There are so many practices, traditions, and techniques in the world of witchcraft that we couldn’t possibly learn them all in one lifetime alone.
Thankfully, you can’t really go wrong when it comes to learning something new and magickal!
However, there are some magickal skills that will come in handy more often than others.
While there’s no official list of things someone must learn to call themselves a witch, there some things that can be essential to your spiritual journey—even if we rarely call them that.
Today, we’re taking a look at five essential skills every witch should have at her disposal.
We’re breaking down exactly why they’re so important and some resources you can use to learn more about them.
Let’s get started!
Writing Spells
Learning how to write your own spells will help you get a better grasp on how we can influence the magickal energy around us.
It’s one thing to follow a set of instructions that someone else has written themselves, but it’s a completely different thing to understand magickal energies deeply enough that you can create your own spells and rituals.
Personalized spells have a unique impact, since you’re involved in the process of creating them from start to finish.
However, learning to write spells will also teach you how to modify and adjust spells written by others based on your own personal preferences and desired outcomes. This is one skill that is useful in multiple occasions!
Learn to Write Your Own Spells
In my book, How to Create a Real Spell Book: Your Guide to Writing Wiccan Spells and Witchcraft Rituals, I walk you through each part of the spell writing process step by step, explaining why we write spells in the ways that we do.
It includes multiple templates for writing spells, as well as numerous correspondence charts so that you can ease yourself into the world of spell writing without having to start from scratch.
If you’re ready to take charge and experience the magick of spell writing for yourself, How to Create a Real Spell Book is the choice for you. It’s a self-guided manual for anyone looking to put their own unique spin on the world of magick.
White Magick
White magick is an ancient skill that focuses its intention on helping and healing others.
Throughout history, white magick has included everything from spells for physical healing to spells for fertility and crop growth. However, these days, many witches include in the category of white magick any sort of spell with a selfless intention meant to assist others.
Being a source of positive magickal energy is first and foremost about brining that light to people who need it.
However, white magick with selfless intentions can also unexpectedly bring healing to yourself, as the universe frequently rewards us with the same energy we put into it.
Regardless of how you slice it, white magick boils down to being a source of good in the world, and that’s a karmic plus for both others and ourselves.
Learn to Use White Magick
The White Magick Spell Book: Wiccan Spells for Healing, Blessing, and Protection is one of the first books I wrote, but it’s remained popular through the years, and it’s easy to understand why.
People crave positivity and light, and this book will show you how to bring those into your own life and the lives of others.
It contains a wide variety of original spells, rituals, and meditations that were written to help you spread light and life throughout the world. You’ll find everything from home protection spells to meditations that help you commune with your guardian angels.
We all have the potential to be a force for goodness and light—and you can tap into that force yourself through the power of white magick.
Ritual Magick
Many people prefer to work magick spontaneously with few official elements involved beyond the natural flow of magickal energy through the universe. For these practitioners, the simpler and more minimal things are, the better.
While working spontaneously with these natural rhythms is a good and enriching thing, creating highly ritualized spells gives focus, clarity, and power to them that you can’t find anywhere else. Ritual magick engages all five senses and draws us into the drama and pageantry of the spiritual world.
Planning and executing your ritualized spells is especially good when you’re working magick with a broad scope or performing a spell that is highly important to you.
Some may see the actions and items used in ritual magick as just a bunch of bells and whistles, but these elements help to reinforce and clarify your intentions in powerful ways.
Learn to Use Ritual Magick
When it comes to ritual magick, every element needs to be considered and chosen carefully. In my book, The Ritual Magick Manual: High Magick, Ceremonial Magick, and Pagan Rituals I walk you through this process from start to finish so that you understand why it is we do exactly what we do.
For those with little experience with ritual or ceremonial magick, the book includes several completed spells for you to try out yourself. And for those who want to take things further, I’ve included plenty of correspondences, suggestions, and tips for creating your own personalized rituals.
Ritual magick engages you body, mind, and soul, and it’s definitely something every witch should experience at least once.
Candle Magick
Harnessing the spiritual qualities of fire can help kindle (or rekindle!) the flames of passion for your magickal practice.
Candle magick is a classic form of witchcraft that is quite possibly the most important magickal technique you can learn. While it may seem as basic as burning a candle, these kinds of spells actually incorporate numerous different kinds of magick into the process.
When you work candle magick, you’ll learn about things like:
- Elemental magick
- Sigils
- Color Magick
- Anointing/Blessing Objects
Learn to Use Candle Magick
In my book, The Wiccan Handbook of Candle Spells, I walk you through all these different aspects of mastering candle magick. With your newfound knowledge, you can learn to craft and perform your own candle spells.
However, if you’d like to get a feel for candle magick before you start writing your own spells, The Wiccan Handbook of Candle Spells comes with numerous original spells and rituals.
It includes candle magick for everything from banishing negativity in your life to invoking a deity.
Love Magick
There’s no need to fear love magick, and avoiding it just means you aren’t getting the whole picture about magick’s possibilities.
Love magick shows us the influence that magickal power can have over us and how to wield it in a just way that puts you closer to your goals without coercing other people.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with looking for love or using magick to aid you in your search.
By learning what love spells really involve, you’ll see that there doesn’t have to be anything bizarre or icky about the process.
Learn How to Use Love Magick
I’ve created a complete rundown of love spells and how to use them in my book, Forbidden Wiccan Spells Vol. 1: Magick for Love and Power. It’s a complete guide to learning this ancient magickal art for yourself.
Within each chapter, you’ll find authentic, original spells that will help you unlock your dreams in love and life.
If you’re on the fence about using love spells, give this book a read. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
Start the Next Step of Your Magickal Journey Today
While these five techniques won’t give you a complete education in witchcraft, they’re a great place to start if you’re new to the world of magick.
However, these can also be a great jumping off point for more experienced witches who aren’t sure what their next step should be.
I hope that what you’ve read here has been helpful, and best of luck as you start a fun new chapter in your magickal journey!
