#cryptid coven

Hi! It’s okay to ask! 💚 I just got back on this blog so sorry for the wait.

I personally started out with reading books on the craft after learning about it online.

The Modern Guide to Witchcraft is a big one for many people:

The Modern Guide to Witchcraft: Your Complete Guide to Witches, Covens, and Spells (Modern Witchcraft) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1440580022/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ttjfFb6P5E4Z9

I also like Wicca, A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner:

https://www.amazon.com/Wicca-Solitary-Practitioner-Scott-Cunningham-ebook/dp/B002AS9S80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539704386&sr=8-1&keywords=scott+cunningham

And Wicca, by Harmony Nice:

https://www.target.com/p/wicca-by-harmony-nice-hardcover/-/A-54524395?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Entertainment%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Entertainment&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9003550&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3s_4BRDPARIsAJsyoLOTRa8GgDtaykSwm5rp9uXdspNRTns7WHhW3vNy8KYEWc0ChNO1GFMaAmCpEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Harmony Nice also has a YouTube channel, along with Witch of Wonderlust, MintFaery (be careful she works with the fae which I don’t recommend for beginners), the Green Witch, Witch Please, and Darienne Empire.

For actual practice I recommend setting intentions in daily tasks. I personally like to make tea in the morning and stir clockwise while speaking my intentions for the day, infusing the sugar and my words with the tea. I also make a lot of sigils and post them everywhere, even drawing them on myself when I feel like it is going to be one of “those days” where I am tired and the world feels meh.

It sounds like it did!! Drawing sigils on myself is the easiest way I get mine to work, and dissolving it in water sounds like an excellent way to cast when you can’t use fire.

I do not mean to disappoint, but the only true way of learning what type of witch you are comes with simple experimentation. You find practices you like, which align with a type of witch, and that is who you become. Ask yourself- what draws me in? What do I wish to gain with my craft? How do my skills that are non-witchy help me with my witch practices? If you love to bake, maybe you are a kitchen witch. If you find yourself staring at the stars, maybe you are a cosmic witch.

Try all kinds of witchcraft. Don’t be afraid to do divination one day and start a fae garden the next. Even witches who define themselves take from other types, so you should truly be focusing on compiling a toolkit of knowledge to use.

You should also remember that you do not need to define yourself as a specific witch type. You have said so yourself that you are a beginner, so why pigeonhole yourself this soon? I understand wanting to fit in to a specific type. We all know our Hogwarts house. It creates a sense of knowing oneself and belonging.

You need to find yourself before creating a label. And don’t ever think that if you aren’t a specific type of witch that you do not belong. Take the time to learn yourself, and the type will come naturally.

A Grimoire/Book of Shadows is where you document your path. Whether it is writing down tarot sessions, or taking notes on what amethyst is useful for, it is always handy to have a book full of what you have learned throughout the years. I have recently started creating a proper book, since for many years I have done without one, so I am here to show you my book and tell you about some tips I have for note taking and having fun doing something you may see as mundane.

Go through Pinterest and Tumblr to find resources. It is easy to find a wealth of knowledge on any subject you need. Here is one page I did using this image from @cosmichealingreiki on instagram. I found this on Pinterest. (If anyone would be interested in me creating a Cryptid Coven Pinterest, notify me through my inbox or by message @cypress-gold.)

Don’t stress making your book perfect. It is easy to get wrapped up in looking at Pinterest and instagram- glamorous pages, but remember that it is not important. What is important is actually putting down info. Here is a messy look at notes I did when coming up with something I like to call “Deals.” I am going to be tidying the notes up, tweaking the steps, and will be making a post about it soon. So, be messy! Cross out things, and make mistakes.

Come up with one or two ways of writing down information that you like to use as a basic framework. This way, you don’t need to think about aesthetics- just the information. Here are what I like to use.

Make it funny! I like printing out memes and things that I like to make the process feel more lighthearted. I used to be afraid of starting a Book of Shadows because I felt it was incredibly serious and one wrong move inside would be a detriment to my craft. What it boils down is being a private journal for you to use. Don’t be afraid to have fun and make it however you wish it to be.

If paper isn’t for you, simply make a digital book! Many people on here already use their blogs to reblog and store information to use for later, which is perfectly fine! Save things on instagram, make Pinterest boards, write notes on Evernote. Witchcraft is about adapting information you learn in ways that works best for your needs! I have a folder of digital apps I like to use for my witchcrafting on the go.

I hope these few tips, however broad, help you with your craft.