Human beings have been practicing witchcraft for millennia. Many ancient groups revered shamans as bridges to the divine, and individuals practiced their own forms of magick.
Even the Ancient Greeks and Romans used amulets, tablets, and dolls to achieve desired effects. Some of these were for good, and some not.
Today, members of the Wiccan religion may also practice magic. It consists of spells which they believe release a power inside the witch already. From that perspective, anyone can do them.
Even so, witchcraft for beginners requires knowledge and discipline. That is why Wiccans call it the “Craft of the Wise.” There is a lot to learn when practicing magic responsibly!
Are you thinking of becoming a witch? What do you need to know before casting spells at home? Below you will find everything a beginner needs to learn about Wiccan magic. Let’s go!
Wicca and Witchcraft: What’s the Difference?
Beginners may find the definitions of Wicca and Witchcraft confusing. Are they both a religion? If not, how are they different? And, more specifically, do you have to be a Wiccan to be a Witch, and vice versa?
The next section will try to answer these questions. But, it is important to remember there aren’t any hard and fast rules here.
This is because not all Pagans agree on the answers. Most Wiccans check out the facts and then decide what works best for themselves.
Wicca Versus Witchcraft
Wicca is a modern Pagan religion. Founded about fifty years ago by Gerald Gardner, Wicca draws its beliefs and practices from much older traditions. In short, Wiccans revere nature and see divinity in all things.
By contrast, a Witch utilizes her skills to practice spellwork. Spells contain steps that release energy and bring about the desired result. Not surprisingly, this skill set is called Witchcraft.
Some Witches consider their craft a religion. For them, their spells express their reverence for the divine. For others, spellwork is separate and distinct from spiritual practice.
Therefore, some Wiccans are Witches. But not all Witches are Wiccans. There are even Witches who work within the Judeo-Christian traditions.
There is definitely a lack of consensus on these questions. As a Wiccan, you can decide for yourself whether you want to practice Witchcraft. You also determine how and if it relates to your religious beliefs.
Regardless, practicing spells requires adherence to moral rules. Let’s learn about them in the next section!
Witches are Responsible for the Effects of their Spells
Witchcraft is a tool. It helps release internal energy and power and can be used for good or bad purposes. As a beginner, it’s important to learn how and why Witchcraft is used for good.
To start, then, let’s go over the differences between White and Black Witchcraft. Next, we’ll learn about two important rules governing all witches’ spells.
Black and White Witchcraft
All Witchcraft takes advantage of the energy in the mind to achieve specific ends. If a Witch uses this energy to harm others, then they are practicing what’s called Black Witchcraft. Unfortunately, this is what many of us envision when we think of witches, but it is not what most Wiccans practice.
For the Wiccans who practice Witchcraft at all, they concentrate on White Witchcraft. This is where they aim to help themselves or other people, not harm them.
Examples of White Witchcraft vary widely. Some include healing sickness, encouraging fertility, or promoting wealth and love. White Witchcraft follows the Wiccan moral code, which we’ll examine in the next section.
Two Rules to Keep in Mind When Learning Witchcraft
The first rule Wiccans abide by is, “An Ye Harm None, Do As Ye Will.” In many respects, this rule sounds like the Biblical injunction to treat others as you would like to be treated.
The difference lies in the fact that Wiccans believe divinity exists in all things. If you intentionally try to hurt someone else with a spell, then you are not only hurting that person. You are also hurting the God, Goddess, and in fact, the entire Universe.
Black Witchcraft, then, contradicts the most basic tenets of Wiccan beliefs. If your sole purpose for learning spellwork is hurting other people, then you have to examine why you became a Wiccan in the first place.
The second Wiccan rule is, “Whatever you do comes back to you three times more.” This is Karma magnified three times.
If you practice a spell to make someone else sick or hurt them in some way, that negativity will come back to you. Three times. Which hurts a lot.
The same principle applies to helpful spells as well. Any spellwork that was done to assist others benefits you three times over.
Of course, this rule doesn’t apply only to spellwork. If you are a good person, you will benefit from the rule. If not, then you will feel pain three times over.
How do beginner Witches apply these rules to actual Witchcraft? We’ll go over that next.
Here We Go-Learning to Cast Spells for Beginners
Some people see casting spells as an easy way to an easy reward. Nothing in life works like that, though. Witches don’t light candles, recite a few lines, and have money flowing from the sky!
Beginners need to become familiar with the components, tools, and techniques of spellwork. There is a reason Witchcraft is called the “Craft of the Wise!”
Read, Read, Read
Beginners first need to learn all they can about Wicca and Witchcraft. Your local library or the New Age section of the local bookstore are excellent places to find resources.
Additionally, you can learn a lot on the Internet. Just be careful, though. Not all Wiccan websites are reputable or good, for that matter. Some of them are dangerous (remember Black Witchcraft?).
As you are learning about spellwork, trust yourself. If something feels wrong, it probably is.
Meditate
The mind is the most important tool when casting spells. To strengthen it, try meditating about five to ten minutes every day.
Sitting quietly and getting in touch with your center is one way to do this. A walking meditation, especially in a natural environment, is another.
Witches with strong minds don’t need tools for their spells. For a beginner, though, they can be tremendously helpful. Now is the time to learn about your options and which ones appeal to you.
Ingredients
Here is where you learn about the ingredients you prefer to use in your spells. You might find herbs with crystals or symbols helpful. Or a simple candle.
Clearly, a tool that makes you feel awkward or uncomfortable will not help you cast a good spell. Learn everything you can about the various tools, and see which ones work for you. Remember too, that Witches who lived a long time ago used what they had on hand, not what they bought online.
You can too after some practice. Or, as mentioned above, just your mind will eventually suffice.
Natural Correspondences
Finally, beginning Witches need to study and be aware of correspondences so spells can be planned properly. The most important of these are astrological correspondences. They include things like the moon phases, moon signs, and planetary hours, among other factors.
Correspondences can either give your spell power or oppose it, which makes the spell pointless. Beginners, especially, can benefit from the extra power supplied by these factors.
Other correspondences include things like the color of your candle or attributes of your chosen herbs. Learning this information will greatly improve the power of your spellwork.
Casting a Spell: Witchcraft for Beginners
Now you have the knowledge you need to begin casting spells. Witchcraft for beginners can be frightening at first, but you have to start somewhere! Here are some love spells you might want to try, or a simple candle spell might be more your style.
If you have questions about spellcasting or magic in general, why not try out our Ask A Witch Live Chat? You can also speak to a psychic specializing in Wicca, like Wicca Psychic Aspasia.
Good luck on your spiritual journey!
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