Introduction to Esotericism 
Whether you’re experiencing short-term or long-term disability, living with a chronic illness, or learning to navigate balancing your health and your craft—I see you.
I’d be remiss if I started this article with anything other than dispelling some misconceptions about being a spiritual practitioner with health issues.
You’re not a failure as a practitioner because you’re dealing with health concerns. You’re also not any less magickal because your body or your mind are different from what’s considered “common” or “normal” clinically speaking. You’re not letting anyone down by prioritizing rest and self-care. You’re not doing something wrong or deserving of a life of sickness or disability.
What you are is a person. One who is learning what works best for you in a given season, month, week, day, or hour. You are capable of greatness despite any medical issues you are simultaneously learning to navigate.
So, how do you go about practicing magick despite disability? You learn to pay attention to your physical body. You learn what your inner self is asking of you. You lean into what your spirit is whispering.
Your physical body constantly tells you what it needs. It tells you when it needs more time to rest, more nutritious food, things that bring comfort, and the like. You feel it in your stomach, joints, head, hands, legs, and all the usual places that flare up when your body is saying, “Hey, today’s a low-energy day.” Or “Today, we’re struggling and need to move more slowly and intentionally.” Or “We don’t have anything extra to give today.”
Listen to it.
Your inner self and your spiritual self call out in similar ways. They send signals to say they’re sad, distressed, angry, grieved, frustrated, confused, fatigued, smothered, worn down, and everything in between.
Listen to it.
Magick, energy, witchcraft, intentions—they all go hand in hand. If your energy is low, the best thing you can do is rest and recharge. If your body is in pain, the best thing you can do is tend to its aches. If your magick is asking to be practiced in a modified way, accommodate it. If the witchcraft you want to practice is draining you, change it.
No one looks to a peach tree and demands it produce cherries. No one plants orchids and demands that they look like sunflowers. No one adopts a dog and wonders why it isn’t a cat.
If disability is a part of your life, adapt your magick to fit what works for you.
Don’t have the time or energy to listen to frequencies or meditations during the day? Listen to them using headphones while you’re sleeping. Headband headphones are super affordable and make it comfortable to wear while laying down. Alternatively, you can also play them on YouTube or Spotify from your TV in the background while you’re resting or doing other things.
Don’t have the mental capacity to sit and read everything you want to research? Listen to audio book versions or use an app that will convert text to speech so that you can play back audio of what you want to learn.
Don’t have the flexibility to go outdoors to ground your energy? Copper wire can be used to ground your metal frame, or earthing mats can be put under your mattress. Alternatively, you can also ground yourself by running your hands under the faucet or sitting on the floor in your home.
Don’t have the strength to get yourself out of bed to take a cleansing shower and need to reset your energy? Visualize bright light surrounding you and cleansing your aura of any negative or stagnant energy.
Don’t have the ability to pull together offerings and altars for deities you want to honor? Talk to them instead. Or sing. Or think about them. Or watch YouTube videos about them. Or read about them. Or write their name on your hand to connect with them. Or light a candle in their honor. Simple is always fine. Free is always fine.
Don't have the capacity to craft potions as you might typically? Stir your coffee, tea, or other beverage with intentions before sipping.
Don't have time to do any rituals or spells because it's treatment or doctor day? Wear crystal jewelry to connect you with nature and frequencies that resonate with rest, healing, self-care, or any other intentions you may have.
Don't have your hands free to craft when navigating using canes, walkers, braces, oxygen, or other medical support devices? Discreetly draw runes, sigils, or other symbolic icons on your items using moon water.
Magick and creativity go hand-in-hand. Adapt as needed. Embrace what you can do with the resources and capacity you have on any given day.