Spirituality crafts you can make to start your spiritual journey

By Mikaela Delos Santos, Web Editor

Although health restrictions are slowly easing for many Albertans and Canadians, there is no denying that being cooped up in our homes for almost a year has taken a toll on many different aspects in our lives. Many of us have tried to make the most out of a tough situation, but when there is nothing to do and nowhere to go, we are left alone with ourselves. 

Personally, the pandemic has given me the opportunity to embark on a spiritual journey — and while going to my local metaphysical store is one of my favourite activities, I found that creating my own spiritual objects is a fun way to spend my time and bring me closer to my spirituality. 

If you’re thinking about starting your spiritual journey as well, here are some easy crafts that won’t hurt your wallet!

DIY oracle cards

If you are a Tarot reader or are intrigued by the art, oracle cards are a great way to add more insight to your tarot readings. As a university student, some oracle decks that you can find in book stores can be a little too hefty for a student’s budget. With your own oracle cards, you are able to save money and feel even more connected to your readings.

All you need are index cards or cardstock, and a marker or a printer! 

Cut up your cardstock in a size that’s comfortable for you to shuffle as a stack and then simply write the messages you want to have for your oracles — like affirmations or messages from your spirit guides. It can be anything you want it to be, it is your own personal deck, after all! If you want your cards to look more professional, feel free to create a printable version of your oracles and simply cut them out into size.

DIY incense holder

This is a craft from the blog Chrissy Makes a Mess.

Incense sticks are great to burn when meditating, praying or just for general reflection. They come in many different fragrances and can be even used for aromatherapy. Although if you don’t have an incense holder or aren’t careful, you just might end up burning holes on your countertops, just like what happened with TikTok user Orim Bright. 

Here’s what you need:

• A bowl or a little dish (you can find cheap ones from the dollar store, a thrift shop or one that’s already in your home)
• Strong crafting adhesive (Gorilla glue or E6000)
• 15-20 mm beads with holes large enough to fit incense sticks (can be found at your local craft store)
• Bead caps (optional — but can be found at your local crafting stores as well)

This craft is pretty straightforward — simply glue the bead onto your bowl or dish in the middle and let it dry! Glue a bead cap onto your bead if you would like to add a cute touch to your incense holder. Make sure that you don’t unintentionally glue the hole of the bead if you add the cap. If you do so, no problem! Just quickly clean it out with a toothpick. 

DIY rune stones

If you are not familiar with rune stones, they are pebbles or wood chips that have runic characters engraved or written on them. The art of working with rune stones is called runic casting, and just like tarot cards, they are read via the symbols on each stone or chip. Each character has a meaning and originated from early Germanic language characters. 

While every rune set is beautiful, some of them can get expensive, especially if you are a university student exploring your spirituality on a budget. In fact, traditionally, rune sets are made by their user.

To make your own rune sets, all you need are flat glass pebbles, a permanent marker and a gloss varnish — all of which are available at your local craft or dollar store.

All you need to do is write your runic characters (usually 24) onto your glass pebble and coat it with a gloss varnish to avoid the marker from getting rubbed off. And that’s it, simple and affordable!

While these crafts are a great way to start embarking on your spiritual journey, always keep in mind that not all kinds of spiritual practices will align or speak to you. Find what you feel comfortable in and don’t be afraid to explore them — this is your adventure after all.