Urban Witchcraft

[Katharina]

Who doesn’t dream of living in a cozy little cottage with its own garden?

You step out the front door and are surrounded by nature… the birds are chirping, and the air is clear and fresh…

Source: Pinterest

I am usually woken up by the noise from the construction site next door. I am an urban witch; I live in Vienna, a city of two million people from all kinds of countries.

Don’t get me wrong—I love Vienna! But life in a big city can make it a bit harder to stay connected to nature and one’s own magic.

Here are a few things I do:

Since I don’t have a garden, I use public parks to connect with nature. Of course, you don’t have any privacy there, but it’s enough to hug a tree (if you don’t care what others think) or to gather chestnuts or pine cones.

I’ve also found a few more secluded spots; they take a bit longer to get to, but they offer more privacy. Unfortunately, though, they still aren’t suitable for full moon rituals because it’s simply too dangerous. (Vienna is relatively safe, but as a woman, you still shouldn’t be out alone at night.)

My tiny apartment is my sacred space! I’ve brought nature indoors in the form of houseplants that I nurture and care for—and that also receive Reiki from me. They remind me that I am connected to nature, even though I live on the fourth floor. My cat, too, is a connection to the magical world, and I am certain that she keeps the apartment free of unwanted energies while I sleep.

A big city can be quite taxing—both acoustically and energetically. I only venture out of my apartment wearing noise-canceling headphones; they’ve saved me more than once (especially when an alarm suddenly starts blaring or a fire truck rushes past).
It can be draining in terms of energy, too: in crowded subways, you end up with more physical contact than you’d like. That’s where my crystals and amulets help me out. I always carry my pendulum with me so I can quickly cleanse myself and align my chakras whenever I need to—like in the restroom at work, for instance.

When you live in an apartment building, you can’t choose your neighbors. Sometimes you get lucky, but I’ve also had neighbors who were unbearably loud. If a friendly conversation doesn’t work, I’m certainly not above resorting to a bit of magic. I always assume I’m not the only one being disturbed, and it’s usually easy to rally the community to influence the situation.

This brings me to the subject of protection. My apartment is regularly cleansed and protected energetically. I have placed many protective spell jars, amulets, and talismans to safeguard my home. Regularly smudging the door and locks with juniper keeps thieves away and protects against break-ins.

I live in a very old city steeped in history. As a city, Vienna is around 2,000 years old. The area of ​​the Vienna Basin has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. Right in the middle of the city, there is an excavation site where you can look down at Roman roads.

Source: Website City of Vienna

These clearly visible traces of human life, history, and development also forge a strong connection for me to the ancient knowledge that has been partially handed down. I am always mindful of the fact that Celtic and Slavic tribes settled here long before the Romans. Here, I can connect with my ancestors and my roots.

The Danube flows through Vienna like a lifeline, reminding me that this city has deep, magical roots. The river was named by my Celtic ancestors after the Great Mother, Danu. Whenever I perform a ritual on its banks, I also connect with her infinite power and wisdom.

Do you live in a city or in the countryside? I only know American suburbs from TV, and I often wonder if it’s really true that all the streets are straight and all the houses look the same.
If you live in a big city, what strategies have you developed to stay connected to your spirituality and witchcraft?
I’m curious to hear your ideas!

[moonstruck]

@Katharina

Do you live in a city or in the countryside?

I live in a built-up area and not to close to the outdoors, although I do have a few lakes and parks around me not to fare away, my daughter lives near the seaside she absolutely y loves it she has gathered a few seashells and feathers for me when she comes to visit, she can see the difference in the flow and the fast pace.

My back yard is very small with no sun although the front of my unit gets lots of sun, I have a chair and a table to sit on when the sun comes out, I enjoy the trees around me, I would love to visit the countryside but my disability would make it hard to get around the bush.

My unit is my sacred space as well I am very much by myself and that’s okay I feel safe here.

it is amazing about the history of the Danube very interesting history about your Celtic ancestors, have you done your ancestry?

[Amethyst]

I live in an apartment but I don’t do anything special. Yet. I found this really great book called The Mindful Hearth by Holly Mancini.

It’s more for people in dorms and room shares, but it’s got ideas for using a bit of asphalt gravel as a grounding stone. A bit of tail light glass that you find for scrying. Plants from around the construction site down the road for protection. I’m not done with it yet, but it’s really interesting!

[Moonbeam]

@Katharina

@Katharina

I am usually woken up by the noise from the construction site next door. I am an urban witch; I live in Vienna, a city of two million people from all kinds of countries.

I had a picture in my mind that Vienna was a quieter place than you have described. I was aware of the Celtic connection - The Great Mother Danu and of course classical music and composers. As popularity grows I guess any City does change and I can imagine tourists make the situation even more intolerable with the noise and busyness of trying just to get on with your day.

As you say your apartment is your sanctuary where you can close your door and feel safe with your protections you have in place.

I am glad that you have found places and ways to incorporate your craft into your practice it shows us that if there is the will there is a way. Your Artwork is a testament and a wonderful gift.

As you will probably know from my previous posts I live in a small village surrounded by rolling hills. There is about 2,200 people. I would class my home as rural as there are Cows and Sheep and Horses in the fields that I look out to and nearest town is 6 miles away. Bus services do pass by so I would say that I am not isolated. There is a farm and two woods nearby.

Blessings​

[georgia]

@Katharina

I often wonder if it’s really true that all the streets are straight and all the houses look the same.

I grew up in a small town which was pretty much a suburb. My neighborhood was a circle. Within that neighborhood, many of the houses were built the same because they were built by one architect. A couple of the houses were ranch-style, but most were Cape Cod. Beyond the circle, all the houses were different from each other.

This is where I grew up. It has changed quite a bit. We had a lot more trees and gardens. If you look at the road map, you’ll get an idea of the “circle.” I guess the Meadowbrook neighborhood had a lot of curvy roads.

[aster]

i live in a town that has a nickname of “city of trees”. there are tons and tons of front property gardens, trees, flowers, and pollen everywhere. we also live across the street from farmland. the community and surroundings make it so easy to connect with nature. i like to be subtle and connect by biking on a slightly breezy, clear day. it makes me feel grounded. especially when i stop and hear the trees rustle

[moonstruck]

@aster

That sounds amazing were you live, I live in amongst four other units not big back yards but there is a park in my street.

[Katharina]

@moonstruck

my daughter lives near the seaside she absolutely y loves it

I can imagine…it must be a dream!

@moonstruck

I have a chair and a table to sit on when the sun comes out,

How nice! I bet it´s a cosy spot to watch sunrise and have a cup of tea.

@moonstruck

I feel safe here.

And this is so so important!

@moonstruck

have you done your ancestry?

No, I haven´t. My fathers bloodline is documented back to 1600something in Russia, because they were Russian nobility (they weren´t kind people, I´m not proud; and I had to work on a lot of trauma from that bloodline) and my moms family comes from Germany. So, there will be no big surprises, my ancestry comes from all over Europe, as most of European ancestry does. Tribes have moved around Europe a lot.

@Amethyst

The Mindful Hearth by Holly Mancini.

Thank you! It sounds interesting, I just bought it.

@Moonbeam

Vienna was a quieter place than you have described.

Well, it is a rather large city after all, and it is growing and getting more international by the day…which I like. The touristic places are in the city center, but of course especially in summer there are construction sites everywhere and the old houses need renovations, too. And the traffic is noisy as well…city life is what it is. AND it also has a lot of benefits living in a city like Vienna. I´ll get to that in my next post!

[Moonbeam]

@Katharina

History of places do change with a mix of international people. With a lot of buildings being old I can understand that maintaining them will have to be done so as to preserve them, looking forward to reading your next post and more about where you live and your craft

[Katharina]

@georgia

This is where I grew up. It has changed quite a bit.

I think the scale of things is just completely unfamiliar to us Europeans. There isn’t that much space here! You have to be super rich to afford a house with a garden—you can’t get anything for under half a million euros, and “poor” people like me can’t even get a loan.

[Amethyst]

@Katharina

Thank you! It sounds interesting, I just bought it.

I hope you like it!

[leilani1]

Wonderful Witchy Wednesday Kat, and all,

In reading all the responses, we are a resourceful group!!!

Kat, your perception of cities in america being mostly grided, is correct. Most cities are based on a North/South and East/West street directions. Especially here in the desert. However, like in California, where my cousin is at, in the Redwood National Forest; it is impossible to have straight lines of the roads. They do try to maintain a North/South and East/West coordinates. As for practicing…the only “outside” within my immediate readh (I’m on the bus) is just dirt, dirt, and more dirt, with an occasional Sticker Bush (russian thistle)

yep, this is what it looks like around here.

With a vehicle, the mountain and trees are only about 40 minutes away, and the “water” that we have is Lake Mead about 30 minutes away. But, here in the city, this is what I have. I have my altar in my backyard and do what I can. When I am walking to the bus, I give thanks to the ladies and have my “conversations” with them.

I AM surprised that it is so noisy, Kat. I guess, being an American, I kind of have an idealistic version of Europe (kind of like your experience of america on TV )

To stay connected, here in the city…I give thanks to the trees giving shade (since we are always sooo hot), I give thanks to the sun (always here) for giving me the light and clarity to see the truth/what is in front of me. I bless the East/air for the beautiful sky, the wonderful breeze (to take the heat away). South for the suns glow, warmth, and revelations of what is in front of me. The West for Tiamat, giving me Control through the Chaos of my Life. And then Earth, for supporting me, literally, by the ground I walk on, and helping to sustain my life/way or surviving/living. And of course, Eather, Cosmos, Spirit…I thank them for showing me that there is MORE to life than what I see.

Well, sounds like I kinda jumped on my soap-box again…stepping off, now.

Magickal, Merry, Wonderful Wednesday,

Lady Gene

[Katharina]

I´ve got the book in my mailbox yesterday and started reading right away! Thank you for this recommendation - I really enjoy it! The author has many very creative approaches to urban witchcraft, especially when one can´t practice openly.

[Ostara]

When I was a little girl, I lived in a suburb of Houston. When I was 9, my parents packed up and moved us to the country. I hated it! We were in the middle of nowhere. We lived at the end of a 2 mile dirt road with one neighbor. Fifty years later, I still live on that dirt road. It’s paved now, and there are several roads that are off the main road and it’s a subdivision. My oldest daughter lives at the end of the road and I live at the beginning of the road. The house I live in was built in the 1940’s and moved to my property from Houston in the 1980’s and I have lived in it since 1993. My yard is 1 and 1/2 acres and I love it. I guess you could say I live in a little cottage in the country and I love it!

[Amethyst]

@Katharina I’m glad you like the book!

[Katharina]

@Ostara

I guess you could say I live in a little cottage in the country and I love it!

Oh, I believe every word you say! I grew up in a very rural area in a tiny village (100 inhabitants!). Finding work there was next to impossible - luckily, as my dad grew older, he sold more of his paintings, but the larger part of my childhood, we were depending on our own garden. And this was hard work that I was obligated to do just like an adult.
So, for me getting out of there was a primary life goal. And honestly, there are no mid-sized or larger towns in the area, where I could have found work. So, I went to Vienna and never looked back. Especiall when you´re young Vienna is a great place and you´re enjoying all the events, the art, the clubs, the concerts…

Now, that I´m 53, I´m not going out all that much but there are still some perks of being an urban witch I want to mention!

Everything is within easy reach: within a ten- or twenty-minute walk, I can find everything I need on a daily basis—supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores, tea shops, organic stores but also crystal shops, places to shop for incense, herbs and other witchcraft supplies and so on. Interestingly enough there is no place in Vienna that would sell figure candles for witchcraft - which is why I started making my own. (That´s also how you come by a new hobby. lol)

I don’t need a car, which saves me a lot of money. Public transport is fantastic and safe, and the network is extensive. You can also use the rapid transit trains to take day trips to the area around Vienna and get a dose of nature.

I can meet other witches here—there is a temple dedicated to the Magna Mater in all her manifestations. I don’t go there every month, but having the option is great.

Public libraries! Every district in Vienna has one or two municipal libraries, and the Main Library is located near me; spanning three floors, it holds an incredible treasure trove of books as well as digital media.

Culture: If you love music, Vienna is the place to be! From classical music to evenings featuring Argentine tango, jazz, rock, or blues—whether in small venues or large concert halls—there is something for every taste. I was lucky enough to see even the incomparable B.B. King, as artists rarely skip Vienna when on tour.
The Vienna State Opera is, of course, strictly for the wealthy—that goes without saying—but for those on a tighter budget, there are the “Volksoper” and the “Volkstheater,” where you can enjoy wonderful performances in a more modest setting. I used to have annual subscriptions; perhaps once my life slows down a bit, I’ll treat myself to that again.

I also love the many parks—especially Setagaya Park, a Japanese-style park designed and laid out by Japanese gardeners as a symbol of international friendship between Tokyo and Vienna. Schönbrunn Palace also boasts vast grounds that are open to the public—perfect for jogging, taking a walk, or simply enjoying the wonderful flowers, particularly the rose garden in early summer.

And finally, the stone circle comes to mind—a site by the Danube where a modern stone circle was built and which is now available for use by neo-pagans of all paths. Sometimes I have the place to myself; at other times—especially around the full moon—I encounter people there who are drumming, burning incense, and performing their own rituals.

So, even though I sometimes wish for more seclusion and quiet—all in all, a big city can be a magical place to live. I just have to remind myself of that sometimes.

[Ostara]

@Katharina

Everything is within easy reach: within a ten- or twenty-minute walk

I would love to be able to walk to a store! I guess I could walk, but the closest store is 15 minutes away by car so it would take a while to walk! The closest occult/crystal shop is an hour away. There are many perks to urban living. I’ve never experienced public transportation! It’s on my bucket list.

@Katharina

a big city can be a magical place to live.

It sounds magical!