So you've decided that you want to practice Wiccan Magick. Do
you understand what is involved in Wicca? Have you read the
file on What Is Wicca? If you have not, that's the place to
start. If you have, welcome. I hope that you find what you
are searching for. Well, here's
what you should know as a beginning Witch.
There are a lot of places to start when beginning any new project, and learning a new lifestyle is perhaps more difficult than any other life change. And that is what turning to Witchcraft means--it means withdrawing into yourself to find truth and to find peace, it means giving yourself over to powers we cannot see (the Elements, the Goddess, the God) and it means putting something before yourself--it means honoring nature, respecting your neighbor and learning about your environment. Witchcraft is a down-right dirty religion: you have to go out and play in the rain, you have to dig in the Earth, you have to figure out who you and why you are who you are. It's not easy to do: most of us just accept our flaws without ever trying to change them. Witchcraft doesn't allow that. We aren't allowed to throw out hands up and plead guilty to the foibles of humanity. We have to roll up our sleeves and do something about it.
Learn to clear your mind. Learning to meditate, or listen to yourself and your inner guide, is the first thing you have to do as a witch. Find a comfortable place where you will not be disturbed. Take the phone off the hook. Tell other occupants not to bother you. Sit in a comfortable position, with your back straight. (I sit against a wall, on a pillow.) Place your hands on your knees. Close your eyes, and listen to yourself breathing. Don't try and force an unnatural breathing pattern, just listen to yourself breathe. After a while you may notice that your breathing has become slower, and deeper. Feel it. Feel the way the wind goes up your nostrils, and the way it rushes out. Feel how your diaphragm expands and shrinks with each breath. Listen to the sound the air makes as it passes through the nasal passages. Feel your heartbeat. Feel how steady it is, how calm, how perfect. After a few moments, become aware of your body. Your body is your temple. Your body is your magick. Be aware of how it feels. Is it heavy or light? Does it tingle? As you sit there, aware of breath, heartbeat, and total body, let whatever comes into your mind be fully explored. This is your inner guide talkig to you. Experience full color, full sound, full scent. Don't think or anaylyze, just let images and shadows come and go as they please.
When you are finished, stand up, stretch out, clap your hands together and say your name outloud. This will bring you back to the normal world. I advise you to do this at least once a day, and always before a magickal working.
Learn to Give Thanks
There is more to Wicca than magick. Know this.
More Stuff You Should Know
Here are some more healthy tips for Witches:
Casting the Circle
Go directly to:
Centering and Grounding
Learning to Meditate
Learning to Give Thanks
Circle and Altar Building
The gifts that we have are not to be taken for granted. The fact that we can think, walk, breath, make love, and give joy are things that fulfill our lives and make us human. We should not take these things for granted uner any circumstances. One way to reaffirm ourselves as withces and as humans is to give thanks. Always thank those that help up. Always thank those that give their time to us. Always thank those that offer good advice. Always thank those who make you happy. And ALWAYS thank the Earth and ALWAYS thank the Goddess.
You don't have to do it everyday, but at least once a week, and always after the fruition of a spell. Go to your altar. Light you candels, you incense, and give her thanks. Talk to her outloud. Tell her you love her, tell her you need her. Tell her that you want always to have her in your temple (body). Tell her why you are a witch. All of these things give thanks and they also reaffirm your faith to yourself. I like to thank the elements at this time as well. I use this time to draw her into me, to breath deeply and imagine her sinking into me. Afterwards, go outside and offer a piece of bread and a drink of wine to the Earth.
Building an Altar
