Witchcraft for Beginners: My Journey & Practical Tips to Get Started
How to Start as a Witch: My Personal Journey & Advice for Beginners
The path to witchcraft isn’t a straight line. For many of us, it starts with a gut feeling, a whisper from our ancestors, or a simple curiosity that refuses to be ignored. My journey into witchcraft began with ancestral magic, deeply rooted in my Puerto Rican heritage. But it wasn’t something I was explicitly taught—it was something I absorbed, the same way I lived in a household of fluent Spanish speakers yet never formally learned the language. My exposure to the craft was subtle, woven into everyday life, rituals, and beliefs passed down through generations.
Ancestral Magic: The Foundation of My Craft
As the eldest daughter in a multi-generational Puerto Rican household, I carried the responsibilities and the traditions of my lineage, whether I understood them or not. When I was a toddler, I was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and spent months in the hospital. At one point, doctors told my mother and aunt that I had only months to live. But my family turned to a different source of healing—one that took me from Virginia to a witch doctor in New Jersey who “put a fire in my belly” and cured what was attributed to the evil eye.
My great-grandmother passed away in the house I grew up in, and from childhood, it was known that she still visited. A sweet floral scent would linger in rooms she had once occupied. My Titi Carmen, who raised me with unconditional love and care, passed away when I was 19, but her spirit and influence have never left me. She showered me with love through acts of service, something I now recognize as my own love language. When I started working with magic, it made perfect sense to begin with ancestor veneration. It wasn’t just an entry point—it was coming home.
From the Broom Closet to My Own Altar
I first claimed the title of “witch” while living in my father-in-law’s basement in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. My in-laws were Christian in name but only attended church for weddings and baptisms. Meanwhile, I had grown up in a Catholic household, attending mass every Sunday, serving as an altar girl, and completing all the sacraments. My experience in Catholicism laid the groundwork for understanding ritual and devotion, making spellwork feel like a familiar transition rather than a rebellion.
Since I couldn’t openly practice in that household, I built my first altar in secrecy. It lived on top of a mini-fridge, holding photos of my ancestors, dollar-store pillar candles labeled with their names, and a glass of water—something I remembered from my abuela’s altar. This small, hidden space became my sanctuary. I made mistakes, like my first freezer spell, which resulted in scraps of paper floating in ice cubes for months. I studied pyromancy, lighting candles for my ancestors daily (or when my undiagnosed ADHD allowed me to).
When I moved back to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, close to where my ancestors were buried, my practice expanded. I began collecting graveyard dirt, respectfully visiting Catholic churches for holy water, and incorporating crystals, spell jars, and personal symbols into my altar. I don’t show my altar online—not because I think others shouldn’t, but because it’s deeply personal. My ancestors have enough energy work to do without fending off the negativity of the internet.
Santa Muerte & Expanding My Spiritual Team
As my craft deepened, I found myself drawn to Santa Muerte, the folk saint of death. Unlike official Catholic saints, she exists in a space unrecognized by the Church yet embraced by those who need her most—sex workers, criminals, and the outcasts of society. I first approached her with caution, researching her extensively before buying a small white-robed statue from a local botanica. It took me weeks to feel comfortable looking at her directly, acknowledging the weight of inviting death into my home.
My first request to her was for protection. My marriage was unraveling, my home life was unstable, and I needed guidance. When I was facing eviction, I reached out to the Catholic Church for assistance while also praying to Santa Muerte. A priest came to my home, and I debated hiding her altar—but I felt a deep intuition to leave it up. The church ended up donating to my back rent, giving me more time before the inevitable move. When I finally left that apartment, she remained with me, watching over my transition from homelessness to stability.
The Evolution of My Practice: Sea Witchcraft, Tarot, and Astrology
Now, living along a creek just a mile from the bay, I have incorporated sea witchcraft into my practice. Beach clean-ups have become offerings to Neptune and the Moon. I began reading tarot, slowly building confidence in my intuition. At first, spellwork felt awkward—reciting words from a book in the hope of an outcome. But over time, I realized that Catholic masses and rituals had already conditioned me for this practice. Witchcraft is simply spirituality in a different font.
As I grew, I started recognizing and honoring the white side of my lineage as well. Messages from Hecate began appearing, and I started leaving offerings at crossroads. Researching death deities across different cultures, I saw the similarities between them—Santa Muerte, Hecate, and even Kali Ma. To me, spirituality became like Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi from The Lego Movie 2—a being that changes form depending on who is looking at her. The essence remains the same; only the cultural lens shifts.
How to Begin Your Own Witchcraft Practice
Follow Your Intuition – The best way to start is by listening to your gut. Witchcraft isn’t about following a strict rulebook—it’s about what resonates with you.
Start Small – An altar doesn’t have to be elaborate. A candle, a photo, a glass of water—these small offerings carry deep meaning.
Learn from Many Sources – Read books, visit libraries, watch videos, and talk to other witches. My journey was fueled by countless hours of research, including visits to the Edgar Cayce A.R.E, home to one of the largest metaphysical libraries.
Make Mistakes & Learn – Magic is a skill. Just like tarot, divination, or spellwork, it takes practice and patience. Messing up a freezer spell isn’t failure—it’s a lesson.
Find Your Community – Whether online or in person, having a support system of like-minded practitioners can be invaluable.
Acknowledge Where You Come From – Ancestral work isn’t just about reverence; it’s about understanding the traditions that shaped you.
Recommended Books for Beginners
If you're looking for resources to help you get started, here are some excellent books for beginners:
The Spell Book for New Witches: Essential Spells to Change Your Life by Ambrosia Hawthorn
Guided Tarot: A Beginner's Guide to Card Meanings, Spreads, and Intuitive Exercises for Seamless Readings by Stefanie Caponi
The Shadow Work Journal: A Guide to Integrate and Transcend Your Shadows by Keila Shaheen
The Crystal Directory: 100 Crystals for Positive Manifestation by Isabella Drayson
Starring You: A Guided Journey Through Astrology by Aliza Kelly
American Brujeria: Modern Mexican-American Folk Magic by J. Allen Cross
Final Thoughts
My journey into witchcraft wasn’t about rejecting my past but rather reclaiming it in my own way. I started in secrecy, hiding candles in a basement, and now I practice openly and proudly. My practice is always evolving, and that’s exactly how I want it to be.
For anyone wondering how to start, know this: you don’t need permission. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need the willingness to listen, learn, and trust in yourself.
So, are you ready to take your first step?
