How to Get Started on Your Witchcraft Journey
Maybe you're in love with the movie The Craft and want to know more about what witchcraft is really like. You are drawn to books on Wicca and Witchcraft at the bookstore, or you feel magnetically pulled into metaphysical shops with crystals, candles and incense and decided it's finally time to answer to the call within you. Perhaps you're seeing more and more articles about the rise in witchcraft and Paganism and wonder what that's all about and if it is a good fit for you.
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Maybe you just know me personally and are just looking to see what I've been up to lately, only to find out that I'm blogging and vlogging about witchcraft and now you're wondering if my madness is a recent development or if I've just been insane for my entire life. If that's the case - hey there, estranged family members and acquaintances from high school/college!
Let's assume you're here for one of the top three - or a similar reason. Basically, you want to know how to further explore the world of witchcraft. Whether you've already been involved in it and just need some new inspiration, or you just have no idea where to start, here are my top tips when you're starting your journey:
Get ready to READ.
First things first, absorb as much information as you can. There is no one right way to witchcraft, so don't take one book or one person's blog (this one included) as the universal way things are done. Even over a decade later, I'm still constantly learning and discovering new techniques and practices that expand and better my path and practice. Look for books on different topics that interest you. You might even find that it isn't witchcraft that you're being spiritually called to, but something else entirely. Be open to where the journey takes you!
Here are a few of my favorite introductory books:
Weave the Liminal: Living Modern Traditional Witchcraft
Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation
Do some internal reflection.
Why do you feel drawn to witchcraft? Do you just like the spooky vibe? Are you hoping that it's a quick fix to your problems? Do you feel drawn to it for a deeper reason or a specific calling? What aspects of it do you feel most drawn to? Consider what you are truly interested in. This can help you hone in on what type of witchcraft (or even non-witchcraft spiritual path) may be best for you. You might find that you're more drawn to divination, or to crystals, or to plants/herbalism, or to a particular spiritual path. Take some time to reflect. Maybe make some lists, if that's your thing.
Practice patience
You won't light a candle and immediately get offered your dream job and find your soulmate. Be realistic in your expectations, be willing to work on it and be patient with the practice and with yourself.
You don't need all the tools.
A lot of witchcraft books will start with how a traditional Wiccan altar is set up, or the common tools of the trade, but you may not want to have an altar or tools at all! Witchcraft doesn't have to be expensive. It can even be free! You don't have to go out and buy all the candles, athames, cups and cauldrons before you can get started. I actually encourage that you don't. If you need candles, you can usually find plain white ones (generally the universal spell candle color!) from a dollar store. If you need herbs, try the grocery store, or see what you have access to in either your garden, or a family member or a friends'. Don't invest right away, because your path may quickly change. Otherwise, that expensive cast-iron cauldron you ran out and bought could become a cute succulent planter.
Witchcraft doesn't require an aesthetic.
You don't have to "look the part" or decorate your house in any particular way. If you choose to have an altar, it can fit any look or style that you want it to. You can also dress however you want to. It's YOUR practice. Make it look however you want! I do see a lot of witches being initially drawn to the path it because of how it looks for many, but even when you deep-dive into some #witchesofinstagram you'll see that no two feeds (and with it, no two witches paths/practices) are identical.
I'm not going to recommend any specific books for starting off. The books that I read are the ones I was drawn to for my particular path, and while I will make a book list in the future, I recommend researching on your own to begin with. Below are a few topics that you can search for and discover what books and other resources you are drawn to!
Search Topics:
The History of Paganism/What is Paganism?
The History of Witchcraft/What is Witchcraft?
Paganism vs. Wicca vs. Witchcraft
Cultural Appropriation in Witchcraft
Different Paths in Witchcraft
Different Spiritual Paths
Astrology
Magickal Herbalism
Crystal Magick
If you're more of a visual or audio learner than a reader, there are plenty of resources for that available as well! Thank the internet! Search for witchcraft podcasts and/or witchcraft videos on YouTube (I have a witchcraft YouTube channel of my own, so if you want to see more from me, that's the place to go!)
