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Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Importance of Gratitude in Witchcraft

witchcraft, gratitude, Law of Attraction

If you live in the United States, today is Thanksgiving, the day we have designated to be grateful for the time we have been given, the family and friends in our lives, and all the little things we may have that make our lives just a little bit better. In regards to the Wheel of the Year, Thanksgiving is closely related to Mabon, but without the lunar calendar involved. Either way, gratitude and the expression of it is an important magical practice for a variety of reasons.

Witchcraft in and of itself is a work of gratitude. When we practice witchcraft we are honoring our ancestors, the land, animals and plants, and the spirits around us. This act of gratitude takes many forms, from setting up an altar to offerings, and plays an important part in our own transformation. By expressing gratitude, we contribute to our own happiness and form a deep connection with the world around us, both of which are important to personal development.

Any spell or ritual regarding manifestation relies heavily on gratitude. There are roughly three parts to a manifestation spell or ritual: an invocation, a petition, and an expression of gratitude. During the invocation phase, we call upon whatever spirits, deities, elements, etc that we work with to connect with the source, that font of energy we use as witches to manifest change. Next, we ask for specifically what we want because without asking how does the Universe know what to give us? And finally, we end the ritual with gratitude, an act of thanks that lets the Universe know that this change will manifest in our lives and that we are thankful for it. This final act is a sure-fire way to manifest what we want. When we are grateful for what is yet to come as well as what we already have, we align our personal energies to attract that which we seek. This is based on the Law of Attraction, that like attracts like, and the 7 Hermetic Principles.

According to the Law of Attraction, everything is energy. As witches, we are already fully aware of this, knowing that all things vibrate and that we can harness this energy and manipulate it to bring about change. We too have vibrations that can be manipulated by our surroundings. If you pay attention, you may notice your vibration shift when you log into social media, and often not in a good way. There is a lot of negativity out there, especially on social media, and it subconsciously affects us. However, when we shift our focus toward gratitude, our vibration also shifts. Our vibration is directly tied to what we get in life. When we are negative and foul, we often attract other negative and foul things. Have you ever noticed when you are in a good mood that the world around you is a better place? The Law of Attraction teaches us that our thoughts (the mental plane in Hermetism) can directly impact the world around us (the physical plane), which ultimately impacts our spiritual self and our magic (spiritual plane).

I am by no means telling you you have to be positive all the time. Quite the contrary. I fully recognize the value of expressing "negative" emotions and how we can harness that storm to manifest as well. You can read more about how I think the love and light movement is hurting us hereHowever, scientific studies have shown that the expression of gratitude actually changes the chemistry in the brain for the better. So what does this mean for you, as a witch?

I strongly encourage you to express gratitude daily, in whatever means you deem best for you and your situation. Some of us pray when we wake, before a meal, or before bed; some of us write in journals; others still make daily offerings. How you express gratitude can be as simple or as complex as you wish. Personally, I'm an affirmation/prayer type person. I talk to myself a lot, especially when I am alone, and during these times I often express my gratitude. When I notice I am starting to get frustrated, I take a deep breath, name one thing I am thankful for, and let the frustration go. Sometimes I am not very good about doing this, but it helps when I do it. However, you decide to express your gratitude, be sure you mean it. It's not going to work if you don't believe in yourself.

So this holiday season, how you are you planning to express your gratitude? Do you already have a daily gratitude practice? Share in the comments below.


4 comments :

  1. I have been following your blog since I started my witchcraft journey nearly two full years ago. I appreciate you so much and am grateful for your willingness to share what you have learned. Thank you. <3

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    1. Aww! That makes me feel great! Thank you for reading and I'm so glad I can be of service. :)

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  2. I've just completed 100 Days of Gratitude and I found it so refreshing, that I'm continuing onward beyond 100 Days and absorbing this practice into every day x

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    1. Isn't it amazing what it does to your brain? I should look up that challenge and start my New Year with it. Thanks for reading and commenting!

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