29th July 2023 || 1672 words || Source
There comes a time in every mystic's life when they decide that now is the time for them to delve fully into their practice. Witchcraft is no exception. One of the biggest questions I always get asked by budding practitioners is "Where do I start?" and the answer will always be "With research".
It took me a hot second to realize that not everyone enjoys research. It baffled me how people struggled to find information on the most basic things, but then I took a step out of myself and my ego to really understand that research is quite boring to a lot of people. Now it is my mission to help lighten that load and make research a bit more fun.
There's quite a lot to get into, and I have spoken about this in videos already, but if you prefer written content, then read on to find out how to research as a witch!
Why Is Research Important In Witchcraft?
I'm gonna get real with you- if you're not a fan of research in the slightest, then witchcraft might not be for you. Sure there is physical practice, but a large chunk of witchcraft is spending your time reading books and pouring your time into articles. Almost 10 years into my craft, I can safely say that I spend more time researching than I do actually practising.
Part of being a witch is about wanting to learn more. To be a mind traveller, to understand as much as possible. We are constantly on the hunt for knowledge and understanding, and that is why research is so important. When you walk the path of the witch, it is important to understand the things you are going to be practising, otherwise, bad things can happen.
Step 1: Narrow It Down
When you first decide that you want to be a witch, it can be incredibly overwhelming knowing where to start. You want to look into folklore, spells, moon phases, the sabbats, colour magick... the works! There are so many different aspects and paths in regard to witchcraft that you can go down, and this can put you off starting.
My biggest tip for beginner witches when it comes to research is to pick no more than three subjects/aspects at a time to research. This does not mean that you can't look at other stuff, it just narrows it down a bit and stops you from being overwhelmed.
So let's use an example. You've just started practising and you are ready to start researching. Say that you are interested in colour magick, moon phases, folklore, spells, and the sabbats. Choose three of these subjects that interest you the most (or better yet, the ones you are drawn to the most) and put the other ones on the back burner for now.
What you will find when you only focus on 3 subjects at a time is that you can spend more time on them. As you progress in your research, you may even find that you aren't as interested in one of them as you might have thought. If that happens, just put a pin in it or abandon it completely, and look into something else.
Narrowing down your research subjects will keep you interested for longer. Researching is a marathon, not a sprint! I still research stuff now that I began researching at the very start of my practice, so it's ok to abandon stuff for a while and come back to it later.
Step 2: Utilize Reddit
At face value, this might seem like a strange idea, but bear with me! Reddit has helped me out so much over the years, and not just for witchcraft. It is a fantastic tool when it comes to research of all kinds and there are a few reasons as to why.
Reddit is a forum-based website where real people come together to talk about their experiences, knowledge and opinions in real-time. There are plenty of subreddits on the site that are dedicated to witchcraft and spirituality, and you can find quite decent information there.
When using Reddit, all you need to do is head to the Google homepage and type in your question followed by the word "reddit", so your Google search query will look something like this:
"What does each moon phase mean reddit"
Alternatively, you can add more to the search query, so it will look something like this:
"What does each moon phase mean witchcraft reddit"
You will then be greeted by lots of Reddit links that will take you to subreddits that are catered towards witches and mystics. Sometimes, this option doesn't work, and you won't find what you are looking for, but more often than not, you will find this method helpful. It's not so much the post you want to read, but the comments underneath!
It is incredibly important to cross-reference when looking at Reddit posts. You might come across a post where someone says one thing, but then someone else says another thing, so always look for at least 3 sources confirming the thing before you carry on. Check the next step for a less confusing example of cross-referencing!
Step 3: Cross-Referencing
Let's go a bit more into cross-referencing because it applies to everything- not just Reddit! You are going to have to learn to discern information and work out what is true and what isn't. It's totally normal to get this wrong from time to time, so try not to put too much pressure on yourself here.
Cross-referencing should be used for all articles, online resources, and books, but for the sake of simplicity, let's stick to the Reddit method for this step.
So, you've found a post on Reddit and there are lots of comments underneath. Say you are reading about colour magick and you come across a load of comments explaining what the colour black means, but there are a few different answers.
The first answer might say "Black symbolizes protection", while the next answer might say "Black symbolizes luck". What you need to do is look for 3 or more answers that correspond with these answers. That's what I usually do! I've always known black to symbolize protection rather than luck for example, and it was through cross-referencing I discovered that more people agree it symbolizes protection.
This is just a very rudimentary example though because it also depends on if you are practicing traditionally or non-traditionally, but when you are just starting out on your path, this isn't important! Don't let this overwhelm you- come back to it later!
Step 4: YouTube, TikTok & Instagram
Not everyone likes to read and that's ok! Everyone learns differently and that's why another fantastic way to research is by searching for your question on social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok & Instagram.
If you prefer to listen to people talk, then this is probably the best way for you to research. Some people might turn their noses up at this option because you can post anything on social media, even if it's not true. But this is why discernment and using your initiative and intuition are so important!
You can incorporate the cross-referencing step into this method as well if you want to make sure you are getting the right information. You can also research what you have watched just to be on the safe side. The beauty of social media posts and long-form video content is that you can usually interact with them and ask the creator questions.
Some creators will respond, while others won't, so it's really the luck of the draw as to whether you will get answers. Again though, this is why it's so important to be as independent in your research as possible!
Step 5: Ask Questions
The online witchy community is a... weird place. There are lots of egos and gaslighting there, which can make newer witches feel put off by getting involved. But it is important to know that not every single person in the online witch community is like this. Lots of us really encourage newer witches and practitioners to ask questions!
Get to know the content creators and witchy profiles that you follow. Look at their patterns in comment sections and see how they respond to people asking questions. If they never respond, they likely won't respond to you. If they do respond but are quite judgmental and rude, it's better to avoid asking them stuff.
Look for content creators and more experienced witches who are kind in their approach. Creators and witches who actively respond to questions in a helpful tone, or even video reply frequently! Sometimes, kind creators and witches will answer sternly, but that is just because they want to make sure you know what you are doing.
Find content creators and witches who make you feel comfortable and welcome enough to ask questions. Sometimes, the best way to get answers to your research questions is to ask directly, so if you feel comfortable enough to do this, you definitely should!
Final Thoughts
When you decide to take the plunge and fully dive into your craft for the first time, it can be incredibly overwhelming. There are so many resources out there and so many avenues you can go down. Researching is a fundamental part of witchcraft, but it can be quite a challenge for lots of people.
Use the tips and steps I have provided here to help you get started. Even if you don't like to research much, these tips should help you find your way and make it a bit easier to get in to. Research is meant to be hard work, but when you power through it, it is incredibly rewarding! I love to research though, so I might be a little biased!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me! I love to help out others with this sort of thing whenever possible, so just message me on TikTok or Instagram if you need to.
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