Witchcraft for Beginners

Everything You Need to Know About the Witchraft, From Best-Selling Wicca Author Lisa Chamberlain: "Witchcraft" is a word that, for some, may inspire fantastical images of women flying through the night sky on broomsticks and shooting sparks out of a glimmering wand. Others mistakenly associate those who practice Witchcraft with the dark arts-believing witches go around hexing people, or practicing black magic to cause trouble for people they dislike. Of course, none of these notions are accurate-they are rooted in old fairy tales, Hollywood movies, and stubborn, persistent misconceptions that still cloud many people's understanding of this timeless and magical way of life. The truth is, Witchcraft is not fantasy, and is not inherently malicious. I ask you to leave these misconceptions at the door. When you've done this, you're ready to embark on a journey to understand the truth about Witchcraft-that it is a vibrant, nature-based spiritual practice that is alive and well in our modern times, just as it has been for longer than we've been recording history. Rather than "hexing," Witches work their craft to enhance their lives and the lives of those around them. If you feel like your life is missing something, a little bit of magic could be all you need to give you a push in the right direction. A Magical Calling: Are You Ready to Practice Magic? Perhaps you've had inklings, on and off throughout your life, that there's something just a little bit different about you-something about the way you perceive the world that isn't quite shared by most people around you, but is difficult for you to explain. Maybe you sometimes get hunches, or premonitions, about things that shortly come to pass. In fact, if you're drawn to this book, it's likely that you have more than once felt a sense that there's another layer of reality underneath what you can observe with your five senses, and that somehow you are meant to learn to understand it, if you can only find the right resources and the right path. If so, this guide is a great place to start your search, as we'll be covering the principles of Witchcraft in detail throughout these pages, to give you the solid grounding you need to start practicing the Craft. Everything You Need to Start Practicing Witchcraft In addition to the misconceptions surrounding Witchcraft, there is also a lot of disagreement among Witchcraft authors about the best way to practice the Craft. Contained within this book, you'll find all the information you need-with absolutely no agenda. This empowers you to make up your own mind about which direction you take on this, most personal of journeys. Read the information with an open mind, decide which ideas resonate with you the most, then you're equipped to take your first steps towards a magical new life. The guide begins with an overview of the historical and cultural contexts from which contemporary Witchcraft has evolved, as well as the general beliefs and observances, rooted in the natural world, that characterize the widely varied forms and expressions of this dynamic spiritual practice. We then dive into the core concepts, discovered in antiquity and used for centuries to explain the "why" and "how" of magic-this includes a look at how our understanding of Witchcraft has changed in today's scientific society. To outline the many paths available to the new Witch, this guide also includes a breakdown of the most popular branches of Witchcraft-including an in-depth look at the fast-growing Wicca religion. Finally, you'll get a brief introduction to the practice of "the Craft," through a look at a few common forms of magic-creative visualization, invocation, and candle magic. In other words, Witchcraft for Beginners will teach you everything you need to know to start practicing Witchcraft today!