Practical Magic is a newsletter about ritual, creativity, and modern magic for the 21st century witch.
It’s written by Dana Cooper of Ritualist, a Hudson Valley-based witch shop & plant shop. ✷
I recently listened to an episode of Sarah Faith Gottesdiener’s podcast Moonbeaming that was all about the law of attraction, or the belief that your thoughts create your reality (I highly recommend giving it a listen — it turns out that Sarah, her guest on the episode, and myself all have similarly complex feelings about this concept!) It got me thinking about the ways in which our reality is shaped (in part) not just by our own thoughts and beliefs, but also by the content that we consume. I think it’s safe to say we’re all aware that media (especially social media) has an effect on our mental and emotional states — but because it’s become second nature for so many of us to scroll mindlessly on a regular basis, it’s easy to overlook or underestimate just how much of an impact it has.
It’s interesting (and maybe a little jarring) to stop and ask yourself:
how many of your thoughts and beliefs — about what’s “good” or “right,” what’s valuable, and where you “should” be — come from within, and how many come from tv tropes, thinkpieces disguised as truth, or seeing what everyone else is doing on the internet?
When we’re talking about content negatively affecting our mental state, social media is the biggest culprit: while it certainly has its benefits too, I’ve definitely watched it bring down my mood, confidence, and self-worth in real time. What starts as a harmless browse through my feed ends up turning into an excuse to compare myself to everyone else, wonder if I’m falling behind, and question if I have anything of value to offer (spoiler: I do! — and so do you! — Instagram’s just really good at making us feel lousy!) Social media can be a beautiful platform for connection and collaboration, but if you’re not careful, it can quickly become a giant energy suck and a real downer.
On the other hand, I’ve also witnessed media (of all kinds) have an undeniably positive impact on my mental and emotional state, leaving me feeling more confident, grounded, or inspired. This often happens after reading a book or newsletter that really resonates with me, listening to a podcast that helps me see new perspectives, or watching a movie with an empowering message or thought-provoking theme. Where doomscrolling on social media is likely to leave me feeling full of dread or doubt, engaging with thoughtful, vulnerable, and insightful work typically leaves me feeling all lit up. There’s nothing like or reading (or hearing) words that resonate with your soul to make you feel truly alive and connected to the world around you.
With this in mind, I’m making an effort to be more aware of what I consume on a regular basis, and I’ve even begun to see media as magic: something that can change my frequency, and a tool that I can use to connect more deeply with myself and my surroundings. Knowing that the content I take in directly impacts the way I feel about myself, how I see the world around me, and what I believe is possible, I’m able to make mindful choices about the messages and stories that I open myself up to.
To be clear, this isn’t a judgement on any particular type of content; it’s not highbrow-as-good and lowbrow-as-bad. It’s not a call to turn your phone off and open a book, or to trade in your favorite reality tv shows for foreign films. Maybe social media (or reality tv) is what lights you up — maybe it inspires you, or helps you access joy and pleasure. It’s not about the medium, but about finding the sources of media that make you feel closer to yourself rather than further way. It’s about finding the stories and voices that speak to the best parts of you, and then turning up the volume on them.
I’m also not suggesting that you unplug from the news simply because it’s a form of content that rarely (if ever) inspires feelings of positivity or joy — it’s important to stay informed and engaged when it comes to the realities unfolding around us. But there’s a difference between being cognizant of current events and obsessively monitoring them until you find yourself sucked into a pit of despair. How and when you tune in to the news can make all the difference, too: if you’re starting your day by doomscrolling before you’ve even set foot out of bed, you might find it tough to muster up hope for whatever lies ahead. It’s something worth keeping in mind if you often feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by the onslaught of heartbreaking and infuriating headlines that we’re all bombarded on a daily basis — after all, you’re more likely to be a part of the change when your actions are driven by the belief that a better future is possible.
Little changes can have a surprisingly big impact, too: I’ve already noticed that I end my day in a totally different mindset when I log out of Instagram and put on a podcast (usually this one) before bed. I also find myself looking forward to my favorite newsletters hitting my inbox each week: making time in my day to read them gives me a perfect excuse to pause and check in, instead of just running on autopilot. And when I’m in the mood to veg out in front of the tv after a long day, taking a few extra minutes to find a movie I’m excited about or a show that I can really connect with is much more satisfying than sitting through hours of whatever new release Netflix is trying to push on me. It makes me feel like I’m valuing my free time instead of losing it to a mindless, unfulfilling binge session.
I love the idea of intentionally choosing media and interacting with content as a way to shift into or strengthen a particular mindset that I’m trying to cultivate: reading or watching inspiring stories of perseverance when I need to stay energized, seeking out interviews with personal heroes in my field when I’m working towards a goal or want to get inspired, and finding books, podcasts, or workshops on a topic that interests me when I want to take a deep dive into something new. And of course media can be a great source of comfort too, or a fun way to transition into different seasons (Gilmore Girls is the official fall show in my book, and there’s a reason I refer to Scorpio Season “Twin Peaks season.”) ☻
some content that lights me up:
Lindsay Mack’s podcast Tarot for the Wild Soul, which I never, ever miss! Listening to Lindsay has taught me so much about working with the tarot, but also about life in general. I always feel more grounded after tuning in.
My favorite public radio station, KEXP (based in Seattle, but available to stream from anywhere.) Music is a huge source of inspiration for me, but I tend to listen to the same playlists over and over — turning on KEXP means that I get to hear some of my favorite artists, but also discover new ones. I also love how their DJs focus on mental health and community: they share stories and messages from listeners around the world, which makes me feel connected to a whole community of folks who are also tuning in.
Marlee Grace’s Substack, called Monday Monday (and their podcast, Common Shapes.) Marlee’s insights on art, creativity, and really just *being a human* always resonate so much, that I find myself saving screenshots of important points for later. And if you’re starting (or wanting to start) any kind of creative project, the podcast is an extremely valuable tool.
I can’t technically vouch for this one yet, but I’ve been meaning to start Rick Ruben’s book The Creative Act. Based on everything I’ve ever heard him say in interviews, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a massive source of inspiration. ✷