Meditation changed my life.
And it all started because I was tired of struggling with my asthma and I wanted some superpowers (true story).
So I've created a collection of some of my favorite meditations gathered from my own personal practice and from the material I've been teaching for years in my in-person classes and rituals.
The reason I've stuck with a daily meditation practice for over 20 years - beyond the initial desire of my 12 year old self to breathe better and be super psychic - is because not only do I find it hugely useful as a magickal practitioner and herbalist, but the practice of meditation helps me to know myself, find meaning in the life I'm engaged with, and assists me in showing up in kindness to myself and others.
I wanted to create an accessible collection of some of my favorite meditation practices that were simple and geared towards magickal folk. The nine meditations that I share with you (plus one special bonus) are led by the breath and meant to help you build your very own meditation practice. All are from my perspective as a Witch and Pagan who holds that the tangible and physical are as holy as the intangible and ephemeral - that we are a fantastic combination of each and that our breath is the bridge between all the worlds.
All of the meditations in Begin With the Breath are breath-led, meaning that the breath plays a central role in opening, centering, and grounding us in each of the meditations. The meditations are also relatively short and meant for you to listen to a few times and then memorize enough for you to use them whenever and wherever. My hope is that they’ll enrich your magick, help you to tap into your flow, and even alleviate the ever increasing burden of stress we carry in our modern world.
I hope you'll join me in creating a bit more space, more breath, and more magick in your life through the creation of your own meditation practice.
For me, meditation is a key practice in magickal work whether the casting of spells, the development of psychic gifts, learning how to shield yourself from unwanted or overwhelming energies, and sorting out who we are and what it is we truly desire.
Your Instructor
I'm Alexis J. Cunningfolk and I think we should be paying attention to our breath more. My own practice of meditation began when I was 12 years old in an earnest attempt to breathe better and connect with my magick on a deeper level (i.e. I didn't like my asthma medication and I wanted to learn how to astral project).
In addition to a daily meditation practice, I live as an intersectional herbalist, magickal mentor, and weaver of remedies. My work is rooted in my lived experience as a nonbinary queer (she/they), a mixed-race womxn, and a practicing Witch. I approach all that I do seeking out the points of connection between the various ways we live, move, and breathe as humxn beings. Breathwork is one of the sweetest and most powerful ways of doing just that which is why I created Begin With the Breath.
I hope you'll join me!
Learn more about my work and who I am at Worts + Cunning Apothecary.
Frequently Asked Questions
"I feel like I'm learning how to really breathe for the first time." - SB
What Folks Are Saying
"I feel like I'm learning how to really breathe for the first time." - SB
"It motivated me to set aside a few minutes at the same time every day to be aware of my breath, to meditate." - Katy Ravensong
"Guided meditations are helpful for me, an outward-facing person, to help go inward." - Pan
"It gives me somewhere to begin... I find your meditations different & refreshing.. Thank you for being different..." - CPM
"I appreciated the magical twist on meditation." - Maeve
"The quick snippets and multi modal delivery [made it] so I could read or listen in small snatches of time." - Premye
"[Alexis is] so clear and concise but still magickal! I love how [Alexis] describes the purpose and possible applications of each practice." - Kali Ferguson
I hope that in breathing deeper, you’ll be able to take in more of what you desire in your life and by learning how to pour out your breath completely, you’ll release whatever it is that you no longer wish to carry with you.
Creating Access
or how to pay for the course
In the spirit of financial accessibility, Begin With The Breath is offered at a sliding scale (if you are unfamiliar with the sliding scale and where you might fall on it be sure to read my quick guide below before purchase). You can purchase Begin With the Breath for as little as $3 and there are also opportunities to pay a bit more and support the lower tiers of enrollment.
A Quick Guide to the Sliding Scale
While I encourage you to read my full thoughts on the sliding scale here is a very brief rundown:
$18 is the actual cost of the class. If you choose a ticket price below this tier you are receiving a discount.
$12 to $15 is for those who are able to meet their basic needs but have little-to-no expendable income. Paying for this class may qualify as a sacrifice but it would not create hardship.
$3 to $9 is for those who struggle to meet basic needs and paying for this class would still be a significant hardship.
The Pay-It-Forward price is $21 - a few dollars above the actual cost of the class. That extra money goes towards supporting the lower tier of the sliding scale, scholarships, and future free and low-cost classes. Essentially it's an opportunity to not only take your class but also support your fellow community members while you're at it. Sweet!
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Excited to dive deep? You can sign up for The Apothecary Student Collection or The Complete Course Collection and save 10%!
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"Any chance to learn some of Alexis' wisdom should be grabbed at with both hands."