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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
