First steps on the path- 
Beginning as a Witch

Making those first steps onto the path of Witchcraft can feel extremely uncertain:

Quite probably for most of those reading this article, you will have made some of those initial steps already without consciously acknowledging that you have. If you have been reading about the craft of Wicca, have been thinking through some of the concepts you’ve encountered, have been searching the Internet for further information, you have already taken a major step onto the path of the Wise.

If you’ve also been working spells, perhaps performed a rite of dedication, some candle magick or a full moon meditation, then again these are all steps along the Wiccan path.

An important point within this is that as a broad general rule, that Witches are born as Witches. Most of us don’t initially realise that or have the terms to describe this; even to ourselves; or the conceptual framework within which we can understand and come to terms with this when we are young; but born as Witches is who we are.

Because of this, for the vast majority of such ‘proto-Wiccans�?who encounter Witches themselves, or clear and helpful material about Wicca, it feels strongly as if we have come home. As if we have discovered who and what we are, and where and with whom we should be. 

The vast majority of ‘Proto-Wiccans�?develop or instinctively have budding interests in such subjects as magick, philosophy, mythology, ancient tales and legends. We tend to be extremely imaginative children with ‘invisible friends�? We tend to be regarded by our families and peers as odd. While our peers are playing Cops and Robbers, we’re watching the little people playing at the edge of the woods. Later in life we tend to instinctively be drawn to such as Stone circles and other ancient and powerful places, quiet glens in the woods or other powerful places in the countryside. Or else we want to know the names and qualities of animals, birds, plants and other living things, tend to buy interesting items to put in our homes- Dream-Catchers, Crystals, mythic figurines, etc, and collect things from the wild to bring home- often not consciously knowing why, but instinctively knowing that we should.

'Sound familiar? From these beginnings the vast majority of Proto-Wiccans eventually find their way to the Craft in a fuller and deeper way. 

Some unfortunately are put off if they encounter exploitive people masquerading as Wiccans, others suffer from the lies, primitive and simplistic beliefs and misinformation spread by such as fundamentalist Christians about the Craft of the Wise, and so never take the next steps to freedom and empowerment. ‘A great shame, but part of the testing that ensures that those who do overcome these fears and other obstacles are the ‘cream of the crop�? the ones who have been tested and found to be of merit and mettle.

For you good folk then, the next step is to give shape to some of this- to begin to “Dream your life into being�?and “Dance into the truth of your life�?by developing a more structured and coherent framework for your beliefs, feelings and intuitive knowings.

The first step of this is to gather information- to read voraciously, to sweep the Internet for material, to attend conferences, gatherings, Pagan fairs and other similar events, and to meet with and talk with as many Witches of all kinds and ways as possible.

Which will initially feel as if it’s swamping and overloading you with information. Much of that will be contrary, much of it will be nonsensical, misleading or meaningless. However if you persevere you will begin to discern the true gold in among the fools gold, and the gems among the dross. You can also then of course begin to understand much more of how you feel about it all, and what of all this mass of information you want to assimilate into a way for you.

You will also see that there are a number of different ways within Witchcraft- the Solitary path, the Hedge-Witches, the ‘Kitchen-Witches, and those who join together into groups- Covens of a variety of ways and traditions. All though are Witches, and all have worked out how they want to be within the Craft and what kinds of frameworks and conceptual structures they prefer to work within.

The second step is to begin to weave your dreams and intuitions into actuality by consciously and deliberately using and working with some of the things you have been doing intuitively and from the feelings inside. 

* Such as going to specific sacred places and power places near you, and then undertaking some kind of ritual, meditation or similar there. 

* Or else working spells based on what you have read in the books you have gathered. 

* Or going outside at Full Moon to drink in and absorb the power and beauty that is flowing. Even perhaps buying a calendar or diary that shows moon phases so that you can anticipate these ready to stand in the beauty of moonlight.

* Or finding out the inner meanings and ancient power of the seasonal festivals that have been absorbed into the Christian calendar. Such as Easter, Christmas, or May-Day, and doing some kind or ritual or meditation; however simple that may be; to attune yourself with these ancient but ageless power flows of the earth and its cycles.

* Or taking some of the bits and pieces you’ve gathered from the wild- all those shells collected along the beach, the feathers taken respectfully from a road-killed bird, or gathered along the road, the leaves, branches, bones and stones gathered on walks: And weaving them into a kind of magickal, constructive art which makes power flow in ways that are greater than the individual bits of which they are woven- ‘making Power Objects and fetishes this is known as- weaving the wild power into magickal forms so as to focus their power into your life, into your and your friends homes perhaps.

* Or learning more deeply how to use those Tarot cards you were attracted to in a New-Age shop you couldn’t walk by without having a look in. And then doing a reading or two for friends and family as well as for yourself.

These are all secondary steps along the path. There are more possibilities than these I have outlined, but I’m sure you’ll see the way of this from the samples I’ve given here.

The third and most powerful step is to…�?name yourself a Witch. This is a major and extremely powerful act in its own right. Whether you ever join with other Witches or whether you stay entirely solitary in your Craft, whether you are ever initiated or not, from this point on you will be a Witch. You may not initially be a very expert or experienced Witch, but you will be a Witch until and unless you decide otherwise.

From here you will grow in experience, deepen your connections to power, deepen your connections to the Goddess and Horned God of the Craft, and expand all that you do so that it enriches and empowers your life.

Practicalities: For those just beginning on the path there are pitfalls- there are in every part of life. It helps enormously if you read more good books than misleading ones, it helps enormously if you can meet with friendly, helpful people who can offer you reliable information, help and support, rather than being put off by ‘dodgy�?individuals. It will help tremendously if you have the support of people around you who can allay or help you work through your fears, answer your questions and queries in clear, straightforward ways, and provide support and guidance to help you gain a clear and coherent focus on the important aspects of the Craft without you being led astray through the morass of misinformation that has grown up about the Craft in recent years.

To help with this then, I have included a reading list below: These are books that I particularly recommend, and which you will find extremely helpful. They all express their own approach so that you can balance between those and discover something of the variety of ways within the Craft so as to discern the way that is likely to suit you best.

As well as that if you look in the “Links�?and “Contacts and Networking�?sections of this website also you will see that I have listed some websites, organisations and other resources that I personally recommend. All of these will help you walk your path with confidence and power- organisations listed such as the Pagan Federation  exist to help you- I strongly urge you to follow the leads I have provided through those sections of this website as doing so will help you enormously. For example, joining the Pagan Federation will include a subscription to a magazine named “Pagan Dawn�? This includes a regular section of contacts, events listings, details of fairs and conventions, and further resources. Such as other Pagan and related magazines, groups and organisations. 

In the "Contacts and Networking" section of this website you will also find details of the Galdraheim Coven 'Outer Circle' and support network which exists to help you on the Wiccan path. Have a full read of this information, and then get in touch if we can help you.


BOOKLIST

This is very short: There are lots of good books about the Craft, but many of them are just variations on a theme and repeat the same kind of basic information from slightly different perspectives. Many that are still available are very dated; These below I recommend above all else- read only these and you won't go far wrong.

Some of these may be out of print now but are worth tracking down.

WICCA, A guide for the solitary practitioner. Scott Cunningham. ISBN:- 0-87542-118-0

THE REAL WITCHES HANDBOOK: A complete introduction to the Craft. Kate West. ISBN:- 0-00-710515-0

PHOENIX FROM THE FLAME: Pagan spirituality in the western world. Vivianne Crowley. ISBN:- 1-85538-161-3

WICCA: The old religion in the new age. Vivianne Crowley.

NATURAL MAGIC: Doreen Valiente. 

WITCHCRAFT FOR TOMORROW: Doreen Valiente.

THE SPIRAL DANCE: Starhawk. ISBN:- 0-06-250814-8