​The other day I read “The Hidden Messages in Water” by Masaru Emoto. I was already aware of his work, but had not read his book until now. His experiments have shown that water, which makes up approximately 60% of the human body, can be positively or negatively affected by our thoughts and words. Beautiful crystal formations are made by water when exposed to positive words, whether spoke or written; regardless of the language used. Even beautiful pictures and music have this same effect. The opposite is true of the same kinds of negative stimuli. Instead of pretty crystal structures there were only partially formed or deformed structures found. To me, this says a lot about how our thoughts, how we talk to ourselves, and how we let others talk to us affects our bodies and out health.
There is a lot of talk these days about positive and manifesting, and this experiment scientifically shows how true this is. According to this study, while love grows elegant crystals, when combined with gratitude, it is even more spectacular. In fact, gratitude alone had better results. In his book, he compared it to a water molecule (H2O), saying that if it were, then love would represent oxygen (1) part and gratitude would represent hydrogen (2 parts). This combination had powerful healing properties.
 We all know water is good for us, but imagine the extra benefits of positivity infused water! Regardless of the message you want to convey, the water can be infused by talking to it, sitting it on a picture, or writing the words on paper and wrapping them around the container so the water can “read” it. Yes, it appears the water gets the message that is written, and it does not matter what language it is written in either.
We tend to take water for granted, but if you think about it, it is so amazing. Healing, life sustaining, and refreshing. We truly cannot live without it.
My take from this is simple: Positive energy, in any form, breeds more positive energy, in many forms. It is a powerful, natural, universal element necessary for life and good health (on every level). For all the benefits it provides, it takes so little effort to spread it everywhere. So the question is, how do you talk to yourself and others? Will you be listening more closely to the words you use, or do you do this already?

They say you should dress for the job you want, which leads me to the question…do you dress your witchy style 24/7, or do you reserve it for ritual or special occasions? Do you have a whole witchy aesthetic, or do you subtly accessorize? Personally, I am still trying to work out my dark witchy style, but I do wear a lot of black (my favourite colour/shade), and I like to accessorize with witchy jewelry that not only makes me feel witchy, but can also double as a working talisman or amulet. I will admit there are certain fashion elements I really love, but avoid wearing, due to my own self-consciousness. We all have our own hurdles in life, unfortunately, one of mine is body issues. I am working on it. Do you do the same? Do you avoid certain things that might make your heart sing because you worry how others may see you, or that society (or friends/family) may deem them “inappropriate”?
 It is interesting what images come up for people when they think of witches. There are the old stereotypes of hags with wrinkled faces and warts hidden in hooded cloaks. However, there are also images of long robes, puffy or bell sleeves, pointed hats, renaissance style dresses, wreaths of flowers in the hair, and all manner of “other worldly” and fairy like images that come to mind as well. Which is, in itself, interesting, since we seem to be cast in some fairy tale-ish light, when in reality, many of us are home doing spells in our yoga or sweat pants and a tank top, or nothing at all. While the clothes themselves do not make the witch, they can put that witch in the right frame of mind to keep on with her bad self. Clothes are often confidence boosters, especially when they make us feel fabulous, and those little accessories that we wear (especially if there is a restricting dress code at work), can not only help give us a confidence boost, but also surround us with those good witchy vibes to keep us going, or even protect us from negative energies throughout the day. Whether you wear crystals*, keep a spell on you, or choose something symbolic for jewelry to wear openly, or keep it hidden in your pocket (or bra, if you wear one) is up to you; sometimes it is the little things that can help the most. Just knowing it is there, or even touching it can help.
When it comes right down to it, whether you dress to the nines in your most witchy outfits every day, accessorize to keep it low key, or keep your witchy self all to yourself, it is all personal preference. Public or private, you are no more, or less, a witch for it. That said, stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new can be scary but liberating.

*Please make sure any crystals you choose to wear on your person (especially close to your skin) are non-toxic and non-soluble.

​Not every witch likes to grow things, or is very good at it (we can’t all have a green thumb), but for those of us that do, what do you grow? Do you grow all your own herbs for cooking and craft? Do you have a tea garden to keep fully stocked for your morning/evening self-care rituals? Maybe you like to grow as much of your own food as you can. Or perhaps you just like to keep your space filled with pretty plants and flowers that make your heart sing and your spirit soar. Whatever you grow, and for whatever reason, gardening is one way to keep us grounded and close to nature; even in the city. Not only do plants look pretty, they clean the air of pollutants (through photosynthesis), and studies have shown they can reduce stress levels, aid in a quicker recovery from illness, and there is even something called Horticulture Therapy or Potted Plant Therapy where patients who suffer from like depression, anxiety, and addictions are prescribed plants*! These are only some of the benefits of having house plants. They truly are miraculous.
Personally, I don’t have yard space to grow anything, so all my plants are in pots. My little deck is a small jungle all summer, and during the colder months they take up my little dining room and parts of my living room. I can’t imagine not having plants in my house. Some of mine are for witchy use, many of them I saw and felt they just had to come home with me. I enjoy researching all their health benefits when I get them home. What benefits they provide physically, mentally, or spiritually usually gives me a clue as to why I was so drawn to them in the first place. Does anyone else do that too, or is that just a weird me thing? I love the individual personalities and energies of plants. I have one particular diva bonsai that I grew from seed, he is not what I thought he was supposed to be when I bought the seeds, but he is one of the most interesting personalities in my little garden. Shedding whole branches at the bottom to grow new ones at the top, and eventually seeming to throw a tantrum and dropping everything, but suddenly growing a whole new set of branches and just thriving now. Sometimes I am not sure what he is doing, but I just let him be himself, and support him. Do your have plants with big personalities? Do you talk to your plants? Meditate with/amongst them? Do you have your favourite(s)? I would love to hear all about your garden, your diva plants, your favourites, anything you would like to share.
 
*You can find lots of good info on this here: https://www.talkspace.com/blog/plant-therapy/

​Part of being a witch, or even just being spiritual, is making the connection with the Earth/Nature and the universe/all that is. If you live in a city you may find you have to make a concerted effort to find ways to do this. It can be difficult to find safe quiet spaces to tune in to nature inside a busy city. Not to mention that city life can be hectic and fast paced, very loud, and full of many (sometimes conflicting) energies. This can sometimes feel draining, and while spending time in nature is an excellent way to ground, center, and recharge your energy, it is not always possible to get away. One way to bring nature into your life, of course, is to have house plants. While not everyone has a green thumb, there are some houseplants that are quite easy to care for if you would like to try, and even some that are nearly impossible to kill. One such plant goes by many names. Dinosaur Plant, Rose of Jericho, and Resurrection Plant just to name a few. You can not water this plant for years, and then give it a little sip, and it will unfurl and grow for you. Some other interesting plants that need little attention are the Snake Plant, Zz Plant, Yucca, Haworthia, and the Jade Plant. Having even one plant to care for, talk to (yes, you really should talk to your plants), and connect with can help keep that connection to nature going even when you schedule is full and you just can’t get away. Plants also help keep your living environment feeling alive and clean by scrubbing the air of pollutants and converting CO2 to oxygen. If you have more than one plant, you can experiment with trying to connect with them and feeling the different energies they emit.
If plants are not your thing, or you just can’t have them, there are other ways to make those connections too:

1. Making time, with mindfulness, to enjoy the sun or moon; whichever your preference may be.
2. Working with the elements. Candles and incense are easily used indoors (use safely and never leave unattended), opening a window to feel the breeze on your skin, taking a cleansing bath or shower, collecting crystals that make you happy (meditating with them is a good way to connect with their energies), get a small table top water fountain, or anything else you can think of that connects you with the elements.
3. Cooking/eating mindfully, using good healthy ingredients, acknowledging where they came from, and nourishing your body with good/good tasting food that makes you happy.
4. Grounding and centering your own energies and mingling them with Earth’s/the Universe’s energies.
5. Connecting with the Genius Loci. If you are not familiar with this term, it refers to the natural energies/spirit of a place. In Roman times it was thought every place had a protective spirit, which was called the genius loci. In more modern times we may consider this less of an actual guardian spirit, and more of the atmosphere or energy of a place. Regardless of how you think of it, connecting with the genius loci of your personal space/particular location could be a good way of connecting with your home as well as the Earth/Nature.
6. Finding a safe green space to walk barefoot in the grass ( called Earthing). This is said to decrease stress, help you sleep better, improve blood flow, and many other healthy benefits. If you can find a place to lay down and relax, or sit with your back against a tree and ground yourself, even better!
7. Try tuning in to the “hum” of the city. It has its own natural rhythms that, if you tune into them, you may find you connect better with the city itself (which is, in a sense, its own living, breathing organism).

There are lots of ways to help one feel grounded and connected to the Earth, even in the city. Find whatever works for you. Experiment. Choose a few activities to do over a few weeks, and see how you feel after doing them. Keep a journal to keep track, if that speaks to you. So, what activities make you feel connected? Do you prefer to do the little things when you can, or do you like to plan bigger trips into nature so you can enjoy it for days at a time? Do you enjoy big city energies, or do you prefer the energies of the country more? Or maybe you fall somewhere in between?

There are many books available to teach anyone about the many different types of witchcraft and how to practice them. I have read more than my fair share of them, for sure. The question is, does reading/learning about and creating your own experiences through it make you a witch? In my opinion, yes. While there are some practices that have initiation rites and a structured hierarchy (and if that is your chosen path, I do suggest seeking out a coven to discuss it), this path is not for everyone. If you are a solitary practitioner, like myself and many of my friends, your initiation would be more of a dedication; not necessarily to a particular god or goddess either. Your dedication can simply be to practice your craft to the best of your ability and in a way that is for your highest good. You can choose to follow a particular path or pantheon, or choose the more eclectic path; as long as it feels right for you.
Now, that is not to say that there are not those who would tell you that unless you have been initiated by a High Priest/Priestess you are not a real witch. That if you don’t have the right tools, or know the proper rituals you can’t be a witch. There are even those who will tell you that if it is not in your blood/lineage you are not a witch. That is fine for them to believe, but you should never let anyone tell you who you are or what you believe. You cannot gatekeep faith. The fact that (as I believe) we have all lived many lives among different cultures with different beliefs and practices means our souls, whether we consciously remember or not, have had many experiences that still shape us/our personalities and contribute to what we believe in and are drawn to in this life time.
So what does make a witch then? As it says above the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi; “Know Thyself”; your beliefs, your desires, your gifts and limitations, everything you can learn about yourself is important because it is you. All you really need is you, your dedication to your path/purpose, and your openness to the universe and your connection to it all. Everything else is knowledge (hopefully) turned wisdom. Never stop learning.
So what do you really believe in? Is there a pantheon that speaks to you do you feel drawn to aspects of many? Are you more comfortable practicing solitary, or would you prefer the comradery of a coven? Will you choose to dedicate yourself to a particular god/goddess, wait for one to be drawn to you, or would you prefer not to dedicate yourself to any one god/goddess in particular? It is all up to you!