A bit weird for me to be writing about considering beginner witchcraft and a few historical events are the only things I usually write about, but hey-ho. Here is a list of tips that can help you decide where you’re taking your next journey. I am, as usual, required to state that none of this is mandatory and that these are simply options to consider.
Learn about the religions of the world. Yes, even ones you think you don’t like.
Understanding at least a little about the religions of other cultures will make you a more open member of society who is better equipped to live in the multicultural world of 2018. It will also improve your understanding of spirituality, humanity, history and your own religion (if you have one) as a whole. Athiest or not, religion or at least a vague spirituality has been crucial to people all over the world since the beginning of time. Almost every religious practice has at some point had roots in, or taken inspiration from another. Finding these links and seeing where the different viewpoints, morals and ethics branched off in different directions that better suited the country in question will give you a level of understanding that not many people have, which you will then be able to apply to your own practice. On my bookshelf I have books on Wicca, Norse Paganism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Greek and Roman Mythology, Kemetism… you get the point.
Choose a specific topic of high interest to explore in depth.
So you’ve, for example, written all the rune info you found online in your grimoire and like the feel of it. You’ve maybe even used some runes for spells or divination a few times and feel comfortable. But… Do you know which ‘viking’ runes you are actually using? do you know what time period they came from? Did you know the elder futhark was actually dead long before the ‘Viking age’ began? Do you know of other systems of writing? Have you read essays and books on the topic? Have you figured out which essays and books are useful and which are misinformed? Have you written your own essays on the topic?
A casual interest in a topic like this can leave you falling down a rabbit hole of research and information. Studies like this can occupy months, years of the lives of many academics. So it’s important to decide if the topic you choose is something you are genuinely interested in, or just learning because you feel like you ‘have’ to. This level in witchcraft is where you break away from dabbling and enter the path to deep understanding in a chosen topic.
Meet people in the community. Go to events, even if you do not celebrate the holiday in question.
As mentioned in the first point, understanding the practices of others is very important. Being present is another side of this coin that many debate the use of, but I shall say this. Yes, you are not required to be a member of any organised group or structure. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should miss the chance to learn firsthand from other people if you have it. The knowledge of those who have been walking a life of witchcraft far before you ever thought of it is valuable beyond measure. These people can introduce you to ideas and concepts that you would have never been able to come up with by yourself from simply reading a book or an essay. They can also be an excellent example of what to avoid, so be wary.
Find and maintain a spiritual schedule.
Repetition is the path to mastery; incorporate aspects of witchcraft into your daily routine and keep them there. Not only will this develop your understanding of the fact that a physical and spiritual life do not have to clash with each other and can, in fact, live in harmony, but it will enhance proficiency in the areas you choose. Daily meditation or tarot, for example, will both increase your intuition by leaps and bounds. Even getting into the practice of brewing herbal teas and becoming familiar with the properties. It’s a commonly known thing amongst those who study that doing a little bit every day is much better than doing a lot once every two weeks.
Form your own beliefs and methods from experience.
I’d say this is really where the distinction between beginner and something else sits. A LOT of people have the misconception that you stop being a ‘beginner’ when you can memorise a list of correspondences, but I’d say finding the techniques that work for you and finding out what personal meaning an item or act helps you with is really a telltale sign that you’re being active in your craft. I never have and never intend on knowing the correspondences to things I don’t currently use or need; learning that would be pointless. I’ll learn it when I need to. A good example of exploring correspondences in a more advanced method; To most people beginning their journey, sage is the go-to spiritual cleanser. I, however, have built a familiarity with rosemary in which I feel it does a much better job to suit my needs.
All in all, there’s never a set mark, amount of knowledge or action that says “Hey, you’re not a beginner anymore!” It’s more like an unconscious realisation that will come to you over time. Rushing to get to that point is just going to push you further away from it, so take things slow and enjoy yourself. You only have… your entire life to work this out. I think you have time to explore a bit ;)
If you found this post interesting and want to help support my writing and the availability and continuation of free resources for the masses, consider leaving a small tip via PayPal on Ko-fi! If you don’t have the funds, a reblog would still be a big help! Thanks for reading!
dededos
annaxmalina
theartofmadeline
izzy806
vaporwave
discoholicmusic
andulkaphoto
stormborns
dailybridgerton
