Craft Newbies

Newbies In the Craft

All those who have a Craft practice were at one time, new. Whether it was something you learned from your parents, or a book you happened to stumble across in a library, we’ve all had our moment of newbieness, and most likely an eventual “coming home” moment. I was thinking about it this morning- those who come into the Craft come into it from many directions, and their momentum propels them through the n00b period in very different ways.

She Who Throws Herself in Wholeheartedly
This woman throws herself into her practice with all she has. She reads a few books, teaches herself how to meditate, and within a few weeks, is conducting solitary rituals for herself. She immediately identifies with the term witch. Most likely she is out of the broom closet and proud of it. She’ll make mistakes, as every newbie will, and at first, will probably shrug it off, but will eventually come to learn from them. Main lesson: You will make mistakes, focus on them, learn from them and try again. It’s okay to slow down- think about why you are doing what you are doing.

She Who Studies
This woman reads. A lot. She is surrounded by mountains of books, as she reads everything she can about the Craft. She thinks about doing the rituals, and can effectively work out all of the practical ways a ritual could be performed. She may be slow to embrace the “w-word.” She may be afraid to make mistakes, and because of this has still yet to perform a ritual. Main lesson: the Craft is about DOING. All of the knowledge in the world won’t make you a witch. Practicing will hone your craft- why do you think it’s called practice? You WILL make mistakes –everyone does-, but you will learn from them.

She Who Knows She is Great
This woman wants to lead a coven, even though she is new to the craft. She sees herself in a black robe, arms raised to the sky as her covenlings chant a mysterious chant. She knows that she has the power within her to lead, and other people will follow her and they will accomplish great things. She knows that she is walking in the shoes of a high priestess, and that once she can find enough people to start a coven, they will do great things, and enact many changes in the world. Main Lesson: Being a HPS is more than dramatic ritual and making change in the world. It’s hard work, not instant, and if you won’t do a reality check, the universe will do it for you.

She Who Balances
This woman has read many books on the craft, and after careful consideration, has performed her first ritual. She understands the reasoning behind the words that are said, and spends a moderate time in meditation. She’s a note-taker and while analytical, she understand that there are mysteries that can only be experienced, not explained. Main lesson: Things will not always go as planned, and there will be fallout. Nobody is perfect, no matter how hard one might aspire to becoming the “perfect” witch, your experience will be relative to your own life.

She Who Has a Toe in The Pool
This woman calls herself a witch, loves rituals, and sometimes spells and things of that nature, but she doesn’t like to study or work toward any sort of structure. She’s a free-flowing spirit, and doesn’t care for structure very often, as she feels that it binds her. She always lands on her feel when the winds of change blow. Main Lesson: One can create a focused practice that is structure-free and mutable, but is still a very meaningful practice.

She Who Knows All
She’s read a few of books, tried her hand at ritual a few times and has met with a few local witches in her area. Her spells have even worked. She’s been called to by a specific Goddess and just knows that being Her priestess will become her life’s work. She feels as though she knows a lot and begins teaching other newbies the things she’s learned from her books, though she’s only been studying and practicing a few months. Other people who practice differently, practice wrong. She learned the right way through books and experience, and if people don’t understand the way she practices, well, they just aren’t real witches. Main Lesson: There’s more to the craft than can be found in books, and a few months of experience. Wisdom comes from knowledge and experience, and the mysteries must be experienced. It’s not up to US to decide who the “real” witches are. People practice differently- and the way other people practice are not your responsibility, so long as they don’t affect you.

What type of newbie are/were you? Are/were you more than one type?