How I Got Into Witchy Sh*t

I said this newsletter would explore my metaphysical interests. But first, a little background…

Over the last few years, I’ve jumped into studying the Enneagram, astrology, human design, tarot, crystals, spirit guide meditations, channeled writing workshops, etc. What started as a self-awareness and personal development journey turned into a full-blown quest down the woo-woo rabbit hole. I’ve called it spiritual squirrel syndrome, where I’m dabbling in a lot of different things and having fun with it to see what captures and sustains my interest.

When I thought about why I started learning more about these topics, I realized that I’ve always been drawn to magical things. Friends jokingly(?) called me a Disney princess because of my seemingly boundless optimism. As a child, I had a box and book of magic tricks, a Magic 8 ball, a book about palm reading, and an educational geology box with an assortment of labeled crystals and stones. I loved imagination, teen magazine horoscopes, the psychic realm, and of course, Harry Potter. I even joined the Harry Potter Club during my freshman year of college and was sorted into Gryffindor. Now I would say that I’m probably more of a Ravenclaw, but I digress. :)

Somewhere along the way, with societal and/or religious conditioning, I learned that those things were wrong or not widely accepted. I found that expressing my dissenting opinions led to conflict and backlash that I’d rather avoid. I expressed an interest or belief in these possibilities on occasion, but mostly kept it to myself to keep the peace. This is one small example of how I adopted self forgetting to avoid losing relationships. I made myself smaller, my voice quieter, and focused on what others had to say instead. Even now when rereading that last sentence, my inner critic whispers, “How dare you complain, when you know that there are much bigger problems, injustice, and suffering in the world? You have so many advantages, so just shut up and be grateful.”

My inner critic has a point. I’m thankful to have family, friends, and a husband who have embraced me through all these stages of life. It’s a privilege to have the ability to look inward and work on myself without worrying about my basic needs being met. I also recognize that humans have different experiences, our struggles are relative to our circumstances, and we all have ways that we adapted to survive. This perspective allows me to hold space for others, see their inherent value and worth, and celebrate their unique gifts.

I owe the same kindness to myself that I offer to others. Listening is wonderful, but shouldn’t eclipse my own voice.

Coming back to these things that have always brought me joy is one small, yet radical act of self-love and healing. It’s a wink to my inner child, letting her know that it’s safe to be herself.

In case you needed to hear this: you’re worthy of love and joy, and your weirdness is your greatest gift! Here are some journaling prompts or reflection questions on this theme. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments if you feel called to share!

1. What did you love as a child that you later learned was weird, frivolous, or wrong? Did this influence your interests as an adult?

2. How can you allow yourself to experience more joy in the everyday?

3. What does it mean to be authentically you? When do you feel most yourself?