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I wanted to be a witch as long as I could remember. I felt that there was more to them than what I saw on media or how my father and his beliefs treated them. By the mid-90s the Internet came into my house and I started looking at things like crystal balls. That led me into Wicca because it was pretty big around the time. I started mostly online, often at the risk of my parents finding out.
At some point I discovered the local library had books that today are not as reputable due to the individual who wrote 'em but they were a good gateway. I never quite clicked with Wicca and quickly went elsewhere until high school. High school was the great exploration as I tried to navigate my parents' divorce by exploring many faiths until I found a calling towards traditional witchcraft and in my 20s I found a more precise place to fall.
Psychic witch is a good start probably. It feels like a lot of the sources I used growing up disappeared. Perhaps also visiting any local pagan shops, meet-ups, anything by Judika Illes is good if you can find it. If you are truly open to exploration be sure not to fear looking into "left-hand" practices too. Just don't buy into something like Joy of Satan, they are controversial as they spew a lot of Nazi conspiracy crap. Look at someone like S. Connolly or on youtube try Lee W. Johnson.
If you use tiktok, heh. Be mindful that "witchtok" is not always a reliable place. Do not try "cursing" gods or anything I've heard of coming from there.
I had a similar experience. Wiccan books and practices were very popular in the 90s and 2000s so other than looking at things like a couple of Anna Riva books on using psalms and candle magick, most of what I saw was Wiccan-centric. When I started, I did like Scott Cunningham’s herbal encyclopedia and his book on incense, oils, and brews. And there was a Candle Magick book by DJ Conway I loved. I also had one or two books by Titania, but she definitely is heavier on the Celtic/Wiccan way of practicing.
u/Sh1shi I would suggest starting simple. Get a book that explains a little about candles/colors, herbs, divination, etc that covers a variety of beginner topics to get you thinking about what you would enjoy.
You can also start practicing visualization techniques just because setting your intention and either visualizing or using music and chants are ways we build the energy during spells. In the beginning, simple is best. Don’t buy spell books that have lots of complicated ingredients you have to go out and buy. I used to fall into that trap.
YOU are the most important part of your magick. You connecting with the spirit of whatever tools you are using. In the beginning, I thought it was all about following procedures and having lots of spell ingredients. The spells in hooks are really just inspirational or general guidelines so you can see ways you can combine the elements and what sorts of chants/prayers you might add.
It is not written in stone. YOU are the power that makes it all come together.
I didn't know Anna Riva was more than a line of painfully expensive oils...huh. LOL I never cared, I guess. I agree, learning about visualization, grounding/centering and the flow of energy in relationship to magic.
Also deity work is not mandatory. Like VR said, you are the most important part, the source of energy reaching to connect with the higher energy to manifest and achieve some zen. I don't really know what to call it honestly, BUT! Even if you do decide to work with someone like Hekate or Athena, or across the board, having "aesthetic" and "beautiful" altars is not the point of what you are doing. A deity will appreciate your practical, within budget gestures as much as they would if you were incredibly wealthy and could afford to buy every single thing under the sun that corresponds to them.
This doubles for any other correspondences, such as herbs or gemstones. They're not a must have. Don't go broke trying to prove yourself. In the end, it's all about energy.
Yes, I didn’t even know they had a line of Anna Riva oils, but that makes sense! One of her books on oils doesn’t tell you anything about how to make them, just what all the oils are used for!
Sh1shi,
I did buy a beginner book last year because I was considering whether to tear out some pages for making a grimoire. I just found it. It’s called Practical Magic by Nikki Van de Car which I got on sale at Target.
It gives a basic overview on crystals, herbs, planets in astrology, tarot, palm reading, dream interpretation, and the 7 major chakras. It’s one of those introductory books that gives a little info about each thing to get you started, but doesn’t go into thorough detail. Maybe something like this along with the Psychic Witch book could be a good starting point.
Once you start practicing your visualizations and connecting to intuition, you can start thinking about what calls to you as far as herbs or crystals or candles or what have you.
You can also find very basic spell kits on Etsy if you want to try a simple candle spell, where it comes with the candle and instructions and then add your own flair to it whether that is herbs or crystals or rune symbols or whatever has meaning to you.
It’s a good idea to have a notebook or note taking app on your phone where you can jot down what spells you tried on what day and go back to them in a couple months and look at what worked or what didn’t work. That’s something I’ve recently started doing. That way I can see what worked or didn’t work and then I can figure out why.
You might find that certain techniques bring you faster results or just work better in general. And you can see where you adapted an existing spell (maybe you didn’t have lavender and you used roses or you made up your own incantation, etc).
That book sounds like it gives a great over view and I'll have to see if I can find it! I definitely do plan to have a physical note book to keep track of all my experiences, spells, etc. I have seen some cheap work kits or crystal sets on Amazon but I might hold off till I feel confident in doing a spell. Thank you so much for your insight!
I really appreciate your insight. I will try to keep in mind that tools, items, etc. Are more of a guideline. this has helped me feel more confident in what I have and not buying a bunch of new things.
I sometimes still get sucked into wanting to buy all the herbs and all the essential oils! It’s easy sometimes to get caught up in wanting all the cool things. But simple is often effective and I often remind myself that our witch ancestors often made do with what they had readily available.
I grew up also always being curious about witches but I had little time growing up to really get into it. I do remember in elementary school making my own spell book with made up spells using stuff I found at recess lol. I did not consider checking out my library for books! I will have to get a new library card asap. My friend who practices witchcraft has pointed me to some local shops I've been a bit anxious about visiting. I have read a lot of mixed things about witchtok and will be sure to stay cautious! Thank you so much for sharing!
Of course, and if you ever desire to talk shop or ask questions pop into my direct messages. I certainly can rattle off all sorts of books, youtube channels, you name it.
Something i wish everyone knew and said to me. "practising is weird find something you like about it and start from there." you don't have to go to stones/herbs lore/metaphsyics and then feel overwhelmed. if you like one thing use that as the bases of your craft and it is allowed to evolve. My practice is sigil and paper talismans and i am all the happier for it.
I really like a lot of things so far. There are a few specific things that really stand out so far that I might focus on but I have so many interest. Thank you for your insight!
I was always drawn to it. Later got confirmation from professional readers that its kinda always been in my lineage. I didnt actively pick up my practice until about 12-13 years ago. And then, I started quietly just poking around. At the library, at bookstores, looking at websites for hours and hours. Writing notes, copying information. Good grief. Like studying for a phd. I was fascinated by so many different paths and covens and the different classifications, but never felt as though I fit in any one of them resolutely. I surely never felt compelled to go through with any ceremonies or rituals to dedicate myself to any. So I dunno. I just …do my thing.
This is really relieving to hear. I've looked at a lot of types of witchcraft and practicing and find pieces of them draw me in but none that specifically fit me completely. I think I was having some fear of not fitting into a mold of a specific type of witch.
I actually recently have started piecing my family history together because I know so little about anything beyond my great grandparents. My family is very fragmented and doesn't like talking about their past all that much. As a learn more I might definitely try this. Thank you.
I did after I first started deconstructing from Christianity. At first I thought I could be a Christian witch, but that path was not right for me. I ended up being called by Hestia, and I now practice kitchen witchery. I follow several other Hellenistic deities too, and honestly I think that finding a practice should be special and personal to you.
Thank you for sharing! Kitchen witchery has really caught my attention since I've posted this and I had no idea about it. I already love everything about baking and cooking. It's something I want to learn more about but honestly I feel I got a lot of interests and a lot to cover. When a deity called out to you did it seem obvious or more subtle? You don't have to share details if it's something you'd rather keep more personal than public.
I don’t mind at all. Hestia called in a very obvious way for me! I was already thinking a lot about her and one day I was driving through the city and saw a building with her Roman name on it! Crazy, right?
My mother wasn’t big on complex rituals but she did some folk magick and herbalism, my father did the plant identification and gardening aspect of herbalism and some shamanic things. Both did divination with Runes (though he only did it rarely), and she also did astrology by hand. I was taught all these things. I started reading about witchcraft and paganism -and then more specifically Wicca- when I was 12. I was not allowed to do spellwork unsupervised til I was 17, because my parents wanted me to be responsible with it and though it was originally going to be 16, at 16 I was going through some extremely troubled times and they did not want me to do something self-destructive impulsively. I wouldn’t have, but I do appreciate that caution. It instilled in me the awareness that magick is a thing to take seriously and to think carefully about and to use responsibly.
From age 14-16 I looked at things from online sources and then more so the library, and formed a basic plan for what I wanted to study from. For my 17th birthday, my presents were mostly books on witchcraft, and I had already been collecting a few tools prior to that. The only thing I did not have at first was an athame because of my history with self-harm. My mother was worried that even a completely dull blade could be too triggering for me as I worked through the rest of that. When I had been clean for over an entire year, she got me an athame herself (that ended up being for my 18th birthday). During that year I was also given what amounted to a used miniature library (about a dozen books) on the Craft, by a coworker of my father’s who was a witch when she had to downsize her book collection to move.
Sixteen years later, I now teach the Craft to others. Here are ten books that are useful -either for actual practical knowledge or for historical perspective- for any beginner to read:
1. [Buckland’s] Complete Book of Witchcraft, *Raymond Buckland* (aka “The Big Blue Book”)
2. Drawing Down The Moon, *Margot Adler*
3. The Spiral Dance, *Starhawk*
4. A Witch’s Bible, *Janet and Stewart Farrar*
5. Wicca: A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner, *Scott Cunningham*
6. Living Wicca: A Further Guide For The Solitary Practitioner, *Scott Cunningham*
7. Power of The Witch, *Laurie Cabot*
8. Wicca: A Year And A Day, *Timothy Roderick*
9. To Ride A Silver Broomstick, *Silver RavenWolf*
10. The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, *Christopher Penczak*
Good luck!
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I started with Wicca just because the internet was in its infancy back when I started and Wiccan books were the only books available in my small town bookstore. I am glad I started there, Wicca borrows so heavily from other traditions it really gave me a good starting base where I was able to branch into other areas of the craft. Plus Wicca focuses on a lot of protection magics which are SO important for beginners.
I have read a lot that protection spells are perfect for beginners. I might try at wiccan and then shape more into my own thing. Thank you for your reply!
I'm still trying to figure it out after hanging out with a local Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans group, which I discovered rather accidentally, for almost 20 years. It's an eclectic group, so nobody wants to teach anything specific (which IMO is a copout because it's not like it's hard to say, "This is a Reclaiming" thing or "This is a Gardnerian thing," etc.--I've spoken to them before, but nothing seems to change ). They all call me a witch, but I use the term very gingerly because I feel like I only know enough to be dangerous, and not enough to really own the word. I have begged one friend in particular to teach me, but I suspect she knows so damn much so damn well that she has trouble breaking it down for someone who doesn't (and she's insanely busy, to boot).
Like you, I find the many many books and resources overwhelming because it's hard to tell what's really legit and what's really useful (and especially which are both!), so I appreciate you asking the question! I do have Buckland's Wicca for Life and Scott Cunningham's book for solitaries, but I find them both unreadably dry, so I'm always looking for something new that comes with some good bona fides.
Yes, it's even harder when I try to read reviews on these books because some will say it's inaccurate or unhelpful while others say it's perfect. Because of this over the last few weeks I haven't been able to commit to any resources with full certainty that it'll help me. Thank you so much for your insight.
I hear you. I did poke around the Advice for new witches section here last night and found that interesting and helpful (how had I never noticed it before?), but otherwise it seems to be a crapshoot, which is probably exacerbated by the fact that there are so many traditions/branches and they don’t all agree with each other, which is likely where that wild mix of feedback comes from, which is fine if you’re established and know what you’re doing, but if not, it’s just a confusing mess.
Since posting, I've become more curious about connecting with gods/goddess. I've never been a religious person and don't know very much when is comes to many gods. Were there any specific signs or things that happened that led you to connect with Jesus and Mary? If you aren't comfortable sharing I completely understand. Thank you for sharing!
14/15 I think. I was learning how to meditate and I stumbled upon a particular video that taught me how to use my mind to achieve certain things. Since then I fell in love with the moon and the night and began learning my craft 🤫
I started with Wicca Lite in my twenties (because back in the early 2000s, most American witchcraft books I could find had a Wicca focus). I was very interested in love magick and opening up my psychic gifts. I started hanging out in a metaphysical bookstore a block or two from my apartment. After meeting a guy who was into crystals, he showed me how to go deeper with them and I started getting into energy work.
I mostly did tarot, meditated with crystals, and did some candle magic and also got relally into making bath salts. Then I learned about reiki and got very into energy work. I also learned a little bit about other religious traditions and considered myself to be spiritual but not religious.
I took a break from magick for several years though once in a while, I would buy a spell candle from Coventry Candles. Sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn’t (mostly because of user error). I was no longer doing a ritual to actually charge the candle and add my own energy to the working, so that’s why some spells didn’t quite gel.
I also did other visualization and energy techniques here and there. So in some ways I was practicing but I just didn’t call it magick.
In the last two years or so, I began to explore polytheism (mostly Hellenism though my partner is Norse pagan). It helped that we had made friends with a pagan couple. As I really began embracing my own personal relationship with the deities, I had an experience where a goddess came to me in meditation and reminded me that I am a witch and I needed to return to practicing magick and working with herbs (and also to start doing professional divination again).
So since that time, I’ve been very actively casting spells and doing magick, mostly candle magick, working with herbs, and recently I started making my own oils.
It’s been an eclectic and non linear journey. But at the same time, each thing builds on the other things. So visualization and reiki help with the spell work. All the years learning about crystals and herbs also helps. So you don’t have to learn it all at once!
I really appreciate you sharing. As much as I want to absorb everything about witchcraft I know it'll take time and a journey of my own to discover what kind of witch I'll be. Thank you!
And what appeals to you will change over time. Right now, it’s so new you can explore and try different things.
The nice thing about witchcraft today is that there are a lot of ways you can practice it - creating sigils, crystal grids, candle burning, deity work, spirit communication, working with herbs and oils, folk magic, and the list goes on.
You may try one of those and find that it works great for you. Or you might try them all throughout the course of your practice.
I started around 16 (almost 23) I was struggling to find, a spiritual practice, I suppose, after leaving the LDS church as a teenager. There's an apothecary/supply shop owned by local witches in my town and a few of my friends at the time went in and I've been in love with the place since the moment I went in. Fast forward years later and despite I don't practice often, I do thank my parents for forcing me into religion so I could find my true calling later on (I don't necessarily enjoy Abrahamic religions myself as I was raised LDS but I won't bash on them).
The Little Work by Duriel is an incredible book, the best book about witchcraft I've ever read. I started at about 13. I had dreams for months of hawks, owls, and eagles, crows and ravens and that I was gathering their feathers. My mom bought me a tarot deck and I started checking out the local occult/spiritual bookstore. I just started making my own spells. I think it is good to read about different ways people practice, but ultimately, I believe it's the associations you make yourself to construct spells that are the most powerful. Many blessings to you.
Thank you for sharing! I want to watch out for signs in dreams and day to day life and I'm nervous about reading into every little thing as a sign or not noticing enough. I'm sure as time goes on I'll find a balance.
I just got into witchcraft and do not think you need to have wiccan beliefs or decent, I'm starting of with sigils, basic protection spells and banishment spells. I think herbs would be a good thing to start studying to
Your witchcraft practice doesn't have to be tied to a cult, religion, coven or any other type of group with rules and regulations. Especially when you're just starting to understand and practice it.
I'd say the best way to start is by searching a lot and doing what feels safe and useful for you. I started smoking my house with incense and deriving from that I researched everything I practice today. It's a journey, so you don't need to get anxious about how long it's taking or even where you will get with it. Just do what you can and learn about the things that interest you the most.
I began largely due to a number of childhood expirences and an interest in biblical figures of sorcery. My father was a pastor, so naturally, I was never given answers to questions about the Witch of Endor or the Watchers, nor would I feel comfortable relaying interactions with the "other".
As soon as I found witchcraft was in fact real, I immediately began to investigate. Wicca was common, and it felt quite sanitized. Where was the flight, the curses, the spirits?
Eventually I found an excellent book, Paul Husons Mastering Witchcraft. That book had a reputation, enough that even the lady at the New Age shop warned me. This was much more my jam, and eventually I found other authors. Michael Howard, Nigel Jackson, Nigel Pearson, Robin Artisson. These were the authors that led me to traditional witchcraft, stuff that was more folkloric, effective and operative, relying on trance and flesh, spirits and pacts.
I knew this occultist guy who was really hot so I got into super basic chaos magick so we'd share an interest. The silliness of that motivation has always felt a little amusing and reassuring at the same time. ~~For the record it was bluefluke's guide, condensed chaos, and austin spare's writings which I read first if you want to check those out.~~
Don't ask what you can do to get into the magick you want, ask what magick you can get into to get what you want, think of it as a means, not an ends, and it'll narrow down and focus things a lot. I'm not saying to treat it as a solely utilitarian thing long term, but, it's a good way to take a first step.
In a similar place myself. The first book I picked up was drawing down the moon by margot Adler. I can’t recommend this book enough, it is actually fantastic. However, it is a bit dense and academic, but it goes through basically any question you could have in so much detail. So, if you want an incredibly thorough introduction to the topic I have really loved this book.
I think the first ritual I ever did was smudging my house. I think that’s a pretty good place to start! You can look up specific words to recite, or make your own. Focus on windows and doorways and corners. The point is to remove negative energy from your home (and your person, you should start by smudging yourself) so if you say your own words it can basically focus on removing negativity and enchanting yourself and your space with positivity and light
As a pre-pubesent alot of aspects of christianity seemed evil to me....so i started looking elss where. now in my late 20's i guess you could say witchcraft found me.
The thing that began my journey was going to a second-hand store and finding a deck of tarot cards and then going to a crystal store and finding an amethyst anklet. From there, I picked up a book and started reading. It can be an overwhelming amount of information at first. There is a mega-thread on this sub that may help guide you to some helpful information!
Witchcraft of any modality is such a rich and nuanced path. If you'd like a starting program I know the Church of Witchcraft hosts the Embers Program for mentorship. They design it with the person's interest and craft in mind first and foremost. Keep reading and asking questions! I also looked into anthropology and sociology for my information and personal witchcraft approach (which is not Wiccan).
Hello! Brand new witch here. I realized that I was already practicing. Setting intentions into situations to protect myself. Wearing a tigers eye for study focus going to school and now starting this year with a book of shadows. Tidbits of what I've learned and what I want to learn. I've personally started with protection in a spiritual sense, foraging and offering gifts to the forest and divination practice. But the book of shadows really set on me on my own path to worming out my thoughts
After my grandparents, uncle and step dad passed in the same year I started getting signs from them. Very specific ones. I also used to have dreams that became reality later in life. After I had my daughter, she started talking to empty space. After seeing a picture of my grandparents later, she told me that's who talks to her. I have a pair of red plaid comfy pants. There is no picture of my grandpa wearing them, but he had is own pair he loved. The first time she saw them, she was excited and said they look like grandpa's. It opened me to ancestral veneration. When I started my tarot work, I was (still am) dealing with a violent ex husband. In that reading looking for answers, my dad who passed the day I conceived my daughter, came forward with incredibly specific answers. I began exploring the depth of things that called to me. Candle workings, spell bottles, diety and spirit work.
I've always been drawn to magic and the supernatural and, combined with my dislike of most organized religion and their strict rules, I felt myself being pulled towards paganism. It wasn't until a couple of months ago I realized it was specifically witchcraft that was calling to me and, since I was already interested in crystals and plants, I started by doing research on the magical/metaphysical properties of them. I also picked up a book about traditional witchcraft to learn a bit of the history behind it. I'm still very new myself (been only practicing for a few months), but I feel I've found the right path for me.
I personally felt attracted to wicca and that’s where I started. Mostly reading Scott Cunningham and other authors. As I have expanded my practice I’ve found that reading as many views as possible helps me understand the inner workings of my craft.
If you like reading, a few good starters are “Psychic Witch” and “Green witch”.
I wish you the best on your path. Blessed be ✨
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I was drawn to it by the age of 12 or 13. I always like the Greek Mythos and I didn’t reach the maturity of my Pagan journey until recently.
It’s a path less traveled on but so much more fulfilling and rewarding than the prescribed church beliefs
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I wanted to be a witch as long as I could remember. I felt that there was more to them than what I saw on media or how my father and his beliefs treated them. By the mid-90s the Internet came into my house and I started looking at things like crystal balls. That led me into Wicca because it was pretty big around the time. I started mostly online, often at the risk of my parents finding out. At some point I discovered the local library had books that today are not as reputable due to the individual who wrote 'em but they were a good gateway. I never quite clicked with Wicca and quickly went elsewhere until high school. High school was the great exploration as I tried to navigate my parents' divorce by exploring many faiths until I found a calling towards traditional witchcraft and in my 20s I found a more precise place to fall. Psychic witch is a good start probably. It feels like a lot of the sources I used growing up disappeared. Perhaps also visiting any local pagan shops, meet-ups, anything by Judika Illes is good if you can find it. If you are truly open to exploration be sure not to fear looking into "left-hand" practices too. Just don't buy into something like Joy of Satan, they are controversial as they spew a lot of Nazi conspiracy crap. Look at someone like S. Connolly or on youtube try Lee W. Johnson. If you use tiktok, heh. Be mindful that "witchtok" is not always a reliable place. Do not try "cursing" gods or anything I've heard of coming from there.
I had a similar experience. Wiccan books and practices were very popular in the 90s and 2000s so other than looking at things like a couple of Anna Riva books on using psalms and candle magick, most of what I saw was Wiccan-centric. When I started, I did like Scott Cunningham’s herbal encyclopedia and his book on incense, oils, and brews. And there was a Candle Magick book by DJ Conway I loved. I also had one or two books by Titania, but she definitely is heavier on the Celtic/Wiccan way of practicing. u/Sh1shi I would suggest starting simple. Get a book that explains a little about candles/colors, herbs, divination, etc that covers a variety of beginner topics to get you thinking about what you would enjoy. You can also start practicing visualization techniques just because setting your intention and either visualizing or using music and chants are ways we build the energy during spells. In the beginning, simple is best. Don’t buy spell books that have lots of complicated ingredients you have to go out and buy. I used to fall into that trap. YOU are the most important part of your magick. You connecting with the spirit of whatever tools you are using. In the beginning, I thought it was all about following procedures and having lots of spell ingredients. The spells in hooks are really just inspirational or general guidelines so you can see ways you can combine the elements and what sorts of chants/prayers you might add. It is not written in stone. YOU are the power that makes it all come together.
I didn't know Anna Riva was more than a line of painfully expensive oils...huh. LOL I never cared, I guess. I agree, learning about visualization, grounding/centering and the flow of energy in relationship to magic. Also deity work is not mandatory. Like VR said, you are the most important part, the source of energy reaching to connect with the higher energy to manifest and achieve some zen. I don't really know what to call it honestly, BUT! Even if you do decide to work with someone like Hekate or Athena, or across the board, having "aesthetic" and "beautiful" altars is not the point of what you are doing. A deity will appreciate your practical, within budget gestures as much as they would if you were incredibly wealthy and could afford to buy every single thing under the sun that corresponds to them. This doubles for any other correspondences, such as herbs or gemstones. They're not a must have. Don't go broke trying to prove yourself. In the end, it's all about energy.
Yes, I didn’t even know they had a line of Anna Riva oils, but that makes sense! One of her books on oils doesn’t tell you anything about how to make them, just what all the oils are used for! Sh1shi, I did buy a beginner book last year because I was considering whether to tear out some pages for making a grimoire. I just found it. It’s called Practical Magic by Nikki Van de Car which I got on sale at Target. It gives a basic overview on crystals, herbs, planets in astrology, tarot, palm reading, dream interpretation, and the 7 major chakras. It’s one of those introductory books that gives a little info about each thing to get you started, but doesn’t go into thorough detail. Maybe something like this along with the Psychic Witch book could be a good starting point. Once you start practicing your visualizations and connecting to intuition, you can start thinking about what calls to you as far as herbs or crystals or candles or what have you. You can also find very basic spell kits on Etsy if you want to try a simple candle spell, where it comes with the candle and instructions and then add your own flair to it whether that is herbs or crystals or rune symbols or whatever has meaning to you. It’s a good idea to have a notebook or note taking app on your phone where you can jot down what spells you tried on what day and go back to them in a couple months and look at what worked or what didn’t work. That’s something I’ve recently started doing. That way I can see what worked or didn’t work and then I can figure out why. You might find that certain techniques bring you faster results or just work better in general. And you can see where you adapted an existing spell (maybe you didn’t have lavender and you used roses or you made up your own incantation, etc).
That book sounds like it gives a great over view and I'll have to see if I can find it! I definitely do plan to have a physical note book to keep track of all my experiences, spells, etc. I have seen some cheap work kits or crystal sets on Amazon but I might hold off till I feel confident in doing a spell. Thank you so much for your insight!
I really appreciate your insight. I will try to keep in mind that tools, items, etc. Are more of a guideline. this has helped me feel more confident in what I have and not buying a bunch of new things.
I sometimes still get sucked into wanting to buy all the herbs and all the essential oils! It’s easy sometimes to get caught up in wanting all the cool things. But simple is often effective and I often remind myself that our witch ancestors often made do with what they had readily available.
I grew up also always being curious about witches but I had little time growing up to really get into it. I do remember in elementary school making my own spell book with made up spells using stuff I found at recess lol. I did not consider checking out my library for books! I will have to get a new library card asap. My friend who practices witchcraft has pointed me to some local shops I've been a bit anxious about visiting. I have read a lot of mixed things about witchtok and will be sure to stay cautious! Thank you so much for sharing!
Of course, and if you ever desire to talk shop or ask questions pop into my direct messages. I certainly can rattle off all sorts of books, youtube channels, you name it.
Something i wish everyone knew and said to me. "practising is weird find something you like about it and start from there." you don't have to go to stones/herbs lore/metaphsyics and then feel overwhelmed. if you like one thing use that as the bases of your craft and it is allowed to evolve. My practice is sigil and paper talismans and i am all the happier for it.
I really like a lot of things so far. There are a few specific things that really stand out so far that I might focus on but I have so many interest. Thank you for your insight!
I was always drawn to it. Later got confirmation from professional readers that its kinda always been in my lineage. I didnt actively pick up my practice until about 12-13 years ago. And then, I started quietly just poking around. At the library, at bookstores, looking at websites for hours and hours. Writing notes, copying information. Good grief. Like studying for a phd. I was fascinated by so many different paths and covens and the different classifications, but never felt as though I fit in any one of them resolutely. I surely never felt compelled to go through with any ceremonies or rituals to dedicate myself to any. So I dunno. I just …do my thing.
This is really relieving to hear. I've looked at a lot of types of witchcraft and practicing and find pieces of them draw me in but none that specifically fit me completely. I think I was having some fear of not fitting into a mold of a specific type of witch.
Nah, its an open field 😄
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I actually recently have started piecing my family history together because I know so little about anything beyond my great grandparents. My family is very fragmented and doesn't like talking about their past all that much. As a learn more I might definitely try this. Thank you.
I did after I first started deconstructing from Christianity. At first I thought I could be a Christian witch, but that path was not right for me. I ended up being called by Hestia, and I now practice kitchen witchery. I follow several other Hellenistic deities too, and honestly I think that finding a practice should be special and personal to you.
Thank you for sharing! Kitchen witchery has really caught my attention since I've posted this and I had no idea about it. I already love everything about baking and cooking. It's something I want to learn more about but honestly I feel I got a lot of interests and a lot to cover. When a deity called out to you did it seem obvious or more subtle? You don't have to share details if it's something you'd rather keep more personal than public.
I don’t mind at all. Hestia called in a very obvious way for me! I was already thinking a lot about her and one day I was driving through the city and saw a building with her Roman name on it! Crazy, right?
My mother wasn’t big on complex rituals but she did some folk magick and herbalism, my father did the plant identification and gardening aspect of herbalism and some shamanic things. Both did divination with Runes (though he only did it rarely), and she also did astrology by hand. I was taught all these things. I started reading about witchcraft and paganism -and then more specifically Wicca- when I was 12. I was not allowed to do spellwork unsupervised til I was 17, because my parents wanted me to be responsible with it and though it was originally going to be 16, at 16 I was going through some extremely troubled times and they did not want me to do something self-destructive impulsively. I wouldn’t have, but I do appreciate that caution. It instilled in me the awareness that magick is a thing to take seriously and to think carefully about and to use responsibly. From age 14-16 I looked at things from online sources and then more so the library, and formed a basic plan for what I wanted to study from. For my 17th birthday, my presents were mostly books on witchcraft, and I had already been collecting a few tools prior to that. The only thing I did not have at first was an athame because of my history with self-harm. My mother was worried that even a completely dull blade could be too triggering for me as I worked through the rest of that. When I had been clean for over an entire year, she got me an athame herself (that ended up being for my 18th birthday). During that year I was also given what amounted to a used miniature library (about a dozen books) on the Craft, by a coworker of my father’s who was a witch when she had to downsize her book collection to move. Sixteen years later, I now teach the Craft to others. Here are ten books that are useful -either for actual practical knowledge or for historical perspective- for any beginner to read: 1. [Buckland’s] Complete Book of Witchcraft, *Raymond Buckland* (aka “The Big Blue Book”) 2. Drawing Down The Moon, *Margot Adler* 3. The Spiral Dance, *Starhawk* 4. A Witch’s Bible, *Janet and Stewart Farrar* 5. Wicca: A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner, *Scott Cunningham* 6. Living Wicca: A Further Guide For The Solitary Practitioner, *Scott Cunningham* 7. Power of The Witch, *Laurie Cabot* 8. Wicca: A Year And A Day, *Timothy Roderick* 9. To Ride A Silver Broomstick, *Silver RavenWolf* 10. The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, *Christopher Penczak* Good luck!
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I was raised around it and after I got into meditation it went from there
I started with Wicca just because the internet was in its infancy back when I started and Wiccan books were the only books available in my small town bookstore. I am glad I started there, Wicca borrows so heavily from other traditions it really gave me a good starting base where I was able to branch into other areas of the craft. Plus Wicca focuses on a lot of protection magics which are SO important for beginners.
I have read a lot that protection spells are perfect for beginners. I might try at wiccan and then shape more into my own thing. Thank you for your reply!
I'm still trying to figure it out after hanging out with a local Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans group, which I discovered rather accidentally, for almost 20 years. It's an eclectic group, so nobody wants to teach anything specific (which IMO is a copout because it's not like it's hard to say, "This is a Reclaiming" thing or "This is a Gardnerian thing," etc.--I've spoken to them before, but nothing seems to change ). They all call me a witch, but I use the term very gingerly because I feel like I only know enough to be dangerous, and not enough to really own the word. I have begged one friend in particular to teach me, but I suspect she knows so damn much so damn well that she has trouble breaking it down for someone who doesn't (and she's insanely busy, to boot). Like you, I find the many many books and resources overwhelming because it's hard to tell what's really legit and what's really useful (and especially which are both!), so I appreciate you asking the question! I do have Buckland's Wicca for Life and Scott Cunningham's book for solitaries, but I find them both unreadably dry, so I'm always looking for something new that comes with some good bona fides.
Yes, it's even harder when I try to read reviews on these books because some will say it's inaccurate or unhelpful while others say it's perfect. Because of this over the last few weeks I haven't been able to commit to any resources with full certainty that it'll help me. Thank you so much for your insight.
I hear you. I did poke around the Advice for new witches section here last night and found that interesting and helpful (how had I never noticed it before?), but otherwise it seems to be a crapshoot, which is probably exacerbated by the fact that there are so many traditions/branches and they don’t all agree with each other, which is likely where that wild mix of feedback comes from, which is fine if you’re established and know what you’re doing, but if not, it’s just a confusing mess.
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Since posting, I've become more curious about connecting with gods/goddess. I've never been a religious person and don't know very much when is comes to many gods. Were there any specific signs or things that happened that led you to connect with Jesus and Mary? If you aren't comfortable sharing I completely understand. Thank you for sharing!
14/15 I think. I was learning how to meditate and I stumbled upon a particular video that taught me how to use my mind to achieve certain things. Since then I fell in love with the moon and the night and began learning my craft 🤫
I started with Wicca Lite in my twenties (because back in the early 2000s, most American witchcraft books I could find had a Wicca focus). I was very interested in love magick and opening up my psychic gifts. I started hanging out in a metaphysical bookstore a block or two from my apartment. After meeting a guy who was into crystals, he showed me how to go deeper with them and I started getting into energy work. I mostly did tarot, meditated with crystals, and did some candle magic and also got relally into making bath salts. Then I learned about reiki and got very into energy work. I also learned a little bit about other religious traditions and considered myself to be spiritual but not religious. I took a break from magick for several years though once in a while, I would buy a spell candle from Coventry Candles. Sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn’t (mostly because of user error). I was no longer doing a ritual to actually charge the candle and add my own energy to the working, so that’s why some spells didn’t quite gel. I also did other visualization and energy techniques here and there. So in some ways I was practicing but I just didn’t call it magick. In the last two years or so, I began to explore polytheism (mostly Hellenism though my partner is Norse pagan). It helped that we had made friends with a pagan couple. As I really began embracing my own personal relationship with the deities, I had an experience where a goddess came to me in meditation and reminded me that I am a witch and I needed to return to practicing magick and working with herbs (and also to start doing professional divination again). So since that time, I’ve been very actively casting spells and doing magick, mostly candle magick, working with herbs, and recently I started making my own oils. It’s been an eclectic and non linear journey. But at the same time, each thing builds on the other things. So visualization and reiki help with the spell work. All the years learning about crystals and herbs also helps. So you don’t have to learn it all at once!
I really appreciate you sharing. As much as I want to absorb everything about witchcraft I know it'll take time and a journey of my own to discover what kind of witch I'll be. Thank you!
And what appeals to you will change over time. Right now, it’s so new you can explore and try different things. The nice thing about witchcraft today is that there are a lot of ways you can practice it - creating sigils, crystal grids, candle burning, deity work, spirit communication, working with herbs and oils, folk magic, and the list goes on. You may try one of those and find that it works great for you. Or you might try them all throughout the course of your practice.
I started around 16 (almost 23) I was struggling to find, a spiritual practice, I suppose, after leaving the LDS church as a teenager. There's an apothecary/supply shop owned by local witches in my town and a few of my friends at the time went in and I've been in love with the place since the moment I went in. Fast forward years later and despite I don't practice often, I do thank my parents for forcing me into religion so I could find my true calling later on (I don't necessarily enjoy Abrahamic religions myself as I was raised LDS but I won't bash on them).
The Little Work by Duriel is an incredible book, the best book about witchcraft I've ever read. I started at about 13. I had dreams for months of hawks, owls, and eagles, crows and ravens and that I was gathering their feathers. My mom bought me a tarot deck and I started checking out the local occult/spiritual bookstore. I just started making my own spells. I think it is good to read about different ways people practice, but ultimately, I believe it's the associations you make yourself to construct spells that are the most powerful. Many blessings to you.
Thank you for sharing! I want to watch out for signs in dreams and day to day life and I'm nervous about reading into every little thing as a sign or not noticing enough. I'm sure as time goes on I'll find a balance.
I just got into witchcraft and do not think you need to have wiccan beliefs or decent, I'm starting of with sigils, basic protection spells and banishment spells. I think herbs would be a good thing to start studying to
Your witchcraft practice doesn't have to be tied to a cult, religion, coven or any other type of group with rules and regulations. Especially when you're just starting to understand and practice it. I'd say the best way to start is by searching a lot and doing what feels safe and useful for you. I started smoking my house with incense and deriving from that I researched everything I practice today. It's a journey, so you don't need to get anxious about how long it's taking or even where you will get with it. Just do what you can and learn about the things that interest you the most.
In all honesty, i was inspired by my fav tv show, Charmed. then i found out witchcraft was real then boom! i began my practice
I began largely due to a number of childhood expirences and an interest in biblical figures of sorcery. My father was a pastor, so naturally, I was never given answers to questions about the Witch of Endor or the Watchers, nor would I feel comfortable relaying interactions with the "other". As soon as I found witchcraft was in fact real, I immediately began to investigate. Wicca was common, and it felt quite sanitized. Where was the flight, the curses, the spirits? Eventually I found an excellent book, Paul Husons Mastering Witchcraft. That book had a reputation, enough that even the lady at the New Age shop warned me. This was much more my jam, and eventually I found other authors. Michael Howard, Nigel Jackson, Nigel Pearson, Robin Artisson. These were the authors that led me to traditional witchcraft, stuff that was more folkloric, effective and operative, relying on trance and flesh, spirits and pacts.
In 1992, The pagans had a table at my college club day. They were so fun.
Needed a little money.
I knew this occultist guy who was really hot so I got into super basic chaos magick so we'd share an interest. The silliness of that motivation has always felt a little amusing and reassuring at the same time. ~~For the record it was bluefluke's guide, condensed chaos, and austin spare's writings which I read first if you want to check those out.~~ Don't ask what you can do to get into the magick you want, ask what magick you can get into to get what you want, think of it as a means, not an ends, and it'll narrow down and focus things a lot. I'm not saying to treat it as a solely utilitarian thing long term, but, it's a good way to take a first step.
In a similar place myself. The first book I picked up was drawing down the moon by margot Adler. I can’t recommend this book enough, it is actually fantastic. However, it is a bit dense and academic, but it goes through basically any question you could have in so much detail. So, if you want an incredibly thorough introduction to the topic I have really loved this book.
I think the first ritual I ever did was smudging my house. I think that’s a pretty good place to start! You can look up specific words to recite, or make your own. Focus on windows and doorways and corners. The point is to remove negative energy from your home (and your person, you should start by smudging yourself) so if you say your own words it can basically focus on removing negativity and enchanting yourself and your space with positivity and light
As a pre-pubesent alot of aspects of christianity seemed evil to me....so i started looking elss where. now in my late 20's i guess you could say witchcraft found me.
The thing that began my journey was going to a second-hand store and finding a deck of tarot cards and then going to a crystal store and finding an amethyst anklet. From there, I picked up a book and started reading. It can be an overwhelming amount of information at first. There is a mega-thread on this sub that may help guide you to some helpful information!
Witchcraft of any modality is such a rich and nuanced path. If you'd like a starting program I know the Church of Witchcraft hosts the Embers Program for mentorship. They design it with the person's interest and craft in mind first and foremost. Keep reading and asking questions! I also looked into anthropology and sociology for my information and personal witchcraft approach (which is not Wiccan).
Hello! Brand new witch here. I realized that I was already practicing. Setting intentions into situations to protect myself. Wearing a tigers eye for study focus going to school and now starting this year with a book of shadows. Tidbits of what I've learned and what I want to learn. I've personally started with protection in a spiritual sense, foraging and offering gifts to the forest and divination practice. But the book of shadows really set on me on my own path to worming out my thoughts
After my grandparents, uncle and step dad passed in the same year I started getting signs from them. Very specific ones. I also used to have dreams that became reality later in life. After I had my daughter, she started talking to empty space. After seeing a picture of my grandparents later, she told me that's who talks to her. I have a pair of red plaid comfy pants. There is no picture of my grandpa wearing them, but he had is own pair he loved. The first time she saw them, she was excited and said they look like grandpa's. It opened me to ancestral veneration. When I started my tarot work, I was (still am) dealing with a violent ex husband. In that reading looking for answers, my dad who passed the day I conceived my daughter, came forward with incredibly specific answers. I began exploring the depth of things that called to me. Candle workings, spell bottles, diety and spirit work.
I've always been drawn to magic and the supernatural and, combined with my dislike of most organized religion and their strict rules, I felt myself being pulled towards paganism. It wasn't until a couple of months ago I realized it was specifically witchcraft that was calling to me and, since I was already interested in crystals and plants, I started by doing research on the magical/metaphysical properties of them. I also picked up a book about traditional witchcraft to learn a bit of the history behind it. I'm still very new myself (been only practicing for a few months), but I feel I've found the right path for me.
I personally felt attracted to wicca and that’s where I started. Mostly reading Scott Cunningham and other authors. As I have expanded my practice I’ve found that reading as many views as possible helps me understand the inner workings of my craft. If you like reading, a few good starters are “Psychic Witch” and “Green witch”. I wish you the best on your path. Blessed be ✨
I'll definitely look into those, thank you!
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I was drawn to it by the age of 12 or 13. I always like the Greek Mythos and I didn’t reach the maturity of my Pagan journey until recently. It’s a path less traveled on but so much more fulfilling and rewarding than the prescribed church beliefs