![\"Meditation](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/711\/2018\/07\/smoke-1031060_1280-e1532976328881.jpg\")
<\/a>A Seeker of Witchcraft<\/h3>\n
A seeker of witchcraft is thrilled to discover that our answers match what they already instinctively knew. They choose to actively walk the path of the witch, and by gods<\/em>, they won\u2019t be dissuaded, no matter what it costs them, no matter how scary that seems.<\/p>\n As there are so many different cultural flavors, styes and traditions of the Craft, they\u2019ll also be seeking just the right books, group and teachers that click with them. They may have to \u201cseek\u201d with several groups, before dedicating to the deep work of a particular program.<\/p>\n I went through the seeker phase with three different teaching covens in my day. I either withdrew because they weren\u2019t a right fit for me, or I was rejected for clearly not being right for them. Clear discernment on all our parts was a blessing. Just namaste away.<\/em> However, don\u2019t give up seeking for the right group, because the perfect fit is out there waiting for you\u2026eventually.<\/p>\n As far as I\u2019m concerned, a Seeker of Witchcraft<\/em> can be any sex, gender identity, or sexual preference; any age, any tax bracket, of any race, from any heritage, any creed, or any nation\u2026 Frankly, an alien from a distance star-system could show up, and still be just as likely to be a witch in my books.<\/p>\n Witchcraft is an open door of possibility to anybody, but it will likely only resonate with a select few. That doesn\u2019t make the path of witchcraft any more valid or less valid than other paths; it just suits a particularly wyrd taste that won\u2019t be palatable to everyone. Much of the time, it is the bitter pill that is tough to swallow, but for some reason we keep coming back for more. Which is why I believe that Witchcraft is an orientation.<\/a><\/p>\n Ok. You read the intro books. And there was a thing<\/em> you tried\u2026\u00a0 Now, OH.DEAR.GODS.YOU.WANT.MORE.\u00a0 You are bound and determined to seek real training with a real teacher and you are banging on the proverbial door to let you in. Finding legit witchcraft training programs can be a challenge.\u00a0 Now what?<\/p>\n Witchery happens in its own, correct time, and not a moment before. If you are having a hard time finding the right coven (or any coven) maybe there is a bigger cosmic reason for those impediments. Before you can dedicate to that level of training in earnest, ask yourself if you\u2019ve laid adequate foundation stones to support that mission.<\/p>\n Before you make the leap into a training program, there is plenty of preliminary personal work to keep a seeker moving in the right direction:<\/p>\n Witchcraft training is intense, my people. Anyone who tells you otherwise is likely selling something that you don\u2019t want. In order to succeed at the more advanced spiritual<\/em> skills of Witchcraft, you\u2019ll need to be well-balanced on the more down-to-earth levels, first. Eventually you will discover that to those of us who *are* witches<\/em>, witchcraft *is* life<\/em>. There are no exclusions, no separation between the sacred and the profane, the magickal and the mundane; it\u2019s all Spirit. So the first work of witchcraft set before you right now is practical.<\/p>\n Are you yet physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially stable enough to utilize the witchcraft teachings? Start at the root chakra and work your way up. Until you\u2019ve figured out balance in the bottom four chakras, you aren\u2019t yet ready for the abilities and insights of of top three chakras.<\/p>\n Are you physically healthy, secure, independent? Do you currently have the resources you need to survive and thrive, with enough left-over time in your day to study and meditate? Witchcraft is a demanding pursuit that takes time and attention. Do you have enough of those resources to spare?<\/p>\n Do you have the education you need to do the paying work you\u2019d like to do, that will put food on your own table, and a roof over your own head? Witchcraft demands radical sovereignty\u2026that means you are authentically in charge of yourself. That can be a lifelong process, but before you jump head-first down the rabbit hole, ask if you are sufficiently sovereign in your life, such that you aren\u2019t controlled by someone else for your survival. Can you be authentic about your witchery without fear of reprisal?<\/p>\n For example, is there is a parent or spouse with the power and inclination to physically harm you if you don\u2019t conform to their life-choices? The witchcraft set before you FIRST is to remove yourself from their sway. When we ask for the initiation into our Witching Sovereignty, all that impedes us will suddenly get up in our faces to be dealt with. Much bullshit will be stripped away. Better to deal with it on your own terms and time-table.<\/p>\n Moreover, there are obligations that come with coven life. Will you be able to contribute in a fair and equitable way in exchange for your training? You\u2019ve got to have some skin in the game; you\u2019ll never properly appreciate a free hand-out.<\/p>\n The goal of most esoteric philosophies is to \u201cKnow Thyself.\u201d Do you know yet who you are and what you want? Do you know what you like? What you don\u2019t<\/strong> like?\u00a0 How will you know unless you explore the possibilities? \u201cAll acts of love and pleasure are my rituals, (1)\u201d<\/em> the Goddess tells us in her Charge.<\/p>\n You know how old folks will say to \u201csow your wild oats\u201d before you settle down? As an old folk, I\u2019m here to tell you it is good advice, just don\u2019t be an irresponsible asshole about it.\u00a0 Figure out what (healthy, beneficial) things you enjoy about life, what is important to you, what is sacrosanct, and then go do the things<\/em>. For example, explore your sexuality, try different foods, styles of dancing, art, culture, hobbies and music. Develop your personal style. Read. Travel.<\/p>\n Passivity is hardly a witching trait; explore politics and ideas, know where you stand on important issues \u2013 beyond just your own back-yard. Become a person of strong character. In this way, you calibrate your moral compass based on diverse experiences, and will have an opportunity to put it to good use.<\/p>\n We spend so much of our lives defining who we are NOT: I am not<\/em> a child; I am not<\/em> my parent\u2019s religion; I am not<\/em> a victim; I am not<\/em> (insert whatever box someone tried to shove you into.)\u00a0 That phase is necessary for differentiation and separation from our upbringing, but you\u2019ve got to get to the other side, and start living in the \u201cI am\u2026\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I am<\/em> an adult; I am<\/em> a witch; I am<\/em> a survivor; I am<\/em> (whatever beautiful identity you want to be.)<\/p>\n Most importantly, work on cultivating supportive friendships. Witchcraft ultimately is about building relationships with both seen and unseen powers to create a world we enjoy living in. If you can\u2019t work well with people, what chance do you have at working well with the Gods?<\/p>\n Does what you do with your time and energy even remotely resemble what your Highest Divine Will came here to accomplish? First things first, figure out your sacred mission. Usually people gravitate towards that work and buckle down around the time of their first Saturn Return<\/a>, age 27-30 sometime. In this article on Astro Style<\/em><\/a> they call it your \u201cCosmic Rite of Passage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSaturn takes approximately\u00a029.5\u00a0years to complete one full orbit around the Sun and literally return to the same zodiac sign it was in when you were born. The first Saturn Return, which can happen between ages 27 and 30, is\u2026 a rite of passage welcoming you into your more mature role here on Earth\u2026We often see people finding careers that match the zodiac sign their Saturn is in.\u201d source<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Folks who go ahead and dig into the work that fulfills their sacred mission will be the ones least disrupted by their Saturn return. It is a straight road to happiness, too. Therefore, a smart prerequisite to Witchcraft training, is to dig into your Astrological Natal chart. Look at what sign and house was Saturn in when you were born? That\u2019ll point you in the right direction.<\/p>\n Sticking to old tired guns that never served your Highest Divine Will is just delayed misery. At 28 years old, I left behind the profession that I spent 10 years, and countless resources, to achieve. Without even looking at my chart, I eventually wandered into the exact profession it says I\u2019m supposed to be doing. It was absolutely the best decision to make the switch; I only wish I\u2019d figured that out sooner.<\/p>\n All of my witchcraft is based in the heart space. My paradigm begins and ends with Divine Love. To awaken from the coma of the divisive, self-loathing, dog-eat-dog material world, into the enlightenment of the Craft is to realize that we are interconnected with every one and everything in the cosmos. This is way more than \u201cLove Thy Neighbor.\u201d Witchcraft helps us realize that \u201cmy neighbors and I are One; we are Divine Love.\u201d<\/p>\n If you are still bound in fear, jealousy, hate or resentment of whomever you still identify as others<\/em>; if you are still motivated by revenge, or seeking power to exploit<\/strong> nature for your gain; if you are still deluded by some notion of superiority or entitlement, then you aren\u2019t yet ready for Witchcraft.<\/p>\n Until you\u2019ve matured beyond the selfish, reactionary, narcissistic stages of childhood, into a responsible adult who is willing to lay their ego aside and get their hands dirty in service to the interconnected community, then you aren\u2019t yet ready for the keys to the arsenal.\u00a0 Witchcraft is a team sport, so go forth and become an MVP.(2)<\/p>\n Moreover, loving and respecting yourself<\/strong> is the most important prerequisite for successful magickal work. Whatever you believe about yourself deep down in your sub-conscious is exactly what your magick will reinforce, so make sure it is something good! Check out my article: You are What You Believe<\/a>, for more on that.<\/p>\nWitchcraft is for anybody, but not everybody<\/h3>\n
So, Witchcraft is your thing. Now what?<\/h3>\n
![\"foundation](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/711\/2018\/07\/logs-1842267_1280-e1532976605276.jpg\")
<\/a>Prerequisites for Witchcraft Training<\/h2>\n
#1 Physical Sovereignty: Root Chakra<\/h3>\n
#2 Set your Moral Compass: Sacral Chakra<\/h3>\n
#3 Sacred Mission: Solar Plexis Chakra<\/h3>\n
![\"pebble](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/711\/2018\/07\/wave-2091876_1280-e1532977002669.jpg\")
<\/a>#4 Interconnection: Heart Chakra<\/h3>\n