#hellsfrontdesk

So you know what you want to do and who you want to work with (hopefully, but if you don't maybe take that step first), so what next?

1. Research. Do you know everything you feel like you should know about who or what you want to know about? No? Well when you can't always rely on someone to answer a quick ask or message, you have to turn to research. Do a quick google search! Look through free online libraries! Search "(book title) google drive" and see what happens! Even if you don't find what you needed, you'll know more than you did.

So now you know what you need to know, but you don't know where to go from there?

2. Find the way you want to practice. Do you want to be theistic? Atheistic? Agnostic? None or all of the above? Find people who believe what you do, or something close to it, and see what they do! Don't be afraid to take inspiration from people or even books or media that inspire you! Do you really connect with the prayers someone posts? Try your hand at writing your own! Do you like the concept of long, intricate rituals in a dark cellar lit only by candles while ominous chanting occurs? Well... try your best!

Sometimes, the way you want to practice may not be accessible to you at this time or you may not know how yet, but hey, that's what step one is for.

So you that know what you need to know and you know how you want to go about it, or at least have an idea, right? So how do we get what's inside your head and get it outside your head?

3. Dedicate a space and/or a time for your practice. You need a place to worship and to work with who you want to work with, so why don't we clean off that dusty shelf or maybe that section of your desk to start with? A few candles, real or electric can spruce a place up nicely, and maybe you can set out your favorite mug with a designated drink as a simple peace offering before you really get started. Clean it up and decorate it! Common decorations include: candles, incense, statues, crystals, pentagrams, inverted crosses, and maybe even an offering bowl!

So now you have who or what you want to work with, how you want to practice, and the beginnings of a space to practice. That wasn't so hard now, was it? Sometimes the big picture can be intimidating and it can be hard to figure out where to start, but guess what?

4. Spiritual and religious practice isn't constant, and it ISN'T a competition. Your practice won't be the same as someone who has been in this for a year, much less a decade, and that's okay! You're allowed to take things slow. You're allowed to not worship for several days or even months. Even people who have been Satanists for years and years still don't practice daily. Take things slow and make sure you do things in a way that makes YOU happy because eventually those resources you make and gather build up. What becomes 3 months to make a prayer that you're happy with becomes a prayer you can say daily that takes five minutes.

"But how do I start working with (insert deity / demon)?"

Do what feels right to you! Some people meditate and try to reach out astrally or spiritually, some light candles and incense and wait for a feeling. It is all subjective to what you feel is the right way to approach, but it also takes time to learn what that way is! Trial and error is NOT trial and failure.

"I feel like I'm not doing enough / I still feel lost..."

Your problem might be that you're putting too much pressure on yourself to produce results, but that's not how this works. Take me for example (its Lucian, hi). I've been in this since 2011. I post a lot about research since that's something I do, but I don't post much about my practice at all and I've even been through periods of time where I didn't do anything with my practice for months on end. The times that I do something large and intricate are few and far between! Usually I find enough fulfillment in my practice to light a few candles, say a short prayer, and set out an offering of food or drink.

Household Altar

Altar cloth

Candles (real or electronic)

Imagery or statues reflecting the deities / beings you work with

Pentagram

An incense holder or container of sand or salt to burn incense on

Crystals, bones, dried flowers

A dish or glass to hold dedicated objects such as jewelry

An offering plate, bowl, or chalice

Ritual wand or knife if you have one

Trinkets such as bells, shells, small statues, etc

Tarot / oracle decks and other divination tools

Outdoor Altar

Cauldron, fire pit, or other safe place to light a fire

Statues or symbols reflecting who you work with

Bowl for offerings that aren't burned

Flowers / herbal plants to grow around it

Optional basin of blessed water for cleansing / wildlife

Outdoor lights / lanterns

Box Altar / Hidden Altar

Picture or sigil of the beings you work with (you can paint the lid of the box / tin

Small birthday candle or tea light

Small pentagram

Small jars of certain elements, herbs, etc

Small trinkets such as dedicated jewelry or crystals

In bigger boxes: larger candles, ritual knife or wand, small statues, tarot decks, incense

eShrine / Altar

Images of the beings you work with

Gifs of candles and incense

Posts of prayers

Images that remind you of the beings you work with

Quotes from books, song lyrics, etc

Typed out rituals