Hygge vs. Capitalist Spirituality
As my research into capitalist and lazy spirituality continued, I became convinced that the more things we buy, the more we isolate ourselves from spirituality. Even when we can link our purchases to our spiritual paths, too much of anything becomes a problem. Every book I picked up, even those found for free on Kindle, said I needed to make a purchase, to have a specific book and new tools to help me fight Covid and life-induced burnout.
It seemed like there was no way out of the cycle; everywhere I looked, I was told I needed to make a new purchase. How could I find the balance between spiritual growth and self-care without becoming financially encumbered by new objects? Minimalism, as I have seen it, wasn’t for me. I enjoy a little artful clutter on my altar and bookshelves full of new adventures, and honestly, I avoid all white anything. I grew up on a farm with white carpet in the house. It was a nightmare.
So where was I to look? Kindle came to the rescue with a new book, “Hygge: Discovering the Danish Art of Happiness.” I had seen books on hygge years ago, it was popular back in 2017 and 2018, and I still spot a few books about it at Barnes & Noble. I’d heard a bit about the practice mentioned in some self-care guides and decided to pick up the book to read on my Kindle. My current job involves some waiting to pick up my students after school, so I have the time.
The first chapter describes hygge as a coziness concept, which appealed to me. As fall continues, the days quickly cool off, and the nights get cold. I went from a light blanket to flannel sheets on the bed within a week. And during winter, I love my warm fuzzy socks and slippers, hoodies, and having a warm cat draped across my lap. The first chapter talked about how awful Danish winters were and how this helped people enjoy them. This just helped seal the deal for me, as winters where I live are also extremely harsh.
So, I began reading the book and was pleased to see that the author comes right out at the beginning against the consumerism which has overtaken the self-care industry. Hygge’s spiritual growth comes with the absence of capitalism, not with its presence. I found a profoundly spiritual element in hygge that opposes lazy spirituality. At different points in the book, the author moves away from creating a sense of coziness and contentment and discusses deeper spiritual issues. One of these is that part of us lives on a higher spiritual plane, a piece of this art I was unaware of. The author stresses that to achieve spiritual growth, one must put in the effort to do so. If you are waiting for contentment to happen, you will be disappointed. Change requires work on one’s part beyond lighting a few candles and doing a few meditations.
Hygge also includes a bit of minimalism, but getting rid of everything you own is not required. You are encouraged to get rid of your clutter, clear space for your mind, and have a place to rest and invite friends over to enjoy. Bookcases full of books are great, but tables covered with detritus are not.
Hygge and the Kitchen Witch
The connection with coziness drew me to incorporate hygge into my Goddess spiritual practice. During Covid, I moved away from the spiritual tradition I had been a part of for about two decades. I needed a break, so I took on the label of solitary eclectic pagan. I didn’t want to jump back into being part of a group, and I wanted to explore other aspects of Goddess worship for a while.
Candles play a significant role in the practice of hygge. They provide a soft light and gentle flickering illumination, which is supposed to create an atmosphere of coziness. If you didn’t feel comfortable burning candles, then flameless candles were acceptable. I enjoyed keeping a candle burning on my altar every evening, giving it as an offering to the goddess and my well-being.
While returning to my roots as a young pagan, I reconnected with the Goddesses I had felt drawn to as a young woman. Brigid had fascinated me for a long time, primarily because of how her statues are made, with the Goddess seated in front of a cauldron. But Hestia, the Greek Goddess of the hearth, had always been a favorite of mine. I have never called myself a kitchen witch because I was not good at herbalism or making tinctures. But I love a warm fireplace and the smell of something cooking in the kitchen. Cookies in the oven or a pot roast in the slow cooker, it didn’t matter. I just loved coming home and knowing something warm was waiting to fill my belly.
Hygge works well with a kitchen witch type of spiritual practice and could be incorporated into many kinds of witchcraft if one so chooses. Even removed from Goddess spirituality, this coziness concept can positively impact people’s mental health and well-being. It’s about taking time to slow down during the day, to sit with one’s self, and to turn adverse events, like being inside during a blizzard, into a positive memory.
For these reasons, I will continue to explore hygge and see how it can be incorporated into my spiritual path. And why I will encourage those around me who are burned out, overwhelmed by negative thoughts, or who need to find a balance between minimalism and clutter in their homes. To create a cozy reading space where they can sit with a good book, a hot chocolate, and a pet at their feet.