What's a good way to begin learning about witchcraft and spells?

Question

Also, if you have any reading suggestions, that'd be great. Thanks!

Anyone who is here to tell me witchcraft is pretend; that I am a nerd, crazy, or wasting my time, please don't even bother to answer. I am asking a serious question and would like serious answers, because this is a real and widely practiced subject.

Thank you to everyone.

I am not trying to summon demonds or be greater than God, or anything like that.

I am talking about learning to work with the energy of this wonderful Earth all around us.

Answer 1

Find Wiccan Books, find wiccan practitioners. You most likely can find someone who'd be willing to "apprentice" you, and teach you slowly. You'll be annoyed at first at the slow pace, but you'll get what you want eventually, if that's really what you wanted in the first place. ^^

Shinto viewpoint, yet again.

Answer 2

The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft - Ronald Hutton

Witchcraft Today - Gerald B. Gardner.

Witchdom of the True - Edred Thorsson

Wicca: the Old Religion in the New Milennium - Vivianne Crowley

Advanced Wiccan Spirituality - Kevin Saunders

The Elements of Ritual: Air, Fire, Water & Earth in the Wiccan Circle - Deborah Lipp

Witch Crafting: A Spiritual Guide to Making Magic - by Phyllis W. Curott

Positive Magic - Marion Weinstein

The Circle Within: Creating a Wiccan Spiritual Tradition - Dianne Sylvan

Book of Shadows - Phyllis Curott

The Second Circle - Venecia Rauls

The Heart of Wicca: Wise Words from a Crone on the Path - Ellen Cannon Reed

Evolutionary Witchcraft - T. Thorn Coyle

The Wiccan Path: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner - Rae Beth

21st Century Wicca - Jennifer Hunter

Witchcraft: A Concise Guide - Isaac Bonewits

Way of Four - Deborah Lipp

Don't forget Cakes and Ale for the Pagan Soul by Patricia Telesco.

Wiccan Warrior - Kerr Cuhulain.

Pagan Parenting - Kristin Madden.

Witch in the Boardroom

Answer 3

use your Internet search engine and type in key words like spells, witchcraft, hoodooo magic, hoodo info, etc. Once you find a spell that you want you have to stop by one of those botanica candle shops, and get the supplies that you need. The only way the spell can actually work is if you believe in it. If you have any doubt in your mind, you shouldn't even try this because it won't work. Also, what ever you do, just know that it will come back to you, so if you do evil, expect it to come back to you times two. This is not a joke, so don't take it lightly, if you want to play with fire you will get burned. If your doing this solely for protection and spiritual blessings, then you will be blessed. But just know that God doesn't condone witchcraft. So if you believe in God, don't do this because you're going against him. Another thing when you do love spells don't use red candles or red ink, use pink. Because red is full of passion, and it makes the spells turn out to be dangerous. You're doing this to make someone love you, not kill you. Black magic is bad, white magic is good, and grey magic is white turned black. Ex. You do a spell for money and then, God forbid your mom dies. So be careful. Read all spells carefully, and ask the person in the botanic shop for help. They know exactly what they're doing and they can be very helpful.

Answer 4

You are going about it with a great attitude and I am sensing some basic understanding. I have been a practicing witch for over 40 years and I think you have potential.
I would consider "Wicca, Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham and "Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft" by Raymond Buckland. Read everything you can get your hands on, but I would avoid Raven Silverwolf, I think she is all flash and no substance. If you can find a witch in your area that would be willing to work with you that would be wonderful. I guess I am the old fashioned kind of witch, focusing more on divination, herbal healing, gemology and natural spell work than worship and ritual. That sort of thing is just too organized for me and I like to do things my way. Besides, when I took up witchcraft there were no covens around (I was too young anyway). So I learned from my mother and my spirit guides. Most of my knowledge (and ability) comes from an inherent knowledge, probably from a previous life, not so much from books. If I can help, please feel free to contact me.
Bright Blessings
)O(

Answer 5

The answer is: a lot of reading and a lot of work. First, learning the theory of how witchcraft works, then taking that knowledge and actually beginning to craft and use spells.

Witchcraft 101 would go something like this, at least as I was taught: All things in the universe are interconnected by energy, which some witches (including Wiccans) perceive as Divine in nature. This is how witchcraft works: by focussing my intent, and using sympathetic correspondances (certain herbs for courage, for example), I can create an amulet using those herbs which will stimulate courage in the person who wears it. Similarly, by using a lock of hair from a person who is ill, I can (with their permission) set energies in motion that will help them to heal.

In this sense, witchcraft is a very mechanistic worldview. The entire universe is seen as a giant interconnected machine, and by applying one's will to exert pressure one area, one creates a cascade effect that causes change in another area.

Witchcraft and Wicca are not necessarily the same thing, but Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" is still not a bad place to start.

I also have an excellent little ebook called "A Practical Guide to Witchcraft and Magic Spells" by Cassandra Eason which is quite a handy text for beginners. I'd be happy to send it to you if we can exchange email addresses.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck on your path. :-)

Answer 6

You seem to be doing this for a noble reason so I will give you some advice. Practicing witchcraft is dangerous. Even with noble intentions, it is always uncertain where the energy that you are using is coming from, and to get this energy you are opening up unchecked portals of energy to wherever it is coming from.
But i have some good news. If you really wish to become in tune with with earth (and get some cool results along the way), I would suggest following meditative practices. One can get the same results as witchcraft and better results than witchcraft, and, if done correctly, it is completely safe. All it takes is more time, patience, and dedication. Also, to do these meditations safely and correctly, it is very beneficial to have a teacher. Unfortunately, that is very unlikely in the contemporary world, until one can contact his/her spirit guide(s). There is much to explain to you and i cannot recommend any reading materials, for all take much discernment and are only partially correct.
I would suggest that you start off with simple breathing meditations, so that you may gather the ability to meditate. After you have done this I would recommend that you open all of your chakras. Luckily, i have found one good online site for this and it also includes a fairly accurate chakra test if you are unable to find someone who can view your chakras. http://eclecticenergies.com/chakras/chakratest.php
(unfortunately this site has an incorrect and incomplete view of overactive chakras, but most of their other info concerning chakras is correct)
After you have done these things, I have one particularly powerful attunement which i came across (it is Egyptian in origin), which has great results, which i can send you. But i must be certain that you have balanced your chakras and will not give it to anyone who hasn't or who would give it to anyone who hasn't because it is very powerful and is dangerous if done prematurely and/or incorrectly.
I have much more i can tell you but it will take a long time. Please email me any questions you have. ([e-mail])
And please do not turn to witchcraft, for your own safety and well being.
Sincerely,
Sam

Answer 7

The first book I enread was called "The Solitary Witch" Forget who it is by. I would try book stores in the new age section and new age bookstores that have workshops. I have a local one called Awakenings. Try to contact them for other references. Before anything is studied or done find out if you can live by the Wiccan Rede...If ye harm none, do what ye will! That means no spells on other people to try and control them...no love spells, no hexes or curses....it is about trying to help yourself and nature. If someone comes to you for help for themselves, then go for it, but otherwise, no. I find myself not really doing spells unless absolutely necessary as I believe that the universe is testing me through my tough times. Its when they become too long and unbearable for me that I "do a spell" which is basically asking the universe for help. Hope this helps.

P.S. There are a number of great books...
"Drawing Down the Moon" - Margot Adler
"The Solitary Witch"
"The Teenage Witch" or "Teenage Witchcraft" (forget actual title)
"Flying Without a Broomstick"


Some good authors are:
Scott Cunningham
Margot Adler
Llewellyn


http://www.awakeningsmetaphysicalbookstore.com/

Hope this helps a little

Answer 8

May I suggest that you do have a computer so use it. The internet is a great resource!
I do not suggest that you do spell workings at this time because you may not know how it works and things may go haywire. These are my own personal experiences. I also DONT suggest any books by Silver Ravenwolf she teaches nonsense! If you are to read on the subject I do suggest books my Raven Grimassi or Scott Cunningham. You are lucky to have this advice because when I was learning I did not have this advice and had to un-learn a lot of the so called by me, “truthful teachings” and re-learn a lot, this all took about half a year to realize that it was BS so umm, best of luck to you and your journey.

BB
)O(

Answer 9

I am of the Lore...We have been called witch, but we are not. There is the witch and there is the crafts. You may learn of herbs, and of poultices. You may work the craft of dowsing, even midwifery or bone mending. You may learn of Magick and divination.

All of the above were called witches in the days long gone. The Witches of today have turned those days on their head for they wear the label Witch with pride and follow a path a bit more gentle then the early days.

There are many ways to begin. The Spiral Dance is a nice read. However, you may chose to get a tarot deck and a book on tarot, Then see if you wish to understand the cards and their power. Go to a store where they handle rough crystals and see if one warms to your hand.

Make your decisions slowly. The mysteries will wait, they are older than the earth and have much patience.

Answer 10

I suggest the key thing with learning about witchcraft and spells is to actually START.

What that means is immerse yourself in some reading - it doesn't matter which book is your first book, as long as there is a book.

Download materials off the internet.

As this is most probably your first and most important lesson as a fledging witch.

It is important to listen to your instincts.

Your instincts are different to your fears.

A question: "Where do I start?" is fear talking.

(yes your question is not fear talking - it's a genuine interest expressed. And like many things - we can use the 'where do I start?' question as a reason not to start :-) )

It is a fear of getting it wrong, going with the wrong person, book, or making the wrong choice.

There is never a wrong choice - as everything has the capacity to teach us something.

Even if it is what we don't want.

And that is another trait common with witches - we are thirsty to learn. No matter how long we have been practicing witchcraft, we are always learning.

So where do you start? You start somewhere.

You listen to your instincts and go with what FEELS right to you.

Listen to those instincts.

As witchcraft is ALL about working with energy.

Working with the energies of the Universe and Nature along with our own.

A fundamental principal of witchcraft is that LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE

So it is important for a witch to get themselves into an open, loving heart space where they are consciously creating with the knowledge and certainty that 'so it will become'.

A witch's power is in their ability to see and feel what they are spell casting for as if they already have it.

They have that faith that what they desire will happen and they have the ability to see their desire as if it IS their reality now and... as before...so it becomes.

It is important to also know that ANYONE can practice witchcraft and call themselves a witch.

I often get emails from people who say "I wasn't born a witch." or "I don't have the gift".

We ALL have the same gifts.

EVERY ONE of us has the ability to create magick in our lives.

The key is to firstly be open to that, and accept that as a given.

And then to consciously create.

That is what witchcraft is...

Conscious Creation.

That is the same for ALL witches and those that practice a form of The Craft. Be it Wicca, Voodoo, or Native American Indian or countless other magickal practices...as just about every culture and religion (not just pagan religions) through the ages has their own form of witchcraft.

The fundamentals ARE the same in those cultures - it is just at times you may choose from a different set of words. And you have your own rituals pertaining to that culture.

All of the forms of true Witchcraft (white witchcraft), like Wicca are based on the Wiccan principals of 'each to their own' and 'no harm be thy done to another'.

Spell work is another topic in itself - and I have included a link for some more information (content) on spells as there are important principals to be aware of - like NEVER divining against another's free will.

As well as what they key ingredients are for them working (and also how they do work - its about energy and like attracts like).

Answer 11

Most books on here are a good read and really great references. But don't just buy one book that has anything under the title or referring to "The Complete Book of..." That's a total loss, but for references are good. To those who think witchcraft is about hexing and curses or "love" spells. You guys watch too much television. The way I took the craft is as a self-empowering. Not using that power on others but on oneself to improve themselves. Stop judging. God! (yes i know i used "His" name in vain. Eh.)