#ander talks

Hey you! Sorry it took so long to respond, life happened. Unfortunately.

Yes, it can be very, very overwhelming. Starting is often the hardest part of the craft. I can't speak for every practitioner, but I can speak for myself. Keep in mind I am Pagan, not Wiccan, and I firmly stand by that. My path of learning is biased toward Paganism. This also won't be a list of things I did; this will be a guidance post for your own research.

When you're looking for books, make sure to research who the author is. There are so many out there who make up information, steal ideas from others and other cultures, straight-up lie, or spread information that's been debunked.

Before you do any spellwork, research protection. You will want to know how to keep yourself safe and unbothered by outside forces.

This is a big one. When you research (absolutely anything), cross-reference at least five to six sources. The more you see it, the more likely it is to be true. If it's something niche you can't find very easily, go to more experienced practitioners and ask for further guidance. Some practitioners specialize in certain things, so choose who you ask wisely. For example, I am a Green/Kitchen Witch, so my knowledge resides in the garden and kitchen. I wouldn't come to me about divination.

Don't panic. You're going to face a lot of contradicting information. Just remember that there is truth among the misinformation, and it may take some digging to find it.

Don't lose patience. This takes time. Don't 'speed run' through studying.

Write. Stuff. Down. Write it all down. Keep notes. Write down questions and problems. This is a life saver.

Avoid practitioners who are racist, ableist, homophobic, and/or transphobic (just watch out for bigotry in general). I've noticed that these people have some not-so-great things to say and they will guide you down paths paves of their bigotry.

Avoid people who will ridicule your mistakes.

These are just the basic tips I was given when I was just beginning myself. If you want more guidance, you are free to message me again.

Hello hello! I'm sorry it took so long to get to this.

With ashes, I sometimes mix them in with salt to create black salt. Do be careful doing this because the spell's ashes carry residual energy that you may not want in certain other spells. When I don't mix it into black salt, I smoke cleanse it then pour it into a large jar and seal it up. Every witch has their own way of discarding ashes, so try and research some options that best suites your needs.

As for wax, I generally smoke cleanse the extra wax and save the scraps to remelt. I use the letter sealing wax, so it's as simple as dropping the scraps back into the spoon to melt. For candle wax, you can keep them in a jar (even the same jar as the ashes) after cleansing them or throw them away, although in my opinion, that seems a bit disrespectful.

Again, each practitioner has their own way of handling 'leftovers', so click around, ask others, see what you can find.

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RIP to your sneakers. I completely understand living in a transphobic household: I'm right there with you. I hope it gets better for you soon, Ferris.

Hello!

Energy work is very real and it is a genuine talent. However, being drained of energy is very concerning. Should you ever find yourself completely drained, I would recommend taking a break and letting yourself recharge however you may do so. Without your natural energy, you will be unable to function as you normally do and that can be dangerous. Remember to take care of yourself, first and foremost.

As for what can be done with this talent, that's really up to you and what you research. Research is the key component to anything to do with energy work or anything magical in general. Try to find reliable sources and cross reference as many as you can.

If any of my followers have any advice, please leave it in the comments or reblog so they can find more answers.