So, you have done your homework on Paganism and decided it's for you. Did you really think you could just start popping up and saying "I'm a witch, bitch!" and presto, you are one? (By the way, I have said that to a friend before while drunk.) Sorry to burst your bubble, but it does not work like that. What happens next entirely depends on whether you will be primarily a solitary or coven practitioner.
Let me define that for you real quick. Solitary witches are those without a coven and do their rituals alone for the most part (yours truly is one) and coven practitioners actually go through the process with a group. Most may wonder due to stereotypes how, and more importantly why would you practice alone? For one thing, I find it very convenient. I can do a ritual whenever I want and if I want to do it naked, no one has to see my out of shape self. Another good reason is sadly, secrecy. Witches are just too afraid or too caught up in tradition to come out and with open arms tell people to join them (we also are not an evangelistic faith, meaning we don't openly recruit and try to turn people to us). I do not blame them, it is fear that keeps me in the closet after all. But because of that covens are actually kind of hard to find, and it is considered very rude just to ask to join one.So, some of us opt to be lone wolves so to speak.
But I am getting off the topic, we are talking about what you do next after all. So, you must decide if you will be solitary or coven. Once you've done that, no, you are still not a witch yet. Before you can even think about calling yourself a witch, you have to study more. To be more precise, most witches, solitary and coven agree you must study for at least a year and a day before you can be initiated. I myself did not finish my official year and a day of studying until this year even though I have been unofficially Pagan since I was 19, but you know, I wanted to do things right. If you are being sponsored by a coven, an elder will tutor you and guide you along the path. For us solitary witches, it can be a bit trickier.
Believe it or not, there is a great book out there to help you lone wolves out. Timothy Roderick wrote Wicca: A Year and a Day as a guide for solitary witches. It is something between a workbook and a textbook and it sets out a lesson for each day of your year and a day, gives you lists of supplies you need for each month and is very easy to read and stick with. Yes, I honestly used it, and I even let a friend borrow it for her own studies. You should also take into account what time you decide to start this year and a day. Traditionally you don't start it between Samhain (Oct. 31) and Feb. 2 because it is a time when magical, like the earth, is not growing a lot according to Roderick, but it's only tradition, not a rule. Once you have finished your year and a day, you can have an initiation. That is basically the Pagan baptism, where you swear yourself to the God and Goddess and the tenants of our faith (and to listen to your Priest and Priestess if you are in a coven). And then, my friends, then you are officially a witch.
But do not stop studying just because you are officially a witch. Never stop studying. The world is always changing, and so are we. There are always new wonders to discover in the Craft as long as we are willing to look for them.
Did I leave something out or do you have a helpful suggestion for my readers? Leave a comment of e-mail me at sakura.chef@yahoo.com. I will reply to you, promise! Until tomorrow, blessed be!
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