"Great souls are they who see that spiritual is stronger than material
force,
that thoughts rule the world."
Emerson
What to Expect as a New Witch
Society is very good at making people feel guilty for not following the norm. If you stand out, everyone seems to be determined to make you fit in. You know, making a round peg fit into a square hole and all that stuff. When I first found that pagan web page...my first thought was to look over my shoulder to see if someone was watching me. I felt guilty and somehow disloyal to my family for even looking at the site. There are many sites on what witchcraft is, but none seem to tell new witches what to EXPECT. So...here goes....From the perspective of a new Witch. This section will not tell you how to make spells or what to believe: Those are personal decisions, and not up to me. This area will only tell you what to EXPECT.
 1. Expect to feel GUILTY. This is perfectly normal. You have many years of social conditioning to undo. Become informed. Research what Witchcraft and Pagan religions mean. The guilt WILL go away as you become more comfortable with asking questions and getting the answers to those questions.
2. Expect to feel EMPOWERED. This is also normal...however...be cautious. Don't confuse empowerment with power. These are two different things! Empowered is when you realize that you are capable of making up your own mind. Power is when you let it go to your head.
3. Expect to become INFORMED. The more questions you ask, the more information you will find. Never stop asking questions. It is your duty as well as your right to search for truth.
4. Expect to perform MAGICK. This is hard. Everyone tells you to do it, but no one tells you HOW to do it. If you are not ready to start...you are not ready to start. Magick is not to be fooled with. It is not a joke or a lark, it is serious business. Find books and web pages that tell you about spells and how to make them. Now listen to yourself, and WRITE YOUR OWN!! They work better, and you feel better with the results.
5. Expect to feel GUILTY. No...I am not repeating myself...at least not quite. You will feel guilty if it is too hard or even too easy. This is also normal. There is no time limit for this. Use the year and a day rule if needed. Time really makes a difference in how you will view yourself and your magick. Only go as fast as your heart tells you to. You have your whole lifetime for this.
6. Expect to be OVERWHELMED. Your instincts will tell you to learn everything at once. Slow down! This stuff has been around since the dawn of time. The Gods are not going anywhere anytime soon. Don't be in such a hurry to learn that you make careless mistakes.
7. Expect to make MISTAKES. Huh? But on number 6 you said... #6 delt with careless mistakes...like running down stairs with a sharp, pointed knife...careless. Here I'm talking about learning from your mistakes, mistakes. If at first you don't succeed...try try again. Experiment with stones, herbs, flowers, candles, wording of spells, etc. until you find what works.
8. Expect to SUCCEED. Keep at it. Eventually...It will all make sense, and you can pat yourself on your back, and say...I DID IT AND IT MAKES SENSE. Visualize yourself succeeding...and do it.
That's it. Now...go to it!! May Athena bless you with wisdom, and may the Fates favor you.
To flip through the pages of my BOS faster...
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Brightest of Blessings