of thrift shops and other stores closed right now, it’s a great time to support independent creators and small online businesses if you have the means!

4. Clean and Reorganize Your Sacred Space

I definitely feel like this suggestion makes it into a lot of the blog posts I write, but that’s probably just because it’s such a great thing to do for so many reasons, including getting excited about your spiritual practice again!

A cleaned and newly organized or decorated sacred space can do absolute wonders for getting rid of stagnant energies, really lighting up that spiritual spark within. As someone who falls into the “new materialism” school of thought, I strongly believe that our physical environments have a huge impact on how we think and feel, as the mind is not limited to the brain or body, but actually extends out into the world.

If your space feels cramped, cluttered, disorganized, etc., then chances are your mind is going to be a reflection of that state. If you find you’re struggling to get back into a spiritual practice, or find yourself in a bit of an uninspired rut, try doing some spring cleaning, and see if that helps!

5. Find Your Rhythm

This tip is inspired by the Morgan Le Faye card in The Goddess Oracle, as she represents “Rhythms” in this deck.

I’m just going to put the whole description here, as I think it’s a really important message that could be of benefit to anyone and everyone:

Morgan le Faye has come dancing into your life with her drums and her magic to invite you to discover and live your rhythms. What are your personal rhythms? Do you know the best time for you to exercise, sleep, eat, be creative, make love, work, et cetera? Or do you spend all your vitality adjusting to the rhythms imposed on you by your work, family, lover, friends? Have you been submerged in the life of another and lived his/her rhythms instead of your own? Perhaps you never discovered your own rhythms because you wanted to please those around you and be “one of the team.” It is vital for you to live according to your own rhythms. Flowing with your rhythm brings you greater energy because you are no longer suppressing what is natural to you. Morgan le Faye says vitality, health, and wholeness are nurtured when you flow with your own unique beat rather than against it.

This is crucial. And not just for attempting to find your way back into a consistent spiritual practice—it applies to all areas of life, and is key for all of us to keep in mind.

Of course, with the pandemic still upon us, and many of our usual routines disrupted, it may seem like a difficult time to attempt to discover our personal rhythms… but in some ways, having everything thrown out of whack like this may make getting in touch with ourselves even more important now than ever.

I know when the pandemic first hit, I was pretty overwhelmed by anxiety, and was finding it hard to find any semblance of balance or normalcy. Since then, my mental health has been through its ups and downs, and my rhythms have been all over the place. I even went through a couple weeks where I was sleeping most of the day, and then staying up until four or five in the morning. And though that kind of schedule certainly works for some people, I felt pretty awful for most of that time.

I’ve since been working on getting myself back into a schedule and routine that works for me, with my own rhythms. This has meant paying close attention to my body, and figuring out what feels “right” and what doesn’t, including when the best times for spiritually-centred activities may be.

A lot of people suggest engaging in daily spiritual practice either first thing in the morning, or in the evening before bed. And while I’m sure this certainly works for many individuals, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will for you, or that you have to force yourself into a schedule that someone else has laid out.

While I used to try to meditate or spend time at the altar right after I woke up, I’ve since found that if I want to keep a consistent practice, it works better for me to do these things in the afternoon, usually before lunch. While I like the idea of a morning spiritual practice, I also recognize that I am not by any means a morning person, and I tend to function better in all facets of life after I’ve had my tea and a couple hours to really wake up.

If you’re having trouble getting into your spiritual practice or keeping it consistent, try experimenting with changing up your schedule, and finding your own personal rhythms. Of course, I realize that as a grad student who works predominantly from home, I’m quite fortunate in that I have a fairly flexible schedule to play around with. But even if your schedule is more constrained by things like work and family, there are always aspects of it that you can try shifting, even if it’s only seemingly small things, like a daily tarot draw, or lighting a candle for your patron.

Remember Morgan le Faye’s message, and move with your personal rhythms and flows, rather than trying to push against them!

6. Make it Fun!

Contrary to what some might expect, witchcraft (and any form of personal spiritual practice!) doesn’t have to be serious and solemn all the time. On the contrary, I’m a big believer in the notion that witchcraft can and often should be FUN!

Particularly if you feel as though you’re in a rut with your practice, try incorporating some new activities that you love, or that get you excited. Remember, just because it doesn’t look necessarily “witchy” or “spiritual” to others doesn’t mean that it can’t be meaningful or transformative for you.

The main elements that I like to bring into my practice when I feel the need for a little more joy and excitement include art magic, wild dancing, and glamour magic (all of which I hope to write posts on soon).

Since basically anything can be made magical, or somehow incorporated into witchcraft, think about some of the things that you enjoy doing, and consider how you might weave them into your practice. The possibilities here are quite literally endless!

7. Seek Inspiration Everywhere

Inspiration exists all around us, and if we are open to it, it will find us.

If you feel like your spiritual practice is stuck in a rut, or if you’re having trouble finding that motivation to really get back into your craft, look for inspiration wherever you can.

You may find it in blogs (hopefully!) like this one, or in YouTube videos. Seek out creators whose content resonates with you, and be open to learning from them.

You might also find inspiration in art, in music, in TV shows or movies. When it comes to empowering your own practice, nothing is “too trivial” or silly. If something strikes you spiritually, or leaves an impression on you, then embrace it, and use it to amp up your practice.

Finally, never forget that there is endless inspiration to be found in nature. Returning to the point that I began with, it is so important to be mindful as you move through the world. Nature itself is the epicentre of creativity—from the unfurling of leaves as they begin to sprout from the trees, to the spray of the ocean’s waves as they crash up against the shore, its potential is limitless. Particularly now, as life is beginning to return to the Earth in the Northern Hemisphere, signs of its creativity are abundant. Let yourself be inspired by nature’s continuous unfolding—who knows what might result from it!

Hopefully you found some of these tips helpful if you too are stuck in a spiritual rut, or having a hard time getting back into your practice. Just remember—always be kind to yourself, and take things at whatever pace feels right to you.

As always thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions or things that help you build up your spiritual practice, I’d love to read about them!