Self-care—it’s a term that’s been thrown around so much that it often gets diluted into images of cozy blankets, face masks, and a cup of something warm in your favorite mug. And while those moments of indulgence are lovely, they only scratch the surface of what self-care truly is. Real self-care is not just about treating yourself; it’s about building a foundation that allows you to withstand whatever life throws your way.
The Truth About Self-Care (Hint: It’s Not Just About Bubble Baths)
Mainstream media and marketing would have us believe that self-care is all about spa days and chocolates, but the reality is much deeper. True self-care is the art of self-preservation. It’s the daily commitment to nurture your body, mind, emotions, and spirit so that you don’t crumble under the weight of life’s unexpected storms.
Just like a tree that survives harsh winters by shedding unnecessary weight and gathering essential nutrients, we, too, must take an active role in maintaining our strength. If we only focus on surface-level self-care (hello, retail therapy and wine nights), we’re building a house out of straw—easily blown over by the first sign of trouble. Instead, we should aim to build our energy reserves with bricks and cement, making ourselves unshakable in the face of adversity.
The Four Self-Care Pillars
To create a self-care practice that truly supports us, we must look at it through four essential lenses: Practical, Emotional, Relational, and Spiritual self-care.
1. Practical Self-Care: The Backbone of Stability
Practical self-care is often overlooked because it’s not as glamorous as a self-care aesthetic photoshoot, but it’s the foundation upon which everything else is built.
Financial Well-being: Are your bills organized? Do you know where your money is going?
Time Management: Are you overcommitting yourself and running on fumes?
Healthy Habits: Do you nourish your body with foods that support your energy?
These aren’t exactly ‘fun’ things, but they are what allow you to move through life without constant stress and exhaustion. A strong practical self-care routine removes unnecessary chaos from your life, freeing up space for joy.
2. Emotional Self-Care: Tending to Your Inner Landscape
Your emotions shape your experience of the world, which makes emotional self-care absolutely vital.
Reflection Practices: Are you checking in with your thoughts and feelings regularly?
Boundary Setting: Do you allow others to overstep your energy, or are you protecting yourself?
Processing Emotions: How do you handle stress and sadness? Do you bottle it up or find healthy ways to release it?
One of the most powerful tools for emotional self-care is tarot. A simple three-card pull can reveal where you might be neglecting yourself and what actions to take next.
3. Relational Self-Care: The Power of Boundaries and Support
We are social beings, and the people around us can either lift us up or drain us completely. Relational self-care means being intentional about your relationships.
Assessing Your Circle: Are your relationships supportive, or do they leave you exhausted?
Reciprocity: Do you give too much without receiving, or are you taking more than you offer?
Communication & Boundaries: Are you expressing your needs, or are you letting resentment build?
Your energy is precious. Protect it by surrounding yourself with people who pour into you as much as you pour into them.
4. Spiritual Self-Care: Connecting to Something Greater
Whether you find comfort in nature, the universe, deity work, or the cycles of the moon, spiritual self-care is about feeling connected to something beyond yourself.
Rituals & Reflection: Do you have a spiritual practice that grounds you?
Meditation & Mindfulness: Are you taking moments to just be, rather than constantly doing?
Seeking Wisdom: Are you feeding your mind with knowledge and perspectives that expand your understanding?
A simple way to weave spiritual self-care into your life is by using tarot as a self-reflection tool, journaling about your experiences, or even observing the changing of the seasons as a metaphor for your own growth.
Creating Your Self-Care Checklist
Now that we’ve outlined the four pillars, let’s put it into action with a self-care checklist. Consider this your self-care essentials guide—actions that build long-term resilience, not just quick fixes.
Daily Self-Care Checklist:
✅ Drink enough water and eat nourishing meals
✅ Set (and enforce) at least one personal boundary
✅ Take 10-15 minutes to check in with your emotions
✅ Engage in a grounding practice (meditation, tarot, journaling, etc.)
✅ Organize or plan one practical aspect of your life (money, schedule, home)
✅ Do one thing that brings genuine joy (not just escapism)
This isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency. Even small efforts add up over time, strengthening your foundation so that when life throws curveballs, you don’t shatter under the weight.
Self-Care is a Long-Term Investment
As we navigate through February, a month filled with messages about love and self-love, let’s take a moment to redefine self-care for ourselves. It’s not about indulgence—it’s about sustainability. It’s about creating a life where you don’t feel like you’re constantly drowning, where you have enough energy to not just survive, but to thrive.
Your self-care routine should be about preservation, about tending to yourself the way a gardener tends to their plants, ensuring they are strong enough to bloom again and again.
So, Enchanted Sisters, let’s commit to self-care that is deep, meaningful, and transformative. Let’s build our energy with bricks, not straw. Let’s nourish our minds, bodies, and spirits in ways that make us unstoppable.
And if you’re looking for even more guidance, check out my book, Magical Self-Care, where I go in-depth on these four pillars and how you can incorporate them into your life for real, lasting change. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for weekly tarot insights and journal prompts!
Until next time, stay magic.
Recent Comments