The Autistic Witch’s Guide to Navigating the Normal.

Bring your mind home to your body with magic and intention.

Trauma, neurodiversity and anxiety disorders coupled with a fast-paced lifestyle full of responsibility can lead to our mind keeping our body on high alert. So you get a moment to rest - chances are you try to prolong your distraction from how you feel in your body as long as possible - maybe with social media, a new project to take away the rest time, a sudden interest in cleaning, sound familiar? In our family, you can tell my state of calm by how clean the bathroom is - beware the sparkly taps!

Safety first people - sometimes the situation we find ourselves in serves to keep us as safe as possible at a certain time, keep yourself safe, work towards true support and community if this is not currently available to you. Don’t beat yourself up that all suggested solutions don’t seem currently available to you. I am working on being able to offer Reiki healing and sister circles to move into a space of more community building and connection with like minded folks. This not available to me at the moment, but I trust that in  time, it will open up to me. 

What keeps your head on? For me it is my spiritual practice. Have you come across a skeptic yet? The one who tells you that you’re too clever to believe in what you believe? That you couldn’t possibly follow a spiritual practice as your mind is ‘too scientific’ (/eurgh)?

When I meet this energy I dip into my capacity to accept duality. I believe that my spiritual practice is real, it works, it brings me peace and comfort. I believe in the energy of the Goddess, Brighde’s love and power, the need to connect with the Earth and to create with her magic. 

Yet, there are times when burnout is sitting in the corner staring at me when I lose my connection to my practice. But it is always there, I just need to work on noticing it. Not much, I have found can stave off a shutdown, but I have navigated enough years undiagnosed and unrecognised to have figured out ways of making them less frequent, not quite as long. In the years since discovery I have also learned to give myself the grace to accept them and the safety to not have to hide them. 

What can I do now to feel better? 

Today I am taking some time by myself, it can take some getting used to but I'm starting to recognise that having no time completely alone is not good for me. I need an hour or two here and there in a low arousal environment to help to regulate my nervous system. During these times, it can be nice to become absorbed in a special interest. I don’t have a current, consuming passion (I had quite a strong Pulp phase last year which was epic), but my old favourites of writing, reading, gardening and magic are there to help me regulate in a time of less routine (Easter hols).

I’m also leaning into self expression through my appearance. My hair is a particular source of expression for me, it has been super short for a while now after a misguided phase of trying to grow it out last summer. Now, it is evolving again to be short, but with a soft fringe which allows for the addition of headscarves and bands. 

I am also decompartmentalizing my fashion. I need to be smart at work, comfortable at home and I also personally enjoy vintage clothes and bright colours. I also like to keep a balance of masculine and more earthy, feminine styles of clothing in rotation. I’m learning now that it need not all be suits here, pjs there and a tutu on special occasions (I am keeping that though, so fabulous), I can be smart, comfortable and expressive in all realms of my life and I’m finding the confidence, and the clothes to integrate this. 

In my work as a teacher, I often hear the celebration of being resilient. It has taken me many years to understand that to be resilient, you don’t need to be consumed by a task or by the needs of others. You can cut yourself some slack without destroying your values system. These things are difficult to remember in tough times so it makes sense to write them down now. 

To begin with, a little everyday magic van be all you need - kitchen witchery, green witchery, whatever you do in your day to day you can make a little more magickal with some intention. Try stirring your coffee once anti-clockwise to invite the universe’s power towards you and then three times clockwise to invite positive energy for you and the collective. 

If you are cooking, what magickal properties can you add? Nettle for strength and fire, cinnamon for prosperity, lemon for clarity and joy? 

In the shower, use your intentions to envisage the energy in your auric field, things you have collected throughout the day, that do not serve any useful purpose being washed away. This is a practice I find helpful as sometimes if I am feeling overwhelmed, taking a shower can seem impossible sensory wise. 

We can also help ourselves through noticing our surroundings. This practice can be grounding and centering, bringing us back to connection and away from dissociation. Bare feet on the earth or in a stream are two favourites of mine for bringing my mind home to my body. Noticing the things we love and are grateful for can over time also bring us a deeper sense of wellbeing. Why not try a ‘three good things’ practice where you note down three things you are thankful for from your day? Or a photo diary - sometimes I like to keep a photo journal of all of the good things I have noticed in a day. 

For the magickally minded, adding a spell, a candle, some incense or a crystal to your day can be a great way to stay connected to your practice. Maybe an oracle card as a daily focus? This does not have to be an elaborate ritual, some self-reiki at bedtime or a crystal in your bra or in your pocket can do the trick just as well as a full fire ceremony. 

A particular autistic trait of mine which I totally love is my ability to feel joy in seemingly small things. If I love something, I do it wholeheartedly which can include jumping up and down for joy and more often than not, a small celebratory dance. I like to remind myself of this, and to remind the world that autistic joy is a beautiful thing to be nurtured and celebrated, along with creating space and support for the more challenging aspects. 

I adore hedgehogs and I recently had the chance to save one from wandering into a road. Here’s me returning him to a safe garden. You can see the joy, the hair, clothes and special interest all at once in this picture.

This Autism Acceptance month (acceptance? Celebration and support please!) talk to the autistic folk in your life, centre autistic voices in the workplace, offer your support and share in the trials and the joy. Be gentle with yourself and don’t be afraid to explore a little magic.