How does a baby witch move to the next stage in their practice?
Witchcraft is a little difficult to get knowledge on. After baby witches have read the well known books and resources, basic correspondences and "how to make your own spell" stuff, we tend to feel lost. On the internet we either see other baby witches, or witches so advanced that everything they post could possibly be a shit post. They'll talk about things that you have absolutely no idea about, and when a witch gets to that advanced stage, they either have a hard time explaning their unique UPG, or part of their practice is simply too personal to share.
So how does a baby witch involve into a more advanced and confident one?
Now i can't tell you a certain answer, because these are just my opinions and theories, but this is how i did it. Keep in mind there is no rule book! Only suggestions.
Okay baby witches. Its time to put down the new age modernized books of witchcraft that only have bare bones information like correspondences and moon phases. You've learned everything you can from them. Now, you need to find books on magic HISTORY, as well as some science books. See how your ancestors did magic, why they did it, what they believed. This will give you a deeper understanding and connection to magic.
Old texts like The Three Books Of Occult Philosophy are interesting with great info...but it was written in the 1500s and even I have a hard time understanding it. Old old grimoires like this and other famous ones ARE good texts with lots of info, but if you start with these you will probably burn out and not really be able to understand them.
Books about magic history will give you a great start to truly understanding magic, some of my favorites are Art of the Grimoire: An Illustrated History of Magic Books and Spells by Owen Davies, and Magic: A History: From Alchemy to Witchcraft, from the Ice Age to the Present by Chris Gosden. That last one was actually found in my public library of my very southern small town.
Other good books are folklore books! Read the old fairytales of your region, learn about your geological location, what kind of trees are native, what superstitions does your region believe in, what locations have legends and what are they? Learn how your ancestors practiced. Certain regions have certain correspondences for different symbols or native plants. Getting to know the story of your land is a great step in becoming more advanced in witchcraft.
Next, science books. I have a book that is a feild guide to stars. Its not a spiritual book, but it tells me what the night sky looks in my region everyday. Gardening or herbalism books will help you get a better idea of what to associate things with plants, and why they have the correspondences they do. I also really love books on sciences of the mind, like psychology or dreams. Learning how the brain works helps you control it and your power. Again, just having all this information is very helpful.
Now after that i recommend trying to dip your toe into the ancient grimoires and cryptic magical knowledge. Don't feel bad if it takes a few tries to understand it!
Stop following every rule or instruction from your resources and books. THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO PRACTICE. Start making your practice YOURS. dont like smoke cleansing? Come up with something else, like singing, music, sweeping, even blowing bubbles to cleanse a space. After reading your historical resources, make shit up! The best spells are the most intuitive ones!
Once i went on a walk in my neighborhood with a small bell. I asked the spirits to guide me to something cool. I said that i would hold up my bell in each direction, whichever direction it rang more for, i went that way. I ended up finding a bluejay feather! Be creative, try new things that no one has ever done before in the magic space, like making sigil tokens out of shrinky dink plastic, or enchanting an object to cast wishes. You don't need to look up spells on google anymore, make your own! Think of it like pretending when you were a kid. Oh, you found a cool leaf? Lets put it in the spell! Oh, you wanna dance around the object to infuse it? Lets go! You have a piece of jewelry from your grandmother that you want to add to the spell? Go for it. Literally just make shit up, see what works and feels good. Do you associate good luck with this random native plant? Well then its good luck then!
Magic has been practiced since the dawn of time, and over thousands of years cultures practiced in thousands of different ways. And guess what? They all made that shit up. And it worked for them. You need to make your own story. Part of the power advanced witches have is simply a good connection with the self and nature. I know witches who can simply speak words filled with power and make shit happen. Go wild. Get close to your child self and the Earth around you.
3. The start of a spiritual initiation
A spiritual initiation is a series of events that change you to your core, an awakening that destroys everything you once knew. Think of it as similar to the tower card, leading to positive change.
A spiritual initiation can be something your spirit guides do with your consent, but it can also happen to anyone living a normal life.
These events are kind of like a "finding god" moment. You will learn so much, so quickly, and nothing will ever be the same again. You will open a door, and once you take that first step you will be flooded with spiritual experiences and personal growth. Over and over, relentlessly, until you have become a refined and better version of yourself.
Mine was not searched for, it was placed upon me. I talk about it a lot, but it was my journey with CRPS. i was an athletic 18 year old in her prime, and within one year i became bedridden, housebound, and a wheelchair user. I went from a normal teen to the strangest and hardest circumstances. It was isolating. It was lonely. I spent countless hours unable to even lift my hands, hold my phone, or feed myself. I only had my mind.
I call this feeling of loneliness and distress that absolutely has no escape, The Empty Room. Named after an oracle card in my favorite deck.
The Empty Room is a place where only you and yourself are present. There is no comfort, there is no distractions. Just silence. But, The Empty Room is very special. Within it are infinite possibilities. It is space and time, it is the mind. The Empty Room shows the truth, the ugly and the good. In order to survive The Empty Room, you must find your truth within it. Find whats hidden in the nothingness.
The spiritual initiation puts you in this room, it forces you to look deeply at yourself, to be honest with yourself. To CHANGE. This change and growth can be incredibly painful, and oh so rewarding and beautiful. People and myself have described it as like being torn to pieces and having to rebuild your entire self. But this ultimately leads to mental, spiritual, and emotional healing.
During this time, which could be months or years, as you grow and change and rebuild yourself, you will tend to have more experiences with the other side. You will be more in tune with your magic, more powerful and more confident.
I can't tell you how to start your initiation, its unique to everyone. Maybe you make a wish to the world, maybe you ask your guides, or maybe it just happens.
But, once you start it.. you see the world with different eyes. You're more powerful and connected with the world around and within you. You may have prophetic dreams, or paranormal experiences, or moments where you speak to God. Moments where it feels like the world looks directly at you, waiting, listening, watching. It will feel like you have someone gently guiding you to peace, perhaps dead loved ones or your deities. You will get more messages from them. Magic will become easy. Akin to breathing.
This journey may be the hardest thing you ever do. And it will make you the best and most powerful version of yourself. And you will know when it happens.
Good luck baby witches, the world is waiting for you.
