My years of experience will do no good for anyone if I do not share it with you. I hope my words of wisdom and advice help you avoid many of the mistakes I made.

Spirituality is a process. Witchcraft is a journey, not a destination. There are many factors to consider when choosing a spiritual path. Witchcraft and Paganism are about devotion and practice. One cannot simply associate oneself with this path but call it one's own. You must practice it. You must live the path every day.

The path of Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism is not about shock value. It is not about making your oppressive relatives angry or proving yourself different in mainstream society. Yes, by nature, Witches and Pagans tend to go against the grain... but not always in the harshest ways. This path is about devotion. It is about finding a spiritual balance and focus that makes you a better person. It is about finding your place in the world. It is about living authentically.

Giving advice is not easy. I struggle to find the right words and points to make. When I started on my path, I tripped many times. I searched for answers, only to find that the answers I sought were correct in front of me the whole time. I hope the advice and wisdom I share will help you and make the uncertainty of discovering and understanding esoteric knowledge more manageable.

Have patience

Give yourself a break. There is a world of knowledge out there. Hell! There is a UNIVERSE of knowledge out there for you to discover. There is only so much you can learn and practice in one day, week, month, or year. Witchcraft is a path of dedication and education; you must be in it for the long haul if you are to gain the knowledge and experience you need.

Even after 25+ years of study and practice, I can only claim to have scratched the surface. Take a breath. Take it one day at a time, one week at a time, one month at a time, and one year at a time. Through persistence and patience, you will find what you seek.

Educate yourself

You are responsible for your education. Read, read, and when you think you have read everything you can - READ MORE. Then, when you are done reading, take classes, workshops, public events, etc.

Wicca, Witchcraft, and most forms of Paganism are intellectual paths. If you are unwilling to read and educate yourself, this is not your path. Start with the basics; there are many excellent books for beginners. But don’t stop there. Move on to read about complicated theories, biographies, ancient texts, philosophy, principles, etc. The content you read must not be directly related to your path. Read for the sake of gaining knowledge, and never stop learning.

Develop a sense of humor.

You must be able to laugh at yourself once in a while. If you are too severe, you are depleting your energy. Laughter and a light heart will get you through the toughest times. It will help you find purpose and fun in everything you do.

When things seem extra frustrating and challenging, take a step back and find something to give you a good laugh. Maybe you act silly for a few minutes or watch a comedy... find something that makes you feel light.

Spend time in nature.

Nature is our most excellent teacher.

Take frequent walks outside, go hiking, and collect natural things that you feel connected to. Place them on your altar. Walk on the earth in your bare feet. Sit quietly under a tree and listen. Honor nature every chance you get. Hug a tree. Smell the roses. Garden. Go camping… There are so many ways you can connect with nature. Do the things you love often, and you learn what nature has to offer.

Practice your craft

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”

-Aristotle

To become good at what you do, you must know your stuff. You can only gain knowledge and wisdom through educated and repeated practice. Doing something once does not make you a master. You will need to make your spiritual practice a daily habit. Do it again and again.

Witchcraft is a way of life. It is not something we dabble in or casually pay attention to… It is meant to be part of you, who you are, and the life you lead.

Have personal conviction

Personal conviction is unwavering. When we have this, we no longer need the approval of others, nor do we need to justify our actions or beliefs to others. This does not mean we “know it all.” Instead, it means we know what is intimately right for us. Personal convictions become our anchor in a sometimes stormy sea.

As you walk in your convictions, remember to keep an open mind. What is right for you may not be right for me, which is fine. Personal conviction is just that, personal. Yes, there will be times when someone is entirely wrong about an idea or practice. This does not mean you need to eat them alive. Be gentle and help them understand the conflict or error of their knowledge. Also, don’t expect to change their mind simply because you say so. All you can do is help them understand through compassion or keep your mouth shut and walk away. Forcing your truth or point of view on another never works.

Keep an open mind

I know I touched on this, but I can’t stress this point enough. There are many views, people, and ideas in Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism. Some might challenge your beliefs or convictions – sometimes a little, and sometimes A LOT!

There is no one right road. There is no single path. Although your path may seem similar to someone else’s, it is vastly different because it is your path. It is unfair to hold others to the same conditions, expeditions, limitations, rules, and standards you have for yourself. The more we learn about our differences, the more we can grow to understand and appreciate one another.

Develop a sense of compassion and empathy.

To me, this is an essential quality of any student, practitioner, teacher, and, most of all, a good leader. I am not suggesting you have to dance around with rainbows and bubbles spewing out of your butt – I am saying you need to have compassion for those around you and for yourself. We already have too many critics who strut their falsified perfection. Be different and be bold enough to extend your hand rather than your fist. This goes back to being open-minded. Help those in need, and you will find something marvelous that happens in return.

Don’t forget that while you show compassion for others and make room for their light to shine, you also matter. Have compassion for yourself. Don't beat yourself up for not getting something immediately or for forgetting to do something. Ensure you are not dimming your light out of fear of others' judgment.

Follow your path with dignity & respect.

This can also be called professionalism. I am a strong believer in professionalism. After all, there is a time and place for everything. This one directly relates to how you act and appear in the world. As a practitioner of Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism, you are the poster child for how others view us as a whole.

Showing respect should go without saying, but this point must often be repeated. I know your mother or grandmother taught you basic manners; use them. It will not cost you anything; you have everything to gain from using them. Make your ancestors proud and use the lessons they handed down to you.

Know when, where & how

There is a time and a place for everything. It is up to you to know when, where, and how.

Look at it this way: Nature is kind; she is also vicious. You must know when and where the appropriate attitude and actions apply. Be silly, serious, loud, silent, assertive, and gentle... make sure you do all these things at the right time and place.

Need an example? Cracking an inappropriate joke or making an insulting comment during a ritual is wrong; don’t do it. If you have to question whether what you want to say is appropriate for the situation, you should keep it to yourself.

Find a teacher... Or rather, Find a GREAT Teacher!

YES! Find someone with a good reputation in the community to help you learn. Learning on your own can only take you so far. You must, at some point, find a teacher who will help you take your practice to the next level.

There are many wise Witches, Heathens, and Pagans out there ready and willing to teach. Find someone you trust and feel comfortable working with. Do your homework on the person, coven, or group you are considering. Interview the potential teacher(s), ask questions, and spend time with them to know if you are the right fit.

One word of caution on this point. Beware of overly charismatic teachers, and be especially wary of teachers and leaders whom others have not trained. Learning from books will give you a great foundation, but they do not make someone a leader or teacher. Make sure this teacher has a lineage- someone with a history in the community and has been formally trained by other teachers/leaders.

Invest in your education & educational materials.

There is an undeniable natural law called The Law of Equivalent Exchange that requires us to give something of value to receive something of value. What we offer will determine the value of what we receive. If you are only willing to provide a little, you will receive something of equal value. This goes beyond what retailers and marketers have bastardized in our culture. But there is truth in the saying, “You get what you pay for.”

Plainly said, without going into an entire lesson on The Law of Equivalent Exchange, you MUST give something of value to receive something of equal value. There is no such thing as 100% free.

In our culture, offering money in exchange for products, knowledge, and services is a direct show of respect and value for the products and services you wish to receive. It is perfectly acceptable to pay for services that benefit you. Why? Because these things are benefiting YOU!

Also, paying for services like education makes it more likely that you will show up and be present. You will be less likely to make excuses and flake out on the material or presenter. After all, you want your money’s worth.

Here is another way to look at it. Money is energy; energy is Magick. The exchange of money demonstrates your dedication to your education and spiritual path. This sends a clear, direct message to the universe. When we pay for service and show up during the journey, we show the universe that we are ready for the next level of wisdom and consciousness.

Another point is that you don’t always have to shell out cash to show the universe your dedication. When we look at the traditional coven, we see this very clearly. Typically, when you join a coven, you are required to work. Wicca and Witchcraft are not practices you visit from the sidelines; instead, they are interactive. That means you need to be present and active for it to work.

Coven initiates and the like are required to spend their time and energy in return for their education. Some even pay monthly dues. They must dedicate themselves to the path they are being taught. In the covens I participated in, where money was not exchanged, we were required to show up early and sometimes stay late. We helped set up, tear down, decorate, hand out materials to other coven mates, and more. This is what was necessary to keep the lessons flowing and to help balance the workload. When we all pitched in, no one person was expected to do all the work, and in exchange, our HPs imparted their wisdom and experience.

When we compare the coven dynamic to solitary and other exchange models, we can instantly see how time and effort can be balanced with financial exchange.

When money is not an acceptable form of exchange, you can find other ways to show the value you place on your education. You may have to get creative, but the universe will know the energy you send forth and will reward you accordingly.

Establish a set of Core Values

When you are looking to establish meaning and purpose in your Spiritual and Magickal path, you need to understand why you do what you do.

What drives you to be and do more? What meaning do your actions have? Why is this important to you?

Sit down with yourself and write a list of values you feel are important as they relate to your character and path. Get specific and fill your page with meaning.

Once you have your large list, then cut it down a little more. Pick out Your Core Values. The values that honestly hit home for you and have a genuine connection to your ideas and goals for your future. This shorter list will serve as your guidepost for everything. This list will help you determine whether your actions align with your path and personal convictions. Your core values will help you make tough choices and connect you to your authenticity.

Refrain from Hypocrisy

Walk the talk! It’s as easy as that. When you are honest and dedicated to your path, this will not be hard to accomplish. That list of core values you narrowed down will have little meaning unless you follow a spiritual path that also values them.

When we follow a path filled with hypocrisy, our core values become ashes in our mouths. Your list becomes meaningless. You will end up like many who say a lot without saying anything at all. The closest example I have is politicians. They use plenty of fluffy words, but these words are false when they lack conviction backed by action.

Find your balance

Balance is not something you attain once and keep forever. Balance is something you work to maintain daily, and some days, hourly. It is about checking in with yourself and deciding if things need adjusting. When we have too much turmoil and stress, we are imbalanced. So take note of your actions, feelings, and thoughts often.

Energy follows focus, and what consumes your thoughts will consume your life. Like an arrow being pulled back on a bowstring, our thoughts, emotions, and mental focus lead us to our next blessing or curse in life.

Keep your head in check. Don’t allow others to control your emotions, opinions, thoughts, or understanding.

Be confident

Your energy will waver as soon as you do. Remember, Magick is energy, and you are the energy in your Magick. You must know yourself and know your practice to be successful. Confidence comes with education, experience, conviction, and practice. Some people seem automatically confident; others need a little push in the right direction. Wherever you fall on the scale is not important. What matters is how you feel about yourself and your abilities. The more proficiency you gain, the more confidence you will gain.

Care for yourself. Eat healthfully, exercise, and make time for yourself!

Take your fingers out of your ears and listen. chuckle

This is another critical element for success and dedication to your practice. If you do not take care of yourself, who will? If you are constantly taking care of everyone else, what happens to your energy over time?

I guarantee you will be depleted and ineffective at your work. Then what is left? You will not be around to care for anyone, much less yourself. To perform well, you need to be well. Self-care is essential to the practice of Magick. You need to eat healthily, get enough rest, drink healthy tea, take breaks, and exercise daily. Alone time is critical for getting to know you and for replenishing your stressed-out mind. Take time for yourself and make sure you are healthy - mentally, emotionally, and physically. Or Mind, body & spirit.

I know I could say so much more, but I think this is enough for now. I hope you find my words and experience helpful! If you need more guidance, I am always available. Feel free to CONTACT ME if you have questions or need direction/clarification on anything.

Next Steps

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With rooted reverence,
Leandra Witchwood🌿

Witch • Wortcunner • Priestess • Herbal Mystic • Author

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