i want to be a Witch...but how?

ok, it's not that simple. There are stages and questions you must ask yourself before you dive in.

who or what influenced your decision to explore Witchcraft?

If you just answered a movie or t.v. show then perhaps you should re-evaluate your decision. Although movies and tv have come along way from the broom weilding hag in Wizard of Oz, they are not accurate portrayals of the desency, integrity, religious aspects of the Craft. What do you really know about Witchcraft. That leads me to the next big question..

what do you really know about Witchcraft? How did you learn about it?

Do you know about the burning times? Have you looked into the history of Witchcraft? Have you read any books by credited authors such as Silver Ravenwolf, Scott Cunningham or Starhawk? Nobody is born with the knowledge of Witchcraft. Nobody is born all knowing of anything. One must learn and read and ask questions. Religion is a long and winding path of learning, studying and practicing. It never ends.

How will your parents feel about your chosen path or decision to look into Witchcraft?

Teenage years are hard enough. Why would you want to burden your poor parents or yourself? Really look into that question. Alot of times teenagers simply want to rebell or be different. Make sure you do not tell them until you have figured out if they'll freak or not. Don't tell them until your sure this is the path you are willing to take. And make sure that you are prepared for their questions....this will save you. Learn and read up, print off articals from the net to inform your parents when it's time to tell them. (also see Do I tell Mom and Pop from the teen Main page)

Are you just looking for Spells?

Spells can be fun, serious, dangerous, simple and elaborate. They are important components of Witchcraft, however not nearly the most important.

*Once you've established the reasons you've decided to be a Witch, start to define a path for yourself!

This means taking all the info you've been reading about and sorting it to your needs. Do you want to practice Wicca or Strega or Dianic Witchcraft? Would you prefer a simple approach to kitchen witchery or something as elaborate as a coven or large circle? This is the time to define yourself, your beliefs and just what you want to do with your path.

Once you define your path, start your journal. Begin writing down why you think that being a Witch is part of who you are. What does it mean to you? What do you hope to accomplish? What does Divinity mean to you? These are called your personal witch goals and purposes. You don't have to be very formal, just write what feels natural. Most important, BE HONEST, nobody will be grading this later!

Learning the ways of Magick

No spells, no rituals, no bindngs, not yet. Awwhh, i hear you saying. Well, it's not forbidden, do as you wish it is just STRONGLY reccomended that you don't. So what do you do? You guessed it, more studying. Start learning about how to preform magick, when and why too. Learn the Moon phases, Planetary signs, what types of magick does what, working with the Moon or a diety. Be sure to record all your findings in your BOS (the journal you were writing in before is now becoming your book of Shadows)Know these magicks and magickal times...they will prepare you!

Meditation

I never gave meditation much thought until I was learning about spells. I never realized that 90% of a spell was visualizaton. You have to see your goal, see it feel it breath it hear it! Learn to focus, learn to calm and center yourself. You can't preform any magick if you can't center and clear your mind. Do simple meditation exercises if you're having trouble:

*lay down and relax in a comfortable room where you won't be disturbed. Close your eyes and imagine an apple in your mind. Study it, learn about it. See the brown spots, bruises or any detail you like. Next, touch the apple in your mind. Is it soft? hard? cold? What does it smell like? Bring it up to your nose and smell it! Feel it against your face, feel it's weight in your hand. The last step is to bite it, and taste it. Feel the texture and the bits sliding down your throat. Relax and enojoy your apple until you feel calm and relaxed*

I found out i was quite good at visualization. I used to play house and all those imaginary games when i was little. Get that back! It is wonderful to imagine anything (and it is so benefitial to your magick)

Magick Rituals Spells and ohmygoddess are you READY?

NEVER EVER EVER rush it! If you're not ready do not push ahead or assume that you should be at a certain stage. Like i mentioned before, it took me 4 years! Never rush though any step.

Start SIMPLE! Simple Moon rituals (which i'll have posted soon on the Sky page) simple candle spells and visualization spells. Now it really is up to you how you want to approach your first spell. But i suggest simple simple. And always be willing to accept failure. Spells don't always work! Try writing your own spells too (use the guidelines of spells you'll find in books and web sites but alter them to fit your needs)

Do's and Don'ts!

Do...

• read and study and research and read and read and write all you find down in your journal (or keep the info on a disk)

• be honest with yourself! no sense in lieing to yourself!

• spend time meditating, being alone, finding your path and purpose

• Get organized! Learn to concentrate and center...always search for the truth

• spend time in nature and make your lifestyle start to fit your changing attitude on life and nature and love and....

• respect all other religions

Don't...

• rush ahead into anything you're not ready to

• let anyone make you feel like a 'freak'

• be flamboyant in your appearance. It is such a pet peve of mine when people run around with a pentacle the size of Ohio hanging around their neck.

• brag about your Witchcraft/spells/info to anyone....believe me i wish this wasn't the way but it only get's you persicution and ridicule. Be wise on with whom you discuss your path.

• listen to anyone that you don't agree with. honestly if you think i'm full of crap then don't listen. remember that it's all advice. nobody i know has the ancient book of answers. we can only help each other by sharing our experiences and advice.

blessed be.

-medea

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ideas taken from~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Becoming a Witch

I outlined these steps for those who are interested in becoming Witches, but just don't know where to start. You'll notice I don't mention anything about covens or groups until the last step. That's because I strongly believe all Witches should start out as solitaries. Learning about Witchcraft and practicing magick by yourself will teach you what works for you and what feels right to you. Once you figure that out, you can find others that you are comfortable circling with.

Step One - Discovering your Path

Read and study. Read everything you can get your hands on that will tell you more about beliefs of Witchcraft, such as books, web pages or online magazines. Only by learning as much as you can about the basic beliefs and tenets of Witchcraft can you decide if the religion is the right path for you.

While reading books and studying the written word are highly beneficial, Wicca and other forms of the Craft are nature religions. Get outside and experience the Divine's creation. Go camping. Take hikes through the mountains. Swim in ponds and lakes. Bask in the glow of the sun and moon. Watch birds. Go stargazing. Learn all you can about the Earth and Sky, which are the bodies of the God and Goddess.

Step Two - Defining Your Path

OK, so you know the basics and you've decided it's definitely something that fits into your belief system. In a notebook or journal, begin writing down some reasons why you think Witchcraft is your path. What does being a Witch mean to you? What do you hope to achieve and learn through Witchcraft? What do you fear if you follow this path? How do you visualize the God and Goddess? What does the Divine mean to you? Be completely honest. Nobody will ever read this but you. (This notebook will eventually become your Book of Shadows.) There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. It's not a test, but simply a way to help you define your path.

Step Three - Exploring Magick

You'll notice I haven't mentioned anything about spells or ritual yet, because you need to complete the first two steps before you think about working with magick. Magick is not hocus-pocus, it's not bending the natural order of things to fit your needs. Magick is simply raising and channeling energy that is found in yourself, in nature and in the Divine to achieve a desired result. Before you begin working with magick, you need to understand what it is, where it comes from and the ethics involved in magickal workings. Remember that you are responsible for your own actions. If you harm someone with magick, you will face the consequences, probably sooner than later. You also need to understand the basic structure of a ritual: casting circles, calling quarters, invoking the God/dess, raising and directing energy, grounding and centering and closing the circle. Know the moon phases and how they affect magick. Learn them well enough so that you always know when the moon is waxing, when it is full, when it is waning. Learn to feel how the moon affects your moods and your body.

Step Four - Learning to Focus

Try some meditation and visualization exercises to increase your concentration. The ability to focus and visualize will greatly increase the power of your magick. Learn to be calm. Learn to pull strength from within yourself and from the earth, sun, moon and stars. Learn to be still. Learn to hear the voice of the God and Goddess when It calls to you.

Step Five - Working with Magick

Now you can begin some basic spellwork. I'd suggest starting with a full or new moon ritual, but of course you do whatever feels most comfortable to you. You should not use word-for-word spells or rituals that are written in books or posted on web pages. Those spells were written for the writer, and should be used only as guidelines when creating your own rituals. Every Witch should write his or her own spells. For more on writing your own spells, click here.

Step Six - Self-Dedication

If everything still feels right, and if you still feel like Witchcraft is the path for you after all this studying, now is the time to perform a self-dedication ritual. This ritual should be yours and yours alone. Design it however you want to, and in a way that will be most meaningful to you. A dedication ritual means exactly what it sounds like it means - you are dedicating yourself to the Craft and telling yourself and the Divine that this is the path you wish to pursue.

Step Seven - Networking

I usually recommend a year of solitary study before a Witch considers joining a coven or a circle. This gives you a chance to celebrate one full cycle of Sabbats, and to learn what works best for you. Some people may choose never to join any kind of organized group - that's fine. A solitary Witch is just as much of a Witch as a coven Witch. But even if you don't join a group, you might want to consider finding other Witches to circle with occasionally. It's always good to learn new ideas.