The decision to become a Witch is a deeply personal one. It empowers you to embrace the person you were born to be. Deciding you want to be a Witch is all it takes to become one.
Of course, now that you have embraced your true being, you want to rush out and delve into all the Witchy-ness out there. There are things you want to do to begin practicing your magick, but the journey you take is uniquely yours. Be aware of the advice you will find from some practitioners and know there are some things you do not need to do when you first begin your magickal practice.
Buy stuff
The first time you walk into a pagan store, you will find all kinds of wondrous items for sale. It is wise that as a Witch, new or a long-time practitioner, you need to be aware that not all of the tools are necessary or relevant to your practice.
- Athame—a knife will do for now
- Cape—not needed when you first start
- Chalice—a bowl or glass will work
- Crystals—oh! So many pretty ones from which to choose! Until you learn a little more about ethical sourcing and meanings, use the rocks you find on your walks. Those may have more meaning for you in the long run.
- Altar cloths—very pretty, but not necessary. You may find you have a scarf or piece of material which will work.
- Books—there are lists of “must-read” books that are not overly appropriate for a beginning Witch. At this point, you do not know enough to understand what you are reading fully. Find some good “beginner witch” classes or blogs like this one to get a feel for the terminology before you dig into a classic. That way, you will have a better idea of what parts of the writing are relevant to your practice.
- Cauldron—every Witch needs one, but until you find the size and style that best suits your needs, an old pan from your kitchen or a terra cotta pot will work.
- Herbs and spices—some spells call for spices that aren’t readily available in your pantry. You can use substitutions until you build up your apothecary supplies.
- Besom—your broom will work until you find the right besom if you decide you need it.
- Book of Shadows—when first starting out, write down the magickal information which speaks to you. Keep up with spells you perform, correspondences you learn, etc. in a notebook. Once you have a better idea of the types of information important to you, you can better decide what style of BoS will serve your practice best.
Believe everything
There is a lot of information floating around out there, all of which are more than happy to tell you what to believe and how to practice your craft. A little skepticism is good while reading.
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Believe everyone
Many Witches will tell you that one thing they learned along their path was to take what people said with a grain of salt. Be aware that there are people who practice magic who are not always what they say they are. Unfortunately, hypocrites and con artists are just a prevalent in the pagan community as elsewhere.
Take “What Kind Of Witch Am I” Tests
Actually, it isn’t a bad idea to take those tests, but don’t completely believe them either. You may find that you are a blend of two or more types. Many of us are.
Take a Witchy Name
The name you have now will work just fine unless you are in the broom closet. If you live in an area of the world where is unwise to have people know you are a practicing witch, then, by all means, use a magickal name when interacting with others in person or online.
Try to Keep Up with all the Correspondences
There are so many correspondences—moon phases, days of the week, crystals, herbs, colors, etc. stick to one or two when you first begin.
Use Divination Tools
Tarot cards, dice, and pendulums, along with many other divination tools, take time to learn to use appropriately. Try to understand what they can and cannot do before you dive into learning all of them.
Join a Coven
Some people will disagree with me on this, but I feel it is of great importance that you figure out what kind of Witch you are before you have people begin to train you in their ways. I think covens have their place. You need to be very aware of your core beliefs so that you can find a group whose views line up with yours.
Perform Fancy Spells That Rhyme
You do not need to write and say fancy rhyming spells. Some people have a great gift and can do this easily. If you are not one of them, don’t worry about it. Your spells, if spoken from the heart and filled with your intentions, are just as powerful.
Perform Rituals
Starting out, you do not need to learn all about rituals are even try to perform them. At some point, you may want to incorporate them into your practice, but you don’t have to start with an altar all decked out, with you in full robes, chanting some rhyme.
Welcome, Witch!
The amount of information available to you as a witch can be overwhelming. Take your time and listen to what speaks to your heart. You will soon find yourself drawn to certain aspects of the craft. Your magickal path is as unique as you are. All of us who are already on our charmed journeys welcome you and are excited to have you join us!
If you are new to the practice of Witchcraft, what are some things you are doing? I would love to hear from you!
Until we meet again,
CJ
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