It’s time to get into another bit of “Ask Black Witch”! Let’s get started

Hey my name is Mike. my question is how did you get into witchcraft? I know that’s a general question, but maybe if I tell you more about me you’ll understand what I want to know. I was born in Georgia, but I was raised in the Bronx. I grew up Baptist, and really got into being a Christian and knowing Jesus at 23. But I grew up with comic books, so I always believed in science and magic. Then I saw hidden colors and after doing research, figured I should not be a Christian. But I still love the man that was Jesus because he’s helped me through my entire life. I know you tired of reading, but bear with me. I denounced religion and don’t really see the point in any of them. Now I just believe in God, and the truth that he is everywhere, in everything, and became even greater when I let go of religion. Now, there are occult forces controlling our world, and I would like to get familiar with these forces, but not stick my hand in the wrong dark hole. I never said that out loud, it sounds crazy but I’ma send it anyway. So my question, how did you first get into magic?

– Mike W.

I was raised Christian myself but then converted over to Paganism around 15 years old so I get what you’re saying. I got into magick mainly by researching and reading a lot of books and thinking about aplenty. I first read Where to Park Your Broomstick by Lauren Manoy and kind of went from there. I always could see and sense things so I decided to follow that along. Of course, I went through my “Everything is from the devil and eeeeeeeevil. Magick is eeeeeeeevil” phase but got out of that because I simply wasn’t digging Christianity and the rhetoric just didn’t make sense.

If you’re still into Christianity (or just strictly Jesus), there’s always Christian occultism because if Christianity has a load of, it would be occultic backgrounds. I think there are definitely books on the subject (well buried, especially online), particularly if you look under “Christian Gnosticism” and “Esoteric Christianity”. This would definitely be the strong point of a friend of mine who practiced Christian Occultism so stay tuned to this post for an update.

 

Can you make me a witch with lots of powers please

– Jalana G.

Honestly, when I read this, I just thought, Oh, here we go. Because I’ve been dealing with a spate of people asking frank questions like these. My response:

It’s called “read and research like everybody else”

I know, snippy. But like I said, I’ve been dealing with a run of folks asking me something along the lines of “make me powerful”. It gets old on the receiving side.

But what do I research I’m a teen and don’t know what to search

 See, she would have save herself some snip from me if she mentioned that in the initial letter. Either way, that is a relatively easy answer.

I’ve recommended books here on Black Witch, I think I even have a tag for it. The best book I can suggest a teen (or anyone) to read is Where to Park Your Broomstick by Lauren Manoy. Her and anything by Ellen Dugan, they’re both great writers for starters in magick.

The reader also asked:

Does it take a long time to become a witch with powers?

Long story short, yep. Firstly, real life isn’t Charmed or True Blood. You’re not going to really get the same experience that tv shows you. So no sparkles shooting out of your fingertips shall be promised. However, this doesn’t mean that magick in its, well, magical sense isn’t real. It’s just going to take a lot of work. And reading. And thinking. And mistakes. And so on and so forth. It’s not going to be an overnight thing, at all. Otherwise, everyone would be a witch if it were that cheap and easy.

 

That’s all for this month! See you next month. Or at Otakon or something.