Druid in the City: “Store Bought is Fine” – is Not Fine

There is a group of people within witchcraft who, in trying to be inclusive, say things like “but if you can’t make it, store bought is fine” or similar things. Or even worse, “If all you can do is store bought, it’s still okay.” I wonder sometimes if people realize what they are actually saying.

When witches say those words, or similar words in that vein, I feel as if you are telling me that I’m “fine” … not good, not great, not even okay, but “fine.” It feels like you’re dismissing me, or saying that I am lesser because I don’t (for whatever reason) make my own stuff, or maybe I just don’t purchase from shops where everything is custom or hand made. I can’t imagine that I’m the only one feeling this way.

I feel like I should point out that I make a good wage, but it’s still good to be smart with my money.

If you want to do witchcraft, choose to get or make your stuff where it makes sense for you. There’s no right or wrong. There is no better place to get your supplies. There is only what makes sense for you.

I like burning candles a lot in my practice – I don’t know how to make my own candles and I don’t have the equipment or facilities to do so.  So, I purchase my candles from the dollar store.  It doesn’t mean that I won’t purchase candles from Etsy or local stores occasionally, but day-to-day candles, it makes sense to purchase the decent-yet-inexpensive options that are available to me.

I like incense, but I find the fees that some places are charging are just ridiculous. I get much of my incense from my local organic food store. I’m trying to learn how to make my own incense, but that’s mostly because it’s cheaper and I can purchase the components from my local grocery.

Intention and energy are what this Work is all about – not where you got your stuff.

If you can make candles, make them. If you can buy candles, buy them. If you can dream of candles, dream of them. The same goes for incense, chalices, wands, athames, well, fire, and tree. Anything that you can collect, purchase, or make may help you to focus. The physical stuff can help to act as triggers to get us to more spiritual states, or make it easier to focus on a spell or working, but it’s not required. Don’t buy something because you must, buy stuff you want to and that makes sense to you.

Witchcraft is about helping yourself, not putting yourself in debt. Be sensible and make your magic.