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Being Good To The Earth Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive
Have you ever noticed that Pagans tend to be pretty thrifty? It seems to go hand-in-hand with our spirituality for some reason. I suppose it has something to do with Paganism’s roots being in poor areas
. The Pagans of old didn’t have much, so they made the most of it.
In today’s society, people often think that more money makes them better people, but that’s not true. There’s nothing wrong with thrift or owning less. Sadly, a lot of things have become more expensive than they need to be, like being eco-friendly. “Natural” and “earth-friendly” products can cost 2-5 times as much as other products. Luckily, there are ways around that, both in daily life, and in your spirituality.
Avoid Synthetic Materials
We all know that plastic is horrible for the environment. So are a lot of treated products. As a first step to being better to the earth, try to avoid buying any spiritual items that are made of synthetic materials. That ritual storage box may be super cute, but if it’s made of plastic and covered in plastic “jewels” you might want to give it a pass. A lot of these types of items are junk anyway, that cost more than they’re worth.
Use What Nature Has To Offer
One of the easiest ways to be good to the earth and your wallet at the same time is to use what nature has to offer when you’re looking for altar decorations or spiritual tools. Just look around outside, and you’ll find all sorts of ritual elements there for the taking. (just remember to ask and be grateful!)
Why buy a mass-produced wand when you can use a fallen branch? Why buy cut flowers when you can pick wild ones? Why buy herbs from a store that come in plastic baggies in a box full of packing peanuts when you can use kitchen herbs or wild ones that grow in your yard or neighborhood? A piece of slate or a flattened stump can make a great altar. For decoration, you can replace plastic beads with drilled seeds and nuts. There are countless things that you can find in nature to replace mass-produced ritual items. You just need a little creativity and vision.
If you’re not the crafty type, you can get natural, hand-made items from other talented practitioners. We have a handcrafted shop here at this blog, and there are lots of other crafty witches out there selling gorgeous items at reasonable prices.
Repurpose What You Already Have
You might be surprised at how much money and waste you can save by reusing what you already have. Liquor bottles can become ritual vessels. A sugar bowl can become an offering bowl. A torn curtain can be hemmed and turned into an altar cloth. A decorated notebook can be a wonderful book of shadows. If you’re reasonably crafty, pretty much any mundane item can become something new for use in your spiritual practices. If you’re not sure what you can do, a search for “Pagan crafts” on Pinterest can be a great source of inspiration.
Trade With Other Pagans
Most people don’t think of this one, but if there’s something you need, consider trading with other Pagans in your local community or in a trusted online group. Maybe you have a tarot deck you’re not using that you can trade for the herbs someone else is growing. You might make a dream catcher for someone and they’ll give you an athame. Talk to your community and you might be surprised at how many people are willing to trade items, but might be afraid to ask.
Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need
This might seem obvious, but one of the simplest ways to be good to the earth and save money is to just not buy what you don’t need. Not every Pagan needs to have every book. A witch doesn’t need every tool. Often, you can avoid creating waste and save cash by simply not buying things. If you think you really need something, wait at least a week to a month before buying it. If the need is still there, then go get it.
What tips or tricks do you know that can help people be better to the earth, their spirituality, and their budget? Share in the comments below.
