Chronic & Enchanted: Affirmations for the Chronic Illness Journey

This week I thought we would talk about affirmations for the chronic illness journey because they help me so much. This is some gentle magic that can be used by anyone to help and support you through your day.

What are affirmations

I use affirmations a lot in my life, I love using them like a spell or prayer to repeat to myself or put up around my home as a way to inspire myself. Chanting them, in my head or out loud are also incredible ways to distract from pain flares or headaches.

According to Old Dominion University:

“Affirmations are positive statements that help you deal with negative feelings, thoughts, and situations. This may sound too simple; repeating the same sentences won’t change anything around you. But research shows that positive thinking can rewire your brain, changing the way you feel about things. Affirmations work because of neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to adapt to new situations.”

This is incredible, isn’t it? The brain can be rewired and changed because of repeating positive affirmations when you are experiencing difficult times. I think of them as little spells or prayers and they are free to create and can be used in so many ways.

How to use affirmations for chronic illness:

The wonderful thing about affirmations for the chronic illness journey, like sigils, is that they are so simple to use and so versatile.  They can be chanted, sung, written down, cross-stitched, turned into sigils, used in art pieces, honestly the possibilities are endless.

I often stick up on post-it notes around my witchcraft room, and on mirrors where I often say them to myself. I also write them in my note’s app on my phone, and I also love to use them to chant when my symptoms feel overwhelming.

The wonderful thing about affirmations for the chronic illness journey is that you can use them to work on things you want to improve.

For example, I am trying to eat better to lose weight and so I have fewer GI symptoms so I will say “I choose good food for my health” to myself. This is particularly useful to say when going out for dinner, or when hungry and I am unsure what I want to eat.

If I wanted to do more exercise, I could create an affirmation like “I move my body to gain strength and balance”. This is also something I am working on, and I am sure many of us feel the same, rewiring our brains means in time these things will become second nature.

I love to chant or sing song lyrics or lines from books or poems that inspire me too, and most of my books have highlighted quotes that can easily be used like this. Creating affirmation cards or artwork that can be displayed work so well for these moments when we need some inspiration too.

Affirmations are wonderful, and how I use them the most, is to support and improve my mental health. Repeating these short phrases helps me to stay mindful but also to stop my thoughts spiralling into negativity.

In my latest YouTube video, I opened up about the realities of living with chronic illness and how I honour rest as a sacred act. As part of that journey, affirmations have become a gentle way to reconnect with my body, spirit, and worth — even on the hardest days.

Below are some affirmations written especially for spoonies, disabled witches, and anyone navigating life with chronic pain or fatigue. Feel free to speak them aloud, write them in your journal, or use them in your magical practice.

Self-Compassion

“I honour the needs of my body and meet them with kindness.”
“Rest is not weakness. Rest is medicine, and I deserve to receive it.”
“I release guilt and embrace grace for where I am today.”

Inner Strength

“Even when my body feels fragile, my spirit remains fierce.”
“I am more than my diagnosis. I am a whole, radiant being.”
“I carry strength in softness, power in stillness.”

Connection & Magic

“I am deeply connected to the rhythms of the earth, even from my bed or chair.”
“Magic flows through me, adapting to the shape of my energy.”
“My lived experience makes me powerful.”

Hope & Healing

“Healing may not be linear, but I walk the path with courage.”
“I trust my body to tell me what it needs, and I listen with love.”
“Even in pain, joy is still possible — I allow space for both.”

From the video

“Nature is all around me I am connected to each element every day”
“I am warmed and energised by the summer sun”
“I am as abundant as Mother Earth”
“I am beautiful my body is perfect as it is”
“I am inspired by the sun, strong and energised”

I really do hope that you can find inspiration to use affirmations for the chronic illness journey into your life. They have changed so much for me and improved not only my mental health but also my outlook on life.  Let me know in the comments your favourite affirmations and how you use them in your chronic illness and spiritual journey.

Thank you xx

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