Everyone can use a little bit more magic in their lives and homes, teaching us how to add those enchanting touches is Canberra author Courtney Hope’s newest book.
“The Hygge Witch Handbook takes you through a series of house magic spells, cleansing and tidying practises, and design ideas to help you realign the energy of your home. It is all about working with witchcraft practices and design elements to create magic in the mundane,” says Ms Hope.
The helpful guidebook for life and home stylings is the culmination of two of Ms Hope’s passions. The first is Hygge (pronounced hue-gah), the Danish concept of creating cosy environments and enjoying the good in life.
“Hygge has become a cultural lifestyle movement that focuses on the simple comforts of life, and values slowing down and being present, which is very prevalent in today’s post-covid world,” says Ms Hope.
The second is the practice of modern witchcraft. Through her exploration of hygge as a design element, she found that it complimented the idea of magic and the energy of witchcraft, particularly that of house magic.
“There are many different types of witches, or practises that they specialise in. This can be ‘green witchcraft’ for example, which focuses on the environment and nature, while a ‘kitchen witch’ may utilise her cooking as a way to create power and protection in her home.”
Living life in the pursuit of hygge and drawing on her experience as a practising witch and interior designer, Ms Hope has created an easy-to-follow spiritual wellness guide blending modern witchcraft and the beauty of living at a less intense pace.
The handbook is true to Ms Hope’s own experiences. While delving into design philosophies like Feng Shui and Kon Mari, she began to see how the ideas connected to her witchcraft roots.
“It started off aesthetically – comforting natural elements and materials like wicker, wools, and faux fur while I was redesigning my house – but as I learnt more about the subject of hygge, I began to recognise the same energy elements that were also being discussed in the practice of house magic.”
Carving out her own place in the world of design, the term ‘hearth witch’ didn’t sit quite right for Ms Hope. Rather, she found a home with the term ‘hygge witch’ even though both relate to the home and hearth.
“Hygge focuses more on exploring the energies that influence you physically and how it relates to your mindfulness and wellness – not just the home itself. Because of this, I knew there was a lot more we could combine and explore.”
There are no spells for turning your enemies into toads, transforming your broom into a mode of transport or Satan worshipping, this witchcraft is about making homes places you want to be. The tips, spells and designs draw from the practices and knowledge of the pagan religion Wicca that has been passed down for centuries.
“In contemporary Western culture, modern pagans and witches use the term witchcraft as part of a healing journey, and for self-help and wellness rituals, such as manifesting and being present. Really, it is the information of the healers and the wise women of yesterday that have been passed down through generations and continuing to be practised.”
Available from Barnes and Noble, Booktopia, select speciality Canberra retailers and the author’s website, the handbook is a helping hand towards achieving a healthier outlook on life. Ms Hope says it is for witches and those learning the ropes of house and hygge music, also for those who want to re-align the energy or their home and people who need a little magic in their everyday life.
“I hope that readers not only discover new bits of information, spellcasting practices, and ideas, but I hope that they can discover the benefits of slow and purposeful mindful living.”
The Hygge Witch Handbook is available now, keep up to date with Courtney Hope; hyggewitch.com.au
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