New Witch Checklist

Magic and personal empowerment? Where do I sign up?!

It seems like more and more people are taking up witchcraft as a way to create their best life and find self awareness. With every path being as unique as our individual finger prints, it’s difficult to know where to start or what to research first. Considering that most of witchcraft is psychological, it’s really important to find what works for you and what methods help you believe in yourself.

I created this list, not just for those who want to seek and don’t know where to look, but also to show you how deeply individual it can get.

With that being said, welcome to the path new witches! Here is a list of basic practices to get you started in finding what you need:

1.) A form of divination to help guide you when you feel lost or confused. Divination is most commonly defined as fortune telling, but goes much deeper. With the right divination tools, you can gain insight on how to heal, on how to act towards your highest good. The examples in the list are the most common ones:

Tarot cards and runes, but if these don’t call to you there are many other options. Tarot cards are a deck of 72 cards each telling one piece of the fools journey. By picking cards based on intuition these cards can weave together answers deep answers to questions you may not have considered asking yet. If you enjoy vivid art and psychological symbols this may be a good option for you.

Some other options are tasseomancy, the art of reading symbols inside tea leaves or coffee grounds to predict the future, along with lessons, themes, and messages relevant to your life. If you drink a lot of tea or coffee, this might call to you.

Another good one is pendulum readings. If you want something easy to carry with you and simple yes or no answers pendulums might be it for you. They are easily disguised as jewelry and can also be helpful if you frequently lose personal items 😉

2.) A way to energy cleanse: as we go through our everyday lives negative energy can get stuck in our homes and on our personal items. Stress from work, last weeks disagreement with a loved one, the guest who wasn’t particularly self-aware and happy when they entered your space: all of those normal and natural occurrences can leave a dark residue in your home and on your personal items, and energy cleansing is important to help remove that darkness.

The most common way to clear out left of energy is through smoke cleansing. Smoke cleansing is the act of burning incense and herbs, letting the smoke drift over windows doors and personal items to carry away bad juju. If smoke cleansing isn’t something that would work for you, due to allergies or a restriction on fire in your living space, then there are other options to choose from. Another way to clear out negative energy is by walking room to room and ringing bells 🔔 If you are musically inclined this may appeal to you. Every time you ring a bell it creates a sound vibration that breaks up stagnate energy and raises vibrations in your space.

3.) One reliable form of manifestation: because what is witchcraft if not using the energy around you to create the life you want? Remember when manifesting it is important to be direct and speak as if what you seek is already your’s (example: “My life is filled with abundance.” “The people in my life love me and want me to be successful.” If you prefer you could draw a picture instead of writing it.) One common method of manifestation is writing down what you seek in a direct manner and burning it, allowing your intention to be energized by the flames and released.

Leaving offerings is another method of manifestation, this time using energy exchange. Offerings can range from leaving an apple in the park or under a tree, tipping a delivery driver, pouring out a small drink, feeding a bird. To use this method you would hold your offering and visualize what your life would look like if you had what you are seeking. Picture the path opening for you and see your desired life with as much detail as possible and then when the time comes release your offering in good faith, knowing that this generous energy will come back to you as what you seek to manifest.

4.) One path of magick that you feel inspired to learn. This may expand and as you learn you will seek other paths to learn, but starting out it’s important to have at least one path to get you started. The best way to pick the path you want to start learning about is by considering what drew you to witchcraft to begin with. Was it the idea of preforming elegant and powerful rituals? Then take some time to research spell work. Was it to get closer to nature? Take some time to learn about different herbs and nature magick. Was it because you were interested in connecting with spirits or other beings? Maybe the path you start your research on is ancestral magick. Thinking about what attracted you to this path is the best way to find what you want to learn and study. If you start in an area that doesn’t interest you or doesn’t have anything to do with what attracted you, then you might feel yourself put off or slowed down in the process of connecting with your most powerful self. Every path is different, don’t feel obligated to pursue something that doesn’t resonate with your soul.

5.) A list of element traits and associations: The elements fire, water, earth, air, and sometimes spirit or ether, provide important symbolism and energies to help you balance yourself or get your manifestation into the universe. Each element has both productive and destructive qualities, and the ones that are most prevalent to you will help you decipher areas you need to work on and how to reach your higher self. For example: When you think of earth elements, you might visualize putting down roots or steady growth, and you can try to harness that energy to pursue your own growth and putting down roots in your life. When you think of water, do you think of the ocean or rivers patiently carving beaches and canyons or do you think of the rain, quenching and cleansing the earth? How you view each element is going to help play a big factor into what kind of person you want to be, and what you accomplish in your life.

6.) A meditation or mindfulness technique that works for you. It is important to have a way to take stock of your emotions, mind, and bring yourself back to the present, and meditation is one of the best ways to do that. We all have chaos inside us, and being able to look through that chaos into the core of what we want, who we are, is one of the most important skills a person can have, witch or otherwise. Some people may find standard meditation of observing your thoughts and focusing on your breath as the best technique. Others may need something else to focus on to quiet their mind, like staring into a flame or watching smoke drift. Pro tip: Many people say they can’t meditate because it brings up feelings of anxiety or saddness, however, part of meditation process is creating a safe and judgment free zone to meet these feelings. Treat them like wild animals you are attempting to observe.

One of the most common methods of meditation, is chakra meditation. Chakra meditation requires an understanding of the pools of energy that are located along your spine. These pools of energy are connected to specific emotions and behaviors. If chakra meditation is something you find yourself attracted to, it is usually recommended you meditate on 1-2 chakras at a time as you learn to cleanse and channel your energy flow.

7.) A safe space to marvel at nature. Whether it is the moon, a beautiful sunset, the ocean, a forest, or just a nice tree that grows nearby, it is important to have a place where you can marvel at the beauty of nature. When we take time to reflect and appreciate nature, we are also connecting with ourselves, the parts of us that still recognize we are not just part of nature, but that we ARE nature, as much as the moon or the trees. I encourage all witches, new and old, to take time to connect with the beauty that lives around you and within you.

8.) An open and curious mind to learn. Your only limit in witchcraft is your own creativity. As you grow in knowledge and wisdom, I encourage you to be curious and experimental, finding what works best for you. In a room full of witches, no two are going to answer a magical question exactly the same. Your path may not lead you exactly where you thought it would, and your beliefs may evolve as you grow and learn, and that is okay. Be ready to let go of old ideas that no longer work for you, and to question new ones as you find the right techniques and methods to bring you into your higher self.

I hope everyone who finds this post is greeted with the beauty and wisdom of this world. Blessed be, and welcome to the path