Where should I begin?

[Hazel BlueMoon]

Hello, well, I wasn't sure where to post this...but I figured alot of you come into here, so maybe here?

Anywho....I need some help on where to REALLY begin in this path. I know everyone is different...but I guess what I am saying is...if you are a successful and powerful witch, please just advise me on what is the FIRST thing I should be getting totally into. So far I've started and worked on my BOS, I've been taking note's and doing Rune readings, I've meditated on my chakra's, I've built my alter (and I change decor every month), I've dedicated myself to the Lord and Lady, um.....I've done more...but I can't remember it all.

The thing is that I've done a whole bunch of studying, and I know I'll continue to study...but I want to do more than that, I wanna DO. I wanna help others and myself, I want to become wise and powerful.

So....any advice? Thank you all so very much! Blessed Be.

[Xeen]

Quick way to become wise and powerful? Read everything, and listen to everyone/thing, weather it is talking or not ^-^

Okay, that was stupid, but I don't have any other advice to give ya.

*bows*

[Morr]

Hummm... I think you're on the right track, but... the "wise & powerful witch" deal didnt sit with me well..
Just because well.. It sounds too "Charmed" for me...

Its nice and very good that you are eagar to learn & experiment with witchcraft, however - I think you need to define more specific goals. What do you mean by "DO" something? A spell? If so - Do you have an absolute NEED to do a spell? Some sort of problem you cant absolutely solve by yourself, that you need to ask the Universe & Gods to aid you? You cant just DO a spell cause you FEEL like it.
I suggest you start with a Full Moon Esbat. If you really want to do something more then just meditation, you can always do some sort of protection spell - Something easy, and thats always simple & effective. You can make a protection charm to carry on you, you can do a protection spell for your room, etc.. Its nice & harmless and a fairly beginners easy spell. It can be protection from physical illness (to keep your energy up, and your health strong, to protect from anxity, etc).. Or it can be protection from negativity in a situation, or from negative energies in general.

Never stop reading & researching though.. NEVER.. "Wise & Powerful" isnt a physical/magickal thing - Its a spiritual thing, and it involves working for and arquiring a lot of knowlege, along with experience.

Good Luck!

[Nighthawk]

And I have said and heard many times... find some books... read them take notes and see where you are led... as we just found out in another thread... sometimes you take the long road around to find things out..

[Klucky]

Read. Read as much as you can. Read until you vomit. Just soak it all in. (The information, not the vomit.)

Read is really the best thing. It of course takes its time, but then again, there really are no "Get Witch Quick" solutions. :)

-Klucky

[Laurelei]

Spellcasting is only half of it. The religion of WitchCraft also involves working on yourself as a person and changing yourself for the better. I warn you though, it's exhausting and difficult, and you'll have skeletons to drag out of your closet. Still, at least it's a part of your religion that can be integrated perfectly with real life and it grounds us a lot. I'm planning on a career that involves communication and humanities subjects, for example (but you don't have to go that far as to change your job!). You might want to do some volunteer work, or just start by doing the best you can to be pleasant and compassionate to the people you meet.

As for being 'wise and powerful' (that phrase didn't sit with me too well either), you may be better saying 'empowered'. If you want to be 'empowered', I suggest you work on increasing your auric vibrations. Doing this can include getting lots of exercise, taking up gardening, eating healthily and meditating and/ or dancing frequently. No one is judging your skill or prowess, and if they are, they're the one with the problem. Take care of the 'sincerity and willingness to learn and grow' part, and the 'wise and powerful' part will come naturally by itself.

The more you read, the more you'll find that Paganism/ Wicca/ WitchCraft is MUCH more than a few incantations and some decorations. I wish you the best of luck on your Path :).

[Hazel BlueMoon]

So, what your saying, Morr, is that I should totally consentrate on Protection?

Well, about the read and "have that take me somewhere" thing, I don't know...I was doing that with Silver RavenWolf's book(s) and I know alot of you don't like her...well, I really do, but should I just "work through" her books? Like don't go onto the next page until I've learned and expierenced everything from the page I'm on?
(I hope that make's sense)

I guess, I should point out that I'm a very organized and "step by step" person. I know overall magick isn't that, but I want to totally absorb and put myself into one thing at a time. I've already done a bit here and there. I'm just wondering if there's one or two thing's that are really worth getting through. But don't worry, I'll continue to read...I love to read.

I guess what I'm really asking is; What was the first thing YOU got into and experienced? Thanks though, you guy's are very helpful, I greatly apreciate it. Blessed Be.

[Hazel BlueMoon]

I'm also not really into casting any spells quite yet. I mean, I kinda want to "grow my power" (empowerment...thanks Lauralei ;) )
before I do any rituals or spells.

Do you guy's reccomend I do cast spells. Will that help me alot? ???

[Nighthawk]

I would try something by Cunningham or one of the authors here at MW... we have a few

[Klucky]

I honestly can't remember exactly how I got into it and why, but I did start out reading everything I could get my hands on. I highly reccommend books by Scott Cunningham. I remember things being jumbled and all over the place, but eventually what I learned starting pulling itself together and making sense. I didn't like the jumbled information when I first started out. I mean, I'm a Virgo. We need order. :)

As for "working through a book", that depends. Do you mean spell-wise? Or is it some kind of step-by-step self-improvment procedure? If it's pertaining towards spells, I suggest not doing that stuff until you really need it. For instance, a protection spell if you really need protection. But, if it's more for understanding things better in the book, then yes, work through it. But then again, you don't have to be bound by that.

Ahhh...this religion is all over the place. :) You have a lot of freedom.

-Klucky

[Klucky]

I would try something by Cunningham or one of the authors here at MW... we have a few

You beat me! :)

-Klucky

[Hazel BlueMoon]

...but also, another question, What would be the first thing you'd teach someone or an excersize you'd have them do, if you were teaching them....other than READING! ;)
Thanks again MW friends!

[Nighthawk]

Meditation...or clearing and focusing of the mind

[Klucky]

...but also, another question, What would be the first thing you'd teach someone or an excersize you'd have them do, if you were teaching them....other than READING! ;)
Thanks again MW friends!

Simple relaxation and meditation, me thinks. :)

-Klucky

[Klucky]

Meditation...or clearing and focusing of the mind

You did it AGAIN! :lol:

-Klucky

[Nighthawk]

You SHOULD be my daughter....

Also.. cleansing of the mind.... making it empty, in order to fill it with correct thoughts

[Klucky]

You SHOULD be my daughter....

Also.. cleansing of the mind.... making it empty, in order to fill it with correct thoughts

*thumps head* I know there's one more important thing we're forgetting...

Gah, this is going to drive me nuts now.

-Klucky

[Hazel BlueMoon]

Finally, thank you so much, I know I'm retarded at asking questions...I'm sorry to have you guy's have to read all the other crap that I "thought" I wanted to know!

Thanks so much! Blessed Be.

[Nighthawk]

I'm also not really into casting any spells quite yet. I mean, I kinda want to "grow my power" (empowerment...thanks Lauralei ;) )
before I do any rituals or spells.

Do you guy's reccomend I do cast spells. Will that help me alot? ???

Can you point at a spider in the middle of the room in the pitch dark? Can you feel a cat walk down a hallway? Can you hear/feel a snake in the grass while you are running? Do you shoot sparks at everyone you touch?

[Morr]

So, what your saying, Morr, is that I should totally consentrate on Protection?

Well, about the read and "have that take me somewhere" thing, I don't know...I was doing that with Silver RavenWolf's book(s) and I know alot of you don't like her...well, I really do, but should I just "work through" her books? Like don't go onto the next page until I've learned and expierenced everything from the page I'm on?
(I hope that make's sense)

I guess, I should point out that I'm a very organized and "step by step" person. I know overall magick isn't that, but I want to totally absorb and put myself into one thing at a time. I've already done a bit here and there. I'm just wondering if there's one or two thing's that are really worth getting through. But don't worry, I'll continue to read...I love to read.

I guess what I'm really asking is; What was the first thing YOU got into and experienced? Thanks though, you guy's are very helpful, I greatly apreciate it. Blessed Be.


Well, I meant if you feel youre ready to cast spells, and you want to do something that would keep you in a "safe zone", something that wont get out of hand or may get misinterperted. You shouldnt TOTALLy concentrate on it, in essence you should concentrate on what you truely need when it comes to spell casting. However if what you desire is love - thats a tricky and dangoures deal. Thats why you need to gain experience from the simple, not dangoures or harming to others areas (in my opinion). Its like learning the ABCs - First you learn all the letters, then you learn how the vowels connect them, and then you start spelling words, however you dont start from the most complicated word in the dictionary - you start from the simplest & shortest words.

I personally started out with a simple protection spell. It was more of a "get to know the gods" type of thing. I did my first casting of circle, invitation of the corners& the gods, and a step by step simple ritual asking the Gods to aid me & protect me (or more like "be with me") during the daily battles of life.. And I guess this WAS sort of a mini empowerment deal.

Keep on reading - Especially Cunningham, like another person said here. His book - "Wicca - A Guide for the Solitary Practioner" is a VERY good book, it has all the basics. Its simple & to the point. I started out with that one. I also suggest looking online - Personal websites of witches & wiccans sometimes hold the most useful information - since they bring it from their own very personal experiences.

Good Luck!

[Hazel BlueMoon]

I can see REALLY well at night...so maybe I could see a spider..if it was big enough. The cat thing...yeah, I can feel thing's like that and people looking at me too. The snake thing? I don't think so...maybe? I don't know though. And the spark? hmm...well, not really, I do tend to "shock" people...but not alot and because of obvious friction.
How come?

[Nighthawk]

I can see REALLY well at night...so maybe I could see a spider..if it was big enough. The cat thing...yeah, I can feel thing's like that and people looking at me too. The snake thing? I don't think so...maybe? I don't know though. And the spark? hmm...well, not really, I do tend to "shock" people...but not alot and because of obvious friction.
How come?
FEEL the spider...close eyes an dfeel... it is a perception thing.. that is what I was getting at.. Morr has the protection idea and I have the perception thing..Klucky and I the reading and absorbing. there is a lot to this... no one is wrong.. all are good and, in the end necessary

[Aidron]

Spellcasting is only half of it. The religion of WitchCraft...


Spellcasting may not even be half of it, depending on who you speak to. Magical workings vary in degree and amount from person to person, just a ethics do. However, I wanted to point out there there is no 'religion of witchcraft'. Witchcraft is just that, a craft you work and practice at. Wicca is a religion. This is just something I always feel obliged to point out.


As for advice in regard to the topic, read, listen, and explore. Keep a level head on your shoulders though and do not take anything you read, hear, or discover as 'gospel' or as 'a universal truth' unless it can actually be proven as such.

Meditate and often. You may not be good at it at first, few are, but as with all things in time you will improve. You will be surprised what you learn from meditations, and thus, yourself. We are our own best teachers, believe it or not.

Since spellcasting is out, for now, as you are not ready for it you said, try simple energy work such as casting a circle, working with chakras, working with auras, and perhaps even take up a divinatory tool such as the tarot cards, scrying, the runes, or whatever appeals to you. Keep it simple, but try not to delve into anything you have no knowledge of. In other words, before you try something it might serve you well to research the topic (such as circle casting, chakras, and so forth) in three different sources. The internet, certain shows available on T.V., DVDs and VHS, books, and seminars are all a few ways to provide you with information. Just try not to jump to conclusions until you've researched any one topic around a bit, as there is a lot of really negative misinformation out there.

For books to help start you off, try anything by Scott Cunningham, Laurie Cabot, Amber K, or Dorothy Morrison. I found each helpful in their own way in the beginning of my studies.

[Laurelei]

I noticed you mentioned you're working through Silver RavenWolf's books, good for you! She's reguary slated by the Pagan community, and as an author I can't stand her, but I do like her books. I've worked through three of them. However, when I say 'worked through' I mean I read them from cover to cover, made sure I understood what it said, and moved on. You don't have to experience everything she writes in that order, and never EVER take her word as Dogma. She is reguarly trashed for quoting misinformation. I came to the decision not to try and experience everything she wrote after noticing the sheer pointlessness of some of the exercises. Why on earth would I want to tape record a verbal account of my dreams, and how is that feasible when I get shaken awake at 7 am? Daft...

The trouble with this religion (I find it a blessing myself) is that it's very vague and there's no Priest to go and copy every Sunday. A lot of people don't like the fact that their spiritual development isn't set out in stone.

"Living is the Magick... and Religion isn't a hobby"

I gave up on chasing the 'wise and powerful' ideal about 3 months into my studies. If you're chasing that dream, you're missing the point. The truly wise and powerful aren't even aware of it, because it fits them naturally. That's true 'power'.

EDITED TO ADD:

Spellcasting may not even be half of it, depending on who you speak to. Magical workings vary in degree and amount from person to person, just a ethics do. However, I wanted to point out there there is no 'religion of witchcraft'. Witchcraft is just that, a craft you work and practice at. Wicca is a religion. This is just something I always feel obliged to point out.
Yes, sorry, I'm a total klutz when it comes to labels :lol:. I'm Pagan, and I practice WitchCraft (but not Wicca), so I often link up WitchCraft with religion.

[Mab]

Ok, so........First off, I like Silver Ravenwolf, too, but I've read a lot of other stuff by other authors as well. I've only been "practicing" for a few months. I've been reading & studying for a little over a year. I had to come to a place where I defined what I believed. And I found I was drawn to different things. Based on my heritage, I am really interested in the Celtic craft & have found I don't know enough about it, so I'm devouring everything I can find. I'm also taking a class at a local New Age center. I'm talking to other pagans & discussing what they believe & their experiences. And I'm finding I'm being tested a lot. I've also received visitors from the spiritual realm & have noticed a lot of messages coming my way via crows & other animals. Visions have begun to appear to me much more frequently. I've begun writing everything down--EVERYTHING. Visions, animal sitings, random weirdness, dreams, tarot spreads, etc.......to analyze my own work & what messages I'm getting & what's working. The first spell I did was a protection spell, too, b/c it's really simple & you don't have to worry about it invading on other ppl's will. I just sealed my windows & doors in my apt with a protective pentacle. (And, btw--totally works). I've started working on learning about herbals & simples & soaps & such.

It's so intuitive, though, that there's really no one way or one starting point. Go with where your gut leads. If you have an interest in something--herbs, crystals, candle magic, whatever--find a class, find some books, check it out & go from there.

Good luck & best wishes on your journey.

[Lunacie]

I think the first thing to learn is how to "cleanse" the clutter from one's aura, then "ground" by connecting your root chakra to Mother Earth, next draw in Universal (Diety) energy through your crown chakra, let the two energy mingle in your center (near your solar plexus), and finally use some of the energy to become aware of the world around you. It's also a good idea to learn to use the energy to form a shield. It's much harder to loose than a protection charm, eh? :) I think Scott Cunningham talks about these things in his book "Wicca for the Solitary Practicioner".

[LadyAutumnCat]

My advice on finding your path is to definitely read and then to just let things be, you will know when you are on the right track!! good luck