Unless you’ve been living alone on a desert island, you’ve probably noticed that witchcraft is a thing. What you may not know, is that you don’t have to be a witch to stir up a little practical magic, you just need to activate your own personal mojo.

Witch or not, everybody has tried a little magic. When you will the traffic light to turn green as you approach, carry around an image of that boat you want to own some day, or plan the details of a trip you yearn to take, you’re focusing your intention and directing your energy to manifest a desired outcome.

You’ve got the power in you—that’s what witchcrafting is all about. Which is exactly why it’s so important to keep your battery charged. Energy begets energy; you have to have it before you can use it.

Easier said than done with the secular holiday season upon us. There’s shopping, cooking, baking, cleaning, planning, more shopping, more cooking, more baking, then gathering and gifting to be done. How’s a witchy gal supposed to find time for a little R&R—Respite & Ritual?

• What do we need?
• Self Care
• Why?
• Personal power.
• When do we need it?
• Now.
• How do we get it?

Good question. It’s tough to squeeze in personal care when we’re already pressed for time. If only there was a way to get more hours into the day. Oh wait—there is. Lucky for us, this is the perfect season to harness the energy of time and stretch it out.

Yule is a time of transition. It marks the ending of the dark half of the year and the beginning of the light half. Within that transition is a moment when the hours of night and day are equal and time seems to stand still. Mythologically speaking, the Goddess, having descended into the dark underworld at Samhain, is awaiting the rebirth of the God. She is biding her time.

Time Stretching Spell
You can tap into the energies of Yule to cast a simple spell for stretching time to your advantage. You’ll need popcorn, string (dental floss works well) and a needle with an eye large enough to thread the string through. Before you start popping the corn, take a moment to ground and center yourself. Invite the properties and energy of time to combine with your intent. Pop the corn in a microwave, electric popper or on the stove (Jiffy Pop is perfect for this spell).

As the popcorn expands in it’s container, imagine time expanding within the container of a day. If you think of time as linear, see a straight line between two points begin to curve, waving up and down, making mountains and valleys, getting longer while still beginning and ending at the same points. If you see time on a daily calendar, envision the number of squares increasing on the same page. Or, imagine the face of a clock with extra numbers around the dial.

When the corn is popped, put some on a plate as an offering to Spirit, the deitie(s), ancestors, nature, or the universe, as thanks for their help. Place the offering outdoors. Eat some some of the popcorn yourself, with the intention that you are combining this energy of time expansion with your own personal energy. String the rest to decorate your Yule/Christmas tree, or treat your neighborhood birds by decorating a small tree outside. No hurry though, you have all the time you need and stale popcorn is easier to string.

So now that time is on your side, use it to try these simple, witchy, self-care tips to power through the busy days ahead.

Create a Daily Ritual
Set aside a little time and space just for you. Whether it’s a quiet moment of meditation or prayer in the morning, or a few moments of R&R at the end of the day. Brew a cup of your favorite coffee or tea, stirring in your intentions to feel calm and at ease. You can use sugar to add sweetness to your day, and cream to enrich your experiences. Light a candle while thinking of seeing your way throughout the day.

In the morning, listen to uplifting music; at night choose soothing tunes. You can take the time to read inspirational stories or poems or simply close your eyes and let your thoughts go inward. You can also try listening to a guided visualization for a few minutes.

Take Five
For this one, I like to think of my body as the vessel of the Goddess (God, Spirit, chosen deity. etc.). What I do for my own wellbeing or pleasure, is an offering , something that can be experienced through my flesh and blood. So I remind myself to take short breaks at regular intervals during the day, standing and stretching to relieve tension in my body. I take three to five slow, deep breath, breathing in calmness and contentment. then I exhale stress, anxiety and disappointment. I finish by drinking a glass of water before returning to the work at hand.

A New Twist on the Gratitude List
It’s easy to forget all the good things in our lives when we’re feeling rushed and overwhelmed with responsibility, but you can toss the tedious gratitude list out with the trash. Instead manifest some positive energy using a platform like Pinterest or Instagram to curate images of favorite things you’re grateful for. Include pictures of loved ones, vacation spots, pets, and hobbies (you can make it a secret board on Pinterest so you won’t be sharing personal images with the whole world). When you’re feeling down, take a moment to swipe through this visual reminder of all you have to be thankful for.

Give Your To-Do List a Magical Boost
Take your To Do lists to the next level with my Ta Done! list. Early in December I write down everything I have to accomplish for the holidays— things like baking cookies for the exchange, decorating the tree, shopping for gifts, planning a Solstice ritual. I’m a bit of an artsy-fartsy sorta witch, so I jazz my list up with colored markers, and doodles. I draw a check box alongside each task on the list and X it out when completed. Sometimes, I draw a hash-line through the box if I’m making progress but not quite done. If a task becomes urgent (code for I’ve procrastinated too long), I circle the box in red. When I complete tasks I shout, “Ta Done!” and do a little dance. Shouting and dancing, or chanting, clapping, and ringing of bells is the magical part. You’ll find if you do this your lists become easier and easier to complete.

And don’t throw your Ta Da! lists out when you’re done. I clip mine together and save them. Anytime I want to feel a sense of accomplishment, I just get out my lists and pat myself on the back for all I’ve accomplished.

Give and Take
Even if a witch could be all things to all people, she’s wise enough to know it’s not worth it. Honor your limitations, ask for help, and learn to say, “No thank you.” Don’t place crazy expectations on yourself during the holiday madness, or waste time worrying about everything that has to be done (does it really?). Take time to enjoy the moments and give the gift of your presence.

Joyous Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to you.
Blessed Be and Journey Well!