How To Add Magic To Your Life - Becoming A House Witch
I’m currently embarking on a journey to learn what it means to be a House Witch. I really enjoyed Arin Murphy-Hiscock’s The Green Witch and Witches Book of Self-care, so I’ve added The House Witch to my collection.
It inspired me to share my own already established or developing practices and rituals with you to hopefully create a little spark of curiosity so we can maybe both enjoy this path together.
So, what is a House Witch exactly?
I don’t fully know Arin’s take yet, but so far she has explained that it’s treating your home as your spiritual sanctuary, and I would definitely agree with her there.
Most of Witchcraft is about intention. The Witches (Wise Women) before us would have had to work with what they had, mainly natural items and household objects to create magic, beauty or protection in their lives.
I came to Witchcraft because I felt lost, and I wanted to find some sort of meaning in my life. I turned to nature, which is also the foundation of Witchcraft. Simple herbs and items found in your local wild spaces as well as your own creativity are a perfect place to start.
Your home, no matter how big or small is your sacred space and even if you are very limited in what you can do, there are always small and simple ways you can practice this craft.
House Witch Practices and Ideas
Right now, I’m working on making my own simple Witches Broom, otherwise known as a Besom, to use around my house to energetically sweep it every so often. This is a very simple ritual that we can do whenever we feel like the energy in the house has been a little stagnant, or its inhabitants a little spikey!
If we think of energy as something we gather, much like dust, from different places and people - we are going to be covered in it unless we keep on top of it. So something as simple as sweeping the floor can be a magical act.
I’m a Virgo Moon so I like cleaning and it helps my mental health, but many people couldn’t think of anything worse. I also can think of many other things I would rather be doing!
But, I wonder if by adding an element of Witchery into cleaning, we can make something mundane and boring a bit more interesting. We can activate that little spark in our inner child by doing things like crafting brooms and making potions!
I know at least one of you reading this used to make potions in the bath, so many of us did! When I was a kid out on walks, I also used to crush up Dock leaves with my sister and put them in water to make an anti-stinging nettle potion. My Nan or Grandad probably taught us about it, but to think I was making actual healing potions as a kid is pretty cool.
We can still incorporate this curiosity and inspiration as adults while we do the most unappealing chores. I usually throw some Florida water and Rosemary into my mop water (I really need to buy those reusable teabags for this as the herbs get everywhere!) and any other herbs I feel might be useful.
I’ll incorporate Rose petals if I’m feeling extra soft and feminine, usually around the time of my cycle, Lavendar if I need to chill and any other herb that is pet-safe (I have several little tiny paws running around!)
A Note On Herbalism and Green Witchcraft
I will just quickly throw out there (which I’m sure many of you already know) please be careful when foraging or using herbs, be respectful of the land and its inhabitants and research thoroughly or consult with a guide before consuming anything. Nature is as deadly and she is nurturing.
It’s worth picking up a good Green Witchcraft book if you are able which will usually give you a glossary of herbs and their corresponding magical properties. Alternatively, if you want to jump straight in and take a shortcut like I did when I started, you could grab a “Witches starter kit” on Etsy which could include herbs, crystals and other items depending on your budget that can help teach you as you go. The makers usually include info cards on each item.
When I was a baby witch, I remember writing down each herb name from the pack I got and making a little table outlining the properties, where they grew, if I could grow them and whether or not they were toxic. That’s the gamble with a starter kit, some Witches use herbs in spellwork that you definitely cannot put in tea, baths or mop water so it’s good to be vigilant about that and check.
It’s also great practice if you are foraging to ask the spirits of the wood if you can have the item, or provide an offering. The term “spirits” may mean many different things to different people. To me, it’s everything living inside it, particularly the oldest and largest trees that I feel watch over everything.
My partner will often play flute for the woods and the trees and I will offer Reiki to anything there that looks like it could do with some love. It’s a great intention if nothing else, to be giving back to the forest in some way.
Think of something that you could provide, like perhaps taking a rubbish bag with you and some gloves and doing a bit of litter picking to say thank you to the land, singing for the trees or just placing your hand on a tree and sending positivity. It doesn’t have to be a huge act.
Herbalism is just one aspect of Witchery that could be incorporated into House Witchcraft.
Altars and Magical Areas
Another great practice is to regularly reset and clean your Altar if you have one, which is not essential to Witchcraft but does give you a dedicated space to enjoy your practice.
An Altar, in my opinion, can be as simple as a shelf or a small surface area with a candle and some trinkets that have some meaning to you, or as elaborate as having statues of deities, magical tools, decor and a cauldron. It’s really up to the practitioner and their beliefs, life situations and means.
I’m lucky enough to be living in a very supportive environment where I am free to decorate as I please, so I’ve set up three altars around my house. I have one in my bedroom on my dressing table (I do cover the mirror at night and while pulling cards as it’s said to be a good protective measure - mirrors have lots of folklore around them), one in my office/art room, and one downstairs on my fireplace.
I’ve selected these areas since they hold lots of good, creative or comforting energy - or I want them to! The downstairs altar is a shared space which I think is nice since everybody can enjoy the positive energy I put there.
My altars are usually places where I put crystals, candles, and trinkets I have made or been given - sometimes even things I come across randomly that I accept as a gift from a little house spirit perhaps. Feathers, random coins or even once a tiny little locket with a heart on it which no one had any idea where it came from.
Pinterest is a great resource for designing your Altar space, with more detail on the specific representations and ways you can lay out your items. I keep it simple - the left represents my feminine energy, the right is masculine. So I tend to place items that reflect this in a balanced and harmonious way to keep my energies fairly even.
Lastly, there seem to be lots of “rules” about Altars, and differing opinions. Try not to get overwhelmed and just do what works for you if you’re starting out. Remember this is your house, your space and your practice and no one gets to tell you how you should do it.
The thing I most enjoy about Witchcraft is that it is so personal to the individual. You can join circles and practice in groups of course - but House Witchcraft really does speak to me because although I can get inspiration from others - I am mostly a solitary Witch.
This basically means I do what I want, in my own time and my own way. If that is something that you align with too, I hope this blog has sparked your interest and further exploration into this topic.
I look forward to adding more here on our little cosy corner of the internet as I learn. Please feel free to share your own experience too in the comments and share with others you think might benefit!
Remember to follow along on my socials - @joeyclare_astrologyandtarot on Insta and Facebook for more content including my most recent post on how learning about your Moon sign can help you emotionally. See you there!
Lots of love
Joey
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