Starting Out

     Initiation.  (To become a part of something.)  Initiation into the Craft can happen in more than just one way.  Many newcomers believe they must be initiated by another member of the Craft in order for it to be official.  This is not true!  If you do decide to become initiated into a Pagan group or coven, that's fine, but check them out first.  After you've met with them several times and you feel comfortable with them and you still want to join, then go ahead:)  But, there must NEVER be a time when that group wants you to harm yourself, someone or something else (like an animal); have intercourse with another; be required to listen to harsh music; get a tattoo or get beat up by others, etc.  These acts I list may sound outlandish (and they are!), but I've heard them from others and make no mistake, they have been asked, even required, of someone to join a group or so-called coven.  Those demands are never part of any TRUE Witchcraft group!  If those demands are ever mentioned, even jokingly, get out of there quick!
     Aside from the formal initiation process within a group setting, solitary initiation happens as well.  It can even be before you know what the Craft is.  I know of initiations that have happened to people when they were very young, including myself.  Only later in life, these people find out the Craft was something that was nagging them, ''Something is missing, but what is it? '',  and only recently found out it had a name. . .  Paganism . . .  '' You mean that what I've felt inside all these years is actually a religion?  What a relief!  I've finally found my home!''  So what is initiation for a Pagan?  It's having a  reverence for Nature.  It's understanding animals, trees, plants, clouds, birds, rain.  It's hearing the first bird sing again in the Spring when Winter starts to loosen her grip on the land.  It's seeing and hearing the geese fly over at night under the stars in Autumn, telling you Winter is on it's way.  It's getting all excited because, ''Today's the Summer Solstice!''  It's noticing a flower has bloomed in the yard that wasn't there yesterday.  It's shifting in your bed to fall asleep bathed in the light of the Moon.  It's watching mist drift through the mountains and dissipate in the rays of the Sun and realizing there's no place else you'd rather be.
     Right now you're either saying,   ''What on Earth are you talking about?'' or ''I know exactly what you mean!  I've felt that way for the longest time!''  If it's the latter, more than likely, you've already been initiated by the Goddess herself. You know deep inside if it's happened.  Feels good, doesn't it!

     Dedication.  (Not to be confused with initiation.)  Dedication is to commit yourself to something.  Dedicating yourself to the Craft of the Wise is a very serious decision that should not be made lightly.  Dedication is usually not done until a year after you've become interested.  This is to give yourself time to learn and understand what you're interested in, or what you think you're interested in.  In this year, if you're serious, your main goal is to learn EVERYTHING you can about the Craft.  You can ask any Wiccan, Witch, or Pagan where's the best place to start and they will all tell you the same thing . . . ''Read! Read! Read!''  Get you're information any where you can, from books, people, websites, anything that talks about the Craft.   (Just keep in mind when asking the advise of other Witches, not to tell them, ''Teach me everything you know!'', especially when emailing them!  This can be considered rude & lazy on your behalf and your email may go unanswered.)  By reading all you can find, soon you'll start to see what the Craft really is and what it's really not. (Keep in mind that just because something is published doesn't mean it's accurate. Authors make mistakes, even famous ones. If you're discouraged by one authors teachings, move on to a different one. It's important to remember that every author puts his or her own opinions, experiences and viewpoints in their work.) After your year of earnest study and you've made your own judgments of what the Craft truly is, and you're still interested, you can then dedicate yourself.  This can be accomplished a couple of different ways.  You can have an elaborate ceremony or you can do something as simple as going for a walk, finding a nice quiet place and telling the God & Goddess that you dedicate yourself to them and the Craft of the Wise.  It can be that simple.  If you truly know in your heart that this is the right thing for you to do, then go ahead and do it.

     Tradition.  There are countless types of traditions within Paganism, but after some time of studying, you'll probably pick which tradition you'll want to follow.  But as you gain more knowledge of various paths that can be followed, you may change your choice later on or even become eclectic.  Changing tradition to one you're really comfortable with is not only acceptable, it's looked upon as a greater attainment of knowledge of the Universe in which we live.

     OK.  After initiation and dedication.  What's the next step?  How do you start practicing Witchcraft? Start doing all you've been reading about. Many feel uncertain about performing a ritual or spell stating, " I don't want to do something wrong." Then don't do something wrong. You know deep in your heart if something is wrong or right, and there's nothing wrong with practicing your ceremony or seeing how spell components work together. If you like, state your intentions to the God/dess before you start. Remembering back, I used to say, "Bear with me here, I'm just practicing." According to the dictionary, to practice is "to perform or do repeatedly in order to acquire skill or proficiency". Paganism is a doing religion so be creative and get involved. Once a member of the Craft starts doing, the learning never stops, no matter how many years they've been practicing. I'm amazed at how much I've learned over the years and am excited about how much more I'll learn as the years progress. Always keep in mind that years of practice and knowledge do not go hand-in-hand and age does not matter when someone decides they may want to start investigating Paganism.  ANY age is acceptable so long as the person is mature enough to make conscious, educated decisions.  I don't ask the length of time someone has been practicing the ways of Witchcraft, nor do I judge the practitioner by their age.  I have come to find that age and the length of time one spends in their studies has little to do with their level of wisdom of the Craft.  I know of an eleven year old girl who understands and lives by the fundamentals of the Craft better than a forty-two year old that's been studying for eighteen years!  So, don't let age or years of study fool you.  Follow what your heart tells you is the right thing for you to do.  For more information on Witchcraft or any other Pagan religion, be sure to visit the 'Web Rings' and the 'Further Reading' pages within this site.

      To be or not to be?  Solitary or coven member, that is.  This can sometimes be a hard choice, (or no choice at all if there aren't any covens in your area).  A coven can give a great sense of belonging.  It can be a great place to learn, grow and share together with good friends who share common beliefs and goals.  On the other hand it may be hard to find a group in your area because of where you live.  Or maybe you prefer to go it alone.  What ever your choice is, none are wrong.  
     A solitary is no more and no less a Witch than a coven member.  The time may come when, if you belong to a coven, you may decide to leave, to grow and pursue other paths.  There is nothing wrong with this either.  If you do decide to join a coven, just remember to use common sense when you meet new people and do only what feels right in your heart.  If you feel their beliefs are like yours and you feel safe with them, go for it!  If you are uncomfortable with a person, group or their 'rules' - leave. That is your will!  
     Remember, you make your own rules for what the Craft is for you, so long as you harm none and do what feels right to you. Sometimes that may not include someone else's 'one true right way'.  That's OK.  The important thing is to have fun and harm none!

     Another great way to get involved is by joining an awareness group.  There are many of them out there like MeetUp for Witches, Wiccans & Pagans, The Witches' League for Public Awareness, The Witches' Voice and The Covenant of the Goddess. Check with your local metaphysical shop to see if there are any open gatherings you can attend. Sometimes a small donation (one to five dollars is acceptable) may be requested to help pay for supplies or some will request bringing a dish to pass from all attendees. You can also subscribe to pagan magazines like Circle Network News published by Circle Sanctuary, PanGaia Magazine, Sage Woman Magazine and The Green Egg Magazine.  And if you don't already contribute to organizations that are Nature oriented, you can always check those out too.  The Nature Conservancy, The National Wildlife Federation, The National Arbor Day Foundation, Greenpeace, or any organization along those lines geared towards helping Nature.  But check out a company to be sure they're legitimate before you start handing out your hard earned money.

Wicca, A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
Celtic Magic by D.J. Conway
Green Witchcraft I, II & III by Ann Moura
Earth Power by Scott Cunningham
Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft by Raven Grimassi
Natural Witchery by Ellen Dugan
The Wicca Bible by Ann-Marie Gallagher

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