Being A Witch
	Witches are born, not made. I know a lot of people who would disagree with this statement, but I stand by it. Witches are born, even if they don't realise it for 10, 20 or even 30 years.
If you are a Witch, you will probably have felt different from everyone else whilst growing up. While some witches get to grow up as witches (lucky them), a lot of us don't realise it until much later in life.
Many TV shows today, ie: Charmed, show Witches in a trendy new light, and many teenagers today feel very drawn to it. Whilst I don't come down on these youngsters, it is easy to forget that Witchcraft is a lifestyle, not something to try just because nothing else worked, not something to try because everyone else is doing it, not something to try just for fun, and certainly not something to try because you want to do a spell.
Being a witch is a lot of work. It is a way of life, we live it, we breathe it. We look deep within ourselves and see both light and dark, we take everything thrown at us and break it down until we understand it. We respect the world around us and all who live within, from the humblest of ants to the brightest of flowers. It is important for you to realize that there are many paths that you can follow. By learning about different paths, it can not only enrich your knowledge but also guide you towards a path that will best suits you. You may follow a traditional Celtic path, or walk in the path of the Shaman. You might discover the beauty of Faery Magick or find youself discovering the mysteries of Gypsy magick. Whichever you decide, here within this website I can show you where to start, whichever path you finally decide to go.
	This is NOT about the common Wicca that many young ones fall into. This tradition is different to those or us who call ourselves Witches. Wiccans generally call themselves Witches and will never see the difference. Witches know the difference and I will attempt to convey this to you within this Website. Wiccans feel the need to be quite ritualistic, even in simple rituals, following people like Gerald Gardiner, who is considered the father of modern day Wicca. Witchcraft has been around for centuries, and back when our ancestors walked, these people felt no need of fancy tools, garb, and their rituals were to celebrate the turning wheel of life.
Witches celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats. Sabbats being the 4 greater Fire Festivals and the 2 Equinoxes and 2 Solstices, while Esbats are the time we celebrate the full moon. We do on occasion cast the circle, dress up and have full force ritual, but you will find on a smaller scale, we may just create sacred space, with no tools at all, just our intent. I can't speak for all witches as I follow a very Shamanic/Witch path, incorporating into my rituals tools like rattles and drums. I am just as likely to honour Grandmother/Grandfather (spirits of my ancestors), as I am to honour the God/ess. I never invoke deity, tho I have 2 Goddesses that walk with me in everyday life. I never invoke the Guardians of the Watchtowers, but I do always try to acknowledge the elements and incorporate them into my rituals. I don't have to have the cakes and ales rite within my ritual, but a sacred drink with friends is nice to share, one I can return to the Earth in thanks.
I myself, work mostly with herbs, the moon (that's me the little Moon baby), and like nothing more than to take a journey to the spirit world. I also deal a lot with birth charts, having only in the last few years finding myself enjoying doing them. But That's me, that's my path, It is not yours. Each person has their own path to follow, and while I can impress upon you the knowledge I have, you, and only you can walk your path, taking what you have learnt with you. Do not be in a hurry to find your path, it may not be very clear to you at this stage, but it will come, when you are ready, and once found, remember that most paths will have forks in them and will lead you in different directions.
Your interests will vary, you may find yourself attracted to Egyptian Culture, while at the same time wanting to learn the medicinal qualities of herbs or learning Tarot - combine and utilise all of them. Learn the basics, then follow in depth those things that interest you. Remember, that the learning process will never end. It is a life-long Journey You cannot learn Witchcraft, just from reading books. Sure it is OK to read them, they contain a lot of useful, valuable information, but don't fall into the trap (as I have seen many do), of taking a book so seriously, that you end up thinking you know it all, and that's the way it will be, just because a book told you.
	Books are just another tool for you to use, they are handy for getting ideas and cross referencing, but reading alone will not make you a witch. It will just make you knowledgeable. An example I once gave a young lass to get to this point through was: I could go and read every book I could lay my hands on about dogs, what they ate, how they played, their likes, dislikes, but no matter how much I knew about dogs, it would never make me one. (This is rather dramatic I know, but it did get my point across).
Books are a good starting point, I don't know any witches who don't have a well stocked library. Websites, today, are another good way to get info, lots of great sites out there, but the best experience you will ever get, is finding a teacher or mentor to sit down and go through it all with you. The best teachers to find are the ones who will let you question, discuss and challenge them. A good teacher can always learn from her students. But remember, not one person will have all the answers, so it is also a good idea to try and get into some sort of a group, whether it be a study group, or on the web in a chatroom. The one good thing about interacting with other people is that you may just see a different point of view, even if you don't agree with it. So enjoy your stay with us, learn with us, grow with us. Your Journey Has Just Begun © janih.com 2004