Blog For New Witches - How To Get Into Witchcraft/Wicca/Paganism/Satanism/ETC.

Welcome and Blessed Be my fellow witches of the craft or those just curious about it! I have been interested in occult stuff, wicca, and more since I was probably 14 years old, slowly doing research and reading things. I dont remember everything I read and owned but I do have two books still in my personal possession that I will bring up later. I am now 26 and have dedicated myself to the craft for the past 5 or so years (I wish I knew the exact date I committed) 

First things first

 anyone can practice, anyone can be a witch. If you are male you are still a witch (unless you like other terms but Witch is gender neutral). Also Wicca specifically has a lot of talk about polar opposites and gender/sex being opposite. Everyone believes different things obviously but I want to say Wicca is not transphobic or nonbinary exclusive! If anything to many having a mixture of divine energies in you is good and even if you are female or male strictly you still need to embrace the opposite in your life. The God and Goddess guide us together. The moon and sun is another way to look at them. Also any age can be interested, there is no age limit. Wicca/Paganism is not inherently some evil thing that kids should never know about. Even Satanism isnt evil! It is jsut different and often about loving yourself and doing what is right for you. 

Now onto resources. 

The two books I know the names of that I have are Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland and A Witches’ Bible The Complete Witches’ Handbook by Janet and Stewart Farrar. These are the two I reference often and enjoy reading.I have read things on kindle unlimited many times but none stuck with me to reference. Many are on holidays specifically that I find and read. I also use the apps Wicca and Wiccan (Blog post here about apps) Wicca being an app with spells and the year wheel and moon info and more while Wiccan is a social media to talk to other witches of all kinds and ages and get help or give help! 

When it comes to resources everyone likes different things (I was getting into the podcast Seeking Witchcraft the podcast on Spotify) so I found this FORUM TOPIC made by someone else of many resources along with comments of other resources! So check it out if you want more than the few I can remember and put here!! 

The Big Question is next… How Do I Start My Journey?!?!?!?!?!?! 

Well it is simple, just want to. Give it your all and you are starting! For most that means research things and learn what you want to learn about and know. Do you wanna look into wicca or paganism or satanism or something else?? Do you have a culture you want to get in touch with? Do you know about any ancestors and what they did or wanted? (of course ancestors are not the be all, some of us have bad ones) Then get a journal to work with and write things and whatever you want to remember and know. This is your Book Of Shadows where you keep everything you learn and only you read it. You also can have a Grimoire which is more about spells and keeping track of them, especially successful ones are good to add while your BoS has everything you do even failures or knowledge and research! You also can work on what you believe in, is it reincarnation or an afterlife? If is greek gods or the universe and no beings? Whatever it is it will feel right for you. 

The next steps can ALL be optional depending on your dedication and path and how you want to practice! 

The first big one most witches do is make their altars. A space to pray and keep tools such as athames and wands and crystals and tarot and candles and more! This is where you feel comfortable and safe practicing. It is your space and your heart and mind essentially. However it is not needed, it just helps to be organized. Some people have hidden box altars or travel ones in mint cases with tiny crystals and oils. Some people have none and others have one in every room! Also you DO NOT need to shovel out money for this!! If you are poor find a stick you connect with and carve a wand. Get rocks from outside or leaves or pine needles. Pine needles can be burned for cleansing too. Try local metaphysical shops for items instead of amazon as well and always check what is a closed practice if you arent sure!! 

You can also work on finding a coven or friends who practice to talk to or mentors and such! The journey can be lonely in an unaccepting world so be sure to keep yourself safe and your mental health protected! 

Now for some trivial things and info or things I have been asked over the years! 

Ways of divination there are: Tarot, Crystal Ball gazing, ouija boards, Scrying, Rune reading, Oracle cards, pendulums, astrology, tea reading, palm reading, and so many more that can be in other cultures and less known ways these are just all that I have known or met people who do! 

Other things to research and put in your BoS: Color meaning, crystal powers, herb powers, gods and goddess you want to research, divination you like and info about it, ancestor research, daily tarot/divination results, astrology and your chart, the moon pattern information and what the moon is each day, holidays and dates and information about their origins, symbols (pentacles, etc.), veiling and if you want to do it. 

What things go on an altar normally?: Altars can vary for season and deities and type of worship or rituals you do. You also can have multiple in a house or have a personal and a coven one if you join a coven. Most common things on an altar will follow (but work with what you can afford always, cheap tools work just as well since it is about intention!) Statues of the god and goddess (or your deities), candles, athame, wand, cleansing things (bells, incense, sticks of appropriate herbs in a bundle to burn) Book of Shadows, Crystals, Herbs, Cauldron, Mortar and Pestle, Chalice, Jars and bottles for spells if you want to do those or to hold herbs, divination devices (tarot, pendulums, crystal ball, scrying mirror, ruins, etc), bowls are nice for holding things like offerings or ashes, altar cloths are good too, a candle snuffer is good if you believe in not blowing out candles, pictures of ancestors if you do that, oils if you buy any, spoons if you scoop herbs or mix things, broom, store jewelry on it or enchant it, and of course any offerings and ways to hold those too!

Pentacle VS. Pentagram: A Pentagram is the star inside the pentacle. A star alone is often a pentagram while a pentacle has the circle around it connecting all points.

Reminders: Witchcraft is not a cult. Witches cant fly on brooms. Witches dont worship the christian devil most of the time (and even if someone does thats fine if they harm none). Witches arent ugly with green skin and giant noses and warts (but even if someone was thats their business and they are still beautiful). Witches arent only women as I stated. The real magic is your intentions and energies put into our universe. Everyone is different with different beliefs, never judge others. 

If you have any more questions comment and I will reply and probably even add it to the post if I feel I should!! I hope this is helpful to someone out there looking to start their journey! Remember to be you, dont let others bring you down, and do what you will but harm none!