You’re in the right place if you want to…

• learn what spirituality and religion are and how they differ

• discover ways to think about what you believe, how to incorporate them into your daily routines, and to let go of those that no longer serves you

• become more aware of how to use herbs and the tarot in your every day life.

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To start off the show, we look at our Tarot Card for the week and we look for moments that relate to this card in our daily lives.

For this week, we chose the Ten of Wands. The theme of this card is taking on too much responsibility.

This is a dumb way to carry these wands: hunched over, blocking your view. This is a really good way to hurt your back or trip and fall. This is someone who is overwhelmed by the amount of work they’ve taken on and they’ve lost sight of why they’re doing it in the first place. They can’t even see this picturesque scene in front of them because they have become so buried in whatever they are working on.

Usually, this person has taken on the burdens of others as their own and is not asking for help or receiving help. In a relationship, they are doing the emotional labor. At work, they are working overtime and covering for other’s mistakes. And eventually you will literally burn out. The bonfire will burn all the fuel and you’ll be exhausted and burned.

You can hear Erica’s and Maggie’s stories related to the Seven of Wands by listening to the episode.

What is Spirituality?

Spirituality is a personal experience that can mean different things to different people. For some, it may be a connection to a higher power like God, Spirit, the Universe. For others, it may be a connection to nature or the earth. It can also be a connection to your own soul, or intuition, or higher self.

Ultimately, it is up to you to define what spirituality means to you and how you want to incorporate it into your witchcraft practice.

For the purpose of this episode, we'll be talking about spirituality where spirituality means believing in something more than what we can experience in a physical way. In other words, there is more to our existence than what we can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch.

What are spiritual beliefs and how do they differ from religious beliefs?

The difference between spirituality and religion is that spirituality is about where you fit in to the grand scheme while religion is often related to a way of behaving. Additionally, spiritual beliefs can span many different philosophies, cultures, and religions whereas religious beliefs are specific to a single religion they emerge from.

For example, a Christian believes in God and an afterlife, whereas a Taoist believes that the life force energy within us is the same life force energy flowing through all things.

How does understanding your spiritual beliefs help you find the right path?

Knowing your spiritual beliefs can help you find the right path for you. Once you have a better understanding of what your spiritual beliefs are, you can begin to think about how they affect your everyday decisions. From there, you'll be better able to make decisions about your life and what others need from you.

Tips for Discovering Your Spiritual Beliefs

Not everyone has a lot of experience in exploring spirituality, but it's never too late to start! So how do you go about discovering your spiritual beliefs? Here are a few tips:

1) What are your spiritual beliefs?

When it comes to discovering your spiritual beliefs, it's important to first take a look at what resonates with you on a personal level. This can be done by writing down a list of spiritual beliefs that we already have, as well as those that we would like to incorporate into your life. I find it's really helpful to reflect on my beliefs while spending time in nature.

If you aren't sure what your beliefs are currently, Read books about different spiritual paths and practices. You could also talk to other witches about their beliefs and practices. Ask them what resonates with them and why they practice witchcraft. Reading about spirituality and talking to other witches about what they believe can give you words to explain what you believe and it may introduce you to new ideas that resonate with you as well.

2) How do they affect your everyday decisions?

Once you've written down a list of spiritual beliefs, think about how they influence daily decisions such as what you choose to eat, where you choose to work, how much money is worth paying for an experience, etc.

3) How can you incorporate them into your daily rituals?

Now that you've thought about how spiritual beliefs guide your everyday decisions, think about how they can be incorporated into your daily life. For example, you could pray, meditate, or light a candle every morning before starting your day. You could also put some of your favorite quotes and images around your house to remind you of your beliefs.

4) Are they helping you live a fulfilling life?

The spiritual beliefs of an individual are not static. They change over time, and the values that guide them may also change. It is important to understand how these changes have come about in order to know where you stand spiritually.

After incorporating spiritual beliefs into your daily rituals, ask yourself if they are helping you live a more fulfilling life. If the answer is no, then it might be time to reconsider some of your beliefs or find new ones that better align with your values.

Building the Foundation of Your Personal Practice

So what does this mean for your personal practice? It means that you can start by building the foundation of your practice based on your spiritual beliefs. This might include doing rituals and spells that resonate with you, meditation, and connecting with nature. You can also add in other practices that support your spiritual path, such as journaling, chanting, and working with crystals.

The important thing is to start small and gradually build up your practice over time. Don't try to do everything all at once – that can be overwhelming! Start by picking a few things that feel right for you and work on those regularly. As you continue to explore your spirituality, you may find that you want to add more practices to your routine. 

There are many paths that witches take and anyone can practice witchcraft no matter where you are on your spiritual journey. Don't be afraid to try out some different spiritual practices and see what resonates with you!

This post is brought to you by Holy Basil

• MEDICINAL - Holy basil, Ocimum sanctum, is much like the sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum, you would find growing in your garden or plopped on your Caprese salad.

  Uses: Acne; Antidepressant; Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Asthma; Anxiety; Bronchitis; Cancer; Circulatory stimulant; Coughs; Depression; Diaphoretic; Drug overdose or withdrawal; Headache; Nervine; Nausea; Stomach ache; Vomiting

• MAGICAL - Active, Air, Fire, Mars, Jupiter, Scorpio, Sagittarius; Love, Banishing, Wealth, Luck, Serenity, Protection, Health, Joy, Harmony, Flying, Astral Travel

• Also known as Tulsi, which means “incomparable one”, holy basil is sacred. It is commonly used in religious ceremonies and burials in India. Growing holy basil in your home will protect it from unwanted influences. Use this herb when preparing your heart and mind for spiritual practices.

Send us a voicemail

We play one listener voicemail on each episode of Talk Witchcraft, with a few exceptions. To send us a voicemail, record a voice memo on your phone and email it to welisten [at] talkwitchcraft [dot] com. Please keep in mind that we only choose voicemails that are two minutes in length or shorter (even if they’re great!).

What we’re looking for in a voicemail

• Share from your personal experiences (especially experiences that we could never have) and use that to illuminate the zodiac season or theme in new ways.

• Ask questions of Erica and Maggie, so we have an opportunity to respond meaningfully to your voicemail during the podcast.

• Use one of these prompts: Is there something happening with you and your life that aligns with the current zodiac season or a Tarot card? How do your experiences show us something new about the magic, something that we haven’t talked about so far?

• Send a voicemail even if you’re behind on the podcast. If your voicemail is about a previous episode, zodiac season, or tarot card; that doesn’t mean we won’t choose it!

Tips for recording a great voicemail

• Make sure you’re somewhere quiet.

• Plan what you’re going to say ahead of time, because two minutes goes quickly.

• Opt for talking freely based on a bullet pointed list rather than reading word-for word from a script.

• Let us know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.

Wait, don’t go yet!

Thanks for hanging out with me today. If you’ve enjoyed this post of Talk Witchcraft, I invite you to check out mumblesacademy.com.

Mumbles Academy is the place to be for intuitive souls at any stage on their WitchPath. Whether you are a Wildling at the very beginning of witchcraft journey and looking for a safe learning environment, a Creator who is already committed to their practice and wants to develop their witchcraft skills even more, or a Sage who full of wisdom already and is ready to share that with others, Mumbles Academy was designed for you.

With monthly masterclasses and live Q&As, an extensive archive of courses and training, and a supportive community to help you along the way with encouragement and advice, Mumbles Academy is the perfect place for you to be as you as you continue on your WitchPath.