Table of contents for Mindful Magic in Mindful Magic

For centuries, there has been an idea that magic is divided into four schools, governed by the four traditional elements of the ancient world – earth, air, fire, and water. This ancient idea was popularised again in the 16th century by a doctor called Paracelsus. Back when he was practising medicine, astrology and alchemy were a big part of the discipline, and Paracelsus drew his healing philosophies from stars and spells as much as he did from science. While we know today that physical and mental illnesses should always be treated by a healthcare professional, many of us find that complementary therapies, such as meditation to connect with the four traditional elements, can help us to feel grounded, blow away our cares, energise our passions, and soothe our troubles. But…

YOU'LL NEED… ■ A small stone One thing lucky people seem to have is the confidence that good things will happen to them. Think of Julie Andrews singing, “I have confidence in me!” in The Sound of Music. To bring good luck for a job interview, an audition, promotion, or exam, you want to radiate confidence both inside and out. Part of confidence is preparation, such as studying hard. For this spell, you will create a talisman to wear on your person. All you need is a small stone of your choosing, though any of the following crystals are especially well suited: malachite, labradorite, or green aventurine. Three days before your interview or exam, begin and end each day by saying to the stone, “I have the skills and confidence…

GROWTH AND FERTILITY Plant seeds to manifest growth, abundance or fertility Planting is a powerful activity: we plant seeds expecting them to grow into something useful, beautiful or nourishing. The symbolic action of planting seeds can also be used for magical purposes. Planting seeds can represent something we wish to grow in our lives, such as a business, or an intentional community. Seeds are also a symbol of fertility. Planting seeds in an intentional way is also a way to conjure abundance: this might include having a healthier financial situation or making friends after moving to a new place. Plant your seeds in a pot or in the ground while speaking aloud the magical purpose of your spell. Repeat this every day when watering the seeds and continue to visualise…

Air is the most intriguing and mysterious of the four elements. It is invisible, and yet also fills all the empty space around us. We can’t see or touch it, yet we also can’t live without it. Despite being transparent, air’s impacts are easy to see: the way the wind blows across a meadow, for example, or the way air fills up a balloon. Even when we cannot see air, we can experience it with our other senses. We feel it in a soft breeze, smell it as it carries the scent of lilacs in spring, taste the salt in an ocean breeze, and hear the wind’s voice in trees or windchimes. These qualities of air, the way that it is somehow invisible and yet also everywhere, make it central…

The use of smoke in ritual and magic dates back to the ancient world. Resins, woods, herbs and spices have all been burned as incense for therapeutic and religious reasons, and many are still used across every continent and within every religion. Some substances are said to heal or to cleanse and purify a space, while others can help you to enter a hypnotic state, foretell the future or meditate. Some are even used as an aphrodisiac. What all cultures seem to have in common though, is that incense and aromatic smoke can bring about a higher state of consciousness and connection with the spirit realm, connecting us to the air element and the crown chakra. Smoke, like mist in mythology, is often perceived as an ethereal barrier between worlds.…

WHY NOT TRY… Placing one hand on your heart and one on your belly helps you to attune to your stress levels and promote instant calm through the heart and sacral chakras WARNING! Burning incense or a candle can help centre you while you practise your breathing work, but make sure not to burn anything toxic or that might bother your sinuses! Meditation is a magical skill. Whether you are in the midst of a tough time, or simply need to focus, finding a moment of calm is a useful tool to have in your back pocket. But for many of us, the idea of clearing our minds just isn’t a viable option, so how can we find that mindful moment? The answer is simple: through breathing. In yoga, breathwork…

The fire element is connected to the sun, the giver of life. It can be intense and filled with energy, passion and emotion, lighting the way and nurturing us with its warmth. Fire knows no boundaries, and by bringing it into your meditation, you can harness its power to bring fresh courage and strength to your own life. Yet fire that’s uncontrolled can rage and cause destruction, so it’s important you know how to work with it, rather than fear its strength. It’s inevitable that we will all face obstacles as we move through life, but once you have that fire within you, you’ll feel ready to cope with anything. When it comes to bringing the fire element into your meditation, you’ll envision the warmth and illumination of the flames…

Flame gazing can be a wonderful way to find stillness. A dancing flame has a hypnotic effect on the mind, something yogis have known for centuries. Known as 'tratak sadhana' in yoga, candle gazing is a focus meditation. This is a type of meditation that involves focusing, or gazing, on an object or sensation, and can bring your awareness to the present moment. This can not only help to calm the mind, but to tap into the third eye chakra, increasing psychic ability, intuition and spiritual awareness. In order to meditate and help awaken your third eye, just follow these simple steps: 1 Pick your candle. It can be large or small, but pick one with only one wick. You might choose a scented one in order to enhance your…

SUN SALUTATION Greet the sun with this sequence of yoga moves In yoga, the Sun Salutation is used to both warm up the spine and improve the body’s energy. The 12-posture sequence involves flowing movements that come together for an entire body stretch that counterbalances the bending of the spine and opens the heart, shoulders and chest. Traditionally, the Sun Salutation is practised while facing east at sunrise or west at sunset and focuses on pranayama (breathwork), asana (movement), mantra (chanting) and chakra (energy centre) awareness. “Just like the moon, different phases of the sun possess different magical properties” SUNRISE, SUNSET Sun phases and their magical properties Just like the moon, different phases of the sun possess different magical properties that can be used in a number of spells and…

WHY NOT TRY… Use a mirror set in a comfortable position and move your focus beyond the surface reflection. “Let your mind rest and imagine any stray thoughts to dissolve into the water in front of you” YOU'LL NEED… ■ A medium sized plain bowl ■ Enough water to half-fill it ■ A flat surface ■ A table and chair if you prefer not to kneel Still water is the perfect metaphor for the calm mind we all need to cultivate from time to time. We know that water can take many forms and flow quickly, just like our mental states, but sometimes we need it to be still. You can only truly see your reflection in still water. If you want to see things clearly you need to quiet your…

Water is associated with the emotions and creativity. When we want to feel free and let go of stress, we say “go with the flow” and imagine we’re drifting in a gentle river. Using water to create ritual experiences of cleansing and washing away our worries can be done in a number of ways. Walking in the rain can become an impromptu ritual for feeling refreshed and renewed. Wading or swimming in a pond, lake, river or the ocean can help us feel connected to nature’s many forms of water. Most of us interact with water daily when we bathe, use the toilet, or fill our dog’s water bowl. Choosing to interact with water in a mindful way can help us visualise water’s symbolic power of cleansing and refreshing our…

The modern world can sometimes seem chaotic and confusing, and it’s all too easy to get swept along in the maelstrom of noise and activity. Before we know it, we’ve lost sight of anything but the here and now, reacting to the moment as it happens, and letting ourselves be overwhelmed by the sheer tumult of daily life. Luckily, the earth element is always there, waiting for us to reconnect to it and regain a little balance and control in what can be a confusing world. Appropriately enough, the earth element and its rituals are all about grounding and balance, where the most simple action can carry its very own magic. The element of earth nurtures us and enfolds us, inviting us to remember all that is simple and natural…

Crystals and stones have enchanted and intrigued mankind for millennia, their beauty revered and their magic put to use as jewels, charms and protective talismans. They’ve been used to form monuments like stone circles and temples, carved into relics and employed for meditation, magic and soothsaying. The act of divination with stones, precious, semi-precious or otherwise, is known as lithomancy. There are three common types of lithomancy: stone casting or throwing, crystallomancy and dowsing. Casting or throwing stones is a form of sortilege and the method most commonly associated with the term lithomancy. This process involves the caster tossing tumbled stones like dice and interpreting where they fall in relation to each other, as well as the patterns they form. “There are three common types of lithomancy: stone casting or…

All too often we pay little attention to the things we are putting into our bodies. We live in a busy world and often have to eat on the run. We consume whatever is to hand that will give us the energy to complete our tasks. Food is, and should be, much more than that. When we stop considering food a merely a fuel we are able to appreciate our connection to the Earth that provides it. Mindful eating means taking time to consider, choose, and truly experience that act of eating. Mindfulness involves being more aware of what is happening and realising that we are able to control our choices. This does not mean that we should be critical or judgemental about our eating practices – only that we…

WHY NOT TRY… Embracing the air element can be as simple as taking a stroll on the beach and watching the effects of the breeze: the waves on the shore and the movement of the clouds upon the horizon. WHY NOT TRY… Open a window and let the air element inside! Stagnant air can feel stifling. Connecting with the air element is essential to unlocking your creativity, tapping into your own mind and reaching your full potential. The air is pure energy – in fact, we utilise it through wind farms to power our homes and businesses. It is associated with the throat and third eye chakras. It is the element of spirit and divination and higher consciousness, new ideas, curiosity, communication, speaking our truths, sensory perception and awareness, flexibility…

YOU'LL NEED… ■ A feather – to ensure your feather is cruelty free, don’t buy one in a shop. Instead, find a naturally discarded feather outside ■ A window or high place ■ A breezy day Feathers float through the world, weightless and careless and going wherever the wind might take them. For centuries, people have looked to feathers for their mystical properties, and some believe that finding a feather can be a symbol of protection or love, or even a message from a lost loved one. In a world that seems beset with anxiety, you can even use a simple feather to find some balance in troubled times. Though you can buy a feather in a store, to ensure that you are working with positive intentions, eject these potentially…

ASTROLOGICAL TRANSITS What are they and how do they work? When reading your horoscope, you may have seen that a planet is ‘in transit’, but what does that actually mean? Astrological transits involve interpreting ongoing movement of the planets as they move across the horoscope, and are one of the biggest indicators of future trends and developments in horoscopic astrology. Perhaps the most important transit is the ‘planetary return’, during which the transiting planet returns to the same point in the sky it was at during a person’s birth – the planet has completed a whole circuit of the sky, meaning a new cycle of someone’s life is beginning. Some returns are less common than others. For example, the Jupiter return happens once every 12 or so years, whereas the…

YOU'LL NEED ■ A carnelian crystal or piece of carnelian jewellery ■ Some time to spend on yourself It’s easy to feel as though life is coming at you from every direction at once, and even the most strong or tenacious of us can sometimes let things get them down. Luckily, there are things you can do to build your inner strength, and you can call on the magic of the natural world and crystal healing to help. After all, it never hurts to have someone – or something – on your side. You can really make this ritual as simple or as complicated as you wish; if you’re used to working with crystals and have your own routines then by all means incorporate them, otherwise you can create a…

Fire is often considered the most exciting element. It is associated with the south, and with the noontime sun, when its solar power is at its height. Fire is featured in many mythic narratives, like the story of Prometheus, the Greek god who stole fire from the Olympians and gave it to humans. Though this worked out well for humanity (we associate fire with knowledge and civilisation), Prometheus was cruelly punished by Zeus for his deeds. Fire is the one element that is not naturally widespread in nature (except in active volcanoes) and must be created using flint, or a heat source like the sun. The God of war, Ares in Greek mythology or Mars in Roman mythology, gave his name to the fiery red planet in our solar system.…

Water is vital to life. Life itself evolved in water. Many cultures have seen water as central to their religious and spiritual rites. From Hindu worshippers making offerings in rivers like the Ganges, to Christians baptising their young, to ritual ablutions in many faiths, there has always been something special about water. Because we all need water every day to be healthy, it can be easy to overlook its qualities. When we need to be clean we turn to water and either submerge ourselves in a bath or wash ourselves in a shower. This purifying power of water on the body is reflected in its effects on the soul. Ritual purity in religion often comes from contact with specially blessed water. “By reflecting on the nature of water and using…

Water magic is one of the most ancient forms of occult practice. Water is fundamental to life and everyone recognises its importance, yet it remains in many ways a mysterious presence. It can be a calm pond, a stormy sea, a hard icicle, or a billowing cloud. Perhaps because of this changeability people have looked to water to help understand the changes occurring in their lives. Hydromancy, the practice of divination using water, has roots that go back to the earliest days of history. Over the centuries many different techniques have been used to glimpse the future using water. Some ancient texts record dropping oil onto water and examining the shapes it takes. People pour molten lead or wax into it and see the future in the forms in which…

Whilst there are plenty of rituals involving fire, not everyone feels comfortable working with open flames. However, you don’t need heat to chase your worries away, and you can instead turn to the power of ice to bring some balance to what can seem like a troubled world. This is a really simple ritual, but one that’s as powerful as it is easy to put into action, and it doesn’t need any special equipment beyond items you’ll find in an everyday kitchen. Whatever it is that’s causing your anxiety, the first thing you need to do is put it out into the world. Do this by writing it on a piece of paper and, as you do, focus all your intentions on really pushing your problem out there with the…

Study after study has shown that spending time in nature is good for our mental health. Just a few hours among plants reduces anxiety and stress, as well as improving your mood. One of the easiest ways you get a natural boost is to kick off your shoes and socks and stand barefoot on the grass. As well as the proven benefits of being in nature, you will be transported back to your childhood, when running about with bare feet was a mark of your freedom from worry. Going barefoot offers wonderful new vistas for mindfulness. The nerves on our feet are incredibly sensitive and wearing shoes can dull us to a whole world beneath us. Allowing ourselves to feel the grass, earth, or sand creates a feeling of connection…

WHY NOT TRY… There are many different shades of green; which one means prosperity to you? It could be the deep green of the countryside or the pale hue of dollar bills! YOU'LL NEED… ■ Green candle ■ Three coins ■ Pouch ■ Cinnamon ■ Bay leaf Many people dream of great riches, but this spell is aimed at increasing prosperity to assure stability. Money issues often cause feelings of stress and shame, and this spell also addresses these feelings. For this spell you need a green candle, three coins, a small pouch, some cinnamon, and one bay leaf. Gather your materials before you begin. Place the candle on your altar or a table, and light it. Pass each coin through the candle flame carefully, saying, “Light my way to…

Finished your morning cuppa? Don’t pour away what’s left just yet, the patterns that remain in your finished brew leaves might be able to explain your past and present, and predict your future. Tea reading is an ancient fortune-telling method that uses the shapes of tea leaves to create symbols that can interpret different meanings. Tea is historically associated with China and this is where the practice is supposed to have begun in c2000 BCE. It is said that after finishing a brew, it was noticed that the remaining tea leaves were grouped together in what looked like a symbol. This was the first instance of tasseography, a technique that can also be undertaken with coffee granules and wine sediment. The shapes formed by the leaves can mean a variety…

As a child, you probably picked dandelion clocks and blew on them to play telling the time – and you possibly got into trouble for messing up the lawn or flowerbeds! But dandelions are unfairly maligned as weeds. In fact they’re incredibly nutritious, both for us and for the bees, who find in early-blooming dandelions some of the first pollen of the year. Nonetheless, some gardeners really are dead-set against them, so make sure you do this spell in your own garden or, if you don’t have one, in a wilder area of a community green space where wildflowers are welcomed. Dandelions’ golden flowers recall both the sun and gold coins. That and their role in early spring honey makes the plant an ideal symbol for a happy wish fulfilled.…

WHY NOT TRY… Help the wind carry your worries away by visualising yourself blowing up a balloon, with each breath sending a worry out of you into the balloon. Then visualise it floating off and away. PART THE CLOUDS you’re seeking mental clarity, just think of clear blue skies It can sometimes seem as though we’re hemmed in on all sides by responsibilities and concerns. It’s not always easy to clear your mind and achieve the mental clarity and peace that we all seek; from work and study stress to family hassles or just everyday life, brain fog can creep up on you. If you’re feeling the strain, find somewhere quiet for a few minutes and get comfortable.. Then close your eyes and envision a summer sky, filled with clouds,…

There has always been a human fascination with fire. It can heat a home, cook food, and bewitch us with the almost living quality of its flickering flames. Yet if it gets out of hand it is destructive and can obliterate. Any practice involving fire should always be done with safety in mind. When it comes to fire, there is a fine line between comfort and danger. It’s no wonder many religions have sensed something divine within the flames. In the past most homes would have a fire at their centre where much of the day’s activities would be focused. The hearth was the heart of the home. Today fewer people rely on a fire for most functions but whenever we are presented with flames our eyes are drawn and…

All of us have performed candle magic at one point or another. Have you ever made a wish upon a birthday cake? That’s a form of candle magic! Perhaps you’ve delved further, burned a note or a photo in order to move on from a person or situation or even tried a spell or two. Mainstream religions employ candles in their services as do modern pagans in their rituals. In fact, it’s hard to imagine witchcraft without a candlelit altar or circle, and there’s a reason why. Candle magic is one of the easiest, most accessible and most effective forms of magic, and it can be employed for anything and everything, from manifestation and spellwork to divination and mindfulness. “Colours are important when it comes to spellcasting with candles” Any…

Sometimes, our worries can seem absolutely unassailable. From the smallest niggle to the biggest anxiety, it’s easy to let our thoughts and emotions get the better of us and really weigh us down. Thankfully, there’s a simple candle ritual that can help you take control of your fears and literally burn your worries away. Taking a pen, write your worry on the surface of the candle. Start at the top and write downwards, as this will send the worries away from you as the candle burns. Don’t worry if your ink doesn’t show properly, as the wax will retain an impression of the words you write. You could even use the point of a pin or needle to scratch your message into the candle, and though it’s unlikely that your…

Water has long been used in many religions as a means of cleansing oneself and bringing us to a state of purity. During meditation we can use the image of water for a similar purpose. The unending flow of water allows us to wash away many of the blockages in our mind and reveal what truly matters. The beauty of water is that it comes in many forms. We can picture a still mountain lake that reflects nothing but the clear sky. We might think of a country pond surrounded by lush life. Water can be a gently burbling stream or a relentless tide moving in and out. It can even be a weightless cloud floating free. Each of these images might be helpful for us at different points in…

YOU'LL NEED… ■ A bowl ■ Water (you can place it in moonlight or sunlight beforehand if you wish) ■ Your fingers ■ A spray bottle (optional) ■ Crystals/gemstones (optional) ■ Herbs (optional) DID YOU KNOW? Adding crystals to your water can be another way to enhance its energies and cleansing properties in your meditative space. Many practitioners believe that it’s important to purify or cleanse a sacred space before they meditate or perform any sort of ritual. You can smudge, use salt or even fire, but a simple way to cleanse a space is to do it with plain old water, a practice known as asperging. It’s a great way to ensure that your space is totally cleansed of other influences, whether they’re negative or just left over from…

WHY NOT TRY… Try performing rituals while standing in bodies of water to utilise its powerfully magical properties. Just make sure to stay safe and only do it in shallow water! SEASHELLS BY THE SEASHORE Release things that no longer serve you with this healing seashell ritual In elemental witchcraft, water is often thought to be the most essential of the four classical elements. Its healing and life-sustaining qualities mean that it’s often used in spells and rituals. The following spell can be performed as a way of letting go of things that no longer serve you. Head to a beach or other body of water and walk along the shore until you find a shell that speaks to you. It could be because of its shape, colour, size or…