10 Common Misconceptions of Baby Witches
1. There is no “correct” sigil. If you find two completely different sigils that are supposed to mean the same exact thing, neither one is stronger or more effective or more valid than the other until an intent is put behind them.
2. Divination readings are not set in stone. You have as many futures as there are stars in the night sky. Imagine a giant wave is crashing over you, or a strong wind is pushing against you. You can either fight it or let it take you on its course, but you always have a choice. Use divination as a tool to see the wave coming and to even fight the wave, but do not use divination as an excuse to simply give up in an unfavorable situation.
3. Yes, herbs are real medicine. However, this does not mean you should simply abandon your medication for the sake of a seeming more “witchy” or “natural”. For instance, herbs can ease my depression, but they will never cure it. Herbs can soften some symptoms of my depression, but they will never be able to ease my pain as effectively as certain medication can. During the apocalypse or whatever, sure, take all the herbal alternatives you need. But for now, we live in a modern world and not all modern tools should be shunned. (You’re on tumblr right now, aren’t you?) Do not be ashamed if you need more mental care than just a handful of leaves to live comfortably. You are not any less valid as a witch.
4. You are magick, your tools are… well, tools. Don’t let anyone bully you for substituting your tools with something more creative if you can’t afford expensive or excessive witchcraft supplies. Quartz can act as a substitute for any other crystal in spell work. Rosemary can substitute any herb. Simple table salt can substitute sea salt. White candles can replace any color candles. Grimoires don’t need to be ancient-looking or leather-bound, plenty of beautiful Grimoires are made from three-ring binders. Sacrifices don’t need to be expensive either, you can make some simple cookies, draw a picture, or even write a poem. Just be creative.
5. Consent is a big deal and should not be overlooked. You can easily turn a spell or blessing into a hex or a curse if you choose to cast it over someone without their consent. For instance, in my opinion, love spells walk the very fine line between white spellwork and black spellwork. If you wish to walk on the lighter path, you may wish to cast a spell on YOURSELF for attraction, confidence, or beauty. Glamours would work perfectly for this situation. But on the other hand, without consent, you might meet with some resistance. If you do choose to cast a spell over someone else without their consent, they may try to battle it, which can be stressful situation having a spell come back at you. You may find that the outcome is not what you intended (like the old saying “be careful what you wish for”) and you might have a difficult time reversing it. You may even jeopardize the person’s lifestyle.
6. On that note, cursing is a topic of hot debate here on tumblr. It is up to each individual witch if they want to curse or not, and you should not let anyone else dictate what you can and cannot do in your practice. Just know that nothing in this world is without sacrifice. Be mindful of your craft, protect yourself, and be prepared to pay the piper when the time comes.
7. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in a sea of knowledge that’s offered on the internet, but be sure do do research before you put any practice into motion. Pay attention to closed religions. Does your spell or tool appropriate a culture that isn’t yours? It’s one thing to research and admire another culture’s practice, it’s another to cherry pick the “cool” parts of a culture that isn’t yours. Be thoughtful of the terms you use. Chances are, when referring to your own practice, you probably shouldn’t be saying “smudging”, you should be saying “smoke cleansing” or “censing” or even “saining”. You probably shouldn’t be saying “voodoo dolls”, you should be saying “poppets”. You probably shouldn’t be saying “rosary”, you should be saying “prayer beads”. This isn’t simply “to-may-to, to-mah-to”, this is respect for other human beings and their journeys.
8. You do not have to speak in order for a spell to be effective. Many witches actually prefer not to say anything at all. Some can write it down, some can focus enough that they only need thought and their will.
9. Don’t get in a rush to find out what “type” of witch you are. Lots of witches don’t like to limit themselves to labels, while others may take pride in certain specialties. But those titles came with a lot of work and chances are those witches experimented in a lot of branches of witchcraft until they found their “place”. Be patient, enjoy the journey. And don’t forget that it takes both time and effort to be good at anything, including witchcraft.
10. Take everything with a grain of salt. Even this post. Not everything you read is true. Not everything that’s true is applicable for your situation. Your craft is exactly that, your craft. And no one can take that away from you.
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