Self Preservation in Witchcraft

For almost a year now I’ve been in the middle of a very difficult, ugly situation. I can’t go into details…yet. But what I will say is that this situation has been the undercurrent of my life for way too long. Today, I’m feeling the weight of it. I’m tired, sad, disillusioned, and scared; not a great place to be. My personal reserves are close to shot and I’m looking at the best ways to practice self preservation with my witchcraft.

We all go through trials and tribulation in life. That’s just part of being human. Remembering to take care of our personal needs can be really [really] hard. Many folks don’t put themselves first. Jobs, kids, partners, pets, homes, these things all take up space. I’ve also noticed when I’m worn down I often don’t know what I need, what I want, or even how to ask for help. Plus, add on the cultural pressure to not be selfish and you’ve got a recipe for suffering alone, wearing down your personal reserves.

Selfish

Selfish; also meaning self-centered. Sure, selfishness can be totally problematic. However, to be self-centered is to put your self in the center. From a placed of center, we can more easily see what is going on at the edges. It is easier to hold the fringes when we are centered.

For my own self preservation I’ve had to make a little check list to help me remember what helps. This is not a one-size-fits-all situation. What works for me might not work for you. And you need to know what will help you get out of a stuck place before you get into one, which is tricky.  The first step of self preservation is to know thyself. (A bigger concept that I am going to go into here.)

Things to Try

When you’re stuck, when your down, when you feel overwhelmed here are some things to try.

• Get Out – Go to the park, the woods, the beach, walk around the block; whatever. Get out of indoor space and go outside. There doesn’t need to be a reason for your outside adventure. Just go outside.
• Breathe – Yes, this is a classic one. Simple, but effective. Breathe deeply, with intention. Something I stole from Gwion: “give yourself the luxury of a breath”.
• Vent – Find a way to vent what is feeling stuck. Call a friend, write in your journal, tweet, go to a mountain top and scream. Get it off your chest.
• Ask For Help – If you know what you need, ask for it! If you don’t know what you need, ask for simple support. The easiest way to ask for support is to reach out to anyone you trust and ask them to hold space for you. That might look like prayer, sending energy, offering Reiki, or just being a listening ear.
• Eat, Drink, Sleep, Bathe – Give yourself space to do the most basic things. Are you getting enough water? Are you eating? Have you been sleeping? What about a shower? Do these things as regularly as you can.
• Daily Practice – Take small steps to help you connect to the Divine. This might look like meditation, singing, playing music, spending time at your altars, or a myriad of other things.
• Go Slow – Take time if you need it. Cancel plans. Binge watch television. Hibernate a bit. The world moves fast enough. Slowing down might feel counter-intuitive, but its healthy.
• Create – Make something. Paint, draw, sculpt, write. Even if you don’t know how. Even if you suck at it. Create something and move it through.

Self preservation is a process of self care. Taking care of yourself is a radical act. Go for it.