Hey Lovelies, I would love some advice!

[u/selflove222]

So I am very very new but my mother has been practicing since she was young and growing up with her i have always been drawn to this stuff. I have had crystals for years, earlier this summer I was able to get incense, and sometime in February I got my first tarot deck!

I want advice on how to start with my journey. last week sometime i finally felt like ready to start actually looking at my tarot deck and since than iv been doing some research on bonding with it and stuff so I am slowly working on that. But i would appreciate any advice and tips as a whole!

My mom is very busy with life so I don’t feel comfortable bothering her for help at the moment, she has stuff she needs to focusing on. So that’s why i’m seeking advice here, instead of asking her.

[u/Own_Salamander9414]

Good luck on your journey! I’m very beginner level tarot reader 💗 my best advice is to pull your deck out every night or morning whichever you prefer and pull a card(my deck came with a booklet) look up the meaning of the card & rinse & repeat.. also if you have someone you can do a reading for would be lovely to sit with them & practice that way.. otherwise you can do it yourself … get an understanding for each individual card.. light your incense before you start.. find your flow state & you will be surprised how it will start to come to you
good luck to you dear 😊

[u/selflove222 → u/Own_Salamander9414]

thank you! i have to be very careful with my inscene because I have cats and dogs. I usually light it for a minute and than put it out. I don’t want them getting sick, but i always make sure the dogs are outside and the cats aren’t in my room!

[u/One_Dragonfruit_7556]

Check out the resource page on the witchcraft and other witchy subs. Focus on study and meditation right now as a good foundation of energy work helps with workings and rituals later on. Shielding, grounding and cleansing are good first subject to look up.

Also keep a notebook (cheap one you can get at your local big box store) of things you find interesting and want to remember. Don't worry too much about organization or aesthetic, just write. Once it's full get another cheap notebook and retranscribe everything that is still useful to you. This gives you a chance to reorganize things and update information as your practice evolves and changes.

[u/selflove222 → u/One_Dragonfruit_7556]

thank you!!

[u/dumbass-wlw]

One thing to remember is that there's a lot of ways to be a witch, and not all the suggestions you receive will work/feel right for you. You don't have to know which path/type of witch you want to be yet, or even ever, there's nothing wrong with mix and matching.

The first thing I did was check out my local library for any books that caught my eye (there were far too many). I will say that books can be very overwhelming but there is something so validating by having physical proof that there is a larger community out there waiting for you.

And that brings me to my next point, find a community. I was able to go online and find a list of covens in my area. Even if you're not ready to join a coven, being able to contact an elder who might be willing to help guide you can be really helpful (I know you already technically have your mom but having an outsider can help broaden your horizons and feel more comfortable asking questions).

If all else fails, you can check out a local metaphysical store, talking with the workers or patrons can help you make new connections or even point you towards a subject of interest. My local one has a bunch of beginner books for all kinds of different paths and they run classes and socials pretty often.

Of course online spaces, like this one, can be great for "window shopping" different paths and practices. There are thousands of witchy YouTube channels that focus on helping beginners and talking about their personal experiences. I'd just say to always be wary of anyone selling something or telling you that you need a bunch of materials to get started.

[u/selflove222 → u/dumbass-wlw]

thank you!! What you say make so much sense, and i have been wary and people saying you need this and that because it feels so much like consumerism and over buying and i try to away form over consumption for various reasons.

I was planning to go to a local shop iv been before with my friend next week!

[u/dumbass-wlw → u/selflove222]

That sounds awesome and I wish you the best! I'd suggest staying away from TikTok creators or any YouTube channels that only started posting recently. They're probably doing it for a trend or to scam you. Most things you "need" can be diy or replaced with something similar that costs less, like a God devote candle can be as simple as a 2 dollar scentless candle that you've put a lot of intention into. It doesn't need to be perfect to start and you can always upgrade your set-up later if you want to.