**Yoga and Witchcraft**
Over the years as an Eclectic Witch living with Fibromyalgia and two autoimmune disorders causing additional pain and fatigue, I’ve often found myself struggling to get out of bed. Even before my diagnosis and before motherhood, in my single days when I supposedly had more “energy,” I found myself living like most of the world: in a state of perpetual exhaustion. I spent my days running from appointment to appointment, working overtime (some weeks as much as eighty hours), grabbing coffee and fast food and hardly tasting any of it, and by the end of the day I came home to dishes, laundry, bills, emails… I would then find myself too worn out to do much more than sit in front of the TV (where I was assaulted with disturbing news or useless imagery) and eventually fall into bed. This is the status for many individuals. Is it any wonder there is so much destructive behaviour in our society?
As Witches and Pagans, we understand that we must find our own refuge from the dread of the outside world. While trips to the sea and the forest or mountains are ideal, these are not always possible. The Druids use meditation to create an “inner Grove” to escape to, a practice that I have worked with as a member of OBOD for some years. It is beautiful. Many of us also, if we are able, create altars in our homes, or when that is not an option, we will design an “inner altar” for our sanctuary.
But there is another alternative, which can be done at home or outdoors (weather permitting), for as little as five to fifteen minutes a day: Yoga, a peaceful refuge from a world of chaos. Are you searching for harmony and balance? You will find it in this beautiful practice, which can be adapted with the music of your choice (or done in silence) and augmented with the use of incense or smoke cleansing and crystals, etc., as you choose. It’s all up to you. I personally burn incense, have a crystal grid, and either listen to Witchy music, Indigenous flutes or drumming, or chant to the Goddesses and Gods as suits my mood. Sometimes, I visualize a forest retreat, Hekate’s Cave or the Starry Road. The point is, the practice, like all Witchcraft, is inherently personal, private, and yours alone.
You may begin if you choose with only a few minutes a day; but yoga is so much more than just exercise. If you allow yourself to stop—and I mean really stop—for even just a few minutes at a time, it will change your life in ways you never imagined. There is even a book by Sarah Robinson that I would have loved to have had when I first began incorporating yoga into my Craft, called Yoga for Witches, from Womancraft Publishing, that you can find on Amazon, if you need illustrations and further ideas.
Now I would like to present four basic principles of yoga. These are:
- Asana
- Awareness of Breath
- Mindfulness
- Meditation
Asana: Practicing the asanas (or “postures”) has a healing effect. A daily practice of the asanas will increase flexibility, improving circulation and energizing the body; it also eases many discomforts. Even those suffering from arthritis or other chronic pain will benefit from gentle yoga.
Awareness of Breath: We all breathe. But how many of us slow down enough to take deep, calming breaths? In The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, Deepak Chopra states: “Be conscious of your breath, and your awareness will stay centered in the midst of turbulence.” Breathing is vital; breathing mindfully allows for even greater oxygen flow into the brain and heart, and eases the turbulent waters of the soul in difficult moments.
Mindfulness: It is estimated that we think somewhere between 50,000-70,000 thoughts per day, and that up to 80% of these thoughts are negative. It is difficult to work through our shadows, but yoga can help to calm the mind and bring our awareness back to ourselves. How we choose to look at a situation can make a huge difference in our lives. Practicing gratitude upon waking or during yoga, such as calling to mind three to five things we are thankful for, is another way to ground our energy and be mindful of the present. One of the biggest principles I try to follow in my own life is what I call “auspicious simplicity,” meaning that the little things add up every day. If you watch four hours of TV a day that’s 1,460 hours in one year; but think of the impact that a quieter activity would have on your life instead. This is not to say there’s anything wrong with watching television—everyone needs some fantasy and entertainment. It’s all about balance. In essence, mindfulness is a combination of being aware of your thoughts and outlook on life, and making more balanced choices for the activities you choose to partake in on a daily basis.
Relaxation: It is extremely important to get enough sleep and to give your mind a break from the world and the daily pressures of life. People often work for days on end, going year to year without even so much as a vacation, and the current state of the world’s economy has worsened this situation. Vacations have become a luxury that some people might not be able to afford at all. Which is why it’s become even more important to take a deep breath and stop. You need to take time for yourself every day, even if it is just half an hour of sitting and reading a good book, meditating, scrying, being at your altar, taking a walk somewhere quiet, or doing nothing at all. Balancing your life’s activities with these peaceful moments of rest will help to rejuvenate your body, soul, mind, and spirit.
Make the effort. Life is fleeting; and your health is an investment you cannot afford to ignore.
Namaste, Witches, and Blessed Be.
Article by Ravenstar Winters
Alberta Witches Association 