Thrifty Pagan: Tips for the beginner or otherwise financially impaired.
The important thing is that when beginning on this path, is to not invest in every shiny thing imaginable and then realize this isn’t your deal and be stuck with hundreds of dollars in shiny things you regret buying later.
Or if you’re broke and your heat bill needs paid more than a goddess statue needs bought.
The common misconception is that this craft is so expensive. I always say that you quite literally, don’t need to buy a damn thing to practice, or even have anything to practice, that everything you may buy or find is just a visualization aid. When you point your athame or wand in a direction when calling the elements, it’s no different than using your finger; it just helps people visualize intent better.
Anyway, these are random tips I have mentioned before in other posts, but never put together inside one post for convenience.
As always, feel free to pass it along, print it out, reblog, or just completely disregard.
WHEN DOING CANDLE/COLOR MAGIC, WHITE CAN REPLACE ANY COLOR YOU MIGHT NEED.
Say you’re doing spell work to increase the flow of finances or help you get the job you applied for, but you don’t have a green candle and if you had the money to go out and buy candles, you wouldn’t need to do spell work that increases your cash flow.
The solution would be to either use a white tea light or those white utility candles you can buy in case your power goes out, which are both cost effective because they can be purchased pretty cheaply.
The trick is charging it with your intent. This can be done a few different ways.
1.) Holding the candle in your hand and imagining either a green light filling the candle (color magic) or actual money filling your wallet.
2.) Words of power. Whether you find a money spell that has you say some fancy words while lighting your candle, or simply by saying something simple in your own words.
3.) Dressing down the candle with oil that signifies your intention.
4.) Take a pen that’s ran out of ink or a mechanical pencil with no lead in it and carve words or symbols in the wax that represent what you want to do.
THE ONLY HERB A BEGINNER OR OTHERWISE BROKE PRACTITIONER NEEDS IN THEIR CABINET IS ROSEMARY.
Much like a white candle, rosemary can replace any herb that you might need, so if a specific spell or ritual calls for dandelion root, but it’s midwinter and dandelions aren’t growing outside in your yard, break out the rosemary which can conveniently be found in any grocery store.
Again, it’s all about charging it with your intent by saying out loud when adding your rosemary what you expect the rosemary to accomplish.
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL CAN BE USED TO ANOINT ANYTHING.
Yep, you guessed it; much like rosemary and the white candle, extra virgin olive oil is another essential and is conveniently found in the grocery store.
Some of it’s uses are:
1.) Dressing down a candle.
2.) Anointing yourself before a ritual if your ritual calls for it.
3.) Anointing a tool during consecration.
4.) Can be used as a carrier oil when trying to make your own essential oil.
ANY STONE CAN BE CHARGED TO DO ANYTHING.
Say you are out taking a walk and you pick up a rock that just seems to call to you. You don’t know what this rock is, you just know you find it appealing, so you pick it up and put it in your pocket. This stone can be cleansed and charged with intent to do anything you need it to later.
Say you only have a piece of labradorite but you need a piece of amethyst to put under your pillow because you’ve been having nightmares; again, cleanse it and charge it with your intent and it will work just as good as having an actual piece of amethyst.
Quartz crystal is very cheap and can be programmed to do anything you want it to easily, so if you can afford it, invest in a small piece of quartz crystal. If not, just charge any stone, but know it might take an extra time or two before it to be properly charged.
ANYTHING YOU “NEED” ON YOUR ALTAR CAN BE FOUND IN NATURE.
Symbols Representing the God:
- Pine cone
- Piece of naturally shed deer antler
- Piece of wood from an oak tree
- Any “seed” pod
Symbols representing the Goddess:
- An apple
- A cowrie shell
- A vine wound in a spiral pattern
- A rose
The elements speak for themselves.; A jar of dirt for earth, a bowl of water for water (or sand, or sea shell), any bird feather for air, and a red tinted stone for fire.
Another thing is that yes; a tree branch either on it’s own or decorated with leather cord and crystals (or painted, or carved) works just as well as a “bought” wand.
These are just examples; run wild with it. You do not need an altar that is worth more than what you have in your bank account to be considered a successful pagan. If you can spend for the extras, congrats, do it. If not, do not feel bad, it does not make you less than anyone else.
LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS CRAFT, EVEN DIVINATION CAN BE DONE FOR FREE.
Sometimes taking a walk can be all the divination you need. Say you see certain rune symbols in a tree bark pattern, or you keep seeing a certain animal in your walk, maybe laying under the clouds you see them take on certain shapes, you could see similar patterns in the tree branches looking up into the leaves; this could be nature trying to send you a message.
Go home, research what the shapes or symbols mean. The meanings might surprise you.
THE EASIEST AND SAFEST WAY TO “CLEANSE” SOMETHING IS TO PUT IT UNDER THE FULL MOON.
Some people might recommend salt, but salt can dissolve or otherwise eat away at what you are trying to cleanse.
Some people might recommend burying something to cleanse it, but again, it might ruin what you are trying to cleanse.
The sun is also a bad idea because it might fade what you are trying to cleanse. (Amethyst and Fluorite for example can not be cleansed in the sun. They will fade)
If you don’t have sage or any other cleansing herb (cinnamon, sandalwood, etc) and you have a new tool to cleanse (crystals included) just wait for the full moon, and leave it out there for a few hours.
Not only will your object be cleansed, but you’ll also feel a hum of energy about it.
(Source: paganisms)
