There’s something about western science and rationalism that can leave us feeling a little bit cold and numb. That might be why, in recent times, we’ve seen an uptake in mystical practices. Star signs and meditation are all the rage. And it’s hardly surprising, that in times like this, we’re looking to inject a bit of magic back into the everyday.

Roald Dahl once said that those who don’t believe in magic will never find it – and we tend to agree. With Friday 13^th coming up, and a lot of free time on our hands, we thought we’d share our top 5 mystic practices to inject wonder back into your lives.

Try Tarot cards

Tarot cards have been around to delight & surprise us since the 15^th century. Each Tarot is a deck of 78 cards with its own imagery, symbolism and story. They symbolise a path towards self-awareness and the various stages we go through to find greater meaning in our lives. Tarot cards such as The Fool, the Magician and The High Priestess are drawn from the deck to give us mystic insight into our love life, our work life and much more. There are all sorts of Tarot decks online from Vampire Tarot to New World Tarot, so shop around to see what takes your fancy. Whether you view it as genuine soul-searching or a bit of fun, why not give Tarot a go this weekend.

Meditate

While the benefits of Tarot may not be exactly proven, the benefits of meditation totally are. Studies have shown that meditation can drastically improve our mental health, enhancing our focus, improving our self-esteem and lowering levels of stress and anxiety. It can also improve our physical health, heightening our tolerance to pain and helping with management of addiction. The best part? The benefits of meditation are no longer only accessible for Buddhist monks, they’re accessible to all. Apps like Headspace, Calm and Buddhify are definitely worth a go if you haven’t tried them out already.

Explore your star sign

Star signs are popping off right now. Everyone from Lizzo to Princess Nokia likes to reference a Gemini in their music. Some dating apps even give the option of displaying your star sign, so you can find a mate who is just right for you. Whether you’re a two-sided Gemini or a water-loving Cancer, there’s no denying that horoscopes are fun. Who isn’t desperate to know what the future holds for them?

We’d recommend the app Co-Star, each day it sends you personalised motivational mantras, tells you where you’ll find your power, and it can also show you how compatible you are with your friends. Hours of fun, we promise.

Aromatherapy Oils

Ancient cultures in India, China and Egypt have used aromatherapy for thousands of years to enhance their physical and mental health. Western societies have only just started to jump on the bandwagon, recognising the healing benefits. Aromatherapy works its magic through sense of smell and skin absorption using anything from diffusers to bath salts to body oils. We’d recommend Naissance’s Aromatherapy Roll-On Pulse Point kits. They have oils specifically for Headache & Tension, Calm & Destress, Relax & Sleep and much more. You simply roll each essential oil onto your pulse points (eg. temples and wrists), sit back and enjoy the benefits.

Sage your house

With everything that’s going on in the world around us, the chance to cleanse our spaces of negative energy seems like a pretty good prospect. The ritual of sage burning, also known as smudging, is meant to do just this. Studies have also shown that sage can improve mood and cognition, serve as an insect repellent and help you sleep.

You’ll need sage smudge sticks (which you can make or buy online), a fire source (a match or a lighter) and a fanning tool (feathers have traditionally been used). Before you start, gather with your housemates to set your intentions, this could be anything from deciding to let go of what does not serve you, to deciding to be kinder to one another. Next, ensure that a good number of windows and/or doors are open, as this is where bad spirits and negative energy will escape from.

Then, simply light your sage sticks and slowly walk around your house, paying particular attention to any areas which may hold negative energy. Tip: Make sure you extinguish your sage properly, so it doesn’t become a fire hazard. At the end of the process, you should feel cleansed and renewed, ready for a new day. Or, at the very least, you’ve done something different with your Friday night.

Which mystic practice will you be trying to curb Friday 13^th? Let us know in the comments. If you like our blogposts, you’ll love our Instagram.