Meditation is a powerful tool for witches.
It helps with awareness, creativity and focus, all of which are essential for spellwork, creating rituals, and even everyday life.
Creating a regular meditation practice will support your life in magickal and practical ways. Grab a cauldron of your favorite tea and let’s explore this further.
What is Meditation?
While the practice of meditation has been around for centuries, it has become more popular and more mainstream in recent decades. There are many forms of meditation practiced for religious, spiritual and cultural reasons.
But the goal of it is generally the same, creating a “slower mind”. We all live in such a way that our busy lifestyle creates an equally busy mind. Stress is rampant. Time committed to relaxation is way down.
Meditation can help by allowing our mind to rest, relax and rejuvenate. It allows us to return to our center. That place where the things we want most live within us. Where we can naturally find the inspiration and direction we need to get ourselves on track and stay on track.
In short, meditation is about being in and experiencing the present moment.
The Power of Meditation
Meditation has been labeled as “woo woo” and of course, that term has become thrown around so much that it now means everything from spiritual to snake oil.
But meditation is both powerful and effective.
I’m skipping over the science (although it’s fascinating too) and getting right to why meditation is effective. When meditating, the incoming information slows down. Emotions are not so heightened. Sensory inputs reduce. We don’t overthink to the point of rumination. We get a break from the information overload that has become part of daily life for many of us. Essentially, our brain gets a reset.
The Benefits of Meditation
- We get out of fight or flight mode
- Reduced anxiety and stress
- Improved focus and clarity
- More empathy for others
- Improvement in creativity and memory
- Better sleep
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Meditation for Witches
For the witch, life is a blend of the magickal and the practical. Meditation offers up a way to simultaneously work in both of those areas.
For example, using meditation will improve your intuition. That helps in both your magickal and mundane life. Whether you’re reading tarot cards, tapping into wisdom from your spirit guides or just navigating everyday situations, intuition can help guide you through it.
With meditation comes increased ability to focus and concentrate. Both things are important for your workday but also for spell casting, raising energy and doing rituals.
Less stress is a benefit for you in every way. Through meditation, there’s also a chance to cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself. Self-awareness, self-love, confidence and embracing your unique gifts are all part of that.
Problem-solving, creativity, recognizing the interconnectedness of all, and creating deeper connection to the divine (however you define it) are also benefits of practicing meditation. All these things help you in many practical and magickal ways.
We all want to live our best witchy life and meditation is a part of that. It helps us feel calm, centered, grounded, and that supports us creating lives we love. Ones that are filled with peace, flow and joy. Meditation may not be the only tool you’ll use, but it certainly can be an effective practical tool for connecting to your magickal side.
How to Get Started
How’s this for a little magick? You can get started creating your meditation practice in as little as 10 minutes a day! Cool right?
Anything new is going to feel hard at first and this is the same. There’s a learning curve. So whenever starting something new, I recommend starting small. Do it every day for just 10 minutes. This way, you are establishing the habit in small steps that feel do-able. (Eventually, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.)
Here’s a few things that can help you get started:
- Anything new feels hard at first. Allow yourself some grace and bring a beginner’s mind into it. You may need to remind yourself that before you can run, you need to walk.
- Start slow. 10 minutes is fine. If that feels like too much, start with 5. If that feels like too much, then try just one minute. Build from there.
- Set up a spot for your meditation practice. Anywhere that you feel comfortable is fine. It need not be elaborate.
- Set a routine for yourself. You might begin with 10 minutes each morning or set aside time at lunch or at bedtime. Try a variety of things until you find what works for you. Then stick to it.
- Accountability can help establish good habits. Make a deal with a friend or family member to hold you to it. This can make a big difference in whether you keep going or quit.
- Share the fun with someone else. Just as accountability can help keep you on track, doing this with a friend or partner can also make it feel like fun.
You can also take your practice on the road.
If meditation conjures up images of sitting in a yurt deep in the woods or being cross-legged on a cushion while wearing a robe, I have good news for you. None of that is necessary.
You can take your practice just about anywhere.
Try this: The Waiting in Line Practice
While waiting in a long line, focus on your breath or visualize something you wish to manifest into your life. You might also pass the time by saying a mantra over and over in your head. This counts.
It’s a great way to bring a little magickal to the mundane too. Now, going to the grocery store or the post office feels a little more magickal doesn’t it?
Here at Ravynwood, there’s never a one-size-fits-all approach to anything. I just don’t believe in it. So, remember to experiment and when you find what works, tailor your meditation practice to suit you.
Common Challenges to Creating a Meditation Practice
There are a few things that are likely to come up if you ask someone why their attempt at a meditation practice didn’t go well or if they feel like creating a meditation practice just isn’t working for them.
- Not having enough time
This is a big one. Most of us feel a little time crunched these days. Finding time in our ever-busier schedules can feel almost impossible.
Here’s the thing.
We make time for what we believe is important. If you find yourself saying “I don’t have time”, check in with yourself. Do you not have time or are you unwilling to make the time? There’s a significant difference.
- Distractions
Distractions are another common issue. Everything demands our attention, right? To minimize it, choose a time that’s quieter in your day to give it a go. Let everyone know that this is your “me time” and you’re not to be disturbed. Turn off devices, and just let yourself focus on the present. Everything else will wait.
- Being uncomfortable during meditation
This is another thing that can prevent you from meditating. It might be that you get restless or bored. Experiment with different times of day, different clothing or locations for your sessions. Vary the length of time.
You might also benefit from creating a ritual around it or attaching your meditation session to something else you’re already doing, like adding it to your yoga practice for example.
- Feeling discouraged
This is a common thing to feel when trying something new and it doesn’t feel like it’s working for you. Allow yourself some grace and keep going. It will get easier, and you’ll start to see the payoffs.
To help get you over the hump, I’ve put together a few reminders that you can use when things feel hard.
- We can do hard things as Glennon Doyle reminds us. I use this as a mantra when I’m feeling frustrated, or things are not going well. I repeat to myself “I can do hard things” and keep moving forward, no matter how slowly I’m going.
- “Put one foot in front of the other” as the song from Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970) reminds us. Play this for a fun reminder. (Besides, who doesn’t love this show? It makes me smile.) Find it here.
- Share your frustrations with someone. Sometimes all we need to do is be heard. Then we can continue on.
Don’t forget that this is not a one-size-fits-all thing. Try different things. Don’t give up.
Meditation Techniques to Try
There’s lots of different options available. Here’s 3 to try as you begin experimenting with what works for your meditation practice.
- Guided Meditations – There’s a lot of options available from meditations to meet spirit guides or power animals to progressive relaxation types. YouTube has lots of guided meditations to choose from. Just search for guided meditations in the search bar and select one to get started.
- Seated Meditations – this is the classic form where you’re seated comfortably, eyes closed.
- Moving Meditations – going for a walk in nature or movement like yoga, tai chi or qi gong can all be just what you need to support body, mind and spirit. Experiment with different options to see what is best for you.
Summary
Here at Ravynwood, we believe there’s no one size fits all approach to anything. There’s room for all things.
The most important aspect is if they work for you. The suggestions here are to inspire you to create the perfect-for-you meditation practice that pays off.
In witchery and in life, it’s important to find your own rhythm.
Blessed be.
You might like these too:
Create Your Gratitude Practice
How to Use Crystals for Magickal & Mundane Witchy Life
Witch Life: 6 Powerful Ways to Create Resilience
Karen
