For some of us, spooky isn’t just a season — it’s a lifestyle.
In this post I’m going to outline a few ways you can embrace your inner weird without spending a ton of money. Take what resonates and leave the rest!

Explore forms of divination. Obviously I’m going to recommend the tarot because I’m in love with it, however I know tarot doesn’t resonate with everyone. Try a Ouija Board, Pendulum, Runes…just dabble and see what you like. Prayer and meditation can also be used to divininate and/or connect to yourself/your higher self
Read folklore from places around the world. All countries have their eerie stories and learning about global lore embodies cultural competency and magic at the same time. It’s a win-win
On a similar note — read scary books! Scifi and fantasy are great places to take yourself to give you the heebie-jeebies. I recommend to start with the King, Stephen King. However, there are hundreds and thousands of authors in the horror/mystery/psych-thriller genre that will have a book to match your prefered nightmare fuel
Ambiance is important. One of my favorite Youtube channels is The Dead of Night for ASMR vibes. I love a rain, crackling fire, howling wind situation in the atmosphere. I also have an entire Harry Potter ASMR playlist with potions bubbling, feathers writing on paper and soft chatting of Hogwarts classmates. If that’s not your thing no worries because there are many other choices on pretty much any streaming platform
Music…where to begin? If it makes you feel spooky then it’s a winner! Whether you’re blasting your music or keeping the volume soft, adding sound will help you embody your inner menace and keep your spirits (or the spirits around you) alive
Movies, movies, movies! Take a few hours out of the week to watch classics like Nosferatu and Dracula. The amount of old-school and new horror movies is truly insane, it won’t be hard to find a movie that fits your vibe. Make scary movies a weekly/monthly event with friends/fam or if you’re brave enough — a solo activity 😉
True crime podcasts are popular, however, I want to cater to the sensitives out there that prefer a different way to staying spooky than diving in to real-life blood and gore. There are other types of horror! Stick to fiction. A few podcasts to start with are NightLight, the No Sleep Podcast, and Psuedopod
Decor! Omg, please — with endless dollars my entire house would be insanely spooky but alas I have a budget. There are plenty of ominous dust collectors you can buy/make for your home, car, office and even keep in your bags/purses. Whether you want to be subtle or bold you’ve got options and thrift stores can be a great place to start. A little black spray paint goes a long way on old lamps, vases, and even furniture
Wear outfits/accessories. You don’t have to dress in all black to live the spooky lifestyle! Using different textures and combining them with all types of accessories is a great way to add a little eeriness to your look. I have a custom necklace that says, “Bruja” (witch) and I wear it everyday, it was under $15.00 from Amazon. I also love a good spider ring/necklace. Check out your local thrift stores and get creative. Adding paint, cutting holes, ripping…all of this can add a unique flair to you look without breaking your budget

All this being said, a spooky lifestyle is really just a state of being and you don’t need any of the extra stuff to define you but if you’re interested I hope this blog post helps you jump start your day-to-day ghoulishness.

Until we chat next take good care of yourself: hydrate, rest, laugh, sex it up, eat well and breathe deeply. I love you.

— Jess