Being a witch isn’t all about spells and hexes and dancing with your coven in the moonlight. It can be all those things (and more), of course, but there are some simple ways to bring witchcraft into your everyday life and live with intention.
Most — if not all — witchcraft is rooted in intention. But, it doesn’t always have to be connected to a spell. You can integrate intention into your life. And, doesn’t that generally sound better than going whichever way the wind blows you? (Though, yes, that can be enjoyable too.)
So, here are some ways to live with intention… in a witchy way.
9 Ways to Live with Intention… As a Witch
1. Move Clockwise.
In witchcraft, clockwise movement is known as circumambulation. In ritual, it’s advised to cast a circle clockwise, to move in a clockwise direction around your altar, and to place things on your altar clockwise. The idea here is that you’re bringing in the energy so you can harness it.
It’s also known as deosil because it’s the direction the sun moves. (As a person, but especially as a witch, it’s generally best to work with nature instead of against it.)
You can apply this to a lot of movements in your life. You can pour cream into your coffee clockwise or stir it with your spoon in that direction. You can open doors by turning the knob to the right instead of the left.
Dance and rotate your hips clockwise. Feel confident when you step into a room by circumambulating around it.
2. Or, Counterclockwise.
Just as clockwise brings energy in, making gestures or moving in a counterclockwise manner — known as widdershins — sends energy out. Kind of like swiping left. If you are trying to move energy away from you or release an emotion like fear, keep this in mind.
3. Pause Before Responding
Truly powerful beings have domain over their emotional reactions. It doesn’t mean they don’t feel emotions, but they give themselves a moment before responding.
This is because when we’re triggered we instinctively react or defend ourselves from our lizard brain. Sometimes when we do this, we regret what we’ve said or done later. Or, we’re disappointed that we fell back into old habits we’re trying to break.
If you give yourself a moment — assuming you are not actually in a dangerous situation — and allow yourself to respond instead of reacting, you’ll be more likely to respond more calmly and in a more constructive (or at least less destructive) way.
4. Connect with Your Body and Mind
Do something each day that helps you feel centered and connected to your self. This can be something grounding like meditation, spending time in nature, doing yoga, making art, or simply deep breathing.
Getting quiet can help feel your intuition more. And, it can help give you something centering to come back to in those moments when you want to react vs respond.
5. Listen to Your Gut
The more you trust your intuition, the more you’ll be able to hear it. However, this comes with some caveats. If you have anxiety or attachment trauma, what you think is your intuition might be just your brain trying to warn you of a tiger that doesn’t exist.
If you go to the mall is something really bad going to happen or do you just not want to run into anyone from high school?
One way that can help you discern between the two is by challenging the anxiety. Intuition tends to come through extremely clearly. It feels different for everyone, but might feel like a wave of peace or an instantly tight knot in your throat or stomach.
If you challenge the feeling and discover there’s a story behind it, it’s possible you’ll realize you have some coping mechanisms you might want to work through. Again, ignore this advice in actually dangerous situations.
6. Draw Sigils
Sometimes when I’m walking through the forest, I’ll grab a stick (or use my foot) and draw a sigil or protection symbol in the dirt. Or, if I’m at the beach, I’ll draw it with my finger. Going back to the coffee creamer example from above, draw the sigil with your cream as you pour it in or with your spoon.
Doing these little things can help reconnect you with your intention.
7. Keep Color Magic in Mind
Color has a lot of psychological power. There’s a reason that Target and Coca-Cola use red, not yellow. In college, I once covered my very tiny dorm room in blue fabric and not only did it make it feel smaller, it made it feel depressing.
In witchcraft, colors are used to decorate quarter altars and when doing candle magic. But you can use color magic almost anywhere.
When getting dressed for the day, choose colors that align with the intention you want to set. Paint your nails in the color of what you want to manifest. Choose sheets or rugs for your bedroom in colors that have the vibe you want in that space. And, so on.
8. Declutter
If you are a witch that prefers to work in a cluttered space that looks like it hasn’t been dusted in 100 years, go for it. But, personally, if my space is cluttered, I get distracted easily and it’s harder for me to focus.
9. Speak What You Want
Words are spells. Not just for witches.
The philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
It’s important to feel and process your emotions and co-regulate as needed with others, but consider his quote the next time you feel the urge to gossip or speak ill of yourself. Speak out loud that which you want to manifest into existence.
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15 comments
Thought provoking ! A nice new year timely reminder,to keep your own pagan widom council .
We have two ears and one tongue.
keep to that ratio and Listen more and talk less. !
Blessed Be
Thank you for this great article. A wonderful reminder to recalibrate myself with energy and focus. I love following your site.
Many blessings to you.
Over the past few months I have been listening to my inner voice when out in the beauty of the countryside walking my dog and found that it’s not just my inner voice I hear but also messages from spirit! I have found the messages I have received were for a friend who really needed and welcomed the messages. These messages are new to me and I’m still trying to find my way as to what are messages to be passed on and what is actually my inner voice. I live this about being a Witch 🧙♀️
What a lovely article! I had to laugh at the “witch that prefers to work in a cluttered space that looks like it hasn’t been dusted in 100 years”. Have you been for a visit and I’ve just forgotten? As an old woman, I love my clutter but I can put my hand to almost any thing that is needed at a moments notice. I certainly advocate that busy people should declutter and save themselves time and effort each day trying to remember or find needed items. Your advice is very common-sensical.
Bright Blessings, Memy
For some reason I can’t get organized and it very frustrating. I’ve even tried spells to help me focus more. Talk about dust omgoodness…. ADD and depression play a part but I need to get my self moving.
Love and light Katie
As someone who battles anxiety and depression, I like a lot of the information and suggestions in this article. I manage it pretty well, but never hurts to hear (or in this case read) helpful tips on the subject. And a fun fact, never thought about the clockwise situation when stirring my coffee. I drink it black but still stir it to keep the freshness alive in my mug. Thanks again for another article!
As I’ve got older I now know that my first thought is normally right but I think we learn that through the years I never thought I had the intuitive thoughts and feelings but I now listen to my own gut feeling!! I am so happy to have this gift we just need to listen to ourselves a bit more thank you for your Information greatly appreciated 👁🕯🔮
Many thanks – look forward to seeing more articles in the foreseeable. Blessings
Mags
LOVE this so much!!! Super brilliant, holistic way to integrate our witchy selves.
Blessed be,
Full Spectrum Mama
Thank you, this was a really gentle and accessible article with nine great ideas for incorporating magical intention into the mundane (the mundane is magical, right)?!
I enjoyed this article. I found it remindful and it was a quick read.
Thank you so much for writing this article. It is eloquent and well written and gave me some new ways to incorporate intention in to my daily life.
Great article about Being, (intention) not just Doing.
Thank you for letting this put of your mind and sharing… Great reminder!
Wow,
I absolutely love this article and every other article you do!
This is so powerful!!!
At one time I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut and I would instantly regret it. But now I process my emotions and feel so much better for doing so!
Thanks so much for everything as you are helping me on my spiritual journey in life.
Love , light , blessings and good wishes,
Sarah xxx