Magic on a Budget


Okay, I know this isn�t a topic from which only �youngster� can benefit, but money does play a factor in how we practice magic. Let me begin by dispelling a few myths about magic:

1. Myth --The price of the magical material dictates its effectiveness. This is just wrong. You do not need expensive altar items. The value of an item when performing magic is mainly from your confidence and the items connection to your spirit. Yes, purchasing a silver athames and bejeweled chalice may make it feel special to you, but if you have a mug given to you by a dear friend or a pocket knife given to you by your dad, those items are equally if not more valuable.

2. Myth --You require extremely exotic herbs or gemstones for spells to accurately cast spells. Some herbs and stones favor the energies associated with magic more so than others, but practically every herb and stone can be substituted for a cheaper one with similar properties. Get to know your correspondences, which can be found in our Book of Shadows.

3. Myth --I should invest in candles and incenses specifically made for magic. That really isn�t necessary. First, do you really believe those wholesale companies advertising magical candles and incense have a team of dedicated witches making them properly? As a general rule, most candles are pretty much the same as any other. If you would like to buy candles, incense, or oil made specifically for a ritual, buy from a witch you trust because even if there is a powerful witch making the stuff, you don�t know what�s in their aura or what type of magic they�re practicing.

4. Myth -- I need to change everything about my appearance and home when I become pagan. Yes, we all know them, the pagans who have to go out and purchase a new black wardrobe, pentacle jewelry, and invest in a lot of fairy posters and black lights. There is nothing wrong with having half of you closet full of black vinyl corsets, but it�s not necessary. You do not need to completely redefine your image when you start practicing magic. It may make you feel rebellious and free, but it�s also expensive and doesn�t allow for much variety really. You may want to wear something special when casting spells, but I would recommend just putting on whatever makes you feel the best at the time. Cultivating your magical side is less a practice in altering one�s physical state. It�s about your heart, spirit, and mind.

Great post Stacey. I have actually met one or two people who have changed their whole appearance etc. I enjoy my beliefs in the privacey of my home, and on occassion when people come over they are a little taken back when they see some of the books on my shelves, etc.

Some of the most wonderful things you can use in your magic and rituals can be the little things found in nature and around the house.

Kath

So true! My wand is a very magickal tool...it was a crochet hook once. I make afghans for the homeless, so a crochet hook was a very personal item to me. Hence, it was consecrated and charged as a wand.

My candle snuffer was a thimble in another life ..lol

My Bridget's Mantle that I use in healing was a piece of yarn at one time....it has been blessed by Bridget every Imbolc for four years. Every year it grows stronger in aiding my healing. Again, yarn is very personal to me.

Our ancestor's did not have anything fancy, they used what they had and they charged the items with their intent.

Now if you want something fancy and can afford it, hey, go for it. But you sure don't need it to work Magick and Ritual.

Many blessings,
DesertMist

Very good points ladies....

After all it's all about the intent rather than the ccontent. One of the best rituals I was ever participated in was for Beltane a few years ago and we used Romaine lettuce leaves to cast, and it was very powerful.

The Essential Budget Magic Herb Rack

What witch hasn�t envisioned a room with jars filled with leaves and roots with drying herbs hanging from the ceiling? It�s a nice thought, but for those of us living in apartments, dorms, or at home, not only can we not afford to purchase that large a variety of herbs, but it would look really weird to other people.

Herbs can be expensive, so it is can be difficult for a witch on a budget to keep a comprehensive selection handy for a variety of spell work. There are a few tricks, however, that can help you keep the primary herbs and spices for kitchen magic handy at all times.

I highly recommend purchasing one of those spice racks that people purchase presently to make their kitchen look gourmet. Usually, you can find them for $20 around at a discount store, especially around the holidays. This will supply you with the basics of what you need for herbs and their storage.

There are always a few things in these racks that aren't suitable to magic or you're just never going to use. For things like pickling spice, I would just throw it away and relfill the bottle with something else. Things like seasoned salt or Italian seasoning I use up in food and then reuse the bottle.

Below is a list of common herbs for kitchen magic and their magical properties that can be the basis of your budget magic herb rack. These herbs tend to be so comprehensive in their magical properties that few spells would require you to invest in any other herb not in your collection. Most of these herbs will be pretty cheap, so if your rack is missing a few, it won't cost you much to go out and buy it. Also, all of these herbs will be useful for everyday cooking, so you're not wasting any money.

Top Twenty Herbs for the Budget Kitchen Witch

Allspice: (masc.) prosperity, strength, love, money, communication, courage, health
Basil: (masc.) wealth, prosperity, love, happiness, protection, halting arguments
Bay: (masc.) psychic power, communication with spirits, wisdom, protection, purification
Cayenne: (masc.) fidelity, love, power, breaking hexes
Celery Seed**(masc.) lust, sex, psychic powers
Cinnamon: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, energy, success
Clove:(masc.) love, lust, prosperity, banishing, money, protection
Dill Seed/Weed: (masc.) love, money, lust, prosperity, luck, protection, sex
Fennel: (masc.) protection, healing, purification
Garlic** (masc.) protection, purification, banishment, success, sex, lust, healing
Oregano: (masc.) cleansing, purification, healing, love, mental powers, sex, youth
Ginger: (masc.) power, courage, money, health, passion, love, prosperity
Mustard: fertility, mental powers, protection
Nutmeg: health, love, money, fidelity
Parsley: (masc.) sex, lust, protection purification
Pepper (Black): (masc.) healing protection, purification, lust, strength
Poppy Seed: (fem) fertility, prosperity, lust, love, luck, intuition
Rosemary: (fem) cleansing, purification, healing, love, mental powers, sex, youth
Sage: (masc.) longevity, wisdom, purification, repel negativity, prosperity, protection, wishes
Thyme: (fem) purification, protection, fae magic, healing, psychic powers, love
** Herbs marked are often found mixed with salt (ex. garlic salt, celery salt). If you are casting a protection, purification, or banishing with salt mixtures, this is not a problem. For all other magic, purchase the regular herb.

— DesertMist

So true! My wand is a very magickal tool...it was a crochet hook once. I make afghans for the homeless, so a crochet hook was a very personal item to me. Hence, it was consecrated and charged as a wand.

I love that idea! I'm a silversmith, among other things, so I was able to make myself a wand that would compare favorably with those sold expensively in metaphysical shops, but now I'm wondering if consecrating one of my paintbrushes might not be even better for use in certain types of rituals ( like for creativity or transformation)!

I myself have recently learned that improvised magickal implements may sometimes be more effective than the original one envisioned. I think it's because they reflect a more spontaneous, direct approach and are a direct response to a real need. I've known too many practicioners who become so absorbed in the proper implements and rituals that they squander their intent and get little or no result. There is a wonderful book, Urban Primitive: Paganism in the Concrete Jungle, by Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein. The authors offer a novel approach to practicing magick. It's well worth reading.

Blessings.
Monk

Thanks, Monk....I am going to check that book out!!

Many blessings,
DesertMist

Its relatively simple, magic does not come from herbs and athame a wand or any external object, these items ( I believe mostly thru their value to the user) conduct magic thru them, much like a radio doesn't really sing but brings the song to us.

Good points everyone.

I've found that finding new creative ways to use what I already have is just a more fun way to use your creative pagan mind.

It's so great to see everyone with their own methods of personalizing magic. Be sure to share some tips and tricks if you have any>

It's been a while since I've posted anything informational, so I figured I'd take a break from real work and do some fun work.

Budget Magic--Take a Walk

At this point in my life, I feel stable and blessed.  I have a steady job, so I am able to afford rent and food.  I am able to purchase those magical items I desire for my spells.  I thank the Divine every day for this.

However, the frugal spirit in me is constantly on the lookout for magical items at rock bottom prices, and there is no better place to shop than nature.

I am very fortunate to live in a city with numerous and gorgeous parks.  I have found parks to be like the discount warehouse of spell ingredients.  The secret to being a frugal witch is to remember that our ancestors at some point have pretty much discovered the magical properties of everything in nature, and with a little bit of research (especially on this site), you can find ingredients for all ranges of spell components without investing more than the time it takes to go on a walk.  I live in the southeastern US, so the vegetation here is going to be a bit different from places our  many members live, but I am certain that if you are not living in an overly urban and barren area, you need only walk a mile to find everything you need for a spell.

Think of walking from work to your car or just going out for a stroll.  Those berries on that juniper bush in the parking lot are wonderful ingredients for a purification, protection, and passionate love spell.  Who at some point in a day doesn't pass a pine tree?  There you have another ingredient for a purification, protection, or money spell.  I use to live in an apartment complex that had a birch tree in front of every building.  Not only can you use the bark as an awesone material for writting down spells, but it's a great ingredient for purification and protection.  I was once taking trash out to the dumpster at work and came across a blackberry bush, terrific for prosperity and cleansing spells.  One of my favorite trees ever is a cedar tree.  Stock up on this; it's great stuff for money, prosperity, health, purity , and protection.  Another place I use to live had a chesnut tree, which is supposed to be down-right potent for love and lust spells.  But, anyone who knows anything about Celtic magic knows about tree magic, so how about those weeds?

To my former landlord's discontent, I think I was lucky to have two blades of grass in my back yard---it was taken over by weeds.  Clover is an especially tenacious weed, and that's great fortune for a witch, as it can be used for money, prosperity, love, fidelity, and success spells.  People may not have as easy a time identifying burdock or chickweed, but, believe me, if you look around, they are there.  Burdock is great for protection and purification.  Chickweed can be used in spells for love, passion, and potency.  Oh, and what about the dandelion--divination and wishes.

The point is that if you take a little bit of time to read and study, you wil find that nature is practically pushing magic into your path.  And, I've found when you take the time to pay attention, nature will supply with the ingredients of a spell you may need in your life at the moment.  So next time, when you're walking to the mailbox, dreading the bills awaiting and you feel something crucnching underfoot, take a minute to stop and look.  Those acorns are wonderful talismans for prosperity.

I have found that the dollar store can yield a few surprises as well.  The one near me carries a few basic herbs and spices (like rosemary, cayenne and thyme, to name a few), but also carries witchy essentials such as a mortar and pestle and various styles of candles and candle holders.  Altar cloths can be fashioned out of oversized napkins, which I found after working in a discount bed and bath store and getting my 20% (often getting my napkins for 10 to 50 cents each!)  You can find various styles of writing tablets and small journals, great for writing spells and recipes and tarot journals, (what I use them for).  

Get your red, green, white, silver and gold candles at a deep discount right after Christmas.  Stock up on your orange and black ones right after Halloween.  Pastel blue pink and yellow come after Easter.  Nothing beats a 10 cent candle unless it's a whole box full of them!

I'm also not afraid to do a little thrift store witching, either.  In my opinion, as long as you give it a good scrub and then smudge it (smudge everything, I say!) sit with it for a while to give it your energy and cleanse it of it's old energy, then it's yours and can be used.  (Don't buy used candles, though.)  I have found many a lovely chalice and once even a teeny-weeny cauldron that served me well in the time I needed it.

If you prefer tumbled stones, there are plenty of "rock shops" that sell them in bins for a fraction of the price of the ones separated in baskets in metaphysical stores!

Chinatown has a great selection of little embroidered "purses" and such.  I have one of my favorite decks housed in one of these that has a bell instead of a button which I bought for $5.  I simply snipped off the string-strap and it was the perfect size for an oversized deck!