It’s annoying, tricky, and inevitable. Some might even call it infectious. But however unpleasant it may be, it’s still a fact of life. And eventually, it will happen to us all us. Boredom.
Even the ones who proudly show off their packed calendars and long to-do lists occasionally convince themselves that there’s nothing to do.
It’s true. Physically, sometimes we are limited. But that’s not a reason to fall victim to reality TV marathons or social media over-consumption. If your free time leaves you feeling ‘blah’ or lethargic, it might be time to shift your attention to activities that make you feel lighter, impassioned, and more in touch with your purpose.
Anytime we are confined to our homes feeling the boredom, we should be extra selective with where and how we spend our energy. That’s why we’ve compiled some of our favorite witchy ways to combat boredom while simultaneously strengthening our relationship with the craft.
Make a Spell Bottle
The oldest known Witch’s Bottle dates back to the 1600s. Not surprising, seeing as how during the 17th century, witchcraft was feared throughout the world. In parts of England and Europe, creating anti-witchcraft charms to bury on your property was a popular way to protect the home.
But what made this spell so popular?
Enchanted bottles were a quick and inexpensive choice for modest villagers, and the Witch’s Bottle required very few items. The homeowner (or the person asking for protection) would collect glass shards, rusty nails, and barbed wire to fill a bottle. Next, they would add urine or blood (to imbue personal power) before corking the bottle and burying at one of the four corners of their property.
Traditionally, Witch’s Bottles were designed for protection and to deflect malevolent spirits, but their purpose has evolved over the centuries. Today, people create spell bottles for love, abundance, and countless other intentions.
Learn to Make Sigils
Not artistic? Not sure that you understand what a sigil really is? We have you covered.
Check out this article where we explore each how-to and what-not-to-do when it comes to sigil magick.
Practice Scrying
Scrying takes practice and patience, but once you’ve mastered that indirect gaze, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
Although the most popular scrying tool is still a crystal ball, you can use another reflective surface in its place. Polished crystals (like quartz or obsidian), a bowl of water, seer stones, and mirrors (traditional or black) are readily available and just as effective as a crystal quartz sphere.
Cleanse the Home with Purifying Herbs
We use smoke sticks to purify our altar, prepare a sacred space before a ritual, and balance the energy of a room. But how often do we waft that smoke into every nook and cranny in our house?
I’m guessing not as often as we’d like.
When we spend long periods at home, we need to clean more often—both physically and energetically. Try freshening up your space by lighting some eucalyptus leaves, a palo santo stick, or a cedar bundle to realign the energetic footprint of your home.
Chat with your Ancestors
A pendulum, albeit tricky, is a very helpful tool when it comes to communicating with spirits—especially deceased ancestors. If you’re curious about the people that came before you, ask your pendulum to find someone who has a message for you. With practice, your pendulum will deliver ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers to your questions.
In my experience, people seem to have a love-hate relationship with their pendulum. It’s understandable. Until you’ve spent ample time learning the language of this tool, each movement will make you second-guess yourself—is it clockwise for yes and counterclockwise for no? What does it mean when it swings straight left to right?
Keep practicing and take lots of notes. Once you’ve cracked the code, you and your pendulum will be inseparable. You can learn more about pendulums and other divinatory practices in our article, Intro to Divination.
Make Homemade Teas and Tinctures
If you’ve ever wanted to blend your own teas, tinctures, and potions—the time has arrived! The Herbal Academy has a helpful DIY tincture tutorial, or you can try this easy-to-use elixir kit. If you need inspiration on what herbs to use, check out last week’s article on immune-boosting herbs or this one on creating a nutritive tea.
Learn the Cardinal Directions of your Home
Like calling the quarters during rituals, recognizing the cardinal points in our home focuses energy and unlocks a series of metaphysical information. Essentially, each direction (North, South, East, and West) acts as a threshold into a unique dimension. By working with the cardinal directions and their corresponding elements (air, earth, fire, and water), we create balance. When there’s harmony in our home, it’s reflected in our life.
To amplify the cardinal points in your home, place something that represents each direction at the corresponding location. This could be as simple as writing each direction on a piece of paper or dedicating elemental stones to each location.
Invite in the Kitchen Witch
The Kitchen Witch is the queen of Hearth Magick. She is heavily honored during Autumn when people are relishing in their abundant harvests but need someone to transform simple ingredients into a meal.
But, since eating is a year-round activity, the Kitchen Witch is never far to keep your boredom at bay.
Modest and ingenious, if she can’t forage, she borrows. If she can’t borrow, she substitutes. She is our reminder to use what’s available to us in the moment.
Before your next trip to the store, go through your cabinets and pull out some ingredients you haven’t used in a while. Don’t worry if you’re not a domestic goddess. Use your imagination and challenge yourself to whip up a small meal or snack. If you feel inspired, make a ritual out of it.
Grab your grimoire or these recipe cards to record the instructions, along with the medicinal and magickal properties of your creation.
Awaken your Inner Artist
Boredom often stems from stagnancy. Because we live in a society that allows action and productivity to determine self-worth, we start to feel unworthy when we aren’t busy.
But the goddess in all of us knows that’s untrue.
Taking a break from the daily grind feels unnatural until we remember that we are meant to dream, play, and create. Artistic endeavors, no matter the outlet, are a great way to unwind and can serve as a form of meditation.
Like the spider, witches were talented weavers—responsible for weaving the fates. One way to reacquaint ourselves with a divine feminine archetype is take up a hobby such as knitting, crocheting, or macramé. Or, if you’re a natural word witch, lean into your passion—whether it be poetry, short stories, or letter writing.
If you’re feeling creative but not sure where to start, try browsing through some online art classes on free sites like Coursera to see what draws you in and fight boredom.
Practice Your Magick
It probably goes without saying, but we mustn’t forget to practice what we preach. What good are tarot cards or a bookcase full of occult books if they’re left to collect dust all day?
Try to dedicate at least 15 minutes of your day to some sort of magickal working. Depending on your practice, that could mean lighting a candle for a seasonal goddess, pulling a three-card tarot spread, or blending a lucid dreaming tea for nighttime adventures in the astral realm. We hope these ideas will combat your boredom!
