One of the most common things that keeps people from beginning their witchcraft practice is the fear of “messing up,” or doing something wrong, or not knowing enough.
I’m here to tell you today that I promise you will not mess anything up. There is nothing to mess up. Witchcraft is a practice and it’s a learning process. It’s spiritual science – trial and error, sometimes things not going accord to plan, and then fixing those things so we can get it right. This is why keeping a Book of Shadows/Grimoire is so important. You need to take notes on what you did, so that if there is a glitch in your process somewhere you can find it later and make a change to get the results you do want.
However – no you aren’t going to open a portal and summon a demon (they usually require a focused ritual ;P) no you aren’t going to get smited by your Deity if you accidentally face the wrong direction when calling quarters. Promise. Swear.
If you’re still spooked by getting started with your witchcraft practice, here are some tips for you newbies to hopefully stop the brain weasels from getting to you.
- RESEARCH! this is one of your most important tools when approaching witchcraft. Never stop studying! There is always something new to learn or a new perspective to consider. As you research, make sure to take notes. I don’t care if it’s in a physical notebook, a 3 Ring Binder, an online folder/drive system – take. notes.
- Go at your own pace. Do what feels right for you; trust your intuition and instincts. There is no race to win, you don’t have to be the same as any witchy friends. Pick a topic to start researching and start there.
- Use Correspondences! They are your friend. Find trusted resources – I prefer Scott Cunningham for a vast majority of correspondences. (Vet things like mad – AI is running rampant in the Pagan community. Anything by Mari Silva is AI and not to be trusted, for example.) Use the knowledge that has been passed down for generations. Don’t reinvent the wheel and make things harder.
- Check for Safety: for example, certain herbs should be handled with caution because they’re poisonous and/or may cause skin irritation, while others may interact negatively with certain medications. Certain minerals should not be used in gem elixirs due to toxicity.
- Start a Meditation Practice. Meditation and mindfulness will help with visualization further down the road and learning to sit with yourself is helpful in spellwork and ritual.
- Remember that tools are just that — tools. You don’t need a fancy altar, an athame, a wand, tons of herbs and crystals, or even candles to practice witchcraft. These are items that help you focus and can help your brain switch over to “witch mode,” but don’t sweat it if you don’t have everything on hand. It’s also fine to use substitutes, for example, white candles may be used in place of other colors, rosemary is a good substitute for most herbs and olive oil can be used to anoint items if you do not have any essential oils.
- Be clear when stating, focusing on and/or directing your intent/energy when doing spellwork. Make sure you know what you want, what you’re asking for. If you’re not clear then the energy form your spell won’t know where to go or what to do.
Substitutions for common materials (for spells, not for ingestion):
- rose petals in place of any flower petal
- rosemary in place of any herb
- tobacco in place of any poisonous herb
- frankincense in place of any resin