If you would rather listen to this rather than read it please visit my podcast The Woo Woo podcast on Spotify!
I do know not all my listeners are witchs or practice magick, So im not really going to talk too much about the craft in this podcast unless specifically requested.
but todays episode we will talk about how I got started in the craft, how you can get started if you're new to the practice of witchcraft and some recommended resources.
I'll give you some recommendations for books to read, youtubers to follow and some of my favorite blogs.
When I was in High School is when I first really got started. I am not sure when I realized witches are real but I was always interested in the supernatural. I was living with my dad and my stepmom at the time who are Christian so I knew they werent going to be supportive of my interests. So I went to a family friend and he took me to LA and we went to a metaphysical store. It was the first time i've ever been in a store like that, full of books on spells, crystals, incense. I loved it. we must of spent like an hour there. I did not research anything before going so I had no idea what I wanted or what I needed. we just ended up buying a lot of stuff. but eventually my stepmom found all my stuff and was freaked out so she and my dad threw everything away. I left it at that and probably didnt get back into the craft until like 6 years later.
Witchcraft is a practice not a religion. Did you know that there are actually Christian witches? sooo if youre listening and interested at all I encourage you to explore a little. I know there is a lot of debate about Christian Witches and i have my own issues with Christianity, but witchcraft is very individualized, everyone has their own path. whatever path you feel you need to go on that is up to you!
Okay, So my first tip if you're getting into the craft is to read! read, read, read and read some more. Witchcraft is a lot of researching and studying! I read so many books before I ever did anything. Some of my favorite books I recommend you check out are:
Raymonds Bucklands Complete Book of Witchcraft
Wicca a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunnigham
The Witches Path by Thorne Mooney
Year of the Witch: Connecting with Natures Seasons Through Intuitive Magick
Inner Witch by Gabriela Herstik
I believe all those books are Wicca based but they are so good and a real easy read. Inner Witch is the only one that is not wicca based.
Theres so many different types of witches theres Wicca, Dianic witches, druids, ect ect.. I really like Raymon Bucklands book because he does briefly go over some of the different types of witches. I explored Wicca a lot in the beginning, but realized that it was not for me. Wicca is very structured, they have a lot of rules and they require a year and a day initiation. I do believe a year and a day sort of self initiation can be fun. I have tried Modern Magick by Donald Michael Kraig and actually I do recommend you all check that book out as well. I'm currently going through it but I keep getting off track. Another book you should check out if you like doing little course challenge books is Kabbalah Magick by Lyam Thomas Christopher.
Find out what you're interested in and start there. You'd actually be surprised how many books you can find at your local library. A lot of these books are available on amazon kindle as well which is cheaper then paperback, You can also check thriftbooks.com.
so lets get into my favorite youtubers.
So Harmony Nice was actually the first youtuber I ever watched about witchcraft. I love her. She is so sweet. She is wiccan and no longer making videos but you can go check out her old videos
Right now I love watching the Witch of Wonderlust and The chaotic witch aunt which i think it's funny because eventually they started showing up on each others youtube so I thought that was pretty cool. I need myself a witch friend like that. ugh
On tiktok im actually kinda liking Kaizen.. He's a lil interesting ha
Omg Pipercj i love her, her tiktok is all about folklore and mythology. Im loving it so much. She's written a few fiction books on the fae, im waiting for her to come out with a non fiction book. Shes so great. I deffinitly recommend you check her out on tiktok So before you get started in spell work I do recommend that you spend time practicing on strengthening your intuition. Start with affirmations (I like to work with the moon, I'm recording this podcast on Friday when the moon is in Virgo, Virgo is the sign of intelligence and practicality, It is a time for precision in work and financial matters. So my affirmation today might be "I am capable of of success and abundance in my business".)
The best time to repeat your affirmations are in the morning and at night because our minds are in a very receptive state - The Theta State - which is the best state for manifestation.
Its important to state your affirmations as it already is. Speaking in the present and visualizing it happening. I like to picture it already happening in my mind. I know some people dont see pictures so maybe just get a sense of knowing that it is true, it is done. or feel into it. If this affirmation is true what are you feeling!
Another thing I recommend you do is Meditation. It's important to practice daily mindfulness, You can do this with yoga, a daily mindfulness walk, or practice being mindful when doing daily house chores. Meditation is so important especially if you plan to do spell work because it will help strengthen your intution and visualization. I think you should challenge yourself and do a sit down meditation everyday. And there's a book for that. two actually.
I love Spiritual Warfare by Black Witch Coven, This is a 6 month daily mediation guide. Dont be freaked out by the name, I actually love Savannah as well and I recommend you check out her blog. I think its so important to open your mind and explore different traditions, different practices.
Okay, So my 2nd meditation book is Psychic Witch by Mat auryn (aaron?). And this one is more of a go at your own pace. once you perfect the first meditation you move on to the next or maybe you jump around.
If you dont want to do a meditation book challenge you can just pick one of your favorite meditations and challenge yourself to sit and do it everyday. I get bored, I like the books because it changes things up.
Some daily exercises to strengthen your intuition are Energy work and Intuitive games. So i just started doing this with my son again. The first would be energy work, so rub your hands together really fast until you feel some heat and then slowly move them away from each other. just like an inch or two. and try and slowly, gently close them. your going to feel this push like 2 opposite batteries. thats energy.
Some people will do this and then still not believe in energy but energy is real, energy is all around us. Have you ever walked into a room and felt this tension or sense of awkardness... that's energy!
I also recommend to download some apps. I like Moonly, Insight timer, The moon app ( astrological signs) , Time passages (planetary time, for spell work), Amino
alright so some of the beginner books i mentioned above will recommend you buy some tools.. here are my favorite spots if you cant afford what they sale at a metaphysical store.
5 Below is great, you can get yoga mats, yoga blocks, Incense, incense holders, tarot cards, books and even some 7 day candles. I wouldn't recommend their Crystals. I assume theyre super fake For crystals I recommend Mimosa. the website is Mimosaspirit.com I actually got my crystal healing certification from Ashley so she is the only place i recommend for crystals or your local metaphysical store
Believe it or not Dollar Tree is actually a great place to get some supplies. They have various color 7 day candles and platter you can use to set candles on and glasses you can use as chalices.
Thrift stores are my favorite places to go. I've gotten so much from thrift stores. I love finding cigar boxes or jewlery boxes and use those to store my tools. I also get my candles from thrift stores. They say candle wax is very easy to suck in old energy but I also believe that its just as easy to clean that energy and fill it with positive energy for your spell work.
Check out your town and surrounding area. I know a lot of places now have little monthly magical marketplaces. They have vendors there where you can buy brand new magical tools. Here in Texas they have a Witchfest once a year. its so much fun. I went 2 years ago with my oldest son, we saw all the vendors, we watched a live coven meeting, listened to a live band and heard some cool speakers. I went again this year and was surpised that my fiance went with me and we still had a lot of fun. A lot of times when we go out.. hes like my son, he just wants to go home. but he didnt complain at all and wasnt negative? idk if negative is the word im looking for.. he doesnt believe in what i believe in but he is very supportive. He went with me, was a good sport and even participated in a coven ritual. I'd like to go again next year.. not so sure if he'll go again though. My favorite part of the Witchfest is the speakers, I usually try to avoid the vendors because I have everything I need and I know i'll spend money on unnecessary things or i'll write a list of things I need and make sure to stick to that list and dont get distracted by Shiny fever. I also always let my son pick one thing. The first time he got a wand and the 2nd time we went he got a dragon fidget thing. It's a lot of fun and very family friendly. See if your state as one.
Also check facebook for local events. I lived in a small town and they actually opened a metaphysical store and hosted a full moon drumming circle, my son and I went and it was a lot of fun! So check out what your town has to offer. one thing I want to say is dont get tricked by aesthetically pleasing books and instagram feeds. Your practice does not have to look like that. I know mine doesnt. Remember Withcraft is a practice not a religion, you dont need to rush into it, you dont need to Pick a path and stik to it. Do what you want to do. Take your time. Explore all the paths. You can change your mind thousands of times. Like I said when I first got into witchcraft I really thought Wicca was my thing. I went onto Ancestry to find out more about my background and started learning more about the different heritages in my bloodline. Your roots are probably a lot more diverse than you think. So aside from witchcraft specific books find books on those different heritages, look up traditions, what cultures are a part of you, what family practices are handed down and where do those come from.
If you join facebook witchy communities just know that everyone has different opinions, take everything you read and hear with a grain of salt and continue to do your own research.
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