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Prompt 25. Sunday 7th October 2018 - The 25th prompt will be.. Practice for the budget/broke practitioner!
Starting out in any new practice can be truly daunting, where to start? What to buy? What books do I need? What tools? Supplies? Materials? Ok.. Overwhelming is an understatement.. If you read my blog post on ‘Supplies What to buy and Where’ you’ll have a general idea of what’s available or even expected.. the kind of tools and supplies for basics and such forth but what about those of us who are on a tight budget or worse completely broke? As mentioned in my last blog you absolutely do not need to buy anything in order to practice Witchcraft, Paganism such as Wicca or any other Spiritual Practices. So in this blog post I thought I’d bring you some of the best tools and ingredients from the budget / broke practitioner.
1. Books and free online resources:
So first of all let's address the book situation. As always books are a go to source for information and opinions, I’ve said before how I absolutely love to read / hear different peoples opinions, takes and practices on same or similar subjects.. I digress. As I was saying books are a great resource although perhaps not every library is going to be well stocked in witchy, paganism, occult, magick etc type books.. This then leads to a few other sources so 1. You can find extremely reasonable second hand booked on ebay and amazon. But if you’re completely broke (or don’t exactly want those huge doorstops advertising your new interest to anyone who sees them) feel free to hit the internet sourcing free materials such as this blog, other blogs, facebook groups etc. Even pinterest, youtube and Instagram can be a great insight into what others are doing. – Granted seeing what others are doing can be intimidating (and cause mass splurging wanting to buy all the pretty things) but don’t worry once you break the fear of practicing you’ll be well on your way.. You may even wish to consider other sources such as audiobooks from places such as audible and itunes. Did I mention all the amazing YouTubers?!
2. Buy in bulk (and/or trade):
While this may not lean itself towards those of us who are completely broke it is definitely great for the long term users; often you can get a great discount if supplies such as herbs are purchased in bulk lots like instead of a couple of grams buy a few kilograms this will not only last longer but be more product for your money - be aware that herbs and such go off over time and do have a use by date. Which brings me to my next point which is to trade. If you have excess rosemary why not trade with a friend who bought a bulk load of jasmine and another who bought a bulk load of lavender and another who bought a bulk load of.. You get the idea.
3. Trade / Swap:
As I just mentioned you can always trade goods with friends, fellow community members, coven members etc. I'm sure there's facebook groups setup for this type of thing and of course trade can also be for money, other goods and services. You may also swap other items such as tools or handmade goods in order to aid your practice and others - if you have a skill why not put it to use?
4. Back to nature:
In my previous blogs I mentioned how a lot of traditional tools and supplies would have been picked from nature or sourced from nature be it herbs, plants, weeds, bark, resin etc or even sticks, stones, bones, antlers, dirt, sand, water, feathers, etc.. A great many things can be sourced and made from nature.
Bones can be used to create tools such as bowls, knives, spoons, cups etc. They can also be turned into bone casting runes or have other runes such as Elder Futhark Runes engraved into them. They can be used in jewellery, home decor, wards and other hangings. They can be used in practice for spell and rituals and many other workings. Same goes for antler and other animal remains like feathers, teeth and skin (such as snake skin). If you have pets you may also be able to obtain whiskers, claws, hair etc which has naturally come off the animal of course. Other animal products may include wool.
Dirt / Sand / Water and other elements that can be found and gathered including beach sand, dirt from graveyards or crossroads or other sacred or even none sacred spaces, water from the sea, lake, ocean, river, rain etc. Water can be blessed or have other properties such as moon water, storm water, sea water etc. Water such as seawater or ocean water carries a lot of powerful properties (please don't drink it) but you can anoint yourself and other items, use it in ritual and other workings, as a representation of water and more.
I wrote a blog on the properties of seaglass and how it carries all the elements throughout it's journey from fire and earth used to make the glass originally right through to air, earth and sea as it's tumbled and smoothed.
Other beach finds could include rocks and pebbles that you paint or use as are, seaweed, moss, algae, shell, bird feathers, dried dead starfish, crab parts, found objects, driftwood etc. Even sand itself as it's good for burning charcoal discs upon or burning candles upon etc.
Flowers / Leaves / Plants / Herbs Etc.. These are all items that can be sourced in the wild, grown at home, found in our gardens, woods, parks etc. These can be used in spells, incense and a variety of other magickal uses. They can even be used in offerings to deity, fae, ancestors etc. Plant parts that haven't been chemically treated can also be used in tea, tinctures, baths, skin care etc. (Please do your research.) And as said you can always grow your own.
Sticks / branches will make for excellent tools as they can be carved into wands, stirring tools, used in makings of items like wards, wall hangings, markings, division lines, athame, etc.. They could be carved, used for burning, larger branches and smaller sticks can make a traditional besom (or broom). Woven into baskets. There's a lot that can be done with sticks.
Stones and Rocks can be found in parks, woods, beaches, mountains, cliffs and other areas. You may get lucky and find some quartz or other crystals depending on where you live. But other stones such as those with natural holes in them are often known as hagstones, fairystones, wishstones or adder stone these stones all have a naturally occurring hole right through them (this is not a man made hole). Here's a post (not by me) which gives more information on hagstones: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-hagstone-2562519.. Stones and rocks can also be used to crush ingredients much like a primitive mortar and pestle. Rocks can be painted and used as elemental markers, deity symbols, other symbols and well a lot of painted rock uses as well as decor and even jewellery items which could be charmed.
5. Hand me downs & second hand shops:
Items handed down through generations, family, friends, neighbours, fellow witches etc. This can also include free goods from sites such as freecycle here in the UK or Craigslist in the US (please be careful when dealing with strangers especially entering a strangers house! always exercise extreme caution as not everything is always as it seems!) but great deals can be found..
Same goes for second hand shops, while the items are not free you may find some great deals as well..
Items to look out for are things like any tables, stands, shelves, bookcases etc anything that can be used as an altar table or storage even medicine cabinets, display cabinets, sideboards etc. Then you can get tools be it tools for your craft or tools to craft tools with. You can also get bowls and crockery, fabrics, art supplies and much more. Some may even have books, figures, jars, apothecary items, spice jars/racks, and other items. Broken jewellery can be fixed and worn or used to adorn other items. Jewellery boxes and other boxes are great to store everything from tarot decks to specialist items or even make yourself a manifestation box.
The beauty of secondhand despite finding some absolute unique pieces and bargains be it cheap or free is that even if you dislike the colour it can be painted or altered in some way to personalise the item to be your own unique item. Even mundane items can become extremely witchy with a lick of paint and some clever spoken words. You can even turn old clothing and fabric into altar cloths, throws, spell/mojo/storage bags, cloaks, decor, cushion covers and more..
Glass wear can be used as a chalice, Pans and other heatproof containers as cauldrons, Bowls etc, Mortar and Pestle, Storage, Figurines, Ornaments, Statues, Craft supplies (both art and magickal) and much more.
6. Recycled jars & containers:
I happen to know for a fact just how easy these things are to come by. First of all any lovers of meat paste, coffee, jam, marmalade, sauces etc is going to become your best friend also anyone who has a baby / younge toddler etc.. People who buy other jar goods like pickled items, hotdogs, spreads.. And right there you've got yourself a collection of varying types and sizes. Even herbs come in reusable glass containers. All of these jars can be left alone, painted, add labels, ribbons, decorate in many ways or not and can hold various items from herbs and resins to stones, trinkets, jewellery, seaglass, water, found objects, spell jars, sand and more...
Failing obtaining these jars for free people tend to sell such items at silly prices on Ebay and Etsy and even local selling groups as often people buy them for wedding purposes (centerpieces / table decor etc). Sometimes these things are donated to charity shops. But some places like Wilkos, Poundland/DollarTree/DollarStore, Ikea and a few others carry jars sometimes quite inexpensively.
But why stop at glass jars? Any container that can be washed is reusable.. So ice cream tubs, baby formula cans, gravy containers, sweet tins, pringles tubs are but a few that sprint to mind that can be decorated with paint, scrapbook paper or even decoupage with newspaper or decorative napkins or left as is.
You may even get lucky with glass bottles, reusable perfume bottles, ashtrays, sweet jars/containers, apothecary jars and bottles, baskets, bowls, trinket and jewellery boxes and other storage items too..
7. Candles:
Candles are another item that can be sourced quite cheaply or they can be expensive.. but making your own candles can be very cost effective either buying wax and wicks to make your own or melting down candles. - Sometimes pre-used candles can come with a stigma of you don't know what energies or uses those candles had. So like most other pre-used / pre-loved / pre-owned items you way with to Cleanse, Charge and Consecrate them. Candles can also be anointed, have items added too such as oils, herbs and stones. They can be reformed by being poured into heatproof silicone moulds.
8. Salt:
Salts has a lot of protective properties; in fact one of my upcoming blogs is going to be dedicated to different salts and some ideas of what you can use salt for in your practice. But sea salt, rock salt, himalayan pink rock salt, witches black salt, epsom salt etc etc are just some kinds of salts that can be used with great power within your craft such as for protection, cleanse, purification and more. Salt isn't overly expensive either and can be stored in some of them upcycled jars or bottles.. Or kept in their original packaging just keep in mind that salt is very absorbent of damp / moisture and negative energies..
9. Junk Drawers:
You will be amazed what you find hiding in the backs of your drawers, sewing boxes, bottoms of your jewellery boxes, or in that ever growing junk drawer, that odds and ends screw jar or button jar etc.. Found items can be used to make your own rune set. Items for altering other items or adhoring handmade items such as wands, witchy boxes, spell jars etc.. A deck of playing cards which you could be used as is or custom modify into a tarot deck. Pins/Needles can be used in banishing magick or in hoodoo workings among others. String and ribbon can be used in magickal practices ie knot spells or binding spells. Keys are magickal all on their own same with mirrors. Jewellery; broken jewellery, odd earrings, bits of old necklaces, odd pendants without chains, or even just jewellery than can be repurposed or charmed. Other items might include old coins or buttons.. Misc junk, scrap, metal, paper etc etc. Paper can be wrote upon and burnt - I personally use cigarette papers for this. Heck my junk drawer also contains lighters since I use to smoke some 5+ years ago.. You will be amazed at the treasure trove you have going on.. Marbles or mirrors for scrying etc. You might even find some birthday candles (or wish candles as I like to call them), matches, other candles too. Spoons or knives, even letter openers might make for some awesome stirring, measuring, cutting tools etc or even as an athame (my athame is a letter opener and my working knife is a penknife).
10. Journal / Diary / Notebooks / Technology:
Sourcing these may not be free but all pound shops and dollar stores stock paper and writing materials like pens, pencils and most I assume carry notebooks and diaries to.. Use purchased paper, another is to buy in bulk and then use as is (with a pen you found in your junk drawer perhaps) or alter to customise it with pens, stamps, paints, other found objects, decoupage and pretty papers, sometimes you can find free craft resources or samples including patterned paper, tissue paper, paper napkins.. You could also DIY a bookmark or charm page minder. Other ideas may be to use your computer, tablet or phone - I know many people who have digital book of shadows (remember to back it up, or even print out pages as you see fit).
11. DIY Jewellery vs Cheap jewellery:
As a jewellery maker I probably shouldn't give away some tips of my trade but I'm here to help you out.. First of all making jewellery isn't actually as easy as it look, bending and forming wire isn't that simple and knotting elastic or fine threads aren't always that simple either. But financially (if you take out the cost of your time to make) you can make a whole bunch of personal jewellery pieces from amulets to talismans and charmed items and more.. You could purchase inexpensive beads in the stones you love for metaphysical properties although as I have mentioned before you may also need to know the properties of some stones as some contain ill health properties that could make you sick while others may dissolve in water or discolour in direct sunlight here are a few I have sourced and found out about HERE. Alternatively Charity Shops, Ebay, Second Hand Stores etc all source Semi Precious Stones and Jewellery Pieces from time to time some of which would be ideal. I know a few years back I sourced a silver metal choker which had 9 pieces of Amethyst on it for 99p, at a carboot I purchased an Amethyst bracelet for 50p and a carnelian necklace that was missing one stone but I was able to repurpose. Other options may include sites like aliexpress as I have a number of bat themed, raven/crow, planchet, amulet, locket, vial, cameo etc etc necklaces all for very cheaply from aliexpress.
12. DIY:
If you haven't guessed by now then DIY can be your best friend even though sometimes craft supplies aren't cheap but if you use upcycled, recycled, cheap or free items to make what you can yourself. As mentioned you can make jewellery but you can also make jewellery from cheap or free supplies such as antler, wood, shell, stones and drilling a hole or wire/cord wrapping etc. Other DIY may include things like making your own candles or altering candles to include herbs, oils, stones, scents, other candles or to remould them to shapes using various heatproof moulds such as silicone food moulds. Other DIY items might include corn dolls (or voodoo dolls) made from corn, grass or similar woven items such as the as mentioned baskets for gathering and storage. Woold can be used to knit or crochet tarot bags, herb bags or other textiles. Paint cheap boxes or jewellery boxes to make them suit your need or even create a manifestation box which you can fill with free/cheap items. DIY items can be traded, swapped or sold which would be a great source of income to be able to afford those more pricier items you have your heart set on; but as mentioned you don't need them.
13. Free Practice:
Practice comes in various forms and types some free things you could do to connect to nature/spirituality/the craft etc includes grounding yourself, meditation, prayer, self cleansing (with water, sunlight, moonlight), practicing mindfulness, gratitude, even charity work and doing good for others. Other free workings may include creating your own Sigils, Runes or Ciphers. You could also look up some spoken spells or spells that require no tools or physical items.. Or that require only you or metaphysical abilities. Some spells and working are created through sexual climax (this includes solo or consenting partner/partners). Some workings can be achieved through imagination or inner self exploration. Being humble, modest, living a green life, reducing your footprint, being vegetarian/vegan etc.. Workings can be solely done through emotional connections. Dream workings. Scrying in reflective surfaces. Dowsing with any string/chain like item and weight. Enchanting and charming items. Using the clair senses or other abilities.
Activity..
- Practice a more frugal lifestyle for a few weeks or months living on less and perhaps if possible donating that extra to a worthy charity or cause OR support independent businesses who would benefit greatly from your purchase(s).
- Have a clearout and either sell, trade or donate items you don't really need or use to either new practitioners, charities, facebook groups etc.
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Book Activity..
(Optional) Copy down any information from above you think you will find useful.. and/or any further information you find out.
Interact with me Activity..
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Thank you all for the support. For anyone wishing to share, ask for help, talk about BoS / their book and relevant content (or for more information, ideas and unmissable blog posts go to the Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/
Imogen x
Next Blog: Sunday October 14th's BoS Prompt: The Urban / Modern Witch supplies!
