Do You Need Tools or Crystals to Practise Witchcraft? How to Start Without Spending a Penny

Practicing Witchcraft Without Tools

Do I Need to Buy Anything to Practise Witchcraft?

Short answer: No.

Absolutely nothing.

Zero things.

Put your purse away.

Nope, not that either.

Witchcraft is not something you buy. Practising Witchcraft without tools, crystals, candles, or anything else can be really meaningful.

That said, of course you can spend money on your craft. There’s a huge spiritual market offering witchy tools, spell kits, tarot cards, and crystals - sold by everyone from small, ethical makers (hi, that’s me) to massive corporations cashing in on trends they don’t actually believe in.

But for me, witchcraft is, at its core, an anti-capitalist practice.

It asks us to connect with nature, ourselves, and our communities - not our shopping habits.

As witches, I believe it’s our responsibility to think carefully about how we spend our money: who profits, what’s harmed, and whether the purchase aligns with our values.

We won’t always get it perfect, especially not in the West world, but we can stay committed to doing better.

You Don’t Have to Be Pretty to Be a Witch

Look – I love the witchy aesthetic. Give me 90s whimsy-goth vibes any day. And yes, I enjoy Instagram (though I’ve had to delete it off my phone because that scroll is a time-sucking monster).

But here’s the thing: not every magical moment has to be beautiful, or shared, to be meaningful.

Some of the most powerful moments in witchcraft happen away from screens. When we’re not thinking, “Ooh, this would look great on my grid,” we’re free to actually be in the moment. To feel, to notice, to connect. We shine brightest when we stop worrying about how we look.

Social media is fun, but it’s a highlight reel - especially in the witchy world. All those perfectly curated crystal grids and sun-dappled altars? Lovely, but they’re just one side of someone’s practice, and not necessarily the most authentic one (I'm speaking from my own experience as a tiny voice in the witchcraft influencer circle - who is trying so fucking hard to show up authentically recently, after a few months of inauthentic bs).

You don’t have to be pretty to be a witch.

You don’t need pretty things, or the ability to make your practice look beautiful in photos, to be powerful. In fact, speaking as a feminist and an anti-capitalist: it’s honestly kind of revolutionary if you don’t.

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Living (and Spending) as an Anti-Capitalist Witch: Practising Witchcraft Without Tools

Here’s the reality: we do live in a capitalist society. And sometimes, spending a little bit of money makes us feel good.

And honestly? That’s okay.

If you’ve got enough to treat yourself now and again, then why shouldn’t you? We don’t have to live like 19th-century peasants to be good people. Joy, pleasure and comfort are not enemies of the revolution.

This is something I’ve wrestled with for years. I’ve wanted to be financially secure - even wealthy - while also holding this deep belief that rich people are inherently selfish, and that spending money on yourself is indulgent or wrong.

But most of us carry deep-rooted beliefs around money that we absorbed as children. We might not even realise those beliefs are just opinions, often someone else’s, not hard truths.

So what does it mean to live as an anti-capitalist in a super late-stage capitalist world?

For me, it starts with making money in ways that feel ethical, creative, and nourishing - and maybe more importantly, spending money in places that align with our values.

In the context of witchcraft, that might look like:

• Buying tarot or oracle decks from indie artists instead of mass-produced corporate publishers.

• Choosing ethically sourced crystals (or better yet, foraged stones or gifted ones).

• Supporting small, local, or witch-owned businesses.

• Investing in learning from people, not just buying from them — like workshops, zines or courses by real practitioners.

• Buying actual 90s whimsy goth vintage, or choosing secondhand over fast fashion copies.

• Swapping supplies or tools with friends instead of buying new.

• Making your own spell candles or herbal blends rather than buying pricey pre-made ones.

You don’t need to be perfect. But when you do choose to spend, doing it thoughtfully is a powerful part of your practice.

You Already Have Everything You Need

I’ve spent huge parts of my life with very, very little money.

It never made me any less of a witch.

There are so many blogs and books out there explaining how the herbs in your kitchen are steeped in folklore and magic.

How leftover birthday candles can be colour-coded spell tools.

How you can use makeup as glamour magic, bath bubbles as ritual, or the weeds in your garden as plant allies.

And I think that is so fucking cool.

Because when you look at the world like that, you realise: magic really is everywhere. We don’t have to buy anything to make it.

But actually, it’s even cooler than that - you don’t even need the things you already have!

A single breath can be magic.

A click of the fingers.

A clap of the hands.

An expression on someone’s face.

If you ever go to Greece - or anywhere around the Mediterranean - you’ll see blue glass charms everywhere: protection against the Evil Eye 🧿. Because in that part of the world, people still believe a jealous look can curse you.

“Envy … contaminates the body too with evil. … When those possessed by envy … let their glance fall upon a person, their eyes … then assail that person as if with poisoned arrows; hence, I conclude, … why the so‑called amulets are thought to be a protection against malice.”— Plutarch’s Moralia

The Ancient Greeks knew the power of a glare.

They were so afraid of it, they made protective charms to deflect it, and thousands of years later, that tradition still hasn’t died.

So no, it’s not a new idea that everything you need is already within you.

Let’s not forget that magic practitioners (whether they called themselves witches or not) have always existed - long before influencers, online shops, and Western capitalism.

They used what they had. They used their bodies. Their voices. Their knowing.

And that’s still enough.

Let Me Help!

If you want to explore witchcraft that fits your life, without spending money or stressing about tools, I’d love to support you.

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