Witchcraft When You're Broke and Burned Out

The world is overwhelming right now.
The news.
The bills.
The job.
The driving.
Social media.
Honestly? I can hear electricity — and that one gets me every time.

You get my point.

I use magik as a spiritual outlet, a thread to the people who came before me, and a compass needle toward the future. But let’s be real — I’m tired. I’m broke. And I'm not about to pretend I’ve got a crystal-filled, aesthetically perfect altar sitting on a sunlit shelf. That’s not my life right now. Maybe it’s not yours either.

Here’s what I do have:

• A washcloth I like → that’s my altar cloth.

• A Sharpie and a paper towel → that’s my sigil canvas.

• A dollar store candle → that’s my flame.

• A rock from the sidewalk → that’s my earth offering.

You don’t need a $75 statue. Go to the library. Print something out. Draw something with crayons. Create meaning in the little things.

Need water for your spell?
→ Use tap water.
→ Leave it in the sun for solar energy.
→ Or under a new moon to soak up lunar vibes.

Live in the desert? Scoop up some sand.
No dirt? Grab a leaf, a stick, a shell, a napkin you wrote a wish on.
It doesn’t have to be perfect — because you are perfect in your imperfection.

“You have a cup of dirt!” — yes, we’re channeling Pirates of the Caribbean here, and yes, that totally counts as magic.

One last thing — you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Take care of yourself. That might mean a party.
That might mean sitting under the stars with your hands open.
That might mean crying into a quesadilla and telling the universe, “Thanks, I guess?”

Whatever it is: you got this.