Hellooo~ I’m sorry to bother you if I am.. but I’m 15, and I live in a western state where western magic is a topic that’s often talked about and brought up. It’s fairly dark, but it had me thinking, “could I become a witch?” because I didn’t realize how many people around me are witches until I moved here. I’d like to get into it, but (and this sounded weird in my head) can I just become a witch? Is that a thing? If so, where should I start? I was told stuff like tarot cards aren’t a good start

First I have to say you shouldn’t become a witch just because everyone around your area is a witch, but if you feel deep in your heart you want to be a witch then by all means you should be a witch! Btw your no bother at all love, I’m just so sorry it took me so long to answer your ask.

💕Tips for Beginner Witches

There’s no exact order you need to follow. I’d advise you to be respectful to magick, to the elements, to the deities, and to mother earth. Start being more aware of all she gives us, if you aren’t already.

💕4 Things I Believe Beginner Witches Should Ask Themselves

Note that the answers to these things will change, but that a firm grasp of the answers at any point in your practice may be helpful to you. I recommend actually writing your answers down, and every now and again check back and see if your stance has shifted.

💖Is magick real? If yes, then what do you mean when you say, “Magick is real”. (Do you mean that you can effect reality with your will, intent, and energy? Do you mean like, Harry Potter real? What will disappoint you to realize might not be probable? What will inspire you to realize you can accomplish?)

💖Where are your lines? (What do you firmly believe is true/false, right/wrong? Violence, doing harm, controlling others, etc. Would you punch someone if they threatened a friend? Would you curse someone if they threatened a friend? What would you do, if your coven head told you it was right but you felt it was wrong?)

💖What are you looking for in a magickal path? (Pro Tip – no one has all the answers and there is no one right way.)

💖What are you prepared to do in order to accomplish your goals? (How many spoons do you have to give this practice? Can you devote one night a week, are you going to randomly pick stuff up on Tumblr, are you going to leave society to pursue your studies under a waterfall, etc.)

I recommend that no one make any oaths or vows in their first year of practice. Get to know yourself, how you feel about magick, and what you actually want to do before you do any big commitments. (Historic anecdote – this is what the original year and a day was for.) More strident, but still personal, recommendation: if someone tries to get you to oath to them within your first week of being a witch, run.

💕Things People Should Tell Beginner Witches, But Often Don’t

💖Never do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.

💖Never rush ahead of yourself. Take your time with learning about the craft, you will thank yourself in the future.

💖Use what you have! You don’t need supplies to be a witch or have a successful spell. Its all mental and about your flow of energy. You only need yourself, your intent, and a belief in magick. Your craft is your own, do not feel pressured to be more like witches you admire. Do whatever feels right to you. Unless you follow a specific tradition, there are no rules in witchcraft. There is a lot more freedom in witchcraft than you may realize.

💖Don’t ever shame other witches. Best example, some witches curse and some don’t. 

💖Be respectful. Always remember to thank mother earth for everything she supplies us with.

💖Always say goodbye to any entities you call into your circle.

💖Never be scared of spirits. They are all around us, all the time, they only make themselves known sometimes. Fear can feed them and help them grow in strength.

💖Don’t worry about a title, you don’t need to scramble to find out what kind of witch you are. You will just know based on what you do most in your practice, it will take some time.

💖Don’t be afraid to change your mind.

💖Don’t throw good energy after bad by continuing to do something that isn’t right for you.

💖Don’t be afraid to continue your education, even if that means learning something that was right for you before that is no longer right for you.

💖There is no one right way to do this.

💖There are as many bad people in Paganism and witchcraft as there are anywhere else. Don’t think that these people are all spiritually enlightened beings who mean you well and who will give good advice.

💖Yahoo Answers is not your friend. You have the internet – which has access to both all of human information and all of human misinformation. Look for credible sources. Anything that seems too easy or too good to be true probably is. Work on critical thinking.

💕You Should Probably Learn the Difference Between Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft

💖Paganism

Pagan is an umbrella term for a member of a religious, spiritual, or cultural community, other than those of the main world religions.

Some Pagans practice witchcraft, others do not.

💖Wicca

Wicca is a religion. Most people consider Wicca as falling under the Paganism umbrella, although not all Pagans are Wiccan. Not all Wiccans are witches and not all witches are Wiccan.

Wiccan is generally defined as:

Dualistic – There is a God and a Goddess.

Pacifistic – Wicca has a rede that requires Wiccan do no harm to themselves or others, though not all Wiccans (such as those who follow Doreen Valiente’s suggested guidelines) are Pacifistic, so there are definitely exceptions to this.

Earth-based – Having a respect for and acknowledgment of the powers of the Earth.

💖Witchcraft

The spiritual or secular art, craft, and/or practice of the witch, defined many ways by many different people.

Yes, male identifying and/or presenting persons can be witches.

💕Pagan and Witch Fallacies

There are certain ideas that most beginners in the witchcraft community will encounter over and over again. I’m going to run down some things with the reminder, that I can only speak for my personal tradition.

💖“You should remove all negative influences from your life! You should purge all negative feelings! Be positive all the time!” Not everything that is negative is bad. Not everything negative can be avoided. We can’t all just quit our jobs and live in a witch shack in the mountains. We have to endure negative things, both because it is healthier to experience the full range of human emotion rather than to ignore a large chunk of it, and because it isn’t possible. What we should do is stop victim blaming witches who are going through hard times and stop telling witches they can’t be angry when they encounter something that should be angering.

💖“But, tradition!” Just because an affluent white guy in the 1400-1600s said something, doesn’t mean you should do it. We don’t follow their medicinal advice anymore; we don’t have to follow their magickal advice either. Seriously, I don’t care if tradition says a trans woman shouldn’t be in a sky clad ritual that’s bullshit. We don’t put leeches on our bodies anymore let’s leave the past nonsense where it belongs.

💖“We have to make sure everyone feels included and welcome!” Not if they abuse the welcome of others, we do not. The problem with making some people feel included and welcome is that you make their victims feel excluded and unwelcome because you’ve made them unsafe.

💖“We have to support each other and love each other and be a positive force in people’s lives.” Okay, yes, in small doses, this is a great aim. It doesn’t work for everyone (some witches are spite and malice fueled and they are still witches), but okay, it’s a nice idea. Until it becomes ableist or demands free emotional labor from people, which it often does.

💖“We have to educate them!” Okay, it’s great that there is this effort in the community to educate others. But if you don’t have the spoons or if it seems like they’re using the demand for their own education as a way to still have access to a community they are abusing, then no, you have no obligation to put their education over your well being. None. They have access to Google (even if they have to go to a library to use it.)

💖“You have to earn your right to be a witch.” No, no you don’t. Seriously, though, from whom? Dusty white men in graves? A Llewellyn author who couldn’t fact check themselves out of a paper bag?

💖“You have to be ________ rank, degree, etc. to have an opinion on this topic.” Yeah, okay, I’ll be sure to wave my certificate in your face before having an opinion on my own tradition. No. Your opinion may be an uneducated one and you may be corrected for it, but that doesn’t mean that you didn’t have the right to it before you completed your O levels at Hogwarts.

💖As a corollary to above, “This is just my opinion and you can’t be mad at me for it!” People absolutely have a right to their opinions. And everyone else the right to decide those opinions make them a rude person.

💖“I’m super special and powerful because xyz, which means I get to tell you what to do.” People only get to tell you what to do if you let them. Sometimes, that’s an exchange we willingly make, but other times, people will feel they have the right to tell you what to do because they are a hereditary witch or because they’ve been practicing longer. Just remember their position doesn’t trump your humanity and you don’t have to kiss the feet of someone who kicks you.

💖“The person really wants _____ from you, and you should help them on their path. Helping them on their path helps you on yours!” Just because someone wants something from you, doesn’t mean they get it. Being a witch doesn’t take away your right to say no.  

Please remember that you don’t have to earn your right to be here. This one is tricky on some level to be the respected person in your community, you need to put in your time.

You don’t have to earn admission to witchcraft, but you do have to earn specific positions and other people’s trust. If you teach people not to trust you through your actions, they won’t trust you.

💕Research

This list is designed for the beginner witch, who keeps hearing the advice “Research!” but wants some better specifics on what exactly that means.

Now, you don’t have to be a complete expert on all of these or even most of these! You don’t even have to incorporate all of them into your practice. They’re just some stuff it’s good to have a basic working knowledge of in the craft.

💖Planetary Correspondences- Even if cosmic witchcraft isn’t your thing, a lot (and I mean A LOT) of correspondences in any other category are going to eventually lead back to the planets. Having a basic understanding of what each planet governs is extremely helpful when learning the correspondences of basically anything else.

💖Herb Correspondences- Herbs and spices are incredibly useful! They’re probably one of the most versatile of the “big categories” since they can be used in herbalism and kitchen witchery, as well as a great add-on to any other variation of witchcraft. It’s good to have a working knowledge of what herbs you can use in a pinch, especially the stuff you already have in your kitchen. When an emergency calls, it’s good to know how that chili powder can help you.

💖Crystal Correspondences- This is another great add on! Crystals can often be used to enhance and focus the energy of a spell, as well as cleanse any ritual tools you have. Besides, who doesn’t like pretty rocks? Crystals can be particularly great for the witch who has a tactile mind, and likes to have things they can feel and roll around in their hand.

💖Days of the Week- Knowing the right time to cast a spell can be very important! Casting a love spell on a Friday gives it an added boost, or at the very least creates a path of least resistance. Besides, there’s only seven of them, so it’s easy to learn quickly. You get a lot of bang for your buck!

💖Phases of the Moon- I have a really big collective crush on the moon, it seems. And for good reason! The moon is a great source of power and mystery even in a completely mundane setting! Understanding the phases of the moon and how it can affect your craft is extremely important. (Hint: you can cast spells even when it isn’t the Full Moon.)

💖Basic Mythology and Lore- This is an absolute must if you plan on going into any type of spirit work. Even if that isn’t your thing, it’s good to know a little bit. Firstly, because you may draw unwanted attention from spirits, and it’s good to know how to deal with them if it happens. Secondly, because if you draw from a path with any history behind it, it’s good to know how the rules go down on their turf.

💖Basic Divination- Not everyone has the money or the time to pick up and learn how to read a 78-card Tarot deck, but things like scrying and pendulums are pretty easy to figure out quickly. What’s more, they can be done on little to no budget. Divination’s a useful tool to have on your utility belt, and who wants to pay someone to use a pendulum for them when you can learn it yourself?

💖Religious Roots- You don’t have to be a religious witch at all, but witchcraft still has its roots as a religious practice! Lot’s of practices have a cultural context as well, which can be important to know in order to fully understand the action you’re performing. A lot of correspondences, traditions, and rites come from cultural or religious roots. It’s good to know not only what people did, but why they did it! Does x tool have some symbolic meaning or was it just what was available at the time? What was simply a product of the culture around them?

💖The History of Witchcraft- It’s good to know the history of witchcraft because you are now becoming a part of it.

💖Famous Witches- It’s up to you if you want to research this topic. It is by no means a requirement to know this. If your interested to know famous witches then by all means research it up!

💖Types of Witches- It’s great to know all the different types of witches not only to figure out what type of witch you are, but just to be educated about all the different types of witches.

💖Types of Magick- For example, white magick, chaos magick, etc. It’s good to research and learn about the different types of magick because then you’ll have a better idea of what type of magick you’ll be practicing the most.

💖Types of Spells- Such as curses, hexes, etc. It’s good to know the different types of spells because soon you’ll probably be practicing one of them.

💖Talismans vs Sigils- Its good to learn what each one of them are and how to use them because you’ll most likely be using them in your craft.

💖Witch Alphabets- It is not required to know this, but it’s something good to learn if that’s your thing. Some witches even use certain witch alphabets such as the Theban alphabet in their Grimoire/BOS.

💖Witchy Symbols- I have a tattoo of a witchy symbol on the back of my neck. It’s the triple moon symbol and it reminds me that my craft is valid and beautiful. It reminds me that I’m part of the witchcraft community. It symbolizes my faith and my love for my faith. I think it’s very important to learn all the witchy symbols because it doesn’t hurt to know them.

💖Deities- If your the type of witch who worships deities then by all means go for it! Research more and more about the deities until you have it down pat and you have it memorized.

💖Different Paths- Secular witchcraft and religious witchcraft. Witchcraft alone, is a practice. However, some paths are indeed religious, such as Wicca. Make sure you know the difference before you begin actively practicing and before you decide on your path, if you do choose to do so.

💖Color correspondences- This is something great to know for future spellwork.

💖Sabbats- Also known as esbats and the witches sabbaths. This is kind of a must-know because if your going to be a witch you must know your own witchy holidays such as Samhain, Yule, Beltane, etc.

💖The Basic Tools of Witchcraft- It’s good to know the basic tools of witchcraft for future reference in your spellwork or so you know what to find/buy for your craft. It is by no means necessary to buy these tools unless you absolutely want to. You do not need any fancy witchcraft tools for your craft. You only need yourself, your intent, and your belief in magick. I prefer to use tools myself though.

💖Altars- It’s good to know how to set up your own altar and what exactly is an altar.

💖Traditional Witchcraft Practises- Such as circle casting and how to cast a basic circle protection.

💖Safety- It’s very important to know what is safe to use/burn/touch/ingest. There are lots of poisonous and potentially fatal plants and ingredients out there. Remember to be safe when working with these dangerous ingredients.

💖Easy Magick/Witchcraft- It’s good to start off small with the easy spells rather than to start off big. So look up easy spells/magick/witchcraft to start with.

💖Elements- Elements are a huge part of magick it would be very good for you to know the importance and use of the elements in magick.

💖Dream Interpretation- Something interesting to know is dream interpretation. Study what your dreams mean, why they’re important, and how you can benefit from listening in to the deeper messages they hold. You can even keep a dream journal! Start recording everything you can remember as soon as you wake up.

💖Charging- Something that works in everyday witchcraft is charging! Learn how to charge your crystals, jewelry, objects, and sigils.

💖Enchanting Objects- Something that works in everyday witchcraft is enchanting! Learn how to enchant objects you use everyday.

💖Glamours- Something that works in everyday witchcraft is using glamours in makeup, cosmetics, and everyday wear. Learn more about how to use glamours.

💖Witchblr- Don’t underestimate witchblr there’s so much useful information on Tumblr. So research witchblr on Tumblr and read, read, read!

💖Grounding- I think everyone should ground themselves at least once a day, it makes you feel so balanced. So learn how to ground yourself and practice grounding yourself everyday.

💕Read

Before you even think about practicing magick, you need to study. It sounds tedious, I know, but witchcraft is not a trivial undertaking. 

💕Start A Grimoire/BOS

You’ll need a safe place to keep all of the information you’ve gathered safe, and a Grimoire/BOS, is essentially a journal for that exact purpose. It doesn’t have to be fancy (though you’re welcome to make it as ostentatious as you like.) It can be a bullet journal if that’s easy for you. Within your Grimoire/BOS you should keep all gathered information, spells, failures, successes, records of work you’ve done, anything that pertains to your craft, etc.

💕Don’t Pressure Yourself To Pick A Path

You might see a lot of witches who class themselves as one thing or another. For example, storm witches, kitchen witches, elemental witches, spirit witches, green witches, cosmic witches, etc. That is cool and their prerogative, but you will also see witches known as eclectic. Eclectic witches, are simply witches who choose to practice many different types of magick and forge their own path, instead of following only one, or following a pre-established path. Basically, there is no need at all, whatsoever, to label yourself. With many of us, our paths found us in time. 

💕Carry A Little Journal With You

You can’t always carry your Grimoire with you, so I personally like to carry a tiny little journal with me, for those moments when inspiration takes me, or if something captures my imagination or attention. You can add it to your Grimoire/BOS later.

💕Never Stop Learning

Oh, and one more thing, don’t ever stop learning, reading, and recording. Witchcraft is a path of continuous learning.

💕Grounding

Grounding is the act of centering your energy and focusing it within yourself. You can ground yourself by being out in nature and using visualizing techniques that tie your energies firmly into the ground (very traditional method), or by finding a quiet place that you are content in and meditating.

💕Keep Journals

Keep journals. Yes, plural. One for dreams, one for your general day to day feelings, and one for your craft. You cannot record too much! Take notes on everything!

💕Start Calling Yourself A Witch

The final steps are to start calling yourself a witch and start practicing witchcraft.

My asks are always open, if you have any questions just ask and I will answer. You can also send me a message. Hope I helped! Good luck babe!

Please add to this so any baby witches can see what you have to say and be informed!