The Witch’s Book of Self-Care
$14.99 available on Amazon
This book changed my life!
This book came to me at an exceptionally low point in my life. I was juggling three jobs, one of which required me to deal with a gas-lighting supervisor, was experiencing chest pains and hypertension, and sleeping maybe four hours a night. To say I was burnt out was an understatement. With the help of this book, I set healthy boundaries, quit what was an undeniably bad job, lost 52 pounds, and saw my blood pressure drop 30 points.
In The Witch’s Book of Self-Care, the author quickly addresses the common misconception that self-care involves sitting on your laurels, eating bonbons, having spa days, and engaging in retail therapy. Self-care takes work in order to have a lasting impact on your life. This is not a book to be read in an afternoon. It needs to be savored, taking as much time as necessary to master each task before moving on to the next topic.
The book is divided into five chapters:
- Self-Care and Magic
- Mental and Emotional Self-Care
- Physical Self-Care
- Spiritual Self-Care
- Household Self-Care
This break out of self-care topics appealed to my sense of order and logic. The hands-on lessons came with simple, easy to follow instructions, and enough variety to appease almost anyone. I particularly enjoyed the lessons on nutrition and hygiene. The potato and leek soup (with minor variations) has become a particular favorite of mine. I also delighted in making my own bath salts, oils, and lotions. The lessons come with the reminder that self-care doesn’t have to take inordinate amounts of time or be costly to be effective. Self-care can be as simple as taking five minutes to meditate over a cup of tea or taking ten minutes to create a to-do list and mentally prepare yourself for the day.
It took me a little over a year to work my way through the book. There are sections and chapters that I anticipate returning to again and again. I strongly recommend this book for anyone struggling to make time for themselves. For those who have already mastered self-care, this book contains, recipes, rituals, and crafts to expand your self-care repertoire. Put two copies of this book on your shopping list: one for you and one for a friend. Those who do not make time for wellness often have to make time for illness.
Below are a couple of pictures showing the process of creating some the bath salts, oils, etc.
