Beginner Guide #5 Harsh Truths

These are some things that not every witch will tell you, but they need to be said. No matter your path, no matter your practice, no matter your craft, these are some truths that all beginner witches need to hear.

1. Your spells will fail just as often as they succeed.
Especially your first spells. Spell failure is something that every witch experiences. It doesn’t mean that you are a failure. No witch gets it right 100% of the time, and if they say they have then they are lying. There are endless reasons why a spell mightn’t work: you haven’t properly raised energy; you haven’t raised enough energy; you have failed to direct the energy adequately; you haven’t ‘repaid’ the powers or spirits or gods you are working with (if you work with them); or it simply wasn’t meant to be. You might draw card after Tarot card and gain no insight, or stare into a scrying glass for hours and see nothing, and your pendulum will swing all over the place with no discernible message. But the good thing is that you get to learn from your mistakes, and become a better witch for it. But just because your spells will fail, doesn’t mean that you are a failure.

2. Your craft will change.
I am yet to meet or speak to any experienced witch that practices exactly the same craft in exactly the same way as when they first started. As humans we are constantly changing, growing, and evolving, so your craft will be constantly changing, growing, and evolving. Whether you change paths, or your path evolved in a way you didn’t expect or intend, it will happen. And that’s ok. Your craft will change to suit you, to become what you need it to be.

3. There will always be someone more experienced than you.
That’s just a fact of life. No matter how experienced you are, no matter how long you’ve been practicing witchcraft, there is always someone who is more experienced and who has been practicing longer. But that’s good! You can learn from them. And in time you will be more experienced than someone else, and they will learn from you.

4. You will have your doubts.
Crises of faith, doubting the effectiveness of your magic or even doubting the existence of magic. We’ve all been there. I’ve been mid way through a ritual and thought “what am I doing? This is all just hooey.” It’s ok to have those thoughts. It’s normal to have those thoughts! It means that you are a critical thinker, that you don’t believe everything at face value.

5. You may quit.
A lot of witches, not all, but a lot of witches quit witchcraft. I once decided that witchcraft was no longer for me, and I threw out my Book of Shadows. I then came back to the craft, and frustratingly had to start all over again. But that’s ok. If you go away from the craft and come back to it multiple times, you are still a witch. And if you decide that witchcraft is definitely not for you and you leave permanently, that’s ok too. It doesn’t mean you’re a fake or a poser. Once a witch does not have to mean always a witch.

These are a few of the harsh truths that I have learned along the way; things I kind of wish someone had told me when I was starting out. You will likely discover your own harsh truths, and then you can warn those who come after you.

Beginner Guide #4 The Five Senses

Witches are often credited with psychic abilities, and as a witch you may seek to develop and further these abilities, this so called ‘sixth sense’. But jumping right into psychic boot camp is a bit like putting the cart before the horse, without having first mastered or fully developed your other mundane senses. Much information can be obtained with the five senses. Scientifically, of course, we have more than five senses, but for the purposes of this post I will be talking about the traditional five: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.

One of the easiest ways to make full use of our senses is to remove one of them.

Sight.
Arguably our most dominant sense. Spend an evening blindfolded. Go about your normal routine as much as you can without seeing (for obvious safety reasons do not attempt cooking blindfolded). When you eat pay attention to the flavours, can you identify exactly what you are eating, what ingredients have been used, the way it has been cooked? Sit and listen to the TV. Can you follow the plot of the show purely by listening? Listen for background noises, footsteps, to help identify different characters. TV is a much better tool for this than radio, since radio is designed to be purely heard whereas TV is a much more visual medium. Walk around your house blindfolded; you will be surprised by how nervous or tentative you are, walking with arms outstretched despite your familiarity with the layout.
To strengthen your sense of sight spend some time people-watching. Sit at a café or a mall and observe people and try to determine what they are doing. Who is rushing somewhere, who is dawdling? Who is happy, sad, angry? Look for facial expressions and body language cues.
Open a magazine and stare at a photograph for 60 seconds, then close it and write down everything you saw; how many people were there? What colours were they wearing? What are they doing? Once you have written down absolutely every detail you can remember, as precisely as you can, open the magazine again and compare the picture to your notes, you may be surprised at what you have missed. A similar exercise is to lay on a tray an assortment of different coloured pebbles or marbles, give yourself 60 seconds to watch, and then cover them with a cloth. Write down how many pebbles there were and their colours, then check how accurate you were.

Hearing.
Again, spend an evening without sound: wear a pair of earplugs underneath some noise cancelling headphones. Can you follow along with the TV plot without hearing the characters? Can you read their lips? Try your hand at cooking without hearing the food sizzle and bubble and boil. Can you feel the presence of someone else without hearing them enter? Pay attention to sights and smells and even vibrations through the air and ground against your skin.
To enhance your hearing a great tool is an audiobook. Listen to an audiobook and close your eyes, let the story appear in your mind, listen to the subtleties in the voice, and take note of the information you receive that wasn’t specifically said but that you 'heard’ anyway.

Touch.
Harder to eliminate completely your sense of touch, but running your hands under cold water until they’re numb is effective, and then try to perform a simple task such as writing your name; you may be surprised at how difficult it is and how much more you rely on your sense of sight to complete it.
To strengthen your sense of touch gather a number of items that have entirely different feels; cloth, metal, wood, stone, plastic, etc. It is better if you have someone else put together this assortment for you. The idea is for you to, without looking, identify the object by touch alone. Another exercise is to get a selection of different coloured sheets of paper, close your eyes and try to identify the colours by feel. You may find that different colours have a 'warmth’ or 'coolness’ to them.

Smell and Taste.
These two senses are very much intrinsically linked, and eliminating the one can strengthen the other. Pinch your nose with a peg and eat several things of different flavours blindfolded. Packets of flavoured potato chips can be useful for this purpose. Without your sense of smell you are forced to rely solely on your tongue. Complete the exercise again but this time without eating but only smelling, the to identify the flavours by smell alone. Complete a similar exercise with different herbs and flowers; can you pick up the scents correctly?

As with all things in my Beginner Guide series, these exercises will require continuous practice. You will find as well that you begin receiving a lot more information about the world and the lives of your friends and family simply by making a fuller use of your mundane senses. Much you will pick up with your senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and tarts that others would attribute to psychic ability. This is not to be confused with being a charlatan; rather it is a poor witch who relies solely upon their psychic senses and does not make full use of the mundane five.

These exercises will help you develop your senses to a fuller degree, and this will help your witchcraft to no end; not the least of which are your visualisation skills, which are integral to the practice of magic.

*DISCLAIMER: this is how I started as a beginner witch, not how everyone starts. A dozen different witches will give you a dozen different ways to begin. This is merely how I do things.

Beginner Guide #3 Scrying

Scrying is an old and relatively simple, albeit powerful, method of divination, and the one I personally use most often. At it’s core, Scrying is gazing into a darkened reflective surface, allowing yourself to slip into a trance-like state, and then interpreting the symbols and visions that come to you.
Scrying makes use of your clairsentient abilities, and can be used for a multitude of purposes; to foresee the future, to gain insight on a problem or situation in the present, for understanding of a past event, and can be used to contact spirit is and deities.

Many witches use dark mirrors or crystal balls to scry, some scry by staring into a fire, but my preferred method is to fill a bowl or saucer with water and add enough black ink until the water is pitch black. Dim the lights and arrange the bowl so that no light is directly reflected in it’s surface. Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable, and gently gaze into the water; don’t stare too hard or strain your eyes. Clear your mind and focus solely on your question or your reason for scrying. Steady your breathing, allow yourself to slip into a meditative state. You may begin to experience a ‘greying’ of the room and the world around you; as if the rest of the world fades away and all that is left is your scrying surface.

It is at this point that you may begin to start having visions or seeing symbols. You will not normally see anything directly in the water, but will rather feel a sudden sense of 'knowing’ in your mind. If you start experiencing this, try not to react to it, just let the visions flow over you. If you react or start trying to interpret the information straight away you run the risk of jerking yourself out of your trance state. 
Once you have finished (you will feel when it is right to stop, although 15-20 minutes is usually a good time limit for beginners) write down everything you saw, heard, felt, smelled, tasted, thought, and experienced during your scrying session. Psychic knowledge comes by many different means, so it is important to record information that came to you by every sense. Record also any initial interpretations you have right now, what you think your visions mean.

Now you should take a break and ground yourself. During and immediately following your scrying session you may feel lightheaded and elated, so it is important to bring yourself back down to earth. Perform a grounding exercise, have something to eat and drink, and do something mundane to steady your thoughts and take your mind completely off of scrying and divination. Once you are feeling back to normal, you can return to your record of your scrying session, and begin to more thoroughly interpret your findings with fresh eyes, and you may find that your subconscious has provided you with a fresh insight while you were away.

It is important, however, to remember that your first (and more than likely first several) scrying attempts will not be successful and that you mightn’t see or experience anything, especially if you have never before attempted any other form of divination either. But do not let this deter you. It is only with continued practice that you will gain proficiency in the skill.

*A note on interpretations: there are a good many resources that can ho you interpret symbols etc., but the best interpretations are the ones you come up with yourself. Symbols and visions meant for you can only truly and most accurately be interpreted by you. Trusting your intuition here will strengthen your psychic abilities immeasurably.

*DISCLAIMER: this is how I started as a beginner witch, not how everyone starts. A dozen different witches will give you a dozen different ways to begin. This is merely how I do things.

Beginner Guide #2 - Energy Work

When researching witchcraft you will of course come across and want to cast spells. Most spells make use of tools and ingredients, and commonly include a spoken component. But magic isn’t cookery; you cannot simply throw together a bunch of herbs, light a candle, chant a rhyme and expect a spell to work. What is crucial to making magic work is your energy.

Raising energy

There are many various ways of raising the energy required for your magic. The way I raise energy is to close my eyes and engage or tense every muscle in my body that I can. As you begin, regulate your breathing - breathe in through your nose nice and deep, hold the breath, and breathe out through your mouth, and just when you’ve breathed it all out, exhale just a bit further to get all of that oxygen out of your lungs. Continue this breathing as you begin to engage your muscles. Start at your feet by clenching your toes and tensing your feet. Travel up your legs, tensing you calves, thighs, and gluteus. Abs on nice and hard now, tense your stomach as hard as you can. Continue up the torso to your pectoral muscles, then up to your shoulders and traps. Engage your triceps and biceps, your forearms, and then finally tensing your hands and fingers. Hold This. Feel it. Every muscle in your body is engaged; your body is as taut and tight as a spring. Feel the energy, the tension in your muscles. Hear the blood coursing through you, pounding in your ears. It can help to visualise a glowing blue energy spreading throughout your body as you do this. Do not be surprised or disheartened if it takes you several tries at this before you feel successful. Practice it until you can feel the power surging within you. And above all, remember to keep breathing. Other effective visual methods of raising energy that I use are summoning and balancing the four elements within yourself, or to imagine yourself being filled with energy like water filling an empty glass. Other various methods of raising energy exist and are effective, but these are the methods that work best for me.

Visualisation

Now that you’ve raised this energy, what are you to do with it? Put it to work. Direct it toward your goal, into the spell. Hands down the easiest and most effective way to do this is visualisation. Eyes open or closed, see the energy you’ve raised flow into your spell to fulfil your goals. Physically push the energy out of your body. See it and feel it expel from your hands, see it bend and flow, and push it into where you want it to go. Use your imagination for this. You will not see this with your eyes, but rather with your mind’s eye. Imagine a coloured mist or light flowing out of your hands. Know that just because the energy has left your body that that does not mean it has left your control. You control the energy, it is driven and shaped by your will, your intent, and your focus. Again, you will not be perfect at this on the first try. The level of focus and the visualisation or imagination skills that are required will take time and patience to develop. Give yourself that time and be patient with yourself.

Grounding

Sometimes even when you’ve directed energy into a spell, there will be some left in you, a residue or left-over. And if, as you should, you have raised energy without the intent of magic but rather purely for practice, you will want to dispel this energy. When you have raised energy you will likely feel elated, euphoric, tense, and light-headed; this is certainly what I experience. Grounding is a technique we use to literally send that excess energy into the earth and safely out of ourselves, similar to earthing electricity, which incidentally is a fantastic visualisation to use. Again, various methods, spells, and chants exist to ground yourself. For me, grounding is standing, barefoot on bare earth if I can but isn’t necessary, and pushing that excess energy out through my feet and down into the earth, where it is dissipated and nullified. Push the energy out of yourself, the same way as when you direct the energy into a spell. Visualise it flowing into the earth, deep into the soil, leaving your body. Feel yourself return to normal out of that heightened, energised state. It is not uncommon to feel somewhat drained after this. Sit down, have something nutritious to eat and drink, and let yourself come back down to earth.

Shielding

A powerful and effective tool of protection using your energy and visualisation alone. Shielding can protect you from spiritual and psychic attack, and from the negative emotions and vibes of those around you. It is an effective and favoured tool for psychics, mediums, and empaths to ‘switch off’, so they are not constantly bombard by psychic information and influences. As with all energy work, visualisation is the key. You are erecting a shield of energy around yourself, a wall, a forcefield. Visualise that, see it in your mind’s eye. A glowing, powerful ball of light that surrounds you and protects you. Nothing can get past it, nothing can escape it that you do not desire. Raise your energy and push it into your shield, feel it pulse around you, feel your skin tingle with it. Shields are not permanent. Over time they will weaken and disappear, so it is necessary to keep coming back and repairing them, if you sill. Again, practice practice practice. You will not be able to shield if you do not try.

It is this energy, your energy, that is the true source of your magic. Tools, herbs, and crystals will enhance your magic, but without that spark that you prove, they are simply tools, herbs, and crystals.

DISCLAIMER: this is how I started as a beginner witch, not how everyone starts. A dozen different witches will give you a dozen different ways to begin. This is merely how I do things.

Beginner’s Guide 1.

The cornerstones of magic - the Elements. Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, and the fifth element that is ever pervasive, binds all together, Spirit. These elements are not just present in the wide world, but in ourselves. Air is our thoughts, our minds, our rational selves. Fire is our passion, that which ignites us to engulf, that which brings us to anger and to love. Our emotions are Water, fluid, changeable, deep. And we find our centre in Earth, stabilising, grounding, strong.

For me, working magic is harnessing these natural elemental energies in the world around and within yourself, and manipulating and using these energies to affect change. But you cannot harness the energies of the world without understanding how they affect you. Spend time in each element: go outside on a windy day, sit by a fire or in the fiery warmth of the sun, float in the ocean, lay upon the warm earth. Listen to how your body reacts, to how you feel physically in each element. Don’t try to rush this, allow yourself the time to feel and instinctively understand each element.

Once you start understanding how the elements interact with each other and within yourself, start trying to summon these elemental energies in yourself. Visualisation will help here. Note: I am not talking about trying to summon the elements in a fantastical sense e.g. conjuring fire in the palm of your hand.

For Air I picture a strong, powerful wind, trees bending in it’s wake, hair and clothes blowing, the sting of cold on your skin.

As a teen, a friend and I stupidly doused a bonfire with petrol, and of course soaked the ground around it. When we lit it, the fire engulfed the petrol, and a circle of blue flame expanded around the bonfire. This image, and the memory of the heat, is what i use to summon Fire.

For Water, I focus on the memory of how it feels to float in the ocean, to feel the power of the sea surge around me. The image of Niagara Falls, all that powerful water, unstoppable.

The strength and immortality of the Earth, how it feels to dig your fingers and toes into the soil, roots writhing through the dirty, flowers blooming, trees rising impossibly tall.

Practice summoning each of these energies, one at a time at first, and then banishing each of the energies from you (for this visualisation will help again: the wind becoming still, a fire going out, the water settling, plants and trees ‘regressing’ back into the earth away from you). You’ll begin to feel when you’ve summoned the elemental energy, your body will feel the same as it did when you spent time in each element, sort of a sense memory. Once you are getting a handle on each element, try summoning all of them at once, and balance the energies within yourself. This will take some practice, and again you will feel when you’ve got it. Banish each of the energies, and feel what it is like to be free of them.

After each exercise it is always healthy to ground yourself. An easy ‘beginners’ way of doing this is by having something to eat and drink, and to consciously change your attention and train of thought to something more mundane. You should also always write up your thoughts and feelings after each exercise in a journal. Whether you call this your Book of Shadows, or your Grimoire, is irrelevant, the important thing is to write it down. What worked? What didn’t? What imagery and visualisations did you use? How did it feel to you? These notes will be infinitely valuable to you in the early days of your craft especially. And remember to have patience.  You will not accomplish this summoning and balancing of elemental energies in a day. It will take time. you may find that you attune to a particular element more than others, you may not. Give yourself the time to explore the elements, to fully appreciate them. Look, listen, and feel.

DISCLAIMER: this is how I started as a beginner witch, not how everyone starts. A dozen different witches will give you a dozen different ways to begin. This is merely how I do things. There is no wrong path.

Super Easy Guide to Moon Rituals

Can’t stick to making use of the new and full moons?

Loose track of where you are and when the next moon phase is?

Want a ridiculously easy ritual that you and I both are going to stick to?

Want to join me in finally utilising the moon phases?

Okay! Here we go! 3 simple stages to moon witchy goodness!

This post may look long but that all depends on whether you need to read the explanations and the optional extras- for the most simple advice read only the basic ritual bullet points 😌

🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️

1.)

First of all download the free Moon app

this will send you alerts on the new and full moon and you can also set it as a widget if you’re on iPhone (maybe on android too, I haven’t got one so couldn’t tell you for sure) so you can just draw down the notifications on your phone and go to ‘today’ and it will tell you the moon’s current state and what percentage there is to go until the next phase.

iPhone peeps here is your link (maybe some lovely person can please reblog with the android link? Thank you muchly!!)

MOON - Current Moon Phase by Charlie Deets
https://appsto.re/gb/HQ1vN.i

🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️

2.)

NEW MOON rituals

✨✨✨BASIC RITUAL:✨✨✨

🌑 spiritually cleanse yourself

(perhaps enchant a glass of water and drink it, enchant your bath or shower water, cleanse yourself with incense, mix some salt and water and put into a spray bottle- spritz it over yourself, meditate and envision bright cleansing light flowing through your body… Whatever works best for you!)

🌑 cleanse your equipment

(Use a clear Quartz crystal or pendulum to cleanse your other crystals, tarot cards, whatever equipment you use on a regular basis. Use incense smoke, water if appropriate- check the stones you want to clean are water safe- some become toxic in water!! Use salt… Blow on them… Whatever your chosen method is- research cleansing methods if you’re not inspired by my suggestions!)

💫💫💫OPTIONAL EXTRAS:💫💫💫

🌑 write a short list of goals for the month ahead and write how you can go about achieving them

(be easy on yourself! Less goals means more chance of achieving them!!)

🌑 do a tarot card reading

My favourite one for the new moon as it’s the beginning of a new lunar cycle and therefore a fresh start, is this one:

Divide your tarot cards into 5 piles- one pile for wands, one for swords, one for pentacles, one for cups and one for the major arcana.

Place each pile face down around you in a star shape, as they would be on the pentagram- imagine you’re in the middle. Pentacles, symbolising Earth would be to the left behind you, to the left to the side of you would be Swords, symbolising Air, to the right behind you will be Wands, symbolising Fire, to the right beside you will be Cups symbolising Water, and infront will be the major arcana symbolising spirit.

Shuffle each pile and go around the piles in turn asking each element to give you wisdom about the month ahead of you. Draw whichever card feels right from each pile- whichever way you usually use to choose which card to draw.

Earth will give advice from a material side of things, Air from an intellectual side, Fire will be to do with your passions and goals, Water to do with your emotions, and spirit will give you a generalised message.

🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️🌙⭐️

3.)

FULL MOON rituals

✨✨✨BASIC RITUALS:✨✨✨

🌕 recharge any spells you’ve made during the month if they are ongoing spells

For example if you’ve cast a spell to help you save money, recharge it to renew it’s energy and help it work to it’s optimum level! Methods of doing that include recasting the spell if you feel it necessary, if it’s a physical object like a charm you can hold it in your hands and channel new energy into it, say some sort of recharging spell, or leave it in the light of the full moon over night.

💫💫💫OPTIONAL EXTRA:💫💫💫

🌕 review your goals you set on the new moon

Frequently Asked Questions #2

If you are new to Paganism or magick, or if you are just interested in finding out about Paganism and magick, this page here to help provide basic information on modern Neo-Pagan religions and magick. The information here will give you a basic understanding of Paganism and help direct you to fairly easy to find good books for Pagan beginners and information seekers. 

A Few Pagan Religions

When many people think of modern Pagan religions, they think of Wicca. While Wicca is probably the largest Pagan of the modern Pagan religions and certainly gets the most media attention, there are actually many Pagan religions. Listed here are a few of the religions that many consider to fall under the collective term “Pagan”:

• Asatru
• Church of All Worlds
• Discordianism
• Druidry
• Feri
• Gwyddons
• Hellenismos
• Kemetism
• Religio Romana
• Senistrognata
• Thelema
• Wicca

And sometimes individuals and sub-groups of the following religions self-identify as Pagan:

• Candomble
• Santeria
• Voodoo

Not only are there other Pagan religions besides those listed here, but many of these religions have sub-divisions (denominations/sects/traditions) within them.

Answers to Basic Questions About Paganism

I have written a short article with the answers to some of the most common questions I get from those new to Pagan religions. If you are new to Pagan religions or are just curious about them, you might want to read my FAQ #1page before going any further.

Critical Reading for Pagans

There are a large number of books and thousands of web sites on various Neo-Pagan religions. Some provide excellent information, some provide good information, but many provide questionable or bad information. It can be hard to tell the good from the bad on a subject you aren’t familiar with — unless you read critically.

Here is a link to an article that explains, from a Neo-Pagan point of view, what a credible book is and ways to determine if a book should be considered credible.

• Scholarly Books and Looklikes

This site also has a lot of books reviews which can help you decide if a given book is worth your reading time and/or your purchase money.

• Book Reviews

Finding Other Pagans

• Finding doers: Where to start looking

One question I hear a lot is “How can I find groups near me?” It can be a frustrating search, and some of the best resources aren’t obvious to newcomers. While there are different ways to go about this, here’s my suggested method….

• Question When Searching for a Group

I’m a big fan of knowing what you’re looking for when you start searching for something. The following list of questions is designed to help you figure out different aspects of what you might be looking for or want (and which things you don’t want!)….

Wiccan & Pagan websites 

• The Witches’ Voice;
• The White Goddess;
• The Pagan’s Path;
• The Celtic Connection;
• The Wiccan/Pagan Times.

Frequently Asked Questions #1

Q: What is a Pagan? What is Paganism?

A: A Pagan is a person who feels a strong connection to nature, who holds the Earth and its creatures sacred, and who seeks a personal connection with the Divine. Pagan religions come from all around the globe, from ancient history and contemporary times as well. Paganism encompasses the reverence of nature, the worship of the Divine in many guises but especially as an embodiment of natural forces, the observance of seasonal cycles, and a perennial quest for personal growth. Most Pagan religions are polytheistic, celebratory faiths. Like any religion, Paganism is much too complex to describe fully in just a few words.

Q: What do Pagans believe?

A: This depends on the Pagans, because different Pagan religions have different tenets. Still, some common threads emerge. More often than not, Pagans believe: The God(s) and Goddess(es) made this world as a kind of school, where souls can enter bodies to learn many valuable lessons. Your body is a precious gift that you should cherish and care for accordingly. All the plants, animals, landscape features – everything in this world is sacred and worthy of respect. You must take responsibility for your own life and actions. Magic, a focusing of Will to alter reality, can help you shape your life to positive ends. Many good spirits offer help and guidance along the way. You have a right to choose a religion meaningful to you and helpful in achieving your goals. You are a good and worthwhile person; you do not need to “do” anything to earn or keep the love of the God and the Goddess, because unconditional love comes with no strings attached. Humanity includes the capacity for great good and great evil; we are not tainted by some “original sin” from which we need “salvation” but we do need to choose right action over wrong action. After you die, you will travel to a beautiful place and be reunited with your ancestors and friends who have gone before; you may or may not return to Earth for another lifetime.

Q: Who is the Goddess? The God?

A: The Goddess is the female aspect of divinity. As Maiden, She is the perfect innocent child who shows us the simple joys in life. As Mother, She is the perfect mate and provider who nourishes and guards us. As Crone, She is the perfect grandmother who teaches us wisdom and leads us into the next world. The Goddess loves all of us as Her children; all life comes from Her and eventually returns to Her. The God is the male aspect of divinity. At different stages, He is the son and the lover of the Goddess. He teaches us about manhood and fatherhood. As the Horned One, He reigns over the crops of the field for harvest and the wild animals for hunting. Together the Goddess and the God bring us blessings and challenges according to our needs. Their eternal dance marks the changing seasons, as They each change form and show us Their different faces.

Q: What is Witchcraft? Is it the same thing as Wicca?

A: Witchcraft encompasses several branches of Paganism, one of which is Wicca. Others include Stregheria (Italian Witchcraft) and a feminist version that considers every woman a Witch. Not everyone means the same thing when they say “Witchcraft” – some mean only religion, some mean magic, and many mean both. The lowercase “witchcraft” may refer simply to the practice of magic, not to a religion. Usually Witchcraft is a complex, positive belief system which incorporates a God and a Goddess venerated through ritual. Wicca follows that paradigm, drawing most of its content from the works of Gardner and Alexander; modern traditions include Dianic, Faerie, Eclectic, and even Angel Wicca. The Wiccan religion incorporates gender equity, immanent divinity and immanent worth, and the responsible use of magic.

Q: What is a Gaian? What is Gaianism?

A Gaian is a person who focuses his/her spiritual faith upon the Earth (Gaia.) Gaianism is a growing movement devoted to the creation of an earth-wise spirituality that honors the Earth and all life as the primary source, sustainer, and reality for life. Gaians may be Pagans, Christians (see Creation-Spirituality movement of Matthew Fox), atheists, Scientific Pantheists, or any other religion/faith that is willing to focus its energy upon the spirituality of connection with the biosphere. As a very young offshoot of Paganism, Gaian theology, philosophy, and ethics are still in a formative stage.

Q: Are all Witches lesbians?

A: No. Witches come in all sexual orientations and genders.

Q: What are the ethics of polytheistic and pantheistic traditions?

A: Because each tradition has its own set of ethics, these vary considerably. Common ethical guidelines include: Treat all sacred objects, places, and entities with respect. Honor the Earth who gave you life. Take only what you need, and offer fair return for whatever you take. Destruction in its proper time can prove beneficial, but do not destroy anything just for the sake of destruction. Every person contains a little spark of divinity, so speak to the divine spark in everyone you meet. Allow others to worship as they choose. Sexuality is a blessing, not a curse; yet the power to create new life brings with it the obligation to do so responsibly. Do not meddle with that which you do not understand.

Q: What is women’s spirituality? How does it work?

A: Women’s spirituality is just what it sounds like – any religious activity or system involving women. So this very broad field can include Witchcraft and other forms of Paganism, Christianity and other revelatory religions, Secular Humanism or other practical creeds, the individual faiths of Solitaries who practice alone in a religion of one, and much more. Many women enjoy gathering to share their spiritual experiences, or to hold special ceremonies, or to talk about what it means to be a woman. Women’s spirituality is a natural outgrowth of our companionable urges and our experiences with divinity. It works just the way other women’s networks do: through mutual support and activity. You talk a little, you listen a little, you learn a lot.

Q: What is magic? Why is it sometimes spelled “magick”?

A: Magic is the art and science of altering reality by an act of Will. Magical energy may come from within the practitioner, from a shrine or natural power place, from specially consecrated tools, or from the God and the Goddess. The practitioner then shapes the energy into a desired pattern and sends it out into the world to take effect. Magic can also create deep changes within the user’s own body or mind, rather than the outside world. Using magic effectively takes a lot of practice; you can’t learn it just by reading a few books or articles. Using magic also takes effort; you don’t just wave a wand and watch things happen. Magic works best in concert with mundane activities which support the same goal. This is because magic follows natural law, just like the other sciences; it simply touches some aspects of reality that most people don’t see every day. All things are connected, therefore it is possible for distant events or objects to influence each other; that natural law makes magic work. Some people use the spelling “magick” to distinguish spellcraft from prestidigitation.

Q: Do all Wiccans/Pagans/Witches practice magic? What is the difference between “white magic” and “black magic?”

A: No; although many Wiccans/Pagans/Witches practice magic, not all do. Some people have no interest in magic; others feel uncomfortable about the idea of changing reality on purpose. Victor Anderson, High Priest of the Faery tradition, says this about magic: “White magic is poetry, black magic is anything that actually works.” Most practitioners today do not use the terms “white magic” or “black magic” – these come primarily from folklore. Instead, you hear people talk about “positive magic” and “negative magic.” Most systems consider it unethical to work magic on another person without their consent, with the intent of coercing them to do something they would not ordinarily do, or with the intent of causing them harm. All of those things fall under the general class of “negative magic.” Conversely, “positive magic” follows strict ethical guidelines, operates only with consent, and aims for the highest good of all.

Q: What is the Rule of Three? The Wiccan Rede?

A: The Rule of Three states, “All that you do returns to you three times over.” This means if you do one good deed for someone else, three times that much benefit will manifest in your own life; and if you cause harm, three times that much misfortune will likewise manifest. The Wiccan Rede states, “An it harm none, do as thou wilt.” This means you should follow your own inner guidance, so long as you harm nobody (including yourself!) by your action or inaction. Taken together, these two basic ethical guidelines form a mainstay of all Wiccan traditions, and many other Pagans adopt them as well. When followed diligently, they guide practitioners into virtuous and mindful lives. Other Pagan traditions have their own guidelines, such as the “Nine Noble Virtues” that Asatruar uphold.

Q: What is the relationship between Earth-based religions and other religions?

A: This depends on whom you ask. Followers of Earth-based religions generally aim for an attitude of tolerance, mutual respect, and cooperation. Many Pagans carry on interfaith activities with Christian, Jewish, atheist, and other friends. Pagan scholars, clergy, and activists devote a lot of energy to the creation and distribution of educational material, so that people of other faiths can learn about Earth-based religions. However, the major “revelatory” religions like Christianity and Islam customarily exhibit hostility towards everyone outside their own religion – or even denomination, in some cases. Sometimes people take a very narrow view of the Divine and attack other people who worship or believe differently than they do. While Pagans prefer a congenial relationship, they do assert their religious freedoms, and they readily respond to attacks on their rights by organizing an effective protest.

Q: Should parents teach their kids about religion(s)? Is Paganism safe for kids?

A: Parents should decide for themselves whether or not to teach their kids about religion. However, evidence suggests that it is a good idea to offer kids a chance to learn about a variety of different religions; this way they can make an informed choice when they are old enough, and they develop a strong base for religious tolerance. It is generally not a good idea to force kids into any religious activities if they don’t want to participate; this can cause hurt feelings all around and won’t create the kind of positive religious experience you want. Paganism in general is safe for kids, and many Pagan activities like dancing and singing really appeal to younger people. Like any religion, though, some ceremonies and activities are for grown-ups only; if you want to take your kids to a Pagan event, you should check ahead to find one with age-appropriate activities.

Q: Do Witches worship Satan? Sacrifice babies? Sacrifice animals?

A: Absolutely not. Witches do not acknowledge the existence of “Satan” or any other figure of ultimate evil. Witches love children and make excellent parents. Many Witches also love animals and keep pets, especially the traditional cats. Negative acts such as dwelling on evil or harming helpless creatures would violate the basic tenets of Wicca and most other forms of Witchcraft.

Q: Can you be a Pagan and a Christian?

A: Yes. Such people may call themselves Christo-Pagans, Mystic Christians, or other names reflecting their dual heritage. Angel Wicca is another popular example. Some Afro-Caribbean religions like Santeria combine Pagan and Christian elements too. You can blend together aspects from many different religions according to what feels right to you; many people do this. In your explorations you might meet a “Jewitch” studying Judaism and Witchcraft, or a “Pagan Sufi” studying Paganism and the Sufi branch of Islam, or just about any other combination you can imagine.