You've probably seen the "WitchTok" aesthetic. It's all gold-rimmed journals, expensive clusters of amethyst, and perfectly layered linen outfits that cost more than a month's rent. Honestly? It's mostly marketing. If you’re looking into witchcraft how to become a witch, the first thing you need to drop is the idea that you need to buy a specific starter kit from a crystal shop to "count."
Witchcraft is a practice. It's a craft. That means you do it; you don't just buy it.
Historically, witchcraft wasn't a unified religion or a secret club with a membership fee. It was folk magic. It was the "cunning folk" in 16th-century England or the curanderas in Latin America using what they had—herbs, kitchen salt, intention, and a deep connection to the cycles of the moon and the seasons. To become a witch today, you're basically stepping into a long, messy, and very diverse tradition of personal agency. It’s about realizing you have the power to influence your own reality through symbolic action and focused will.
Finding Your Path in a Sea of Traditions
Wait. Before you cast a single spell, you have to realize that "witchcraft" is a massive umbrella.
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Some people are Wiccans, which is a specific religion founded in the mid-20th century by Gerald Gardner. It has rules, like the Wiccan Rede ("An' it harm none, do what ye will"). But not all witches are Wiccan. Not even close. You might find yourself drawn to Secular Witchcraft, where you don’t believe in literal gods but use the rituals as a form of psychological priming—basically "spicy psychology." Or maybe you’re into Green Witchery, which is all about the medicinal and magical properties of plants.
Then there’s Traditional Witchcraft, which looks back at historical folklore and regional spirits rather than modern New Age vibes.
You don't have to choose a label on day one. Seriously. Just start by observing. Read books like Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler to understand the history, or check out the works of Ronald Hutton if you want the gritty, academic truth about where these practices actually come from. Don't just trust a random 15-second clip of someone claiming you'll get a "money curse" if you don't share their video. That's just an algorithm hack, not magic.
The First Step: Developing Your "Inner Eye"
The most important tool in witchcraft isn't a wand. It's your mind.
If you can't focus your thoughts for more than ten seconds, your spells are going to be about as effective as a damp match. Most experienced practitioners will tell you that meditation and visualization are the foundational skills. You need to be able to hold a specific image or "feeling" in your head until it feels real.
Try this: Sit in a quiet room. Hold a simple stone in your hand. Close your eyes and try to "feel" the weight and temperature of the stone without moving your fingers. Then, imagine a light glowing inside that stone. If you can hold that mental image for five minutes without your brain wandering off to think about what you’re having for dinner, you’re already ahead of the curve.
Witchcraft How to Become a Witch: Building Your First Altar
An altar is just a workspace. It’s a physical focal point for your practice. It doesn't need to be a massive mahogany table. It can be the top of a dresser or a shoebox you hide under your bed if you’re living with roommates who might be weirded out.
Traditional altars often represent the four elements:
- Earth: A bowl of salt, a rock, or a small plant.
- Air: Incense, a feather, or just the open window.
- Fire: A candle (even a tea light works).
- Water: A simple glass of tap water.
The point of these items is to ground you. When you stand in front of your altar, your brain gets the signal: "Okay, we're doing the work now." It shifts your consciousness from "daily survival mode" into "magical mode."
Ethics and the "Threefold Law" Debate
Here is where things get spicy. In the witchcraft community, there is a huge debate about ethics. Wiccans often believe in the Law of Return, which says whatever energy you put out comes back to you three times over.
Other witches think that's nonsense.
They argue that nature isn't "nice." A storm doesn't care if it's being ethical; it just happens. If you're looking into witchcraft how to become a witch, you have to decide where your own moral compass sits. Are you okay with "binding" a toxic person so they stop hurting you? Or do you believe all magic should be purely positive? There is no "Pope of Witchcraft" to tell you you're doing it wrong, but you do have to live with the consequences of your own actions.
The Importance of a Grimoire or Book of Shadows
You need to write stuff down. Period.
A Grimoire is basically a magical textbook. A Book of Shadows is more like a journal. You can combine them. You don't need a leather-bound tome with parchment paper. A 99-cent spiral notebook works perfectly fine.
What do you put in it?
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- The Date and Moon Phase: Start noticing if your moods or results change based on whether the moon is waxing or waning.
- Your Spells: What did you do? What ingredients did you use?
- The Results: This is the part people forget. If you did a "success spell" for a job interview and you didn't get the job, write that down. Why did it fail? Was your intention unclear? Or maybe the universe is just saying that specific office is a dumpster fire you should avoid.
- Research: Notes on herbs like rosemary (for memory/protection) or mugwort (for dreaming).
Understanding Correspondences (The "Why" Behind the "What")
Why do witches use cinnamon for prosperity? Why use black candles for protection?
These are called correspondences. It’s the idea that certain items have a "vibrational frequency" or a historical association that matches a specific goal. You don't just use them because they look cool. You use them to build a "sympathetic" link between your physical action and your mental goal.
For example, if you're doing a spell for a new beginning, you might do it on a Monday (ruled by the Moon, associated with cycles) or during a New Moon. You might use the color white. These layers of symbolism help "program" your subconscious mind to look for opportunities that align with your goal. It’s part psychology, part mystery.
Connecting With Nature
You cannot be a witch and be totally disconnected from the earth. Even "City Witches" find ways to connect. It might be noticing the weeds growing through the sidewalk cracks or tracking the sunset times.
Go outside. Walk barefoot if you can. Learn the names of the trees in your neighborhood. Real witchcraft is rooted in the "Spirit of Place." If you live in a desert, your magic shouldn't look like a forest witch's magic from the Pacific Northwest. Use what is local. Use what is real.
Common Pitfalls for Beginners
Most people quit because they expect Hollywood effects. You are probably not going to shoot fireballs from your fingertips or make a glass shatter with your mind.
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Magic is subtle.
It often looks like a "coincidence." You do a spell for extra money, and suddenly your boss offers you overtime, or you find a $20 bill in an old coat. If you ignore these "coincidences," you're missing the point. The "how" of witchcraft how to become a witch is learning to recognize when the world is responding to you.
Another pitfall? Spending too much money. You don't need a $100 cauldron. A kitchen pot is a cauldron. A kitchen knife (cleaned and dedicated) is an athame. Don't let capitalism trick you into thinking your practice is invalid because it's budget-friendly.
Actionable Steps to Start Today
If you're ready to actually start, stop reading and do these three things:
- Start a Dream Journal: Keep it by your bed. Before you go to sleep, tell yourself you will remember your dreams. Write down whatever you remember the second you wake up. This strengthens the bridge between your conscious and unconscious mind.
- Cleanse Your Space: Use salt water or a bundle of dried herbs (please research sustainable harvesting if you use White Sage, or just use garden sage/rosemary). Physically clean your room and then visualize any "heavy" energy being pushed out the windows.
- The Candle Method: Buy a simple white candle. Carve a single word into the wax—something you want to bring into your life, like "CLARITY." Light it. Sit with it until it burns down (safely!), focusing entirely on that one word.
Witchcraft is a lifelong study. There is no graduation ceremony. You just keep learning, keep practicing, and keep refining your relationship with the unseen world. The power isn't in the tools; it's in the person using them. If you’re waiting for a sign to start, this is it. Go get a notebook and start observing the moon tonight. That's how it begins.