|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:31 pm
Hello!
I'm just starting to learn about witchcraft (general witchcraft) and I had a question to give me some ideas on where to start.
Where did you guys get started in witchcraft-type practices? What did you read? What did you try?
(if this needs moved, feel free to do so)
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:27 pm
Besides some childhood experiences, it all started for me with the book The 21 Lessons of Merlin. While half of this book is but an entertaining story, the other half gives you some tools that are helpful for finding threshold experiences. And if you look deeper into it, you learn the tools to forge your own tools (I'm not just speaking literally either wink )
It's certainly not the only place to start, but it's where I started, and it's the reason I excel at invocation over other skills.
The book that has provided me with a lot of new direction recently is entitled Advanced Witchcraft. Don't let the pseudo-sounding name throw ya off lol I have to admit, I was reluctant to grab it, but I'm glad I did now. But as the name implies, you may not want to get into that just yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:57 pm
Dear Mare Mother of Sleipnir please tell me you are not referring to the book by Edain McCoy. I am sorry, but it contains very little actual information. 90% of the book is McCoy wanking on about how she's totally an advanced witch, and if you are too then you fulfil her particular set of requirements. Unfortunately it contains no advanced witchcraft and very little witchcraft at all. And this is one of McCoy's better books. I mean, at least in this one she doesn't rape the Celtic culture too much. Although she does try her hand at destroying quantum physics. Hey, I've heard of that Merlin book.... A review to it is linked to from "Wicca for the Rest of Us". Bam!(Advantage: link also reviews a book by McCoy.) My personal earliest memory about looking into the occult was reading my grandmother's "Almanac of the Uncanny" from readers' digest. It covered a lot of bases and was actually quite fascinating... while it wasn't teaching witchcraft or anything of the sort, it went on about Vlad Tepes and the black plague and spontaneous human combustion. What it did do was mention a few folk superstitions and spells that, looking back now, I can understand on a better level and actually incorporate into my practice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:12 am
Ultraviolett1127:
If you do get into buying books, don't forget you don't have to accept all of what's being pitched to you. In fact, if something doesn't make sense or feels wrong, there's a ton of different takes on similar ideas to look into. You will probably find yourself mixing and matching all sorts of things anyway.
I would like to point out that books that consist 100% of spells, like a big index, is very little help. Rather, it was very little help to me. It all comes to be a perpetual process after a while, and spells may become totally unnecessary in the future. I'm a big fan of getting to know yourself, and there are some books you will find just browsing that are better for that.
Sanguina-chan:
I found McCoy's book to give less definition or restriction while trying to teach. I think at some point, she cuts down the term "Advanced Witchcraft" in saying there is no such thing. It's more a term for, one who has been practicing for a long time. I do find the title to be presumptuous and pompous though, and I know that when a book is loaded with personal opinions that you don't agree with, it makes it hard to even turn the page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:17 pm
I'm just starting out too, but the New Age section of your nearest bookstore would have a good selection (I should hope, anyways. The small bookstore I worked at over the summer had half a shelf full of books on all sorts of things, including spells, divination, etc.)
I've found over the past year (my first year of university, that is) that I cannot learn from books. As much as books have been my best friend for most of my life, they cannot replace teachers. I need someone to mediate that boring bundle of words on pages bound together by cardboard to explain what the author wants us to know. Which is why groups like these can be good. Real people who talk to other real people seem to say things in a more realistic way, a way that is comprehensible to my mind and simpler than long drawn-out passages in a book. I prefer the simple "this is this and that's how this works" version.
I'm not saying books aren't helpful - many people learn solely through books. I'm just saying that not everyone can learn that way, so you can definitely stick around and learn new stuff here! biggrin
Have a look through some books, have fun reading what you think will help you (If you get a feel for a book, then you might want to buy it, and if you're not feeling right about a book, I wouldn't suggest buying it). I hope you can find what you're looking for!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:02 am
Viscerim I found McCoy's book to give less definition or restriction while trying to teach. I think at some point, she cuts down the term "Advanced Witchcraft" in saying there is no such thing. It's more a term for, one who has been practicing for a long time. I do find the title to be presumptuous and pompous though, and I know that when a book is loaded with personal opinions that you don't agree with, it makes it hard to even turn the page. My point was more that a book called "Advanced Witchcraft" should probably contain some references to witchcraft, rather than just Neo-Wiccan morals and the author masturbating her own ego. It's a pet peeve of mine. Any book titled witchcraft should be about witchcraft. It gets on my wick when it isn't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:52 pm
LOL and that just goes to show ya Ultraviolett - not all books are helpful to all people. Mistreena gave some pretty darn good advice actually: Pick up what you have a feel for, and the things that feel wrong, stay away from 'em. In fact, once we get 50 assignments and open up the Book of Shadows forum, you might see someone whose way of thinking you like a lot, and you might find that one person is much more valuable that one written accumulation of knowledge.
I hope you find all that you're looking for here at the SCS.
If you come to find more specific curiosities, one of us here should be able to help your explore it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:29 pm
Aye, but to read reviews on Amazon.com, DJ Conway and Silver Ravenwolf "feel right" to some people. Not to mention Ralph Blum... some of the reviews of his work are just glowing with how "inspirational" he was or something. It makes the bile rise in my gullet, it really does.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:26 pm
Yeah, people differ to much to rely on reviews. Ya gotta get into the book first-hand to see how it is.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:32 am
My first written introduction to magic was in Magical Herbalism by Cunningham. I also like True Magick by Amber K. My learning for other types of magic have come from various people in my life, and various experiences that I have had.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:52 pm
I have always had an interest in the occult and all its forms of practice. However I was lucky that my school had a alternative learning section. That and there was a store in my home town called the Ravens Nest. The sold many obscure and detailed Indexes and books on Herbalism, protection, occult history and divination.
But the only thing that really interested me was collecting the information. This was also true about all occult things and even far mythical things that where somewhat out of its own realm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 2:43 pm
Ok where to start.
First I will say that I was born into a family well inked into the occult arts. My mother was a witch of the Blue Moon's, my father was a priest Nebuchadnezzar, and my uncle was a reformed Red dagger Chaplin.
I sent the first few years in study for following the footsteps of my mother actually. But unfortunately I never could see myself as a warlock or any inclination there in. While it hurt there feelings I discontinued my studies and went on to a more strict path of learning and that's where I met many of my current friends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
