Check out Wiccan writings by Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and Scott Cunningham. There are, of course, deeper things at play: Witchcraft and covens have also proven to be a source of solace and solidarity for some in the #MeToo era, following an increasing association between witches and feminism. Find a group of like-minded practitioners and ignore the dissenters. Wicca, in its traditional form, is considered closed, due to the fact that is it a mystery religion and formal initiation into a coven is required. Any person from any religion (or lack thereof) can practice secular witchcraft. Witchcraft is a broad term that varies culturally and societally, and thus can be difficult to define with precision. Witchcraft is not a binding commitment. 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. Increasingly, they’ve been popping up all over the place, from pop culture—see: Luca Guadagnino’s remake of the horror film Suspiria, Netflix’s remake of Sabrina the Teenage Witch—to the runways of Fashion Week (Celine and Burberry were just two of the seemingly dozens of brands that served up witchy vibes this past season alone). This would be like buying yoga pants and mala beads, and calling yourself a yogi. Rather than get overwhelmed, get your bearings by having at least a basic understanding of the terms below. Whereas witches are typically thought of as women, many Wiccans are men and worship both a god and a goddess. Black Magic: A form of magic used with dark, malevolent, and harmful intentions, commonly associated with satanism. If other witches don't want to help you learn, or disagree with a particular practice or reading that you find power in, talk to other witches. Photo courtesy of Everett Collection. Eclectic witch: An eclectic witch will blend the traditions and beliefs from many other paths to form a unique system. (For a more firsthand—and definitely lighter—read, Stewart Farrar’s What Witches Do recounts his experience of being a witch and part of a coven led by Alex and Maxine Sanders, who cofounded Alexandrian Wicca in the 1960s.). questions. If you're interested in being a witch, know that there's not just one type of witchcraft that you have to follow. (See here if you are). These authors often include historical inaccuracies (ranging from misunderstandings/misconceptions to outright lies), biased views on various subjects, and rampant cultural appropriation. Is Wicca a religion or is it a lifestyle? Hello everyone :) here’s the video you’ve all been waiting for! This article has been viewed 1,010,915 times. Meditate on the task to come. It's like Facebook for pagans. Don't dabble with things you don't understand; especially spirits and the like. When you connect with those energies, you've got to contact them safely and detach yourself from them safely as well. A complex and personal practice, witchcraft is a method of folk magic, involving an in-depth knowledge of the natural world, the spiritual world and the self. Book of Shadows: A Wiccan’s personal grimoire, used to store information they need, such as thoughts, recipes, and instructions for spells, rituals, and hexes. ", that I might be Wiccan, and I'm slowly embracing that fact. As a beginner witch, you can be sure of one thing: there is no One True Way to be a witch. ), Some places to start are learning how to do a candle dressing, trying out some basic rituals, and familiarizing yourself with the different uses of crystals and candles—all of which you can keep a record of in your Book of Shadows. To create this article, 103 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Know what you are doing or you could seriously injure yourself. You’ll find that the more that you dive into each topic, the more it will unfold for you. Witchcraft is the practice of what the practitioner ("witch") believes to be magical skills and abilities such as using spells, incantations, and magical rituals. Consider enlightening them; once they know how happy you are, they may no longer feel as hurt. Scott Cunningham is a good example of this. Some witches have big leather-bound tomes with parchment pages, some use spiral bound notebooks, some use the "notes" function on their phones, some don't even use one at all. It drove me super crazy, so I spent the, "I am just starting to explore Wicca and driving a friend crazy with a million questions, so I think the best advice, "I'm feeling more comfortable about my decision based on the information given. Feeling at home in nature is a good indication that you have witch potential—when you're in it, you feel compelled to bath in the river, touch the trees, lay in the moss, put your feet in the ocean, listen to the birds, and appreciate the sound of dew in the trees. To learn how to cast and use spells, scroll down! If they feel hurt, it is likely because they do not understand Wicca or witchcraft. Don't be fooled by new age rip-offs. To become a witch in The Sims 2: Apartment Life, a Sim (teen, young adult, adult or elder) must be turned by one.This can be done by either befriending a High Witch (who at times show up at a community lot) and asking to be taught the ways of light/darkness, or directing a playable witch with enough magic skill to cast Magus Mutatio on the target Sim. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. One of the most important steps to becoming a witch is to connect with nature. Photo courtesy of Everett Collection. Regional and esoteric witchcrafts, like Santeria, Stregheria, Fari, Pharmakos, and other cultural witchcrafts are also common, depending on where you live and your culture's traditions. Stay positive. There were a lot of unexplained things in my life and I have found I am not so crazy, I just needed to search. Meryl Streep in Into The Woods (2014). Your family members can choose whether or not to be hurt by your decision. Light candles at the corners and sit in the middle. Do some theoretical study on the properties of different herbs and work practically with the spirits of these plants. some Hindu sects, and some various Native American religions and cultures. Photo courtesy of Everett Collection. Despite the mainstream’s growing fascination, the past few years have also seen, for example, a whopping 900 percent rise in (at times lethal) child-abuse cases linked to suspicion of witchcraft and demonic possession in the U.K. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Others will respect you less and will see through it. Are you an Empath? You get to choose what path or tradition to take. I suggest working with this list as a broad guide. A good witch is attuned to her tools, keeping them charged and free from negative energies. If so, start with the basics (and praise your deity of choice you made this decision after the invention of Google). This means not to tell people about any spells you are working because their energies could deflect yours and the spell won't work. Thank you so much for making the time to write this much needed information. While stereotyping encourages hundreds of negative connotations, she insists it's as normal as doing yoga, or meditation. Sarah Paulson in American Horror Story: Coven (2013). (Some supplies won’t need to be purchased—the so-called Feces Spell, for example, is definitely chief in that category. Do your homework with ANY book you read. The easiest one, however, is to simply not go around shouting about your newfound identity. Thank you so much for the wonderful articles! Beginner Witch Guide. Try to take things with a grain of salt. This article helped me realize who I am and how to cultivate it. It’s … (Just ask one of the estimated one million Americans who currently practice some form of paganism.) Photo courtesy of Everett Collection. Keep in mind that some religions/practices are closed. " These books can be useful, absolutely, but do your own independent research, and don't take anyone's word as gospel, no matter how popular they are. Empathy. If you don't believe in magic, then none of your spells will work! Rose McGowan in Charmed (1998–2006). Certain things sell better than others. It's better to be honest about your knowledge and be willing to learn. If a coven is Wiccan, their meetings often involve sabbats, which are celebrations of the annual cycle of seasonal festivals known as the Wheel of the Year. Brujería: An umbrella term for African, Caribbean, and indigenous Latin American witchcraft, dating back centuries, if not thousands of years. Spells have been used for a variety of purposes ever since the days of the Magi of Zoroastrianism and Ancient Egypt, but those that are specifically used for negative and/or harmful purposes are known as hexes and curses. Coven witch: A coven witch has been initiated into a group of witches. Green witchcraft is a good foundation if you want to be a hedge witch. In many traditions, a circle must contain candles at each of the four cardinal directions–North, South, East, and West. Outsider-ness. Witchcraft isn’t just fun and games; perks like hexes and love spells can come with a price. Connecting your practice as much as you can with the earth is an excellent idea. Sarah Jessica Parker in Hocus Pocus (1993). Answer: To be a witch you have to practice witchcraft - it's not an innate characteristic. Photo courtesy of Everett Collection. Conway. ", rest of this day finding out how the be a witch. Photo courtesy of Everett Collection. Follow your intuition. Get a local field guide for greenery in your climate and go out frequently to find useful magick herbs. (Inverted pentacles aren’t necessarily satanic, though Wiccans have recently largely strayed from using them to avoid that association.). Its modern-day practitioners are known as neo-pagans. A connection with nature is essential. You are literally “one” with nature, its elements, the earth … Can we have sex or not? It's also a good idea to keep a representative of each element in the circle with you. Related: Five Underrated Witch Movies to Add to Your Halloween Watchlist, Five Underrated Witch Movies to Add to Your Halloween Watchlist. Light candles and prepare other objects that will be necessary for the ritual that you're going to perform. Raise and release the energy you're invoking. Initiation: The rites that put a budding witch on the path to making things official, by joining a coven after studying its practice, traditionally for a year and a day. Because it’s not only a skill but also a … wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Hit the Books Many people assume that becoming a witch simply means giving yourself the title of witch and then casting the occasional spell. Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall the Harry Potter film franchise (2001–2011). Then, set up an altar to practice your witchcraft at, and decorate it with some of your most prized possessions and interesting objects that inspire you. Going back to the first step of knowing the risks, The Penguin Book of Witches, written by Katherine Howe, a descendant of some of Salem’s accused witches, is a helpful guide to witch-related history (and tragedy), dating back to the 1600s. Elizabeth Montgomery in Bewitched (1964–1972). "I always loved nature. I also saw other one on wikiHow, so I'm putting them together. Herbs and stones are available for purchase, but it's a good idea to learn more about foraging and collecting fresh herbs to dry for yourself. If you’d prefer (and can afford) to do your witchcraft with, say, the luxury of pastel macarons and grapefruit-and-cucumber-scented candles, you may want to reach out to the group of rather infamous rich kids whose ceremonies The New York Times has described as “more Beyoncé than séance-y.” For New Yorkers looking to go the social justice route—and brave enough to face death threats and Christian protesters—your best bet may be to hit up Melissa Madara, one of the owners of the Bushwick occult store Catland Books, who recently hosted a gathering to cast a hex on Brett Kavanaugh. Michelle Pfeiffer in Stardust (2007). Pentacle: A magical tool such as an amulet or talisman that often appears on an altar, and is also often confused with a pentagram—a symbol popular in Wicca and, confusingly enough, the Church of Satan, which has pretty successfully taken ownership of its inverted version. to cast spells; a \"spell\" being the word used to signify the means employed to carry out a magical action If you wish to increase your spell's power or gain (money, love, etc), work with the moon while it is full or becoming full. Familiar: An animal-shaped spirit that serves as a witch’s spy, assistant, companion, and protector—the classic example of which is Sabrina’s black cat, Salem. If other people are around to perform the ritual with you, gather together, hold hands, and complete the cleansing prayers together. Nigel Jackson, Nigel Pennick, Carlo Ginzburg, Robin Artisson, Gemma Gary, Andrew Chumbley, have written widely of traditional witchcraft. Emma Watson in the Harry Potter film franchise (2001–2011). You can help to protect yourself by charging your tools with all-natural mineral spirits and circling yourself in salt. Why? Wicca and “green” witchcrafts are popular in the United States, often revolving around Gaia-study and nature-based spells and meditation. Photo courtesy of Everett Collection. This article received 51 testimonials and 84% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. It can be as fancy or as plain as you like, and no two are the same, which adds to their charm and power. Photo courtesy of Everett Collection. A book of shadows, often called a grimoire, as "book of shadows" is a term that has specifically Wiccan roots and doesn't necessarily apply to all witches, is a book in which you keep your personal notes/spells/what have you. If you've got a strong connection to place, research the local practices where you live. Eclecticism: A more social route for those who choose not to stick to a particular category but instead mix traditions as they please.Learn the terminology. You will come across information that states otherwise but in general think of it this way: Wicca is a religion, Witchcraft is a skill. As for which of the so-called “#witchesofinstagram” you can trust, a word of advice: Despite widespread efforts, posing for gothic photo shoots and/or taking aesthetically pleasing snapshots of crystals are not actually rituals—at least yet. If you're a druid, or another type of traditional witch, keep lots of pictures of your family, your ancestors, on your altar. It's not required (though they are immensely helpful in keeping track of everything you learn and use in your practice). (Be aware that many books and/or authors are coming from a Wiccan/neo-pagan viewpoint. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Be-a-Witch-Step-1.jpeg\/v4-460px-Be-a-Witch-Step-1.jpeg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Be-a-Witch-Step-1.jpeg\/aid312827-v4-728px-Be-a-Witch-Step-1.jpeg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"