I've been a Pagan and a Magickally-Born Witch most of my life, Psychic specifically, but it still baffles me how far people still go buying supplies when just starting out.
They might spend tons getting just the perfect cloths, crystals, cards, wands, etc for their new altar, or even go all out spending hundreds on custom-made herb cabinets and all manner of things. And why?
Misconceptions about objects themselves holding the power, or confusion about the true power of intention itself, or just plain un-reigned-in excitement; whatever the case, the fact remains, we don't need all that stuff.
We need the basics.
Representing the elements on a travel altar built inside an inexpensive Altoids tin with little packets of salt, a found shell, a leaf picked up off the ground, a match or something to represent flame and a whispered intention can often bring greater results then any number of expensive, fancy tools.
Thinking of our own physical forms as a type of living altar with being rooted (Earth), our breath (Air), a gesture/action or holding a flame (safely, of course) and the blood coursing through our veins representing water.
Or even just the use of pure intention, no tools needed or required. All of these things can often lead to a greater feeling of connectedness and being grounded then anything else.
And they can free us with the simplicity of simply using what we have on hand, often a quicker method, as well as more potent.
In my life, I most like to apply this concept to Divination, making my own Divination sets from shells, jewelry charms or just carved and painted stones, even creating tarot card and Oracle sets from a pack of regular playing cards or painting my own.
Gazing into a glass of water or reading the clouds for insight and answers.
Direction often comes easier and more clearly without the added clutter of the visuals built-in, especially with cards, as I'm forced to listen just to my own still, silent inner voice and Intuition, and thus less distraction and doubt.
For me, the minimal life means more freedom, space and stillness, and less magickal noise and clutter. It's more magick and less unnecessary stuff, not the other way around.
And who doesn't want that?
