One of the topics that frequently comes up in our coven discussions is balance and how to actually achieve it. Between work, school, kids, partners, and other obligations, finding time to actual practice your craft daily can seem impossible.

Trust me, I get it.  Not only am I a pagan teacher and organizer, but I’m also a married working mother that writes fiction on the side. Who needs sleep, right? Our other coven members are in similar boats.

So how do you get there? How do you find balance? Is it even achievable? Here are a few things I’ve learned on my journey while chasing balance:

Prioritize: First things first…the honest truth is that you have to make the craft a priority. Just like exercising and eating healthy. Just like going to work every day. Just like paying your bills on time. Becoming stronger in your craft is a journey that requires dedication, time and effort. You get out what you put in.

Ditch the paralysis analysis: If you’re new or someone who hasn’t practiced in a while, you might find yourself unable to even know where to begin. That’s totally normal so don’t beat yourself up! If you’re facing paralysis analysis, here is a 7-day plan to get you back on your feet.

Find an accountability buddy: One of the perks of belonging to a coven or a circle is that you more often than not follow a schedule. This helps keep you focused on your spirituality throughout each week as you prep for esbats, sabbats, community events and classes.

Not everyone is able or interested in being a part of a coven, though. Some alternative options are:

• Pagan study groups – Meetup.com is a great place to find them!
• Community Events – Visit your local pagan stores as these places usually have information on upcoming events in the area.  
• Online – Facebook, Amino Apps, and Yahoo Groups are a few reliable places to find other pagans with similar interests. Twitter and Instagram are also great resources.

Make appointments with yourself: Set times during each week to connect spiritually. I sit at my ancestors’ altar at least once a week, try to read Pagan books a couple of times a month, and of course run Wise Women. Find things that make you happy and pencil them in. Do you need to charge your crystals? Practice meditation? Read a book about herbology? Volunteer at an animal rescue? Go on a nature walk? List out the things you enjoy and make it happen!

Magick is not some distant thing that we can only access once we do an elaborate ritual on a full moon night. Magick is within you and all around us, and with a little bit of planning you can always get back on path of practicing with regularity.