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Discussion
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At what point are we no longer beginners? I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. I’m only a few months into my practice and I’ve learned the basics (energy work, grounding, cleansing, banishing, protection), I’ve done few simple spells, mostly for protection, I’m very intuitive in my practice, and I’d consider myself a beginner. My friend argued that because I’ve formed an understanding on the craft I’m no longer a beginner. so, do you have to practice for a certain amount of time to no longer be a beginner? do you have to simply master the basics to no longer be a beginner? What makes an advanced witch?
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At what point are we no longer beginners?
updated 1 year, 9 months ago
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At that stage of my practice I didn’t feel like a beginner anymore. Looking back now, I was absolutely still a beginner.
Once I learned the basics that was when I really began creating what my personal practice looks like. I learned which herbs and spices (& other ingredients) I love to work with. I learned what those ingredients are for. I connected on a personal level with the spirit of said herbs/plants/etc. I formed daily/weekly/monthly rituals and practices. I figured out what works for me and what I don’t really vibe with. I studied different forms of divination. I went from studying Wicca, The Wheel of The Year, different mythologies, different styles of witchcraft, different styles of magic to studying the practices of my ancestors and now being a full blown Appalachian folk witch, who no longer even considers herself Pagan.
While I feel I have shifted over into the intermediate phase of my practice, I am still learning. And in 20 years when I am “advanced”, I will still be learning. We are always learning. That is the absolute beauty of it all. And the “beginner” stage is so fun! There is so much out there. So many different styles and forms of magic and witchcraft. Don’t hold back & don’t feel tied down to a “stage”. Just enjoy it! Study, learn and practice. In doing so you will create an AMAZING foundation.
Edited to add: Wanted to point out I am not saying you’re still a beginner. That is all up to you. The beauty of it all is no matter what stage you are in, you will continue to grow. And when you look back you will see that growth. <3
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The most important part…
CONGRATULATIONS ON BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION!
It seems like a lot of newer witches miss the importance of that.
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A friend of mine said that an intermediate witch (baby, intermediate, master) is a witch that takes responsibility for their things. Like recognising that you’re in fact a witch doing witch stuff and witch mistakes you have to keep yourself accountable for.
I will add following your instinct and intuition as a sign too
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Does it matter? This isn’t high school. You’re not graduating from grade to grade. In my experience, even witches with many years of experience still consider themselves beginners, just because they have a deep understanding of the fact that there is always so much more to learn.
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I am probably still a beginner, but then I kind of think if you are doing it right, you always are-
Always learning, experimenting, finding new ways to look at the world with fresh eyes….
I feel like the mysteries of the cosmos are too deep to “master” anything in this lifetime.
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So many great observations in this thread. A language teacher once told me “fluency begins when you speak this language in your dreams” and I have always thought about that in relation to trying to master just about anything. When your subconscious starts singing the song along with you, it’s a sign you really know it. I know for me, personally, it was 20 years in, when I returned to the basics and was astounded at how much more there was to learn from them. So I would say when you come full circle and embrace a beginner’s mind once more, that’s a sign of that next step. That can happen again and again because growth is more of a spiral than a straight line.
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Now is the experimental stage of developing your craft to fit you. This is where you can create spells completely, or take others spells and modify then to work for you. This is also when you really start to develop your BoS, documenting your work, and especially your changes.
This is the Witch. The reality of the practice.
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When I began my mentor told me a witch would need to research for a year to be considered intermediate. I don’t necessarily agree with them as we have differing practices and beliefs now, but that was how i started.
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What is an expert? Obviously we’re beginners at the beginning, but can you ever call yourself an expert? Surely one can say they’re experienced when they’ve been practicing for 5-10 years. But even that’s still relative… What’s the knowledge of lore in your practice? Can a teenager who’s passionately into it be “stronger” than an adult who maybe has a strong intuition and really invested in knowledge more than the 10 year practitioner did? See where this could go?
What do you call an “expert” when it’s YOUR CRAFT. -
Traditionally, after a year and a day
Intuitively, when finding new information is more difficult, you have fewer questions and more gnosis, things that used to require focus are now second nature
Hot take, never. I’m old, raised by witches, and have been reading tarot professionally for two decades and I’m STILL learning
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It’s like that graph where you initially think you know everything, then you realize there’s more to it and hit rock bottom, and either you give up or you start building your knowledge and skills up. It’s really popular in photography when beginners think they’re so good but after a bit realize they suck and take ages to be happy with their work again
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I still considered myself a beginner a good few years into my practice. I don’t think labels matter though, not when it comes to your craft. We never stop learning.
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I’d say on average it usually takes someone roughly a year or two depending on the person to not be a beginner just because you have an understanding of the basics doesn’t mean you can utilize the basics to their fullest and well that’s what not being a beginner at something means, you understand and can use the basics without much issue.
A simpler example is you’re no longer a beginner when you’re proficient at more than just the basics
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A beginner’s mindset helps you see the possibilities and keep an open, learning mind- I think its good to encourage that way of seeing the world – indefinitely!
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I’d say that happens when you can answer a question about witchcraft without thinking too much about it. More specifically, when it’s second nature and not just academic memorization.
