"How do I become a Witch?"
And to stop all the questions, I've decided to answer it. Well if we are talking about becoming a Witch in terms of more than just a worker of magick, then someone can go about it in these ways. And before you ask, just about anyone can become a Witch if they feel it is right for them. (Note: any little rants I go off on, I'm sorry! Some of this is only aimed at teen wanna-blessed-be's.)
1) Read a book or five on the subject. Research, learn, make sure if this is the right path for you. (The Witches Voice has some excellent resources and info.) But a word of caution. Don't join the Craft for any of these reasons:
* "My friends are doing it, it's cool, I want to join!"
* "Christianity sucks, I quit!"
* "This'll be a really great way to piss off my parents..."
* "I want to do things like on "Charmed" and "The Craft"! "
I cannot stress this enough. Too many teens running around pretending to be Witches for the sake of being Witches. There are generally two types of teen wannabe Witches I have personally encountered. There are the fluffs, and they know it which is the sad thing. "Casting spells is cool! More people should try it but then we wouldn't be special cuz everyone would be like us. *gasp*" Usually in it to be different, to stand out in the crowd. Or they just think magick is like how it is in the movies.
The second type is right over at the other end of the spectrum: the one's who become Witches for the shock or scare value. These are the worst in my opinion as I've come too close to comfort with some in my own school. They know I'm a Witch but they automatically assume I know nothing about it for some... mad reason. I don't know. I frequently get comments like "it's the Witch!" or "you're not a Witch!". Wtf?? Make your mind up people! They're the typical goths who like to make others fear them, or like to cause the odd "she's a Witch!" comment in hushed tones. Or in my case, verbally abuse anyone who might actually know a thing or two about real Witchcraft. I just figure that they don't like the idea of competition (hi if you're reading this! :-P). But that's not what Witchcraft is about.
The lesson of this little rant: don't become a Witch for appearance, whether it be positive or negative. It will get you no-where in the end. Probably laughed at mostly but on the whole, no-where.
Take your time to learn and grow, becoming a Witch doesn't happen over night. It's a gradual process that each new Witch must go through.
2) Ok, now we've got the unpleasantness out of the way, lets move on to the positive stuff. So you've read some books, looked around a bit and come to the conclusion that Witchcraft is for you. What's the next step? Well you could try finding an experienced Witch to talk to about it. Asking questions about things you don't yet fully understand is the next best way to learn, second only to teaching. If you don't know anyone personally then you could try asking around on the net in a Witchcraft forum. I would recommend www.occultforums.com, I drop in there frequently for debates or info (look out for Phoenixfire).
I was fortunate enough to actually know a couple of Witches of my own age who I could talk to about it. To my knowledge there are at least... 4, maybe 5 Witches including myself in my school (not counting the wannabes).
3) Most Witches undergo some form of self-initiation or dedication ritual to officially declare to themselves that they are on the path of the Witch. Often it involves stating that you are dedicated to the Witches' ways, and you will honour the Gods of your choice; you are their child. Often with some traditions there is a specific ritual to perform, but if your current style is more eclectic then you can probably write your own or adapt someone else's. The initiation is a personal act. Some Traditional Witches say that you're not really a Witch if you are solitary because you must be initiated by an existing member. Personally I think this is hog-wash (bearing in mind that I am speaking of Witchcraft and not Wicca, which is another matter noted in About Wicca and Witchcraft). Initiation is not required to be a Witch, but it is a nice way of declairing it to yourself and/or your deities. Your initiation is special to you because it is all about you and your chosen path, it's not about whether someone else deems you fit for the path. Witchcraft is a journey which you may choose to follow, don't let someone else tell you what you can and can't be or do.
So make this step your own, let it transform you for the better and open the gate to a whole new life ahead of you. There will be many things you will encounter on your way, and this is your first, let it be an uplifting experience.
4) It's often been said that one of the best ways of learning is from practicing. And it's totally true! It's always good to learn from a practicing Witch but most Witches, including myself, are seft-taught. I had no "source of all wisdom" to consult if I hit a snag. I figured it out by myself and got myself out of whatever the problem was. I'm not trying to boast or anything like that but this is how it has always been for me and yet I still know more than I could possibly fit on this site. So don't be discouraged if a spell doesn't work or a meditation left you less enlightened than you were before you started. It happens to all of us, we just have to learn to get through it by persistence and determination.
Recommended Reading for Beginners:
"Mastering Witchcraft" - Paul Huson <--- (I adore this book, personally!)
"Magick Without Peers" - David Rankine & Ariadne Rainbird <--- (Also another popular one on my shelf!)
"Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft" - Raymond Buckland
"Witchcraft" - Geddes & Grosset
"The Meaning of Witchcraft" - Gerald Gardner
The contents of this page may be useful as a basic guide to becoming a Witch, but you must always remember it is only a tool, and it is what the tools and guides bring out of you that is important. If you haven't read it on my other page yet, read it here now: it is the fruit of your knowledge which defines who you are, not the knowledge you possess.
NOTE: This is not specifically a guide on becoming a Wiccan. I use this brief outline as steps to becoming a Witch, a much more broad and varied practice. If you wish to know about Wicca specifically, I suggest "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham and any book by Gereald Gardner as a good place to start.
