Some basic things to understand about Witchcraft
I’ve started this blog to talk about - what else - witchcraft. I’ve been practicing for four years now, and have since been learning and navigating my craft. I wouldn’t say I’m a baby witch, but I am certainly less experienced when in comparison to other witches who’ve been practicing much longer than I have.
Part of the reason I started this blog is because I wanted to educate others whilst also educating myself. I like to learn through conversation and putting ideas and thoughts out there. In this post I’m going to be talking about just a few basics of witchcraft, and what I feel is important to know if you are just getting started and still figuring your craft out.
And just know that these are simply just my thoughts and opinions, and that I will not be claiming anything here to be fact. Without further ado, here I go.
1. No two witches are exactly alike
Every witch is different. While you may find some witches who are very similar in their practices and/or beliefs, you need to understand that every witch is unique. There are many, many different ways to practice the craft, and people from all walks of life and religions are witches. It’s important to remember that everyone’s journey through the craft is different, and that you should never criticize another witch for their beliefs or the way they practice their craft. (I will probably go over the different kinds of witches in another post).
2. There is no ‘right’ way into becoming a witch
This sort of ties into the my first point on this list. Like I said, every witch is different, meaning that they all have different ways they have navigated their witchcraft path, and how they became witches all vary. This is something I have seen a lot of debate on. I’ve seen multiple people trying to say that you have to follow a specific series of steps in order to be recognized as a witch. This is something I honestly had a really hard time with when I first got started back when I was sixteen. We need to let people understand that there is no one single way someone can become a witch. Speaking of which…
3. Anybody can be a witch
Alright, this is something that I really think needs to be said. Something I’ve seen fairly often in the witchcraft community is gatekeeping. ‘Gatekeeping’, as it is used today online, is when you have either one person or a group of people taking it upon themselves to decide who or who doesn’t deserve to be a part of a community. This is something I have unfortunately seen happening among some parts of the witchcraft community, whether it be on tumblr, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
These are the people who seem to believe that you need to have a specific set of traits or interests in order to be a witch. Such things include; a deep interest in the moon and stars, being very emotional, loving nature, being into astrology, having an affinity for crystals, etc. You want to know what makes you a witch? Practicing witchcraft. That’s it. That’s all you have to do to be a witch. Given this, literally anybody can be a witch.
4. Study hard and be patient
I cannot stress this enough! In order to understand anything, you need to study up on it. And with witchcraft, there is a LOT to study about. There are different kinds of witches, magickal practices, pantheons, beliefs, herbs and crystals you can use, spells, and so, so much more. And remember to take your time with studying. There is no rush, and you can’t expect to learn everything there is to know overnight. I’ve been practicing for four years, and I’m still learning more about the craft. There are witches out there who have been practicing for decades, and even they are still learning new things.
Learning the craft takes a lot of time and patience, so don’t get frustrated when you aren’t picking up on things right away.
This is another thing I cannot stress enough. It can be really exciting when you first get stared on your path, but it’s important to approach with a sense of caution. Don’t just run into things. Especially if you are working with ghosts, spirits, deities, or hexes. There are so many things that can go wrong. Which is why I wouldn’t go trying to work with those particular practices until I’ve done plenty of studying and reading so that I know I’m doing things right. I feel like almost every negative story I’ve heard or seen in the media connected to witchcraft is more often than not the result of someone running head first into something they didn’t quite yet understand. Please, please, PLEASE be careful!
6. Have an altar (or a designated space to practice)
Okay, this is probably more of a personal idea here, but I still think it’s pretty important. A witches altar is where they do most of their spellwork and often keep their tools. And for religious/pagan witches, it’s where they worship their respective deities. Overall it is a space for you to practice your craft, hone your skills, and meditate. I think it’s important that every witch has an altar, a space for them to meditate and practice their craft. And your altar doesn’t have to be in one stationary place. Some witches have small, portable altars. And other’s who have their own altars at home have different ways to set theirs up. I personally don’t think there is any one right way to set up an altar. (And I may very well find myself making a post on altars in the future).
And there you have it. The basic things that every baby witch should know before starting witchcraft, or when they are just barely figuring out their path. If anyone else has any other ideas, please feel free to reblog and add on.
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