Nature Bound Pagan

One of the biggest mistakes a person can make in their craft is letting it overtake their life. It is easy to do, and I've yet to meet a witch who hasn't fallen victim to this concept in some way, at least once.

If you're new to the craft, it can be even easier to make this mistake. Watching new witches walk into metaphysical/new age shops and their eyes widen, their mouth gapes, sometimes you can hear the audible gasp. Yep, they're about to make this mistake.

Every witch wants to be able to own every shiny, fancy tool. They want every pretty tarot deck, every crystal, every statue, every book. They run through the list of tools they believe to be necessary: an athame, a cauldron, tarot deck, oracle deck, scrying bowls, mirrors, incense, statuary, leatherbound journal, pendulum, herbs, altar table, altar cloth, glass bottles and jars, runes, candles, crystal ball, chalice, sage... Suddenly your head is spinning.

By the time you leave the shop, you're $300 in debt because you bought overpriced tools, half of which you will probably never use, the other half you have no idea how to use.

Congratulations, you've fallen victim to the craft and the need to fit into the pop-culture "witch" label.

ATTENTION WITCHES:

Don't do this.

Seriously. Budget your craft. It's fine to buy your tools, but buy responsibly. If you don't have the finances to buy the shiny, pretty thing and pay your bills, either wait until you do, or find something in your budget.

A lot of tools you think you're going to need, you'll never actually use. A lot of tools you will actually use can be found cheaper than at the overpriced metaphysical shop on the corner.

Below are some helpful tips for budgeting your craft:

Thrift Shops

Check your local thrift shops for items such as mirrors, glass bottles and jars, silver cups, candlesticks and candles. You may even be able to find a nice table to use as an altar, herbs, and other items. Remember that if you're shopping from a used store, you'll want to cleanse your items of any previous energies before you use them or introduce them to your craft space. 

Craft Stores

Head over to your local arts and crafts store for jars, cords/twine, charms, cloth for your altar, sticks of cinnamon, wooden boxes, and more. This may require a bit of creativity on your part, but it opens up the possibility of customizing things to fit your personal needs and style.

Dollar Stores

No joke. A lot of dollar stores have candles, incense, mirrors, jars, salt, glass stones, journals, and more. These stores can be the ultimate treasure trove for budgeting witches.

Nature

There is no reason you're paying for sticks, feathers, stones, shells, and flowers. Just go outside. Walk through your local park. I can see buying specific crystals, but otherwise, if nature made it, get it directly from the source.

Home

Many things you can find in your own home. An old nightstand, end table, or even a shelf on your bookcase can be an altar. Old scarf or scrap fabric can be an altar cloth. Glass jars or cups. Maybe a wine glass for a chalice. Kitchen knife for an athame. Open your cupboards and find your spices and herbs. Table salt. A hand held mirror for scrying. A nice sized soup pot would work for a cauldron. Do you have candles on hand? You'd be surprise how much you already have. Why buy it twice?

Garage/Yard Sales

One man's trash is another's treasure! You never know what you might find discarded by your neighbor. Even a quick "dumpster dive" can be fruitful. Many people throw away old furniture when they've replaced it with something newer. Who knows, maybe you'll find your new altar. Remember that if you're using previously owned items, you'll want to cleanse your items of any previous energies before you use them or introduce them to your craft space.

Other Tips:

Substitutions

• Rosemary can replace any herb
• Roses can replace any flower
• Clear quartz can replace any crystal
• White can replace any color
• A photo or name written on a piece of paper to replace hair/nails/blood
• Ziplock bags can replace glass jars
• Oil diffusers or wax warmers can replace burning incense 

Do It Yourself

• Needle and thread = pendulum
• Any deck of cards can be used for divination...even Pokemon cards
• Any mirror can be used for scrying
• Empty old candle jars to reuse (pour boiling water into the jar to loosen wax for easier removal)
• Use coffee filters to make your own herb bags
• Use old lipbalm/chapstick containers to hold potions

**As I think of more things, I'll definitely add them to this post, so stop back for more tips and tricks!**