Hobbies are not only fun but also enriching. They give us purpose and make our conversations more interesting. When you learn a new skill, not only does your knowledge increase, but also your self-esteem. There are so many reasons to pick up something new: helps develop patience, and social skills, releases stress and challenges you. But did you know that it can also elevate your witchcraft? Some hobbies can unlock new areas of your craft when completed with intention. Here's a quick overview of 10 of my favorites.
1. Astrology
Astrology is the study of the stars, moon, and planets to understand ourselves and relate to the world at large. By studying the placements of your birth chart, you can get a deeper understanding of why you are the person you are. There are a couple of different methods for categorizing celestial placements. Western astrology focuses more on horoscopes, utilizing twelve stations based on the classical Greek zodiac. It also focuses on the path of the sun across the sky through constellations. Chinese astrology uses a 12-year cycle, each named after 12 animals that are used to indicate different personalities and characteristics.
2. Candle Making
With the number of candles I go through, it's no wonder I learned candle making. While witches can easily get candles from stores such as the Dollar Store or Dollar Tree, I love being able to put mine in fancy containers or have them scented with my desired scent. Also, by adding a small amount of coloring, I can turn a pack of plain white tealights into any color I wish.
3. Gardening
Nothing screams witch more than getting your hands in the dirt and watching something grow. There is a powerful feeling, almost primal, when you harvest your herbs and food. Seeing all of your hard work come together in beautiful flowers, delicious food, and healing medicine. For me, it's a lot like alchemy, taking a small seed and adding a bit of this and a bit of that until it turns into a full plant. Gardening will also enrich your daily life by opening your eyes to your local neighborhood. What grows near you? What attracts the most pollinators? It also gives you a chance to be more social because a beautiful garden always entices admirers.
4. Cooking
After all that hard work harvesting herbs and vegetables, what better way to relax than with a delicious home-cooked meal? Ask any kitchen witch and they're sure to tell you how beneficial it is to cook your food with your own two hands. Every bite of food becomes nourishment to your soul and body. Part of witchcraft is taking the mundane and realizing there is magic there and cooking is no different. From the very basics, every recipe is like reading a spell from a spellbook, each ingredient brings energy and flavor.
5. Meditation
Meditation is an extremely beneficial skill for any person, witch or not. It's so useful that Navy Seals train to meditate as an anti-torture method. Being able to turn off the world around you and focus purely inward is an amazing ability that not everyone can do. It took a few years for me to truly feel I was proficient and now I use meditation every morning to mentally prepare myself for the day ahead. It's a moment you gift yourself before the world hurls its demands on you. Once you feel confident in meditating, you'll discover that divination becomes much easier. Being able to receive messages and visions will come more naturally.
6. Genealogy
If you work with ancestral spirits, this is a hobby that you need to pick up. Not only is genealogy highly fascinating, but it's also useful for witches in more ways than you realize. When you research your ancestors and get actual names, dates, and places, you can start to piece together their lives. What was going on at that time? Was your ancestor unable to live his/her truth? Did they live through war? famine? plague? These life events shaped our ancestors and may have caused some ancestral trauma that needs healing. You could benefit not only your life but the lives of your children by doing the shadow work and breaking the cycle.
Although many ancestry websites allow a free trial period, you don't have to use an expensive website to learn about your family. Libraries and Court Houses hold public record documents such as death certificates, marriage certificates, and census counts. The great thing is these are all public notices, meaning anyone can view them. Also, check with your local Mormon church. Genealogy is a very important part of their religion and they'll often share their databases if you ask them.
If you are adopted or you don't have a good relationship with your family, you aren't left out. Family is who we choose. Your adopted family became your true family, or the friends and mentors you surrounded yourself with become your family. Make your family tree with them included.
7. Hiking
As a witch, we are closer intuned with nature. We honor the seasons passing and celebrate the changes. What better way to expand your craft than by fully immersing yourself in nature? Grab your tennis shoes and start by taking a walk around the block. Feel the breeze through your hair, and the sun on your face, and take notice of any trees or animals nearby. Even in the densest of cities, nature prevails. Not only will the exercise increase your serotonin levels, but seeing different parts of your city and taking new routes helps the brain function.
8. Sewing
Have you ever heard of a stitch witch? These practitioners weave magic using knots and string. If you're looking for a calming hobby that can be done anywhere, perhaps sewing can do the trick. There are some spells that witches chant as they are sewing, or you can bless any knots you make when you finish with a section of a string. Some witches even draw chalk sigils onto their cloth beforehand so the stitches cover the outline when finished. It's a great way to infuse magic into a piece without anyone being the wiser. Sewing is a great skill for a witch to learn, even if he/she doesn't plan on creating large projects. Being able to sew a sachet, dream pillow, or hidden crystal pocket into your clothing is a great way to include magic into other parts of your life that don't require lots of skill or training.
9. Geology
Witches love shiny rocks. Why not turn that love into a hobby? Dig a little deeper (literally) and discover how your favorite crystals are made. What elements had to mold together to become your favorite stone? What types of sediment and rocks are in your local area? If you're really lucky, you may live near a quarry and can visit to see what you can find. And if you know what goes into making a crystal, you can define alternative properties to a crystal. For example, carbon spends thousands of years under intense heat and pressure to become what we know as a diamond. Therefore, it's only logical that the diamond can be called upon when you need the patience to get through a very stressful time. Imagine all of the magical knowledge you could gain by doing a little geology research!
10. Reading
I'm sure you already do this. I mean, come on, you're reading this article right now! Pat yourself on the back! Most of witchcraft is learning from each other and those that came before us. There is so much knowledge to be gained in every book, blog, or journal. When I was a beginner witch I had a notebook that I would keep next to my chair. Every time I stumbled across some information from the internet or the current book I was reading, I would write it down in my notebook. The sounds of pen scratching against paper were constant. But it was that pursuit of knowledge that really accelerated me into my craft. Even if you read something you don't agree with, you have now read an alternative viewpoint and can compare it to your own. Historical texts on witchcraft can be horrendously false, but even that is a way of learning because you can draw conclusions based on the world at the time. I love reading about how much has changed and how we have evolved. And sometimes reading another witch's blog lets you know that you are not alone, there are others out in the world that are similar to you.
Sources:
https://www.skilledatlife.com/why-hobbies-are-important/#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20reasons%20why%20all%20of%20us,8%20It%20increases%20your%20knowledge.%20...%20More%20items
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