Do real witches exist? Yes, we do. And you can become one yourself. It is more than just a title, so be aware of that. It is a lifestyle and a practice. But how do you actually become one? Do you need to be part of a coven? And do you need to join a religion?
Do I need to be born a witch?
You have probably heard a lot of witches say they felt a lot of signs as a child. But this is not essential to be a witch. Everyone has a different path to witchcraft. It can be in your favor when you already have more witch knowledge or strengths closely related to witchcraft. This also is not necessary though. The only thing that is important is the dedication to be one. It takes a lot of time and effort to stay a witch. It is not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle. And this lifestyle is for everyone. There are some witches who were born into it. A lot of those people have family traditions and are sometimes participating in closed practices. They do not have to discourage you. You can start being a witch at any age and with little to know connection before your journey.
Is every witch a wiccan?
Simply said, no. Not every witch is also wiccan. A lot of witches are wiccan though. That does not mean you have to start with wicca. Wicca is a religion and a even bigger commitment. For beginners this can be overwhelming and close their horizon to other paths. Maybe you are looking for a religion which mixes witchcraft and maybe you aren’t. You should find that out for yourself before you jump into a religion. It can sometimes be tough when looking online and you only see wiccan post, but it is worth the wait.
Different paths
There are different paths in witchcraft. All of them are different and even within one path everyone is different. You may have heard of some and wondered what it is. Maybe you don’t know if you fit in one of those paths. Don’t worry, you don’t have to choose yet. When first starting out it is important you find what you like and what you do not like. That is why most people start as eclectic witches. Those are witches whose practice is scattered around all types of witchcraft. They can practice green witchcraft and sea witchcraft at the same time. It is a great way to get started and learn about your practice.
Examples of different types of witches:
Green witch
Wicca
Sea witch
Kitchen witch
Ceremonial witch
Traditional witch / Folk witch
Eclectic witch
Research
Research is the most important thing about witchcraft. Every witch starts out with researching a lot of stuff. What are some topics you should research?
Subjects:
The elements
What do the moonphases mean and how can you use them?
Some magickal properties of your favorite plants
Cultural appropriation in witchcraft / closed practices
How do you cleanse?
How do you protect yourself? / Banishing
How do you meditate and when should you?
What is grounding?
What is divination?
Some crystals you like to learn more about
How do you use water within witchcraft?
Solitaire hekserij versus gegroepeerde hekserij en hoe kan je het doen?
Casting a circle
I just want to do spells
Spellwork is a great and powerful way to practice witchcraft. But it is not always easy. A big mistake almost every beginner makes is that they start with spells. Most of the time they are not protected and the spell backfires. You wouldn’t want that. That is why it is important to do your research first. When it’s finally time for spellwork, start with the basics. Protection spells are a great way to get started and it won’t backfire. So if you really want to try spellwork, start there. The risks are low and you will not hurt yourself.
Finding a community
One of the hardest things could be finding a community. When you are just starting out it can be overwhelming and a community can help you stay motivated. It is hard to find like minded people, I will not lie. This is especially true when living in a country where witchcraft is not accepted. A great tip is to search online for communities. Look at different forms of social media and not just google. There are a lot of discord and amino groups. Witches can also be found on TikTok under the hashtag witchtok. If you find it hard to find anything, The Lunar Sisterhood also has a group and social media where you can talk to others. These can be found everywhere on the site when you scroll down.
