1Everything You Need to Know to Start Practicing Magic and Witchcraft

"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 people who practice Witchcraft with the dark arts-believing that Witches go around hexing people, or use other "black magic" to cause trouble for people they dislike.

The truth is, Witchcraft is not fantasy, and is not inherently malicious. It's 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. Nonetheless, due to the persistence of these misconceptions in mainstream society, some Wiccans do not consider themselves to be practitioners of Witchcraft, and don't identify as Witches. This is despite the fact that Gerald Gardner, the founder of what became known as Wicca, described the religious activities of his coven in exactly these terms-they were Witches practicing Witchcraft

Whether you choose to call yourself a Witch, a Wiccan, both, or neither, Witchcraft is an enormous topic that can be overwhelming for those who are just starting to explore it. There's so much to learn, and there are many differing perspectives on what is "correct" or "incorrect" in terms of knowledge and practice. Truly, it may be the one of the most confounding of all possible areas of spirituality Modern Witchcraft and Magic for Beginners was created to provide a fact-based, neutrally-oriented context for launching you on your exploration. Whether you feel called to study Wicca with a practicing coven, learn as much as you can on your own about a branch of Traditional Witchcraft, or forge an eclectic practice that combines several approaches, this book will help you navigate the various opinions, definitions, and perspectives you'll find in the wide, wide world of the Craft.

Foundations of Western Witchcraft

Wicca has become the most well-known form of the Craft, but it emerged in tandem with other forms. Many of these other traditions were influenced by, and had influence on, what we now know as Wicca. A basic understanding of the wider realm of Witchcraft allows you to broaden your knowledge and enhance your practice. In these pages, you'll find:

• An overview of the historical and cultural contexts in which contemporary Witchcraft has evolved
• A debunking of common misconceptions about Witchcraft as it is practiced today
• Core beliefs and practices found among a variety of forms of the Craft
• Clear distinctions between Wiccan, Traditional, and Eclectic paths
• Core concepts underlying the "why" and "how" of magic
• A brief look at a few common magical techniques-visualization, invocation, and candle magic
• Some example workings for you to try, if you feel so inclined
• Suggested references for further reading for those who want to explore these topics further

Whether your curiosity about the Craft is intellectual, spiritual, or both, you'll find plenty of useful information in Modern Witchcraft and Magic for Beginners. After reading this book, you should have a better grounding in this fascinating field, and hopefully a clearer sense of where you'd like to go next

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