In my coven (for lack of a more suitable translation), we learn the craft to become powerful. Not to have fun. Not to just try it. Not out of curiosity. But to use it as a weapon. The way the 1% use money as ammunition. And while the depth of our teachings are hidden, here is how it all begins.
1) Record Your Dreams
They are a portal to the future, parallel realities and other worlds. Keep a journal on your nightstand. Every morning, list down everything you saw and heard in your dreams. Dates, names and entire scenarios. Reread your journal every couple of weeks to see how the symbols manifested in your life. This is you learning to harvest prophecies in your sleep.
2) Log Your Predictions
If you read the cards, take a photo of every spread and write down your interpretation. If you scry, record your every vision. Leave a space in your notes so you can come back at a later date and comment on the correctness of your predictions. The more clearly you can see where you went right or wrong, the more you can strive towards precision.
3) Analyze People
When you interact with people, take the time to gaze at them and really listen to what they are saying. Soon enough you will be able to know what is going on inside their mind. You will catch gestures, expressions and intonations that reveal their true intentions This logical exercise will awaken the magical side of mind-reading that may be latent inside you.
4) Embody Confidence
Whether you are extroverted or introverted, find your inner beauty and greatness, and give them a chance to come out of hiding. When you are confident in who you are, other people’s energy are drawn towards you, fueling your spirit. You also attract the attention of nearby entities who may choose to reveal their presence to you and grant you favors.
5) Level Up Your Spellwork
Most of the spells you will find on the internet serve as therapeutic activities that may make you feel better psychologically or emotionally, but have no real magic in them. I recommend acquiring a copy of Witchcraft: A Handbook of Magic Spells and Potions (2016) by Anastasia Greywolf. It is a good introduction to authentic spells from all around the world.
6) Learn Your Natal Chart
The sky when you were born is a map of your gifts and strengths. A great dancer will never torture herself for not being able to sing well. Song is not her craft, movement is. You too must hone the skills you have the potential for. Astro-charts is easy to navigate and offers a free service with the option to switch between different astrological systems.
7) Find Your Divination Method
Not everyone will be great at reading tarot or Lenormand. Perhaps your true talent lies in evoking visions from a crystal ball… in calculating the future through the stars… or in seeing one’s destiny by looking at their palms. I recommend The Divination Handbook (2019) by Liz Dean for an overview of your options.
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Always in witchcraft there is going to be a spell or ritual that asks you to set your intentions in order to reach the goal desired. We always hear “set your intentions”, but we never get to hear how to set your intentions. Here, I’m going to give you a step by step guide on how to set your intentions for rituals, spells and anything else that requires your focus.
1. Write down your primary ideas for what you want your intention to be about
Example: I want to be rich, I want to be able to buy things without worry of money, I want to have more tangible assets
2. Analyze your ideas for common themes. What is the main goal you are trying to reach?
Example: Money, Abundance, Wealth
3. Use the themes found to identify your intention. Always be as precise as possible.
Example: I will have an abundance of money, I will have excess cash to live comfortably
4. Write your intention on a specific piece of paper with as few words as possible, but be very specific.
These simple steps will allow you to understand how to set your intentions in an exact manner which will strengthen any spell or ritual you plan on doing. I hope this helped. Thank you for reading!
Black Magic by Brynn Elizabeth Barrietua
Here's a more pragmatic approach to getting started in witchcraft:
Understand Your Intentions: Witchcraft is deeply rooted in intention. Start by identifying your reasons for wanting to explore witchcraft. Is it for self-improvement, healing, personal growth, or something else? Knowing your intentions will help guide your practice.
Learn About Various Practices: Witchcraft is incredibly diverse, with numerous traditions and practices. Research different aspects of witchcraft, including herbalism, crystal work, meditation, and symbolism. This will allow you to choose the aspects that resonate most with you.
Focus on Self-Discovery: Witchcraft is often a journey of self-discovery. Embrace practices that help you understand yourself better. This might involve journaling, meditation, or working with self-reflective tools like Oracle cards or even psychology-based cards for wisdom, learning and introspection rather than interpretation or meaning.
Embrace Practical Tools: Rather than focusing solely on magical tools, consider practical tools that align with your intentions. For example, if you want to enhance your mental well-being, explore mindfulness techniques or cognitive-behavioral tools. Self-empowerment does not have to be a "mystical" thing,
Explore Symbolism: Symbolism plays a significant role in witchcraft. You can incorporate symbols into your daily life to help reinforce your intentions. For example, wearing specific colors or jewelry that symbolize your goals can be meaningful.
Work with Crystals: Crystals are versatile tools that can be used in various ways, even without traditional spells or rituals. You can carry crystals with you, place them in your environment, or use them for self-reflection and intention setting, or reminders of what resonates with you.
Focus on Mindfulness: Developing mindfulness is a powerful practice in witchcraft. Being present in the moment, practicing gratitude, and connecting with nature can all enhance your craft and personal well-being.
Build Your Own Practice: Witchcraft is highly personal. Don't feel pressured to conform to specific traditions or practices. Instead, build your own unique practice that aligns with your values and goals.
Be Skeptical: Maintain a healthy level of skepticism and critical thinking. Question and analyze what you encounter in the world of witchcraft to ensure it aligns with your pragmatic and self-empowered approach.
By taking this pragmatic approach, you can create a meaningful and self-empowering witchcraft practice that is grounded in reality and tailored to your specific needs. This guide encourages you to explore, question, and create a path that resonates with you.
Creating boundaries in your witchcraft is healthy, respect your own boundaries and don't let anyone give you shit because of them
Taking care of yourself is just as important as researching your practice, you need to be okay before anything else
Making your craft accessible to your mental and/or physical disabilities is a right, not a privilege
Witchcraft can 100% be used as a coping skill for mental illness (as long as it is practiced carefully and realistically)
You do not ever need to disclose your craft to anyone
You are not less of a witch for having different needs than Neurotypical or Non-disabled people
Your craft is as unique as you are and that is a good thing
Tips for my closeted witches <3
-Pick up gardening or cooking so you have an excuse to buy/grow herbs/plants
-Do your big spells at night, so no one will intrude & the power of the moon will be the highest than too
-For making moon water just stick a glass of water on your window sill for a couple hours, it doesn’t need to be overnight
-Use symbolism & substitution, such as symbols that represent any deities your work with (if you work with them) this way you can represent them subtly
-Wear a black shirt for protection (use color magic for clothes or make up)
-Make paper book covers to cover your witchcraft books, put them behind other books, or place them with your school work
-Take advantage of windy days and use wind to cleanse
-Practice candle magick
-Research energy work
-Practice ring magick
-Work with essential oils
-Use pdf books and change the name of the file
-Start a crystal collection because they’re pretty
-Start a candle collection because they smell nice
-When making sigils, write them in moon water or in invisible ink so your parents won’t see them
-Store pressed dried herbs in books
-If you play an instrument you can turn spells into songs or melodies
-Use regular cards instead of a tarot deck for cartomancy (in the link down below is our discord server where you will be able to find how to use and play cartomancy), you can also make your own tarot!
-Use showers to cleanse yourself with water and visualization
-Create a cleansing spray and disguise it as an air freshener
-Make a travel alter in an altoids can or make an altar on a board/baking tray and store it under your bed
-Turn your room into an altar, a plant could represent earth in the north corner, a fan or incense burner in the east for air, a dragons statue south for fire and a fountain for water in the west (you can choose what represents each element, this is an example)
-You can also make your altar in a shoebox
-make a digital altar (a dedicated tumblr blog, pinterest board, moodboard, a crafted temple in a building game, etc)
-dedicate meals to them before you eat it, art, music, writing, etc
-Say your grimoire/bos is a book of story ideas or info for a game of dnd
-make digital grimoires/bos in notion or google drive
-Art magick!!
-Sigils as fancy doodles or a language for a fantasy setting
-Trace sigils in your food, in the shower, while applying skin care, in your notebooks, digitally on pictures in your phone, draw a sigil on your nails before painting them with nail polish
-Drinking tea and you’re bad at drawing sigils at the bottom with honey? Don’t like the taste of honey but want to incorporate sigils on your tea) use washable markers on your mugs, you can also use color intent
-enchant your jewelry, masks, clothes, etc
-Pass your pendulum as jewelry
-Make your own incense with kitchen spices/herbs
-If you need to get rid of the smell of incense or perfume or burnt herbs, you can make a solution of 50% water and 50% white vinegar in a spray bottle, also keeping a wet wipe or mini towel next to you can absorb some of the odor
-Hide stuff in plain sight and say they’re decorations (crystals, shells, feathers, etc)
-Spend time on nature so you can connect to the Earth
-If you want to have chalices, you can try to find a cup that you can pass off as drinking cup you keep in your room, if this isn’t possible, than even something as small as a thimble can work
-containers you can use, little pots of lip balm when it runs out, container ||sharpeners||, the containers of camera fills, use old makeup containers, sweet containers, lead containers (pencils, compasses, etc.), medicine containers, etc
-take advantage of being home alone!!!!
-candle wax can be replaced with glue (if you want it with color respondence you can put colorant in it) or melted crayons
Join our discord server: All Things Spiritual for more tips!!!!!!
just thinking of how our meaning or purpose in life is merely to experience. eating an orange segment, hoping for snow, being in love, returning over and over to one painting, stepping outside for the full moon, submersion in water, having a favourite colour, knowing beauty, feeling alone, feeling connected, feeling longing… it is enough.
this is gonna be a resource for y'all. lots of times when you wanna start witchcraft there’s a loooot of info to search through and it can be pretty overwhelming. i want this to be a database for everyone, so that you can have just a broad starting point for your craft. this is long so its under a read more.
Keep reading
Caitlyn Siehl // Leonard Cohen, "Anthem" // Rumi, "Bitterweet" // trans. Anne Carson, "Euripides" // Sade Andria Zabala, "Coffee and Cigarettes" // tumblr acct @/gayassnatural // Anne Carson, "H of H Playbook" // William Shakespeare, "Sonnet 116" // Clementine von Radics, "Mouthful of Forevers" // Toni Morrison, "Jazz"