The Start of Your Witchcraft Journey

Delving into the realm of witchcraft is more than just creating a spell jar, memorizing tarot cards, or collecting crystals. There is also the building of a connection to the universe, wanting to better oneself, and dedication to the art.

The first, and possibly most important, step to starting this witchcraft journey is to release all the previous stigmas, fears, and uncertain beliefs you may have about it. The power of the mind and thoughts heavily affect the outcome and effectiveness of one's practice. If you allow doubt, worry, or uncertainty to cloud your judgment, you are putting that energy into the universe and dulling your manifestations. If you ever find yourself falling into negative mindsets during your practice, remember to take deep breaths and to remind yourself that what you put into the universe will return to you.

Once your thoughts are clear and you’re ready to better your self-perception and begin the journey, there are four key things to keep in mind throughout your practices.

Intuition

To put it in simpler words, follow your gut. The universe is trying to guide you to make the correct decisions and positive choices. It’s important to clear out anything that may be blocking your judgment—whether it is coming from yourself or outside forces. It’s best to be aware that this feeling and push are there for a reason and that ignoring it is neglecting what you’re meant to discover, learn, or acknowledge.

You know yourself best and know that every path you take has a different outcome. Our intuition is there to protect us, and also to lead us through life. Whether it’s something minuscule such as where to go for dinner or what book to grab from the shelf, or something larger such as taking a new job opportunity or moving across the country, your intuition will always be present and is a large aspect of witchcraft and mindfulness. Remember to follow it and allow it to guide you. Opening your mind to this intuition will be helpful, especially if you have interests in tarot, crystals, and rituals.

Repetition

While it may sound intimidating, repetition is vital to practicing witchcraft. It is a way to grow more comfortable within yourself, your abilities, and your practice, as well as create healthy habits and safe acts. Creating a daily routine for witchcraft is beneficial in bettering your view of yourself and the life you live.

Have certain rituals or magic practices that you perform at the same time every morning and night. For example, if you wish to explore tarot more, pull a daily tarot card right when you get out of bed to know what to expect or what to be mindful of that day. Or, do nightly manifestations before bed, repeating what you want the universe to bring to you and what you will do to achieve it.

Repetition is also helpful in understanding the meanings of tarot cards, the properties of crystals, the herbs and elements of spell jars, and the importance of the universe. Think of it as learning a new skill, in which repetitiveness is necessary and allows you to eventually be able to practice without the need of referring to guides or steps. Make it a part of everyday life, not just something that is done occasionally.

Solitude

When working on bettering your self-perception and self-love, being alone with yourself is extremely valuable. You must learn to appreciate your own company and what you can do for yourself. A huge part of practice is embracing the silence and finding a deep connection with the most important person in your life, you. Without any outside forces or distractions, you are put in a position where you must rely on and examine your thoughts, wants, and needs.

While it can often be scary to delve deep into what makes you an individual and to seek out how to better yourself, as it is a vulnerable and intimate position to be in, it is one of the only ways your practice will be effective. How can you better yourself if you don’t know yourself, if you don’t enjoy time alone with yourself? It may be uncomfortable at first, but with more practice, it will be more natural and become a safe space.

Community

While it may seem contradictory to the previous point, finding a community and people who share the same interests and mindsets as you can be enlightening and helpful on your journey to self-love. Witchcraft has always been a community passionate about spiritual and universal connection. Every witch has a coven.

Community can also help you field out any questions you may have, give guidance when something may not be going how you expected, and create an environment where you don’t feel alone. This can be in-person or online. It can be an individual or an entire group. Your community is what you make of it and trying something new and vulnerable always feels safer with people by your side, going through the same journey.