I often share on my own blog my struggles with anxiety, and how trying to address that anxiety actually brought me back to my own craft after a few years of being caught up in the corporate rat-race.

Writing for a community like Witch Swap gives me the opportunity to share again, with more people, this really important message: you are not alone. And these feelings do not define you.

Anxiety comes in all shapes and forms, and some of us suffer from it on a daily basis. But in times like the one we’re living in right now, when every single news item seems to be ominous, and we are fearing for our health, the safety of our loved ones, our planet and even our lives, anxiety can get to even those of us who thought we didn’t suffer it.

I can’t tell you how to cure COVID-19, because I am not a scientist. But maybe, just maybe, I can share with you how I use my practice to manage and soothe my own anxiety. Perhaps it will help you, too.

Start every morning with gratitude.

Before you even pick up your phone, see the notifications from the news, from social media and texts from your mother/father/aunt/friend who is constantly checking up to see if you have a cough, I want you to take a moment. Take a few minutes just to breathe, to come into your own body and to be present. Focus on your breath and fill yourself with thoughts of the good things in your life. If you can’t think of anything, think of how puppies exist, and how they fall over their own feet. Think about how (in the Northern Hemisphere), flowers are beginning to push through the earth and come out to greet the strengthening sunshine. Remember that there are thousands, millions of witches out there who get you, and who care about you. Think of love.

Meditate.

I cannot stress enough how important meditation is in my battle with anxiety. Before I made meditation a big part of my daily routine, I could barely sit still. Now, despite how difficult I found it to get the hang of the old ‘clear your mind’ habit, I’ve got it. And trust me, those five, ten, or forty minutes of quiet presence and breathwork can do absolute wonders for anyone, regardless of faith or practice. Add a bit of burning sage or bay leaf (I’m obsessed with that smell right now), and you’ve got a recipe for relaxation.

Chat with your deities.

For me, I tend to speak to ‘The Goddess’ in a holistic kind of way. That divine feminine energy that keeps the earth turning and plants growing and animals birthing. You don’t have to have a deity specifically to speak to – maybe for you it’s God, or Spirit, or The Universe. But opening that dialogue and reiterating that belief that there is more than you and me and just the people and things on this planet can open doors to levels of calm you never knew existed. If it’s been a while since you connected with a higher something or someone, why don’t you give yourself a few minutes to do that now?

Magic can be worked when there is no specific purpose.

News flash – you don’t need a particular reason to practice magic. You don’t need to have a list of love spells, money-drawing spells or fear yourself cursed to call circle and bring the spirits to aid you. I like to draw a circle sometimes just to meditate, to commune with myself and with the Universe, with Spirit, with the Goddess. You can ask them to help you to be strong during these really difficult times. You can make them a small offering to thank them for your health, happiness, the love in your life. Maybe it’s time to re-dedicate yourself to them. Whichever way you work your practice, there is magic to be made.

Remember that YOU are the magic.

I will never stop saying this: you are your own magic. Your magic comes from you, and not from the supplies you have or your crystal collection. Yes, those things are amazing, and we all love treasures. But if you find yourself at a friend’s place and feeling anxious, or caught unaware without your full altar setup, YOU CAN STILL PRACTICE MAGIC. Say a prayer to your deity, or to Spirit. Be with yourself, light a birthday candle in the shape of a champagne bottle you found in the kitchen drawer (true story). Focus your intentions, and just sit with the mystical energy that comes from you.

There is magic in nature.

Don’t forget that the easiest way to reconnect with yourself and with the earth is to get out into nature. I know that we’re encouraged to stay home a bit more at the moment, but perhaps there is a park or nature reserve nearby that you could take a walk-in. See some ducks swimming in a river, or watch some birds feathering their nests in preparation for welcoming their families. Nature always brings me such comfort, and reminds me that we are all connected, and that the earth nourishes witches who love the earth.

Be kind to yourself.

When there is a media storm about something like COVID-19, we can find ourselves swept up in a whirlwind of collective panic. It’s so easy to let our self-care slip. Now, more than ever, it’s important that you take the time and energy to ensure that you are giving yourself the best possible fighting chance of having a good day today. Even though things are scary right now, prioritize your own mental and physical health, and never forget to find time to laugh. Because we all know that’s the best medicine. That, and Thieves’ Oil.

Blessings,

xxK