What do I learn first?

Hi, I know people must get this a lot and it can be annoying but I'm new to the site and to witchcraft and am wondering what I should learn first. I have seen that the general advice is to not start with spells and learn things first instead, but there is so much to learn and I don't know where to start. I have read the articles on this website and they only want to make me start learning sooner. Any help and advice would be appreciated,
Witchy32

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Best to start with basic information, such as: what magick can and cannot do, visualisation, centering, grounding, etc. These will give you a good foundation to build on later in your studies.

• Starting Out: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_post.html?post=71692

• The Basics Expanded: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_post.html?post=483942

• Visualization: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_post.html?post=526472

• Centering + Grounding: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_posts.html?post=829288

• How to write a spell: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_post.html?post=831954

• Troubleshooting Spells: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_post.html?post=846276

This thread has been moved to General Info from Welcome.

Start at the basics:

Meditation: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/coven_ritual.html?ritual=2516&coven=497

Energy Exercises: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/coven_ritual.html?ritual=2515&coven=497

Development of Visualization: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/coven_ritual.html?ritual=3462&coven=497

Also, you need to do some researh and see which path you are interested in. That will help us to provide you more specific information on what to study.

Heh, it seems I'm a bit slow to the punch today! Lots of great links and articles seem to already be on here so i will just try to add a little more detail if I can in regards to the what and why.

Understanding magic is as much a spiritual journey as it is learning about energy and intuition and will and physics and nature. it is about developing a personal philosophy, rekindling that childlike awe and wonder of the world around you (and seeing the amazing in the most simple of things), and in learning how to see the world with a different perspective to explore who you are and what you can grow into being.

For some, they find themselves passionate about helping others and teaching. others might find a fulfillment in healing, others might be the more protective sort. As you learn about your own personality and preferences, that becomes a guide in finding what direction you wan to take yourself. What deities (and their ideals and symbols) represent to you, What you connect with most easily. Then pairing that with a study and understanding of the patterns and rules of nature let you build a personal toolbox of ideas, philosophies, and symbols and understandings that you can use to make your own personal magics.

Of course this can also branch out to other things as well. Like working with herbs, Reiki, meditation, Wholistic (or holistic) medicine, etc. The gift and challenge is that it is such an open practice and community that you can follow a rich variety of paths. So following or building one as you go can seem overwhelming when you are just getting started.

One little saying that I seem to be using a lot lately is this;

All things begin with the Self.

So maybe try starting there. Explore your ideas, learn about yourself and your ideals and goals, and use that as a signpost to decide what you want to look into. What things interest you, what things challenge you. What things push your buttons and make you uncomfortable? What things call you forward and veritably call out for attention?

Thankyou all for your wonderful advice and links, this will make it a lot easier for me to decide where I want to go from here.

Witchcraft is witchcraft. I think breaking it down into a bunch of different types is just confusing for someone who is just starting out. Magic and spells are what a Witch is dealing with. The rest are simply tools.

Okay, so I've been researching the paths like a lot of you suggested and I think I've decided to follow Wicca. I'm not completely sure yet so if anyone could give me their opinion, it would be greatly appreciated.

I've been doing some more reading on Wicca. I think the idea of the wiccan rede is great but some of the other parts just dont sound right to me. So I was wondering, can I follow the wiccan rede whilst pirsuing another path?

Certainly you can. The Rede is just guidance on living a good life, so if it seems a good idea to you by all means go ahead.