How To Be a Witch – Step By Step

So, do you think you are a witch? Do you feel it? Do you sense it? But you don’t know to become one of us?

I know there is a lot of misinformation about witches and witchcraft in general and things might seem confusing and hard to approach, but don’t worry because following these steps will make a huge difference in how you connect with the craft and how you explore your powers and gifts.

Witchcraft is a complex and personal practice, a way to implement popular magics, and involves a deep knowledge of nature, the spiritual world, and oneself. If you feel well prepared and at the same time dissatisfied with traditional beliefs.

Learn all you need to know about witchcraft

Learn all there is to know about the various magical traditions. There is no general school of witchcraft or spell casting, which means that novices often find it difficult to distinguish what is true from what is false.

Becoming a witch is a personal path that requires a lot of research, commitment, and study. Depending on your interests, some schools of thought and traditions may be more appropriate than others.

Make Some Mental Space For Your Spirit

With our phones always in hand and a quick scroll through social media just a quick arm’s reach away it can be hard to make the time for yourself to think. So once you feel content with your researching endeavours, make some time for you!

Step back so that you can think it out and feel it out.

Whether this comes in the form of meditation in a quiet space in your home, sitting outside and watching the clouds, or having a soothing bubble bath – that ‘me-time’ is precious to your spirit. When you make a space where everything can be quiet, you can begin to allow spirit to guide your thoughts.

Have a think about which aspects of your witchy research stand out most strongly to you. Let your mind freely flow with ideas on your spirituality. Listen to your own inner guidance, hear your intuitive insight out and let them be your guide as to where you want to go with your magical practice first.

How to Become a Witch
This beginning stage of learning witchcraft is very slow and gentle, there’s no point leaping in, casting spells all over the place if you don’t understand how it works. You could get yourself into real trouble that way. It’s not like it is on TV or in the movies. So the first step in your witch journey is to think about what it means to you to be a witch. You need to understand what it is that draws you to the craft.

• You might have always felt this way, sort of ‘otherworldly’, at odds with the fast-paced life we all live.

• Being a witch feels right to you, as though you stepped onto the right path.

• You have an affinity with animals and nature.

• You suspect you might have a level of psychic skills, or at the very least, you have well-developed intuition.

• You notice that your body, moods, tastes, natural rhythms seem to coincide with the changes in the seasons.

So take the time to explore why you feel this way. It’s important to distinguish between being attracted to the craft because it makes you feel special, and being drawn to it because you have no other choice; it’s who you are.

Read a lot

The thing a novice witch has to learn quickly is that each form of witchcraft practices differently. There is no bible of witchcraft, there are no guidelines or a set of laws and principles for witches. Your practice is yours and nobody else’s, so it is essential to evaluate each expert with a little critical sense. You can read classics, but you have to visualize them according to your thinking and interpret them according to the practice.

Researching Witchcraft
Witchcraft is a huge topic. There are so many traditions that may or may not fit you. So this stage is where you start researching and reading. There are so many books and websites that it is hard to recommend just one. Look at books by modern authors such as Melusine Draco – she has a really good series on witchcraft in all environments and situations. Christopher Penczac is also a renowned authority on the spiritual aspects of witchcraft. There is a short list of recommended books at the end of Were You Born to Be a Witch? Don’t be overwhelmed by all the information out there, and don’t take one person’s opinion as being the only way. You have to gradually put it together yourself. This is where keeping a journal will come in useful. You can build up a framework for yourself, as long as you understand that your beliefs and perspective will change as you go along.

Read up on the many paths and traditions. For instance, you might decide that Wicca is the way for you – Wicca is a recognized religion and involves a set way of practicing, depending on which branch of Wicca you follow. Wicca is mainly, but not always, centered on training groups that mean you begin at the beginning and progress through a series of initiations. It’s structured and it may be all you want and expected. On the other hand, it can be full of dogma and rules, so if you are not that kind of person, it might not be for you.

If you feel that you’d prefer a more free and easy way of witching, then perhaps you’d rather be a ‘solitary’? One who practices the craft in his or her own way. And, being a solitary doesn’t mean that you can’t join up with other witches for events, rituals and general chat. Then there are all the ‘formal’ traditions, such as Celtic Witchcraft or Scandinavian Witchcraft. Perhaps a Little research into your own family origins would help you decide which tradition calls to you?

Beginning Your Practice
If you have chosen any kind of group or coven to get started in, you don’t have to worry about this stage as you will be guided all the way. You will be treated gently and given instruction and teaching.

Should you have decided to practice on your own, then again, take it gently. First of all, you will need to learn how to meditate. Meditation may seem at odds with your idea of being a witch, but it isn’t. Witches have been getting in touch with their subconscious since the dawn of time. In some old British traditions like Cornish Witchcraft, it was, and is, called ‘becoming’.

Meditation helps you to connect with the life force of the universe and the wisdom you have deep in your soul. It is the basis of spell work, healing, divination and many other aspects of witchcraft. For example, a witch who wants to heal someone, will put herself into a trance state to connect with that individual, once she has reached a deep state of relaxation and ‘becoming’, she will carry out her healing ritual, which may only consist of sending energy, or it might be a full blown ritualistic spell. Adrian, at Blue Moon Manor, offers a free introductory course, that involves meditative practice. It will give you an idea where and how to begin. It is based on British traditional witchcraft, but even if that’s not your thing, it’ll give you a simple place to start. The lessons are delivered weekly, so you can’t go too fast.

Living the Witchy Life
By this time you will have read lots, perhaps feel a little overwhelmed, but you know that you are on the right path. If you haven’t already, it’s time to delve in deeper. With one of your trusty books as a guide, try your first spell. Keep it simple.

You don’t really need any of the tools and accoutrements of witchcraft I order to practice it, but they door help set the atmosphere. Fortunately many of them can be gathered for free, bought cheaply, or made.

• Collect some unusual shells, stones, pebbles, feathers, and twigs.

• Look out for a likely wand – hopefully, you’ll find one that has broken off naturally from a tree branch. If you feel you need to take it directly from the tree, then ask the tree for permission and remember to thank it once you have cut it.

• Small candles and tea lights are considered important elements of any ritual by many.

• Salt is also a component of certain rituals.

Continue your studies. Witches never stop learning, so find out about the Wheel of the Year, moon phases, healing, divination, etc. It’s possible that you will discover a path within the craft that holds your attention. It’s all very exciting and you are right at the beginning of a beautiful adventure.