I'm 12 and I want to start practicing witchcraft. I've tried many things before but I just need professional help on my process.
I'm 12 and I want to start practicing witchcraft. I've tried many things before but I just need professional help on my process.
I have so many more questions like is there consequences, what are the steps I need to do. I've read so many different things but I need advice from someone who knows what there talking about.
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Before starting practicing I think you should understand what you are dealing with. Just as you should understand how to drive a car (pedals, clutch, gear) before you start driving. Sometimes it can be hard to find someone in the neighborhood who can help, but a shop that sells spiritual books and paraphernalia could be a good start. They might help get you on the right track with trainings or books. If you live in London: Watkins Books or Atlantis Bookshop could be a good start (you can also find them on line), or you could try via paganfederation.org.
Just keep in mind: if it doesn't feel good, step away from it. You should feel comfortable with the books, people and rituals at all times.
Thank you, this was really helpful I'll be sure and try to find books and other things.
The hard truth is, unless you have someone in your family who is a witch, you are not likely to find a willing teacher before you reach the age of 18 for legal reasons.
That being said, as a mom I have always felt it was important to teach my kids certain basic skills while they were young and later, if they showed interest in witchcraft I would teach them and those skills would serve them well. If they didn't care to follow in my witchy steps, I never pushed them but the foundational skills I taught them when they were younger would still serve them well. They are as follows.
1. Meditation. This is huge. Also, Yoga helps.
2. The names of common plants in your neighborhood, including the scientific names. Study botany at school if it's offered. It will be a huge help to you in the future. Also learn what wild plants are edible or otherwise useful. Most "weeds" are. You might be surprised.
3. Astronomy. Learn about the phases of the moon, the planets, our solar system and its cycles. This will be useful to you later and it's cool to learn about now anyway. Find a planetarium near you and geek out. Learning astrology is so much easier if you've got a good foundation in astronomy.
4. Cooking. I personally use cooking for magick all the time and even those who don't tend to make potions: salves, vinegars, oils, teas etc. on occasion. Learn to cook. you'll be glad you did.
5. Survival skills. Learn to use a compass (and to get by without one), to light a fire without a match, to cook outside, to forage for edible plants, to make water safe to drink, etc.
6. Crafts. There's a lot of crafts in witchcraft. I knit magick quite often. And there are lots of spells that involve sewing, sculpting, carving and painting. Calligraphy is also a handy magickal skill. I envy those who master it. I never could. I also know a few magical blacksmiths. It can be quite a pain (either you can't find it or it costs a fortune) to get just the right tool, symbol, etc. that you need for what you have in mind. It's good to be able to make your own.
7. Gardening. Many witches use a lot of herbs. If you grow your own from the beginning, they can be even more potent at the end. So gardening is a skill that a future witch should certainly learn.
If you dedicate yourself to learning these skills now then when you are 18 and the Universe presents you with a mentor you'll be starting one step ahead of many folks. And if you get into it and realize it's not for you, you will still have some great skills to get you through life.
I began my craft practice at the age of twelve too. At your age, I did what felt good for me and it's now a foundation to my witchy practice like I always liked having a staff and a cauldron, and I use those things now.
My advice is to meditate every day: morning and evening. If your reading a lot of Llewellyn books (the books with a crescent moon on the spine) take that information with a grain of salt. If you're not interested in being Wiccan, you don't have to have a wand, athame, chalice, or a pentacle. Put whatever you want on your altar. Whatever feels comfortable. If you want to be Wiccan, I suggest following the religion.
(Wicca and witchcraft are not interchangeable).
Personally, I like books by T.Thorn Coyle, Isreal Regardia, and Starhawk (may or may not be your speed - her Spiral Dance had inaccurate history in it). I also like using cookbooks and it's part of my craft practice to use crochet magic. I tend to use a lot of home-based magic and work with entities such as Hestia and Hecate.