baby witch

DISCLAIMER

I want to preface this by saying that I do not identify myself as a "pagan" and I do not follow or practice a tradition that I call "paganism". I am a self-styled postmodern occultist with a deep root in Abrahamism. Pagan beliefs and practices are solidly not my lane. However nobody else has chimed in in two months and I hate seeing "newbie" questions unanswered so I'm going for it. Feel free to call me out if any of this is wrong or otherwise not okay.

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"Paganism" is a broad umbrella encompassing myriad cultural and spiritual traditions, so that's kind of a tricky question to answer. "Getting started being pagan" could be a prayer to a deity or the Earth itself. it could be picking up a book and learning how to cast a circle. It could be leaving an offering to the fey in your home so they stop stealing all your damn lighters.

It really depends on YOU. What do YOU believe about the world? Where do YOU feel connected to the Divine? Most importantly, what do YOU want to do about it?

Don't be afraid to explore. Look for your local pagan groups and talk with them, see what they're about. Read books on various mythologies. Try out several different kinds of magic, and see what yields results. Pray to various deities, and see who answers your call. You'll know when it resonates with you, and it has that unmistakable spark of divine truth.

General advice that applies across the board:

1. Learn to meditate. If you think it's complicated or hard throw away what you were reading and find something simpler, because it is very simple and easy. Do it every day. Two minutes daily is FAR better than sitting for half an hour twice a week.

2. Learn some form of divination. The standard is Tarot, and for good reason, but Tarot does take time to learn and understand and thus produce usable results. I recommend starting with a pendulum. Other options are I Ching, runestones, oracle decks, scrying mirrors, the list goes on. Don't ever feel committed or tied down to one form of divination, if you find something works better for you, use it!

3. Learn to make and use wards: Malocchio, 6th pentacle of Mars, dreamcatchers, protective ephithets and mudras and baubles of all kinds that work to protect you from malevolent energies/spirits/whatsits. An unfortunate side effect of spiritual practice is you become VERY visible to spirit entities, who then come over to check out what's going on, and not all of them are great.

3.1 Please dear god do not "smudge" by burning an entire bundle of white sage. unless you know the person who grew it, it was very likely poached from the natives - and they don't use it like that to begin with. If you must use sage please consider switching to a more sustainable alternative like blue sage.