Magical Self-Care on a Budget

In a world where we are always pressured to do more, to spend more, to run at high speed at all times, focusing on self-care can be difficult. Sometimes the biggest obstacle for self-care is money. When money is tight it becomes easy to cut out things that seem lower priority. And for many that means cutting out their own needs and self-care. But when pursuing a magical life, self-care is extremely important. So today I want to help you put self-care back at the top of the priority list without breaking the bank.

Self Care for a Magical Life that is Free

Mind, Body, Spirit Magical Connections

Your ability to do magic and connect with the greater energies of our universe requires that you care for yourself first. You are your own vessel and within you is a pathway and ancient connection to all that has ever been and all that will be.

In order to truly practice magic and rituals on our mystical paths, first we need to care for ourselves. If we are rushed, stressed, carrying immense mental loads, or simply struggling, it becomes very difficult to manifest our desires. The ability to be still enough, to calm our own energies so we can feel those around us, requires us to be strong and resilient within ourselves. With a little self care we can truly be open to embracing a magical life.

Grant Yourself Permission

Giving ourselves permission to look after our bodies, minds, and souls is just as (if not even more) important than ticking off yet another item in our never-ending to-do list. Not only will self-care help you feel healthier and happier, but it will also change the way you work by making you feel more productive and ready to take on the day instead of feeling burned out and stretched thin.

Self-care has a positive impact on our physical, mental, spiritual and magical selves.

That said, often self-care is advertised as a luxury. Not everyone is able to purchase the latest fancy skincare kit, find the time to attend regular yoga classes, pay for expensive massages, or go on a spa weekend getaway.

That’s okay, though! For me, self-care is more about the little actions and habits that make our day a little bit brighter, many of which won’t cost you a dime! In this post, I share a few (simple but extremely effective) ideas to practice self-care when you’re on a budget. Some of these are perfect to do just before you do an rituals or manifestation work.

Most of all, I want you to give yourself permission to care for your greatest divine gift, yourself. Embrace that inner goddess!

How To Practice Self-Care When You’re On A Budget

Journal

Journaling is one of the most powerful acts of self-care. Not only is buying a journal an inexpensive, one-time expense that can last you several months (some of my favourite came from the dollar store!) but creating a habit to sit down every evening before going to bed will be a huge life-changer.

You can also make your own journal using a binder and our free journal pages.

Writing helps us make better sense of the emotions we experience throughout the day.

Research has shown that journaling our feelings and thoughts helps us release them, which in turn helps with anxiety, depression and stress. It has also been shown to help boost your immune system.

Make it a habit to set 5 to 10 minutes aside every night to sit down and write your thoughts down – the good and the bad. Don’t worry if you miss a day, even doing it just a couple of times a week can have a big impact.

Exercise

Exercise is not only good for your physical body, but it can also have an amazing effect on your mental health, so we’re hitting two birds with one stone here.

Whether it’s an hour-long workout session at the gym or a quick 20-minute at-home yoga break doing a Moon Salutation, moving and getting your heart rate up is key! Not only will it make you a healthier, stronger person, but it will also boost your mood and energy levels.

I totally get that going for a run or hitting the gym might not be everyone’s idea of fun, but there are so many other options available that will make exercise something to look forward to. Try going for a walk or hike in nature. Not only will you get some exercise, but you will enjoy fresh air and reconnecting with nature. Some of the greatest magic I have experienced has been out in nature, all without any ritual tools or expensive items. Just myself and Gaia.

Pro Tip for those with chronic illness

I suffer from a number of chronic illness conditions, plus I recently had major surgery. I don’t feel comfortable in group classes as I find most instructors do no understand my conditions. Plus, where I live in the world (Canada), has long cold winters, and this witch does not like the cold! But I found a solution! I have been really enjoying doing fitness videos on YouTube. I found a physiotherapist who specializes in my particular health needs and every day I find a few minutes to do an exercise session with one of her videos. The best part is that she combines a lot of meditation, affirmation and other magical aspects into her physical practices. If you are interested, the YouTube Channel I am following is Vibrant Pelvic Health with Dr. Bri.

We are Divine – Mindset Tip

Don’t look at exercise as a way to have tighter abs or be skinnier. Instead, think of it as something you do because you LOVE yourself and you want to take care of your vessel that was gifted to you. I realize not everyone loves their bodies, especially when it can feel like our bodies are failing us, but if you consider your body a divine gift, and treat it as such, your whole mindset will shift. This is a much better perspective and one that will make your workout something to look forward to instead of body-shaming yourself, which is something we are constantly programmed to do.

Practice affirmations in the morning

Repeating positive affirmations is an easy, yet extremely effective way to change your life around and give yourself some self-care. Be it by setting intentions to achieve your goals or improving your self-worth through words.

Choose a set of affirmations you feel strongly about, and repeat them to yourself every day. You can also make a special affirmation mirror like the Moon Mirror we made. Decorate it with post it notes with all your favourite affirmations. Then spend a few minutes every day looking in the mirror and repeating your affirmations.

Tarot Affirmations

Tarot Affirmations are a wonderful approach. Find the tarot card that resonates with what you need in your life right now, the come up or research some affirmations that go with the tarot card. Spend a minute each day with the chosen tarot card and saying the affirmations. You can also carry the tarot card with you to reinforce as needed throughout your daily activities. Our articles on specific tarot cards always include some affirmations, check out The Fool or The Magician, or The High Priestess.

Although you can repeat your affirmations any time of the day, I usually recommend setting aside a few minutes every morning before starting your daily routine. It is a powerful way to start your day and can have an amazing impact on your overall mood and help you tackle whatever the day throws your way!

There are also some incredible Oracle Decks you can use for daily affirmations. If you are unsure whether a Tarot Deck or Oracle Deck is right for you, check out this resource.

Set Intentions

Even though it might feel silly at first, adding intentions to mundane tasks can have an extremely powerful effect on your life. Not only will it help you make every day activities more enjoyable, but it will also help you become more present instead of doing things on auto mode.

For example, while showering, imagine you’re under a silver waterfall and every drop is washing away your stress. Every time you cook breakfast, think of how that action is a way to nurture your body and mind.

When you take the stairs, think of each step as lifting you up as you strengthen your body and mind.

This is a fantastic way to work on gratitude and mindset throughout your day.

Meditation

The ability to relax and meditate is something that does not come naturally to many people. Some may not even realize how difficult this seemingly simple activity can be. There are a number of apps, YouTube videos and online resources you can use to help you through a guided meditation but I believe the best meditation comes from when we unplug completely. Here is my simple meditation plan:

Start by finding a place where you can disconnect. This can be as simple as stepping out of a busy room and finding a quiet corner, taking a moment out in nature, sitting with crystals or tarot, or finding a sacred space that makes you feel safe. I sometimes find it helpful to use essential oils or creams to stimulate my sense of smell and help me centre and relax. You can be seated or standing. Your eyes can be closed, or gently focused on something.

Now breathe. I like a simple box breath. In for the the count of 3, hold for the count of 4, out for the count of 5. My preference is to also breath in through the nose, out through the mouth. As I do this I focus on my breath or a specific mantra. If my attention starts to wander, I gently bring it back to my breath or mantra. To start spend just 5 minutes in meditation, then slowly build up.

Meditation benefits include:

Reducing stress
Increasing self-awareness
Being present
Increasing ability to focus
Reducing negative emotions and thoughts
Increasing imagination and creativity
Increasing patience and tolerance
Lowering resting heart rate and blood pressure
Improving sleep quality
Improving immune function and general health and wellness

Develop a morning routine

Mornings are opportunities to start a brand new mindset, so I like to think of them as a way to reset. For me, mornings are the most important time of the day as they can have a huge effect on how the rest of your day will go. Create a morning routine that makes you feel good about yourself and works with your schedule.

It could include:

cooking a healthy breakfast, I love these muffins!
kicking in a workout session,
dancing to some favourite music,
a meditation or journal session,
reading an uplifting book,
or listening to an empowering podcast while commuting.

Find what makes you feel strong and uplifted, and make it part of the start of your day, everyday.