Intro to Witchcraft - Part I
“Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.”― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
In simple terms, witchcraft is the use of magick to bring about change.
Magick (or “magic”; a “k” is often added to help distinguish between witchcraft practices and stage magic) is the manipulation of energy to achieve a specific goal. There are countless ways to do this, and in turn, countless paths and areas of focus. Because of this, each person’s path is unique to them, and this is something I really appreciate about the craft. It allows me to focus on my own natural abilities and interests without struggling through concepts I may not enjoy or agree with.
Is witchcraft a religion?
Nope! Not on its own, but there are people that use it alongside their religious beliefs. In certain paths with predefined history and beliefs, such as Wicca, religion is part of the deal, but you can mold your own practice to fit alongside your existing religion...or practice it with no religion at all. You could be a skeptical atheist, only believe in cold, hard, scientific facts, and still find power in witchcraft. (Though, I personally have found it’s much more fun to let myself believe and chase the whimsy.)
First, I want you to consider your definition of “real”. Do you mean “is it scientifically proven? Does it actually have the power to make change?” In some ways, absolutely. From an entirely skeptical approach, there is still great power in placebo effects.
Magick is real because people believe it is. They have for a very, very long time. Believing in something gives it
Magick helps us reprogram our minds and keep our eyes on a specific goal. Oftentimes it is much like a form of creative meditation and mindfulness, taking place both inside and outside of the mind, rather than solely inside.
Of course, you will come across types of magick that rely more heavily on your willingness to believe. Whether or not you choose to believe is up to you, just shape your path accordingly.
One of the first steps to starting down your own unique path will be determining your existing strengths and areas of interest. Some popular focuses include things like crystals, astrology, candle magick, elemental magick, kitchen witchery, lunar magick...but if a certain category doesn’t align with your beliefs or interest you at all, you can simply not use it, and there’s no harm in this. If whatever it is doesn’t vibe well with you, toss it and move on to something different. If no pre-established category fits, it is also 100% okay to define your own. Some of my favorite niche types of magick were born this way, like pop culture and emoji magicks, Heck, even “meme magick” could be a thing. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
Start researching the basics (a list of these along with resources will be included in Part II). As you progress through your research, you’ll likely feel a pull to certain subjects. Follow it. Soak in all the information you can. Understand that the approaches you find will vary greatly. If it resonates with you, keep it. If not, move on.
Look into the different types of witches, beliefs, religions, etc. Odds are you’ll find some that really call out to you. But be patient and don’t be discouraged if it takes a bit of time for you to find your place. You’ll get there.
But don’t witches worship Satan??
Some of us do, sure. A lot of us don’t. In fact, most witches I’ve talked to don’t even believe in Satan, as they don’t subscribe to Christian beliefs. Some of us worship Norse/Greek/Egyptian/Celtic/etc deities. Some of us worship no deities at all. For some, the higher power is the universe itself. For some, the higher power comes from within ourselves.
Lol, nope. I do work closely with Persephone and Hades, but I wouldn’t describe the relationship as “worship” and my view of deity is different than you might think. I personally view goddesses and gods as archetypes – as symbols representing different ideas based on the lore that has grown around them. To me, they represent life lessons and situations we may encounter, and we can learn a lot about ourselves through their stories. For example, Persephone embodies the transition from light to dark/life to death, and holding her as a focus has greatly changed my relationship with death itself.
Witchcraft is NOT a substitute for medical treatment. Please do not use it as such.
Assess your intentions...
Before getting started on your path, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions.
Do I believe in magick? What does it mean to me?
What do I wish to get out of witchcraft?
What are my personal ethics and boundaries?
Witchcraft is NOT a substitute for medical treatment.
There is a TON of info out there...and not all of it is safe or well-researched. Keep this in mind as you take in information, and always dig deeper once you find something you’re interested in implementing.
Humans tend to suck sometimes. Some witches you meet, talk to, or learn about are going to suck, too. The witchcraft community is not immune to asshole-ism.
If you’re expecting to cast your first spell and immediately get everything you want, change your expectations now. It’s called “practicing witchcraft” for a reason. It takes practice, patience, and a dedication to learning. If you want results, you’ve gotta do the work.
There are witches who will try and push their own beliefs on you and tell you “you are doing it wrong.” There is no “wrong” way to practice witchcraft. Stay confident in your power.
That being said, there are *disrespectful* ways to practice witchcraft. Appropriating practices from closed cultures is frowned upon. I'm not here to police your practice, but I encourage you to research this and understand how it can harm the people who are a part of these cultures.
