Advice on how to become a more powerful witch?

Question

Hello! I've been studying Wicca for a while now and I'm hoping for some advice from more experienced practitioners on how to build up your abilities. I've been studying with a serious group for a while and I have learned so much from them about the religion itself and it's been fascinating! Now, I'd like some advice on what I could be doing to develop my skills for the actual magickal parts before I start to put what I have learned into practice. Thank you so much!

Answer 1

The terms Spellcraft and Ceremony can be considered

synonymous.



I would think that you'd want to join a group of Ceremonialists

with a well established history such as:



Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Ordo Templi Orientis

Aurum Solis



By participating in an active Lodge you should be getting

quite a bit more theory and practice. All organizations

I've mentioned have a web presence. Just "google" for

them.



Good luck.

Answer 2

What specific skills are you wanting to focus on? I am slightly surprised you haven't already been putting what you have been learning into practice. Because really, practice makes perfect(ish). Without practicing your skills you won't get stronger. You have to accept that you will be messy and you will make mistakes. Even the most experienced witch messes up sometimes. You have to practice it. Do a simple commitment rite by yourself. Get a feel for prepping and the focusing on each tool as you speak the words. It won't be perfect all the time but you will gain confidence and the skills will develop. They are like a muscle, they must be used to get stronger. If you don't use them, you can lose them. Another question, are you solitary or will you be working with the group? Now is a good time to start writing your own spells and rites. There is no right/wrong way to do these if they are for your use outside of the group. Let it come from the heart. It's the best way to develop the skills.

Answer 3

Mental discipline is key.



Some people think they can somehow get around meditation and meditative exercises to discipline their minds and try to jump right to the spell books... they focus on their tools and supplies and rhuyes, when the fact is that none of these is anything without the mental discipline. I guess I was just trained old-school before Wicca and Witchcraft became pop-fads, before Charmed or the Craft created a lot of wanna-bes, but honestly a lot of people who claim to be Witches are pretty much dabbling-- they get spells off the internet and act them out like a script-- and it either is good enough for them or they eventually grow bored of it and give it up-- but probably less than half touch on a deeper understanding of magic.



So focus on improving your mind.... if you don't meditate daily, start. If you do meditate daily, do it twice, or lengthen your sessions.



Learn to alter your state of consciousness at will. Pay attention to how you feel in these different states so you can recognize them. (if you don't know the states of consciousness, learn them).



Learn how to hold focus for 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes... build up your ability to do this through regular meditation.



Work on your powers of visualization. Work on improving your intuitive abilities.



Also make it a habit to journal and keep track of these experiences. Journaling a lot can really help you get to know yourself and your strengths and weaknesses as you can see the patterns.



I also recommend studying old-school works... Crowley, Levi, Fortuen, Seymore, etc... the works that influenced Wicca's founder, that influenced the Pagan revival of the 20th century. These older ceremonial magicians and occultists have a much deeper grasp on the magical arts than the vast majority of the popular writers of the last 20 years. Unlike today, when everyone who wants to be a Witch goes and picks up a spell kit at a bookstore chain... these people had to hunt for the info, work tirelessly for decades to obtain the knowledge, and I believe they went much deeper than the average practitioner today.

Answer 4

May i ask: How well have you MASTERED the BASICS -- Like Centering, Grounding, Cleansing, Shielding, Visualizations and other imaginal skills, creating Sacred Space (including Casting Circle) , etc?



These are absolutey essential for any magickal, spiritual or metaphysical work -



Here's some info on them:





GETTING STARTED IN WICCA:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Witch_Essentials/message/17736





BASIC SKILLS: CLEANSING & SHIELDING

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Witch_Essentials/message/18573





BASIC SKILLS: SHAMANIC EXERCISES:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Witch_Essentials/message/18574





PSYCHIC SELF DEFENSE IN GROUPS:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Witch_Essentials/message/18575





BASIC SKILLS: VISUALIZATION & IMAGINAL

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Witch_Essentials/message/18572





BASIC SKILLS: CENTERING

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Witch_Essentials/message/18571





BASIC SKILLS: GROUNDING

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Witch_Essentials/message/18569





Also, try "Googling" any of these, for even more on any of them --



Blessings -

~Gaia

Answer 5

Gaia, Thank you for posting these websites I myself found them very helpful as I am also starting from the bottom.

Answer 6

Practice, practice, practice. ...and try not to get too hung up on results. Trust the process and by all means, enjoy the journey! "Power" is debatable.

Answer 7

You need to grow first, not put magic first. Knowing yourself comes first, not the other way around.

Answer 8

Become.