Many beginner witches here on Tumblr ask the question “where do I start?” To somewhat answer that question I have created this 1-week research schedule that can be continually used to cultivate new and deepening knowledge within the many fields of witchcraft. Please note that you should have a somewhat specific topic or goal going into this process, such as “astrology” or “warding spells” rather than just witchcraft at large.
Monday - basic key terms! find ways in which this topic connects to things you already know, and record basic info
Tuesday - historical trends. Who were the big names/civilizations for this, and is it part of a living tradition? Are you allowed to use this? what are similar practices that you can use?
Wednesday - safety: in what ways can this go wrong? Include mundane safety concerns as well as more esoteric ones. Fire safety? warding?
Thursday - What are some accepted ways of doing this? how do they fit in with your tradition? Include any specific wording, especially if it is a method that you want to try. More experienced witches may want to use this day to create their own process, rather than using something from an outside source.
Friday - Attempt 1! record your results and any information about the attempt. did any part of it feel strange or unsafe? were there ways you would do it differently on a second attempt?
Saturday - Making edits: research any of the things that were wrong/strange about yesterday's attempt. Are these common issues? have there been any lasting effects? do some form of a deep cleanse today after you make sure you can/have stopped your spell. Then make a new form of your spell working around the things you want to change from yesterday.
Sunday - Attempt 2. Redo the spell/ritual with any edits from yesterday. Note how the effects differ from attempt 1. Is it stronger/more effective now? Make sure you record everything once again! How do you foresee this integrating into your regular practice?
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Notes:
Make sure to record your sources for research! you may find trends of reliable/unreliable sources, and you will be able to tailor your research accordingly.
All of your research should not be coming from a single source. While it may work for them, you have no guarantee of their method working for you. Vary your sources to avoid this problem.
DO NOT STEAL FROM PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CLOSED TRADITIONS!!!
This is an iterative process. Do not assume that you know everything about a new process after just one week! This is just a system that allows you to be well informed before you try a new process, to avoid any potential issues and to understand how it works for the future.
