Let's face it: one of the draws of witchcraft is the aesthetic. The capes, the hats, the black on black: it all speaks to power just as plainly as casting spells does. For many of us, however, we don't have the resources to buy a brand new wardrobe to match our witchy interior. This is where you can use magic to enhance your wardrobe using the items that you already have on hand. Below are four different ways to do so, that don't require you to visit your local occult store. Add Sigils to Clothing One of the easiest ways to embroider sigils into your clothing is through what I call "witch stitches" in my book, Sew Witchy. This consists of sewing three "X" marks into a seam or hem of a garment using a thread color suited for your intention. As you sew, you focus on the purpose of the stitches. You may choose pink thread and focus on self-love if you want to incorporate more of that into your life. Or you might sew blue stitches to provide protection. If you want to embroider sigils to your clothing where they can be seen, use an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut as you sew. Once you are done with your embroidery, make sure to give your clothing a good ironing to work out any wrinkles. As with the witch stitches, choose embroidery floss colors that align with your purpose. Embroidery might not be suitable for all fabrics, or you might not want to use thread and needle to make your sigils. In that case, there are plenty of other ways to embellish your clothing without embroidery. You can use markers and paint, just make sure to get the right kind of paint for the fabric you are using. A great way to include sigils without them showing is to use heat-erasable pens like those used in quilting. Draw your sigil on your clothing and then run an iron over the sigil. The heat will erase the markings. While they will be invisible to the eye, they are still there. Play around with sigils and your clothing. You can always remove the stitching, wash out the markers, or paint over the sigils if you decide they are no longer needed. Enchant Your Accessories Rings are good for general magical intentions, as you can wear them or not depending on your needs. Bracelets and anklets are good for magic that affects movement. Necklaces work well for magic about communication and emotions. Earrings are best for mental issues. Belts and shoes lend themselves to magic concerning foundational issues, such as general health and prosperity. Hats, scarves, and gloves are all best suited for protective magic. Use Color Magic You don't have to dress all in shades of the same color to get the benefits of color magic. Accessories such as scarves, shoes, and purses can be used in this way to access the energies of the color you've chosen. Don't forget to take shades of different colors into account. While I'm a fan of the color purple, there are certain shades I like better than others. I'll gravitate to those shades and I will feel better when I'm wearing them than when I'm wearing others. Take into consideration how you feel about different shades. Don't wear lime green if you don't like it; find a green that suits you better. If you are wearing colors you don't like, your emotions will work against the color magic, and it won't be as effective. Take Care of Your Clothing When you get new clothing, before you wear it, you need to give it a good cleansing to clear it of any energies that will inevitably be stuck to it. Crystals are good for this purpose. Run a piece of selenite or quartz crystal over the clothing to cleanse it. If the clothing is secondhand, you're going to want to wash it before you wear it, so add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to the wash, or a splash of moon water, to help in that regard. Add a sachet of cedar and lavender to your drawers or hang it in your closet. The herbs will keep the clothing cleansed and add loving, happy energies to them. You can also add crystals to the sachet such as amethyst or rainbow fluorite to bring manifestation energies into the mix. Should your clothing get torn or worn out, consider mending it before throwing it out. Many small tears can be easily fixed with a bit of thread and a half an hour's work. Similarly, patches can be added to worn out areas to strengthen them. Mending gives you another chance to add in magical energies associated with the color of thread and fabric you use. Look into the visible mending movement to find examples of fixes to clothing that enhance their appeal. The more care you put into your clothing, the more magic you'll get out of them. No matter if you are rocking a graphic t-shirt and mom jeans, or are decked out in a black velvet gown and a pointed hat, you are still a witch. But wearing something that makes you feel magical can help remind you that you are that witch. Put any number of the above ways into practice to enchant your wardrobe and wear your clothing with pride. |
Raechel Henderson is a Pagan and witch, following an eclectic and independent path. She currently works with Hestia and Turtle in her magical practice. She contributes articles to Llewellyn's almanacs and calendars, and she ...