Burnout, Witchcraft, and Healing

**Burnout, Witchcraft, and Healing**

“Being a Witch gives you the power to heal yourself, change your life, change your world.”

—Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within, by Juliet Diaz

As Witches, our work is often to heal and help others; it’s in everything we do, from simple spells, to energy work, to manifestation, to prayers to a deity (if we worship), to herbal remedies, salves, and teas. It can be in in our readings, in listening, in reiki. It can be in many different forms, depending on how and what we practice and what is required of us. 

Witches give of themselves to others, to both fellow Pagans and non-Pagans, in and outside of our community. We even offer our Witch work to animals, avians, and the natural world, serving and loving without hesitation. This is in addition to what we give to family, friends, coworkers, our own personal study, our practice…and at the end of the day, if we still have the energy, we try to take a little time for ourselves. Many of us don’t have any energy left for that, however.

How do we balance our Witch work and our own needs? How do we learn to put ourselves first? It’s common for a Witch to tell others, that “You cannot pour from an empty cup,” and to strongly advise self-care, but how often do we remember to take our own important advice?

Ever since Covid, the world has been moving to a peculiar rhythm. It seemed to some that Covid was Gaia’s way of trying to tell Humanity that it was time to slow down, to regroup, to stop and think about what was happening in the world and to re-examine ourselves and our relationship with this planet. For a time, a lot of people did exactly that. Then things began to slowly return to “normal” (or did they?) and somehow, as wars have broken out and the international economy has tumbled, among other issues, Humanity has forgotten and fractured ever further. Burnout has become more intense and we’re all living zombies to a degree. 

Asking for help can be the hardest thing in a person’s life, harder, perhaps, when that help doesn’t come. For example, imagine trying to organize special events for an entire community or organization, events that hundreds of people want to be involved in, but that few are willing to offer their time to help make happen. This occurs everywhere from offices to volunteer events, and the emotional stress it causes can have lasting consequences on the health of those who do step up, bringing disillusionment in terms of seeking assistance in other areas of a person’s life.

As Witches, we need to look out for ourselves, and for each other. Witches throughout history have been isolated, mistreated and worse, yet now, we are connected and enjoy freedoms to practice our Craft that our ancestors never dreamed of. Thus, avoiding burnout is possible, for ourselves and others, if we come together as a community, and also allow ourselves to be openly vulnerable and ask for help when we need it.

Additionally, it has been said that one of the most empowering spells is the word “No”; setting boundaries and taking time for ourselves, even if it is only half an hour in a day, or (preferably) a day or two a week, to recharge and get the rest we need, is vital not only for our physical, but also for our mental health.

In his seminal work The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation, and Psychic Development Christopher Penczak says, “When I say witchcraft is a spirituality, I mean it is a spiritual path. You walk it for nourishment of the soul, to commune with the life force of the universe, and to thereby better know your own life.”

It is that “nourishment of the soul” that Witches must continually seek to be at our best in every way. Take care of yourselves, Witches, and of each other. Let’s never forget that we are a community, and continue to heal in our Witch work, together.

Article by Ravenstar Winters