Witchcraft for the End of the World

It feels like the world is ending nearly every time you open social media, doesn't it? The worldwide news is nearly too much to comprehend these days - we can only absorb so much before our brains shut off.

And so, we move from one type of social media to another, scrolling mindlessly until our eyes glaze over and we stop absorbing anything at all. If you're anything like me, your screen time is going up and your level of relaxation and happiness is declining.

I came across a post on Threads the other day about cultivating skills for "the end of the world". And while I don't really believe the world is ending, It's undeniable that it's changing -- and often not for the betterment of everyday people.

Some of the skills recommended are deeply practical: gardening, canning, sewing, a general return to the basic building blocks of a comfortable life in an uncomfortable world.

But how about witchcraft? Is spinning magic from nothing not also a skill? Isn't it skillful carefully and thoughtfully we alter our reality by nurturing a deep core belief that anything is possible?

I believe witchcraft is not merely a hobby or a belief system, but a skill that can and should be practiced particularly at times of personal and general turmoil -- not only because it may be able to improve your life practically, but also because it is an invaluable tool for improving your mental health.

Here are some suggestions for practicing witchcraft "at the end of the world".

Build Community

• Whether you're a solitary practitioner or a member of a coven, this is a time we need community more than ever. Making connections with like minded people and building communities will save us time and time again. Nobody can do this alone, we all need to lean on each other.

• Consider visiting your local metaphysical shop and chatting with the owner or customers. See if anyone is interested in grabbing a tea and getting to know you!

• Build online community by interacting and messaging with witches on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. Spend less time on apps scrolling, and more time making meaningful connections.

Witches Gift Economy

• If you haven't heard of a gift economy before, it's a method of community trade that involves one offering a gift to a community member without an expectation of immediate remuneration. This is best described by Robin Wall Kimmerer in her 2022 book The Serviceberry -- "..in the gift economy, gifts are not free. The essence of the gift is that it creates a set of relationships. The currency of a gift economy is, at its root, reciprocity"

• I envision a world where witches, working closely and intimately with nature, strike up a gift economy of our own. When a friend is struggling, offer the gift of a spell. If the night is dark, offer the gift of a candle. A neighbour is ill, offer the gift of a handmade herbal tincture. You never know what will return to you.

Witchcraft as Self Preservation

• Ultimately, the best thing we can do as we move through periods of deep unrest is to tend to our wellness so that we are best equipped to help where needed.

• Learn yourself deeply. What witchcraft helps you feel the most connected? Do more of that.

• It's not selfish to light a candle for yourself while others are also suffering.

Witchcraft for Worldwide Wellness

• The internet has given us a valuable tool - the ability to coordinate our spellwork and rituals with witches around the world.

• If there is a current issue that you feel a desire to change, consider participating in a group ritual. These are frequently advertised on social media. It's usually a particular time of day, when a group of witches all over the world combine their power and do one ritual.

Witchcraft as Nature Healing

• Every single witch I know has a deep reverence for nature, and understands that it is our job to protect it.

• Participate in the protection of nature by spending time getting to know the land you're on. Aid with efforts to remove litter, plant seeds, and manifest the wellness of all living things.

Now, I leave you with a line from Mary Oliver's poem "Evidence"

I want to step out into some

fresh morning and look around and hear myself

crying out:  "The house of money is falling! The house of money is falling! The weeds are rising! The weeds are rising!"

If the house of money is falling, let's cultivate the weeds. Let's celebrate the birds and trees and people we love and will love. Let's make magic with what is left.

xo

Imogen

(this post was originally shared on Patreon)