Society has reached an all time high of freedom in speech, sexuality, and even religion. With that, a surge of practices have emerged from the trenches of the unknown and have been deemed “self-care”. These acts span across time and culture with them entering into mainstream and social media as of late. Everyone has joined the movement, even Schoolboy Q was caught on camera clutching a crystal given to him by Devi Brown.
For the uninitiated, the smoke swirling in everyone’s favorite Instagram personality’s video is confusing, but the details of the process are not as complicated as it looks. To explain a bit of the foundational elements of the practice, VIBE enlisted Bri Luna of The Hoodwitch™. With over 85,000 followers on Instagram, The Hoodwitch™ is a main source for every brown and black girl’s quest for spiritual balance and information. Bri’s site contains how-to’s, what is that’s, and other content surrounding self-care. Here she’s broken down three main parts of the practice for beginners looking to start on a wellness journey…or at least not be as confused.
Crystal Healing
“Crystal healing has been practiced by ancient civilizations for many, many years. The mineral kingdom is after all the oldest on our planet. The formal use of crystal healing therapy is a system concerned with treating people holistically through the precise placement of crystals on their body and also in the surrounding room. Each crystal and mineral is composed of unique properties, which work on our bodies, and also our auric field. Unlike Western healthcare (which tends to focus on treating one symptom/ailment at a time) crystal therapy addresses the patient as a whole. This means paying as much attention to his or her spiritual and emotional well-being as to their physical health. Aside from the healing benefits of crystals, they are beautiful to share and look at. Crystal and mineral specimens make excellent additions to all homes & office spaces much like plants and flowers. “
Cleansing with Herbs
“Cleansing with sacred plants and wood smoke is an ancient practice that can be traced back to many cultures from around the world. All plants have their own unique and potent healing correspondences; white sage and palo santo are just two of many cleansing herbs. Their benefits are as follows: White Sage is a very sacred and powerful plant. It has been used since ancient times by shaman, medicine men/women, and healers. Today it is the most popular herb used for smudging. In smudging, the smoke gathers negativity and dispels it while bringing in the positive. It aids in healing physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental imbalances. This works on the body as well as in the home. Palo Santo literally translates to “Holy Wood”. A powerful cleanser with a rich earthy aroma. palo santo is a dense wood that is rich in substance and good vibrations.”
Meditation
“Regular meditation is essential in enhancing intuition as it allows you the time to silence and rest your mind in a chaotic world where we are continuously rushed, stressed, and overall in a constant state of dis-ease. The pressures of working, parenting, or attending school can be tremendously draining both physically and mentally. It is essential that we take time out of our busy schedules to focus on ourselves, and toward relaxation. Meditation does not require much time and is available for everyone.”
Armed with a beginner’s guide, visit The Hoodwitch™ for more information and products to begin the journey.