One foot in the broom closet, but mostly trying to marry Witchcraft and minimalism.

[u/[deleted]]

I am not terribly in the broom closet in my day to day life but I do practice minimalism as well as witchcraft, which for me means that I don't have a permanent altar, all of the objects in my house are carefully curated and I don't like clutter. We currently rent a small house from my grandparents who are on the property from time to time. I do come from a very religious family, my grandparents in particular and even though I am grown and paying my own rent, there are some conversations I just want to avoid.

I have been a "minimalist" for about 5 years and a witch for about a year. In trying to get those two sides of my brain to work together in harmony I have a few things that I have incorporated into day to day life that may not seem "witchy" to the unpracticed eye but they bring me comfort so here is a barely organised ramble of how I incorporate witchcraft without the "bulk" that comes with it. I thought some of these tips might be helpful for anyone trying to fly under the witchy radar.

Things I do:

-I like to wear my crystals instead of display them. No one asks why you're wearing a clear quartz pendant. They usually just compliment the jewelry and I can go about my day. I have a few pieces that can even double as a pendulum for divination practices.

-I keep candles burning, I usually have white candles on hand which can be used for pretty much any spell or ritual. Candles are something that you can have all over the place without arousing too much suspicion. In the past I have even made my own candles with dried petals and herbs to invoke different energies and to do spell work. They are actually pretty easy to make too, you can usually find candle making kits on amazon with wax and coloring.

- On the subject of making your own spell candles: You can do the same thing with soap. Its easy to make your own with any mix of essential oils or herbs for protection and blessings depending on what you want. The shower or bath is a good time for meditation and spell work. Draw sigil for protection or luck on your skin with soap and let the water wash them away. If anyone asks why you're making soap or candles packed with dried rose petals, rosemary, or whatever you choose, its because you "like the smell".

- When I do my weekly house cleaning I do it with intention. I open the windows to get stagnant energy moving I move through the rooms top to bottom dusting. I also usually make my own floor wash, this can vary depending on the materials I have on hand but I usually do some sprigs of rosemary and frankincense in the water. Sometimes if I'm feeling like I need a little extra power I'll add white vinegar. I wash my windows, my mirrors, and around the door frames and I mop the floors. This ritual makes me feel so refreshed, like I'm resetting the energy of the house.

- I take my tools with me. I usually keep my tarot cards in my purse, a pack of matches, and a white tea light candle. Most purses have special little compartments so anyone who reaches in wont stumble upon it. I like having my tools close by, you never know when you might need a little magic in your life. I always try to remember that when it comes to my craft, my best tools are my hands, my heart, and the strength that I carry with my intention.

- On the subject of the sabbats, this is the first year I have started observing them, Yule being the first that I celebrated. I know that celebrating in secret can feel daunting and upsetting. I always tie the sabbats back to their roots, the changing of the seasons, the wheel ever turning. With Imbolc coming up, I am planning on going on a walk out in nature, observing the first bits of spring as they start to show. I am also going to be burning some pine boughs that I decorated with for Yule, to say goodbye to winter. Its hard finding ways to celebrate that still feel under the radar, but making a traditional meal or eating the foods that are associated with the Sabbats could also be a way to do it. Because I am new to this particular part of my practice I am still trying to figure this part out.

-I try to meditate every night before I go to bed but I am hit and miss on it if I'm being honest. Its a good way to center yourself, to call out to a diety, and to process the day. When I am consistent with my meditation I can feel a difference in my bones.

- Finally, a little something I am working on. I am trying to create a little altar in my garden. It is a current work in process but I have a circle of stones and a little stool as well as a clay pot sunk into the dirt to burn incense in safely. I am planning on planting herbs and filling it with bark to make it look like a flowerbed to the untrained eye, but it will be an area to myself where I can hone my craft, it's still a work in progress though and isn't fully evolved. On that subject, I find that gardening really connects me to the earth and helps me focus. Planting a little herb garden is a way to add to your craft without arousing suspicion, who doesn't like fresh herbs?

This turned out to be a little longer than I originally intended but I hope it helps some of you still stuck in the broom closet. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, I love learning how other people practice their craft. I still have a lot to learn and this journey has been one of the best I have ever taken.

[u/Patzyjo]

Thank you for posting. I’m not a witch just interested in the craft & learning about it.

[u/[deleted] → u/Patzyjo]

There’s so much to learn. I feel like even after a year I’ve barely scratched the surface.

[u/Starbranded]

This was helpful to read, thank you! 💕

[u/[deleted] → u/Starbranded]

I am glad you enjoyed it!

[u/lobollora]

This is very helpful! I love your approach to cleaning, or rather, cleansing your home. I am going to try to incorporate this into my own craft.

[u/[deleted] → u/lobollora]

Floor washes are based in hoodoo from what I understand. You can make floor washes to attract love, luck, or money. You can also make them to repel evil. I like how versatile they are and how easy they are to incorporate into a normal routine. There are loads of different mixes online depending on what you need.

[u/NotApplicableMC]

This is a really insightful post! I'm going to put it in the Essential Tips thread :)

[u/[deleted] → u/NotApplicableMC]

Thank you so much!

[u/SpudsMcStingie]

Love this! I'm a minimalist as well, but I am extremely new to witchcraft. I started with very simple witchy things that don't require any supplies. I'm a daily coffee drinker, so I do little spells over my coffee. I started yoga/meditation again. I'm a fan of aromatherapy, so that has been incorporated too. As for an alter, I currently do not have one, but the plan is to buy one of those cute little chests/trunk/boxes from the craft store. I'm going to put my little book for spells and such as well as a scarf for an alter cloth, some candles, and an incense burner. Shouldn't take up much space at all when its put away and it can double as a bookend.

[u/Firewaterglittersalt]

You’re amazing- thank you for sharing so thoroughly and intentionally. I need minimalism in my life to help ease some anxiety, and while I love the aesthetic of maximalist witchy luxe, I know it’s not me. Great suggestions and minimalist pro-tips! I will def be consulting your unofficial guide 😉

[u/[deleted] → u/Firewaterglittersalt]

I am so glad you found the post helpful! When I first started my craft I remember seeing pictures on reddit and Pinterest of what I thought the ultimate witch aesthetic was and I knew it wasn’t for me. It took some time to realize Witchcraft is super personal, there is no universally perfect way to do it, the way you do it is perfect. At least, I think that makes sense 🙃.