How to Do Witchcraft Research for Newbies

magickjustice:

cunningcelt:

malachite-wings:

Basic search:

1. Get off Tumblr. (I know, it’s hard.)
2. Direct your browser to Google.com.
3. Choose the main keywords of your question. For example, “what is calendula good for in witchcraft?” might be parsed as “calendula witchcraft magickal correspondences”.
4. Hit enter.

For more in depth research, try these sites:

1. JSTOR.org, if you have access to it.
2. Online public library catalogs to find books. (Search your county and “public library.”)
3. Amazon Kindle. It can be put on your computer for free, there is a Cloud Reader online and a free smartphone app. Filter by price and you can find witchcraft and occult ebooks for free through a few simple searches.
4. Google Books for the same purpose. (There is a shit ton here, btw, I use it all the time.)
5. Scribd.com for the same purpose.
6. Cornell University online witchcraft collection.
7. Hermetic.com for public domain magick texts.
8. Sacred-texts.com for all sorts of neat shit.
9. Alchemy-works.com for magickal lore on plants.
10. Search your county’s website for weed/plant information to get a list of things growing in your area.

Some tips to aid in research:

• Use your browser’s bookmarks.
• Use the Amazon wishlist to keep track of titles, or to keep an eye on titles that are occasionally offered for free on Kindle.
• Look around on publishers, like LuLu, Immanion Press, etc, for self-published material.
• Cross reference with lots of sources to keep on top of the BS.
• Take good notes.
• Dirty experience/field work is better than reading/book work.

Mkay? After you’ve done all that, come back and ask about what you still can’t find. (Trust me, you’ll find most of it, if not all and more.) You have no fucking excuse to be on Tumblr asking about the basics of paganism or what such and such plant does for witchcraft, or how to summon demons. Harassing people for basic knowledge gets you nowhere. There is so much out there even just online. You do not need the newest, shiniest books by the most popular authors. You do not need to attack people when they tell you to go research on your own. The information is right fucking there. Now go get it.

^^^^^^ THIS!

I don’t mind answering your questions, but why should I go to the effort of explaining the basics when you haven’t gone to the effort of researching it yourself?

Instead of asking “how do I be a witch”, do some of your own research, and come back and ask me “I’ve found some conflicting information on X, and this is what I think. What is your opinion?”

Anything less than that is just laziness.

While I, personally and humbly, agree that new-comers to this pocket of culture can and should learn a lot via open resources…

I also think it’s incredibly important to note that Google.com will offer Wikipedia as a first result for witchcraft sources. Search engines aren’t always reliable. Also, new witches don’t know what sources may or may not be trustworthy or accurate- then they get blamed and criticized for using problematic sources. Furthermore, trying to figure out a foundation in this craft when every source offers immense amounts of information that more often conflicts than not… it’s a huge, huge undertaking. It can be overwhelming and confusing. 

Another thought is that often new witches may be coming to you specifically because you’re a witch they’ve seen as someone they admire or trust, and can direct them in the right way as opposed to blindly following the teachings of the internet. 

It might be important to note that in a lot of traditional witchcraft, a witch held apprentices- meaning young witches had a real, human, personal source to base their research from someone they trust. This is a practice long lost. 

I mean, basically it’s the same concept as why some students can do really well with independent studies or online curriculum, and some students really need that person-to-person dynamic for things to stick. This very idea is why some teachers will tell students that “there is no such thing as a stupid question.”

I understand and respect the idea of this post, of course it can become tedious to answer something like “what’s a pendulum?” when that really is … simple. i just think it can be counter-productive to lump all inexperienced witches together and say “go figure out the “basics” (which usually don’t seem very basic to someone new) by yourself and only then will you deserve guidance.” 

Everyone has their own path in the craft. I believe it’s incredibly important to help keep witchcraft alive and well, keep people informed, the more visible the witch community can be, the less “scary” it will seem to outsiders. But I realize not everyone feels the way I do.

So, to sum up, young witches who need or want guidance, even on little things, can visit my blog. If I don’t have the answer, I will try to direct you somewhere that does. I won’t always know everything, but I will try to help as much as possible. Don’t be afraid or intimidated to ask questions.