Where Do I begin...

[Feawen]

Hey all!
Yeah, you can tell i'm a newbie!! I've been reading and reading and then thinking about it, and then some more reading. And, where do I begin! It's all a lot at first... I know, if it harm none, do what ye will, and I'll hold by that. White witch, red witch and black witch choices too - I'll stick to white witch... :)
It's hard though, to know what things are classed as. Say, spells, they are both used by wiccans and looked down on by others. The rituals, the meditiations, are in a wiccan book I have (from the library!) and are wiccan indeed, but don't really talk about the gods. I know they're involved, but to find information about them! It's madness online, to discern between wicca and witchcraft...

I'm also interested in auras, I'm looking at them also. It seems to be my main study right now. I have a kind of book of shadows, don't know if I can call it that, but I'm writing down a spell or two, what the colours mean in chakras, in candles, and gem and herb uses.
I stayed at my friends' house last friday, a full moon, and she being my witch friend, we did a small spell - bubble magick. A kids spell, so its book said, but it was good.. My first spell... But so much to learn!

So *deep breath...* where do I begin...

[Sage-Phoenix]

You've already begun :)

It's a complicated but glorious quest, reading is essential of course, but you can only truly know what works by doing.
My current project is figuring out an esbat ritual. I do one, then think 'hmm that worked' or 'nah that part sucked' and tweaked accordingly. Similar deal with everything else too.

I've never got the whole color thing (white, black etc) with witches. No one is wholy good or bad (that's even true of goddesses) so it is impossible to make such categories.

You are your own priestess. Which is ultimatly empowering, but confusing to start with. Don't worry about what other people are up to, just follow your own intution and interests. That's my own rule of thumb, seems to work okay.

I wouldn't worry about the diffrence between wicca and witchcraft, they're so interlinked and similar. There are diffrences of course, but that's a point for the purists.

The name, format and content of your book of shadows is as you please. It is just as valid as every other kind out there. Seems to be going well so far.

I've found the books of Scott Cunningham, Edain McCoy and Kate West particually helpful. Have a good look around bookshops and find those who really speak to you.

Good luck and blessed be :)

[Cinnamon]

Welcome Faewen *waver*
I'm a "pagan newbie" too :)

[cerridwen]

Welcome to the Craft! :)

I've a great collection of books - although few, I find that they're fantastic... Christopher Penczak's book City Magic is an awesome book for those of us who live in the city or in urban sprawl... I've found this book to become almost like a bible to me... it's quite thorough and is awesome for us more urban witches.

Now, the Idoit's guide to Wicca and Witchcraft ain't half bad either, and is especially fantastic for every beginner. I've been practicing for about 10 years, and still find myself refering to that book once in a while, it's quite good and in depth.

Phyllis Currot wrote a book a while ago called Book of Shadows; it's her journey to beginning and becoming a witch, it's an interesting read and very relatable...

But of course, all that is a lot of reading... There's a magazine called New Witch which I find interesting... it's all about Wicca and fantastically blends current pop culture into it, so that's really cool. I think it comes out 4 times a year, so keep an eye out for it... I got a subscription after I bought my first issue, I find it very interesting!

websites... www.llewellyn.com (http://www.llewellyn.com) www.wicca.com (http://www.wicca.com) www.bewitchingways.com (http://www.bewitchingways.com) www.witchvox.com (http://www.witchvox.com) are all good online references... with the last site, you can find out about pagans and wiccans and covens who live near you if you wish to meet some, as well as a whole pen pal section... it's a neat place to meet others who practice the same as you do (aside from in here of course!)

Other than that... well, that's all I've got for now... hope it helps....

[ForestNymphe]

Merry Meet and welcome. Good advise has been posted here. =)
Embrace the beauty and mystery of this path.
Blessings to you, sister.

[Feawen]

Aw thank you all! Wonderful help indeed! *hugs* I hope to contribute well to the forum... Many blessings!!

[cerridwen]

Oh Colenzo... hilariously bizarre.