Okay, so here’s the real talk: If you’re even asking this question; “Am I a witch?” or “Is witchcraft for me?”, that’s your first and biggest clue. Most of the world isn't even thinking about this stuff. Witchcraft and the occult are still niche, even with how popular it’s gotten online. The average person isn’t out here looking up herbs for banishing or feeling pulled to light a candle and talk to their spirits. So if you’re drawn to it at all, if you keep circling back to it like a quiet drumbeat in your soul... you’re probably already on the path. Witchcraft tends to call people who are meant for it. It starts small; an interest, a curiosity, a weird synchronicity that makes you think, “That was kind of magical.” And then it pulls you in deeper. The more you lean in, the more alive you feel. That’s how you know.
Now let’s clear something up: You don’t need a long ancestral lineage of witches to claim your power. Seriously. That whole “you must come from a line of witches” thing? Outdated gatekeeping. Witchcraft is a craft. That means it’s a practice. Something you do. Something you become through action, learning, intention, and connection. If you practice witchcraft, if you cast spells, speak to your spirits, work with energy, honor the cycles, study the unseen - and you identify as a witch? Then you’re a witch. Full stop. You don’t need anyone’s permission slip. It’s not about having all the answers. You don’t need to “prove” anything. If it resonates… if it calls to you… if it feels like home… That’s your sign. That’s your knowing. You’re not here by accident. Welcome.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, what do you do?
If you’re just stepping onto the witchcraft path, the first thing I want you to do is breathe. No, really. That’s actually step one.
1. Start with Basic Meditation (Don’t Overthink It)
I know, I know... so boring! I've tried before and I'm just not good at it. Here's the thing though - every single book, course, or mentor you’ll ever come across is going to tell you to meditate. So let’s just get it out of the way early. Here’s all you need to do:
- Set a timer for 5 minutes.
- Sit somewhere comfortable.
- Take slow, deep breaths - in through your nose, out through your mouth. Feel your belly rise and fall. Just focus on your breath, don't worry about what your thoughts are doing.
- When your timer goes off, you’re done.
When it feels effortless like you want to keep going, bump it up to 10 minutes next time. Keep going until you can comfortably sit for 20–30 minutes. That’s it. No special music, no lotus pose, no overcomplicating it. This practice will set you up for developing and learning more about your psychic skills in the future, for communicating with spirits, for visualization... trust me its worth it, just do it. Oh, also; No, it doesn't matter what time of day you do it. No, it doesn't hurt if you skip a day or get distracted.
2. Build a Simple Altar (Don't overthink it)
You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect altar. Start with just:
- A candle
- A glass of water
- Incense
That’s all you need to begin. Light the candle, set out the water and incense, and start talking to your spirits daily. Keep it informal. You don’t need prayers or scripts. “Hey, I’m here. I want to connect. I’m listening.” That tone builds a real relationship even if you don’t know who’s on your spirit team yet. You can also start with your ancestors:
- Gather photos or keepsakes of loved ones who have passed.
- Same setup - candle, water, incense.
- Talk to them like family, because they are.
- Give them offerings; flowers, coffee, alcohol, some of the food you cook (let food sit for 24hrs and then throw it away - don't let it rot)
3. Keep a Dream Journal (Don't overthink it)
Don’t try to interpret every single dream right away. The goal is to train your mind to pay attention.
- Write down your dreams every morning. I use the notes app on my phone so I don't have to turn on lights or find a pen in the middle of the night.
- If you don’t remember them, write “Dreamed but don’t remember,” or “Don’t remember dreaming at all.”
Consistency matters more than details right now.
4. Relax Into Learning (Don't overthink it)
You are not expected to know everything at once. Witchcraft is a lifetime path. If you try to cram it all in, you’ll just burn out. Here’s a secret: you don’t need to study things that don’t light you up. Follow what sparks your curiosity and feels witchy and magical to you. If you’re obsessed with herbs, dive into herbs. If you’re fascinated by spirits, start there. And for the love of the craft: practice.
You can read all the books in the world, but witchcraft is a boots on the ground practice. It lives in what you do, not what you study. And don’t stress about “what type of witch” you are. There are many types of magic, but you don’t have to shove yourself into a box. Learn what calls to you, grow your tool belt, and let your practice unfold naturally.
5. Learn Protection and Cleansing Early (Don't overthink it)
If you want to feel confident trying new things, start with spells and rituals that protect you and cleanse your energy. That foundation makes experimenting feel safe - and it should. There are several different ways to do protection work; daily energy protection and banishing, long term protection wards, traps and decoys, short term defensive protection and reversal spells. Cleansings as well have several ways and several purposes; clearing out basic stagnant or negative energy, cleansing from attack or when things seem to be going wrong (crossed up), cleansing from cords and energetic attachments. Theres plenty to learn and practice to keep you busy while your studying other areas of interest and plucking up the courage to try bigger spells.
Know This Going In:
- You will try things that don’t work.
- That doesn’t mean you aren’t a witch.
- That doesn’t mean you don’t have power.
- No witch hits 100% every time.
The worst that’s going to happen is something flops - and then you learn from it. Your'e not going to destroy your life or open a portal or summon a demon. Nothing is going to backfire. Thats all just subconscious fears and religious/social programming. It takes a high level of skill to do most of those things. It takes intention to do them. And, lets face it, you aren't skilled enough to do that... yet. Take comfort in that! This path is meant to be lived, not just studied. Start small. Keep it simple. Build relationships with your spirits and ancestors. Protect and cleanse yourself. And above all, practice. Your craft will grow as you grow. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. You just have to begin.
Magic is accessed through feeling and imagination, Fun and play. Not in doing everything perfectly, following every step or fretting over little details. You don't access magic by over-analyzing, over-thinking or over-criticizing every little thing. Magic and witchcraft are not things that need evidence, explanation or proof. Its like cooking, not like baking. What I mean is; with cooking, as long as you have the ingredients (correspondence) right you can basically measure by heart and experiement. You can have your own secret family speghetti sauce recipe and its still going to be recognizable as speghetti sauce. Baking is very specific measurements and instructions that generally you don't causually deviate or experiment with. Spellwork and magic is cooking. Learn the basics, try a recipe, then make it your own. Approach books and information more as inspiration than strict instruction, cultivate the feeling of magic and lean into your imagination as the doorway to The Otherworld. Have fun and don't overthink it!
Here's a list of books for starting witchcraft and a magical practice:
Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen
Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kynes
Mastering Magick by Mat Auryn
Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn
The Spell Book for New Witches by Ambrosia Hawthorn
Protection & Reversal Magick by Jason Miller
If you are looking for more personal guidance or coaching, schedule a session with us here: Witchcarft Coaching & Spell Craft Consulting