hi! so im looking to start Wiccan practices because it's something that I genuinely believe in but I have no idea where to start 😅 could you tell me what I should do from here?
Resources for Wiccan Babs
If you’re a new baby Wiccan, such as my own bab Itty-Bitty, you’ll need help figuring this all out.
I’m going to assume, based on your ask, that you have already researched and understood what the ideas, concepts and principals general Wicca is all about (I say general because there are many different branches of Wicca), and wish to begin living as an actively practicing Wiccan.
Starting your Wiccan Path
First, you’ll need to find out what interests you.
For me, Jar Magick and Herbs/Crystals/Stones are the shit. If I see a Jar full of Magickal Herbs I almost lose my cool. I might squee a little bit. I am only so strong.
I am a big fan of Protection Magick, and, I’ll be honest, it’s about 80% of what my Spell Book contains. Oop. Both me and Itty Bitty love Charms. My other bab, Rowan, is looking into Potions and Brews. He’s more of a “I must do this on the third Waxing Moon of the year” sort of dude.
Here are some questions to ask yourself while pondering what your interests are:
What sort of Magick attracts my interest?
What sort of Magick is a no-no for me?
Do I even want to practice Magick?
Am I drawn to certain Elements?
Am I repelled by certain Elements?
Do I want to practice complex Magick or Simple Magick?
For some people, such as me, these questions are not that hard to answer. For others, such as Itty Bitty, it’s a bit more unclear. I recommend the Traditional Year and a Day practice for those who are unsure. This gives you plenty of time to figure things out.
Your Relationship with the Divine and Wiccan Traditions
There are so many Wiccans, and every single one of them practice the Wiccan religion differently. Some Wiccans believe in the Goddess and the God, while some believe in The One and The All. Many seek a specific deity or get called upon by them.
I can not stress this enough: there is no way to “correctly” practice Wicca. If someone tells you that you MUST expose your ass to the moonlight at 1:36 AM on a friday night while singing the Extended Wiccan Rede in B Major to be a “True Wiccan of the Goddess and God”, they either joking or they have been grossly misinformed.
You may ask others for information; doing so is encouraged. You can also follow traditions to a T, but keep in mind that if you feel as if something is wrong, or if you are uncomfortable, you do not have to do it. Don’t be afraid to mix and match traditions, beliefs, and ideas together to find what you feel is the correct fit. Also remember to never, after finding your own personal ideals, ever press it onto another as the only correct way to go about things.
Some Wiccans are more Pagan in nature and wish to seek and serve God/desses and not dabble too much into Magick. It really depends on you, and how you feel.
When searching for the divine, remember that you should be comfortable with your God/desses and you should not feel as if you are forcing yourself to do/believe something you do not wish to.
Start your Book Of Shadows
I’ll be honest, this is the first thing I began working on. This is the best thing to begin working on.
I recommend making your own. From scratch. This doesn’t make it better than anyone else’s, but it does make it personal, and just what you want. My Book was made from leather and it was a labor of love. Others like the convince of a Binder, and you can deck that out in many different ways. There are many different websites you can buy a pre-made blank BOS from, even on Amazon. I suggest 13Moons.
Some things to put in your Book.
Your Book can be however you want it to be. Since I personally don’t focus too much on brewing or complex spells, I don’t even have a section for those in my Book of Shadows; that’s what my Spell Book is for.
Many people don’t allow anyone to see their Book, or just show a select few. It really depends on what you wish your Book to be. If you want it to be more of a journal of your journey, you might want it to be a bit more private. If you want to write down spells and ideas and information about God/desses, Herbs, Crystals/Stones, Charms, ect, you may not feel as inclined to shield it from others, or, maybe, that’ll make it even more private. It’s yours; do what you wish.
Gather Your Craft Materials
After you have figured out what you want to begin focusing on and what interests you, you may want to begin gathering Magickal Tools and Materials such as Herbs (X - x - x - x - X - X) small and big jars (x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x) and Candles (x) for Spells and Rituals. Books are always good, too (x - x - x - x) Watch out for some authors such as Silver Ravenwolf (problematic - x) Buckland (appropriative) and Cunningham (outdated) (x).
Remember to always look for Local Wiccan and Pagan Shops or Saturday Markets, as locally made and grown materials are always more personal.
Follow Your Gut and Do What Feels Right
I know I sound like a broken record by now, but good golly gosh, this is important. Don’t just follow blindly; research! Don’t just Cut and Paste; Make it your own!
ye harm none, do what ye will.
