Consumerism in Witchcraft: Alternatives for Modern Practitioners

I recently made a video demonstrating spiritual things in a 5 below store that fellow practitioners did not need to waste their money on, and the results were very interesting. In the past, the true nature of witchcraft was using what was available from the earth around you in harmony and gratitude. But with the rise of social media and “instagram witches” with perfectly curated altars, coupled with large corporations taking advantage of those just starting with ‘beginner witchcraft kits’ (link to last post), consumerism in witchcraft feels like an inevitable, especially in stores which purposely sell these items low cost to appeal to the “broke witches”. So in this post, we will be going over the items shown in that video, and their many, many alternate options. I also want to talk about the loss of creation in witchcraft, and ways we can bring it back into our lives. 

DISCLAIMER:

Despite this list, I recognize the grip of consumerism on the modern world and the modern witch, and I am not speaking from a witchier-than-thou place. I am on the same boat and living in the same world, but I am learning and actively changing every day. I hope to inspire others along the way. If this message does not sink in for you just yet, that is fine and we can agree to disagree. But I encourage you to take this with an open mind, or perhaps save it for later.

The “Broke” Witch:

Firstly, let’s address the “broke” or “cheap witch” statement. It’s also a large topic in social media right now. No witch is ever without her resources. Modern witches are fortunate enough to have the internet to find substitutions for almost anything. And if I am ever missing certain items that I cannot substitute, I trust in myself and the universe to make that bridge to what I am casting for. Intention may not be everything, but it can take you very far. Again, you are never without your resources, if they are not physical, they are spiritual. 

I think when new practitioners are looking online and we see the witches with beautifully curated altars, we think that those witches went out and bought everything that day. In reality, those altars took lots of trial and error. My altar took years and years of special curating. Looking back, I was guilty of jumping the gun and getting things I didn’t feel connected to just for the sake of having it. All it got me long term was frustration. I wasn’t listening to Spirit or myself.

A wand is a great example of this, or a chalice that I thought it fit the aesthetic of what I was supposed to have and I never wound up using it. Now that my practice has shifted, I use both, but the wand I made myself, and I sourced the chalice from an artisan in Glastonbury that holds such sentimental value and I know it will be in my craft for years. 

You really do not need anything to start in your spiritual practice besides yourself and nature. However, consumerism is a hard habit to kick. Please give yourself grace and know that life is a constant process of learning. 

Substitutes:

The first thing I showed in that video was white sage, and Palo Santo, both of which are not only endangered and over harvested, but are sacred to indigenous communities. Personally, I’ve never liked the smell of either. I think it’s my ancestors way of telling me that these are definitely not for me. But, since experimenting with different herbs, I have found that rosemary is one of my greatest spiritual allies, and since I am Italian, this fits my craft quite well. Rosemary is also incredibly easy to grow yourself with just a few seeds, and it will come back a year after year with little effort, meaning that you will have the herb to work with for years to come. In my opinion, it smells fantastic and has so many spiritual properties, including cleansing, protection and even love.

This also works for the second item in my video, which was the incense. In past years, I’ve stopped burning incense like I used to. My nose is very sensitive and I have cats that love to be in my space when I’m doing magic, so I want to be mindful of their noses as well. I prefer burning herbal bundles instead, because I know exactly where they come from and what is in them. They do not stay lit for very long, so I can open a window and have the smoke clear out, leaving my space cleansed but also breathable. You can use any herb that you have a particular connection with that is OK to burn.

Sound Bowls:

I promise you I did not need to buy one and unwrap it to know it sounds like tin! I haven’t needed to use a sound bowl in my practice yet. I’m sure they would be fun to play with, but I would really rather source it for its particular sound and the vibe of the metal that actually calls to me versus buying it in five below. It just doesn’t call the same way. Any alternative to sound would work for this.

My father is a musician, so I am fortunate enough to have a plethora of instruments like drums, bells, or even a violin as a substitute. You could use music on your phone, wind chimes even get as simple as a wine glass and tapping a spoon on it (carefully). Especially if you’re using sound as a method to cleanse, you want something that you’re really gonna resonate with, and that speaks to you.

I’m not making this post, nor did I make my video, without realizing the financial strain on witches who may want some of these items and see these stores as a cheap alternative. I AM urging you to reevaluate what you really want to cultivate in your practice instead of just buying a sound bowl because you think you need a sound bowl. Instead of saving your money and using what’s already available to you so that when you do find something, you can make that purchase with confidence instead of instant gratification followed by buyers remorse.

Seashell jewelry:

Look, I was personally offended to see it there, but I’m also personally guilty of buying things like it before. I’ve spoken in the past about the mermaid core trend, and the problem with accumulating seashell jewelry. I could go on a whole tirade about overshelling and the detriment on our oceans (I probably already have somewhere), so I will just say this:

Take note of how much jewelry you realistically wear in a year, and the types of jewelry you switch out the most. I like to view this the same as buying new clothes when there are already things in my closet that I have not worn. For example, I do not often switch my rings, so I rarely buy new rings. Necklace

Most of the jewelry—like all of the items in the store—will eventually end up in the landfill, or at a thrift shop where you can buy it for the same price or cheaper without supporting these corporations with your hard-earned money.

Final thoughts:

At the end of the day, there is no one perfect solution. I agree with a comment someone left under that video that we should definitely be creating more than consuming. 

Witches are called to this craft because we have a deep connection to nature on our own. We do not need physical tools to reach spirit, but we recognize how they can assist us with feeling this connection when we feel stuck. This level of consumption in witchcraft is new, but it is important to acknowledge the culture that we are living in. Trying to dissuade anyone from ever purchasing anything for their craft is not only ridiculous, it is extremely unlikely, and not the point of this post. 

But it’s my hope that if I continue to provide alternatives, and I show you different options to source your tools, we can start to shift our mindset back to the creative, and learn to use what we have around us first. Witchcraft is and has always been political, and where we spend our money ultimately reflects in our craft.