Hello, everyone. I'm a beginner witch (eclectic / secular).
I'm needing beginner supplies, and I'm on a very stressful budget (college, living on own, etc).
What are some useful, practical, inexpensive items I can use for beginning my research and practice?
I would assume candles, some basic crystals, and a tarot deck?
Well have you done any studying? You may want to start with a book or two. Many practices such as visualizations and simple energy awareness don't require tools and are foundational in many practices.
Well, some basic supplies would definitely be some crystals and something to use for divination. You may also want to look into path specific materials, or figure out what kind of worj you want to do.
There are also many different ways to subsitute items. I make "elixirs" (they're just properties of crystals in the form of water) in plastic containers sometimes.
I know people who swear by beeswax candles, but I just buy mine at the dollar store [plus its the only place I've found to sell black candles] your athame can be bought anywhere. I found mine at a flea market for 5$ if you feel drawn to it, then buy it.
Pretty much everyone can be made though. A wand is usually a branch carved into a wand. Tarot cards can also be made, they aren't a mandatory addition, i didn't get my first deck until year 3 of practice. A chalice can simply be a wine cup, places can be used for the offerings. Try getting an incense holder. Again, some dollar stores carry them, but you can find one almost anywhere nowadays.
I second Nekoshema's dollar store recommendation. None of the ones near me typically carry black candles (I need to check again since it's near Halloween) but they do sell five-packs of white "emergency" candles for a buck, six-packs of votives typically in seasonal colors (red is nearly always available), and sometimes there are tapers. But I do not recommend them as the best place for tea lights, but in your area there may not be a better option. Dollar stores also sometimes sell incense, though it's never the best quality or scent. Also their herbs selection may be worth perusing.
I also pass by party sections in box stores for small candles, as just about any primary candle can be found in packs of birthday candles.
As far as crystals, I don't really have great advice besides keeping an eye on auction sites, and maybe stopping in at craft and hobby stores.
Scrying devices are also inexpensive, depending. The dollar store, again, has frames, and a cheap can of black spray paint enables you to have a black mirror for roughly $5 total. Flat floral "stones" (glass stones) can be had at some dollar stores. A bit of time with a metallic permanent marker, and you'll have a pretty set of homemade runes. A dollar deck of playing cards would serve for cartomancy, though I have no actual advice for tarot beyond making your own set with some index cards or card blanks if you can't find an affordable set somewhere.
I too found most of what I needed from the dollar store, incense, candles, large box of matches, candle holders, even found an adorable white feathered owl.
Well, I'd say confidence is one and belief in yourself and your abilities/work is another and both are necessary. After that, you can buy a ball of twine from Rite Aid (if you're in certain parts of America) for around two dollars and you can buy tiny mirrors in make up aisles and toy aisles at places like department stores, walmart, and target. As for a tarot deck, you can buy one from a really big bookstore that has lots of variety in stock, a metaphysical store, online, or you can make your own. Also, you can get a deck of regular playing cards for cartomancy. People are less likely to look at you funny if you carry around a deck of playing cards, but it's all about your choices and what you feel is best. You can get crushed herbs and whole herbs from grocery stores and metaphysical stores. For probably fifteen dollars you can buy a spice set at a grocery store or someplace like one that will come with things like crushed oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, and whole bay leaves. You can buy a big container of sea salt at basically any grocery store or food market. You can go to crafts stores or into the crafts department of other stores to buy charms and pendants and such for relatively cheap. You can go to outdoorsman stores and department stores for different colored cords, but that depends on what type of cord you want. Outdoorsman stores have a wide variety and large supply of bungee cords and the like, but it can get expensive and they're fairly thick, for they're made for things like rock climbing and tying down luggage to the top of a truck. It really all depends on your practice, work, beliefs, intentions, and such.
hi I am a novice and I found lots of information by the book called The Witches Companion By Soraya this book tells you everything such as important topics such as meditation, casting a circle and spell casting and lots more advice about witchcraft. goodness and light.
