The 80/20 Guide to Spellcasting: Less Can Get You More

Have you ever found yourself doing all the witchy things – you’ve charged your tools, lit five different candles, grabbed some crystals, laid out a card spread, AND tried to time it all perfectly with whatever moon phase, only to feel kinda… meh afterward? There’s a good chance you’re not doing anything “wrong.” You might just be doing too much. Here’s the thing: not all magical practices are created equal. Some are powerhouses. Others are just filler (yes, even if they’re very cute and aesthetic). Because sometimes, less can get you more.

Let’s talk about the 80/20 Rule – it’s a simple principle from the business world that might just revolutionize your magical practice. Also known as the Pareto Principle, the 80/20 Rule was discovered by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in the late 1800s. He noticed that 80% of Italy’s land was owned by 20% of the population. Curious, right? But then it got even weirder, because when people started applying it to business and economics, this pattern started showing up everywhere.

• 80% of sales come from 20% of clients
• 80% of customer complaints come from 20% of issues
• 80% of your productivity probably comes from just 20% of your daily to-do list

It’s not an exact ratio, but the takeaway is clear: a small amount of input creates the majority of results. That means in business – and, honestly, in many other aspects of life – you don’t need to hustle constantly. You just need to focus on the right things.

Applying the 80/20 Rule to Witchcraft

Think about all the stuff you’ve done in the last six months of your practice. You’ve probably:

• Done elaborate rituals
• Bought new tarot decks, oils, and crystals
• Tried kitchen spells, sigils, sound baths, shadow work…

And yet, if you’re honest, only a handful of those things really moved the needle. Right? The 80/20 Rule tells us that around 80% of your magical results – whether we’re talking about your clarity, alignment, manifestations, breakthroughs – come from just 20% of your efforts. Maybe it’s that one green candle prosperity spell you always come back to, or that full moon ritual bath you do each month, or the five minutes of daily grounding that keeps you aligned all week. Those are your power rituals. Your magical MVPs.

The rest? They’re not bad – they just ain’t pulling their weight right now.

How to Use the 80/20 Rule in Your Practice

1. The first thing you should do is identify your most powerful and effective practices. Do a little magical inventory. Ask yourself:

• Which spells or rituals have brought me the clearest results?
• What feels consistently energizing or sacred—no matter how small?
• Which tools or practices do I turn to when things get real?

You’re looking for what actually works, not what just looks good on your altar or Instagram feed.

Journal Prompt: Which 2–3 practices have had the biggest impact on my craft this year? Bonus points if you can track when those practices lined up with real-world changes, insights, or energetic shifts.

2. Next, you need to learn to let things go. Yes, you’re allowed to outgrow spells. Yes, you can donate or repurpose tools that don’t resonate anymore. Magical minimalism isn’t about stripping your practice bare – it’s about getting rid of anything that’s not truly aligned with your current energy. If that feels weird to you, make a ritual out of it! Burn some rosemary or sweep your space with intention as you release the things you no longer need. Make space for the magic that matters.

3. Then you’ll want to learn how to base your practice on that core 20% – after all, it’s the stuff that’s getting you 80% of your results. Now that you’ve identified your magical sweet spot, lean into it. Instead of reinventing the wheel with every full moon or turning every New Year into a 14-page spellbook event, build your personal “ritual essentials kit.” Try this:

• Create a monthly ritual calendar using your top practices
• Schedule in just one high-impact ritual per moon phase
• Let your magical rhythm support your energy—not drain it

Consistency with the right spell is far more powerful than doing every spell once and never returning.

4. Try experimenting with intention. Of course, we’re witches, not robots. Exploration is part of the craft (and sometimes the explorations fail). But instead of constantly adding new new new, treat new practices like experiments. Give them time to show you if they belong in your “top 20%.” Ask:

• Does this feel like a natural fit?
• Is it enhancing or complicating my practice?
• Can I see myself using this again next season?

If it’s a yes, nurture it. If it’s a no, be like Elsa and Let it Gooooooooooo.

5. Finally, get in the habit of reflecting and adjusting with each cycle. Your craft is alive. It grows, shifts, and flows… just like you. At the end of each lunar cycle, sabbat, or season, take a little time to review:

• What felt aligned this month?
• What felt forced or unnecessary?
• What rituals or tools made a difference—tangibly or energetically?

Try keeping a magical tracker or notes in your Book of Shadows for future reference.

Your Magic, Refined

You don’t need more spells, you need the right spells. The ones that work for you. The ones that light you up. The ones that open the door and let the universe walk in. The 80/20 Rule isn’t about doing less just for the hell of it, or because of laziness. Instead, it’s about doing what matters most, and letting go of the rest. Honor the rituals that keep you grounded, empowered, and effective.