From cleansing rituals to protective spells, there’s no need to bring your entire apothecary on the road.
Traveling opens us up to new experiences, cultures, and yes…spirits. But maintaining our rituals and magic work while on the road (or up in the air) isn’t always an easy task. Especially for those of us who work in the spiritual arts (or with psychic proclivities or intuitive sensitivities), it’s important to protect our energies while also staying grounded when we travel.
While witchcraft doesn’t necessarily require tools (remember that you have the power to perform most spells through your will and intention), I never leave for a trip without a few essential supplies in my arsenal.
Over the years, as a witch and travel journalist, I’ve found myself in some pretty wild, energetically-charged situations, a few of which I’ve written about in my recent book Wonderment. Whether it was exploring Mayan ritual sites in Yucatán, hearing the call of the Goddess in Ireland and Cuba, or performing emergency cleansing/protective spells in truly haunted places, I learned early on that it’s always best to be prepared.
I’ve also made plenty of mistakes along the way and found myself in certain energetic situations where I either knew better or the spirit world taught me a quick lesson, almost like a reproachful grandmother. One of my mottos is “the spirits know you when you come,” so it’s best to come correct. Yet some of those ‘spiritual travel lessons’ ended up becoming catalysts for new discovery and awakening, anchoring me in ways that I never thought possible.
But I do have one disclaimer to add before diving in: Every place we travel to has its own distinct spiritual energy, deities, and histories. We never want to use magic or spellwork to recolonize lands. That’s why petitioning the spirits of the land and showing reverence/respect for the existing (and buried) spiritual culture is extremely important in any magical work.
Blessed be and safe travels.
