Every one of use went through a "newbie" stage at one point. Even the most advanced asked him/herself or someone else the question "What's an athame?" Questions like these are not stupid, and certainly we welcome questions ranging on all subjects.

But there are a few mistakes that new witches do often make that may result in a rather negative response from others with more experience. I find many of these rather annoying, but only because of the fashion in which I've seen them.

The one that tops the list is the phrase, "I can't find any information." It's the one that bothers me the most because of the medium you're reading right now: The Internet! Obviously, the way it works is that one site will have various links to different web pages, each of those web pages will have even more links, and so on. That's not to mention the availability of web rings, search engines, newsgroups, and e-mail lists! I think no other group of people has made better use of the Internet than the Pagan community. We have the ability to put out and find information with the added bonus of anonymity for those in the broom closet. It takes some time and patience to find the sites that one will eventually consider as a favorite, but the mistake is when a person plops onto one site with a message board and stops here, declaring that they can't find information.

Granted, the Internet isn't always the best source for information, either. You can always turn to books! Mistake #2 ties into Mistake #1: "I can't find any books or stores with books on Wicca." This makes me wonder how often people go into bookstores, anyway. Now of course a Christian bookstore won't carry Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy, and there's the possibility that you'll be able to find only vague Pagan themes in a comic book store (though Neil Gaiman's work is FULL of occult references that I have used in establishing my beliefs), but if you have a general bookstore or even a library you can easily find books on Wicca, Paganism, Magick, and Witchcraft. There are numerous large chain bookstores such as Barnes and Noble, Borders, B. Dalton, Brentano's, Wills, and Waldenbooks, to name a few, that all carry Pagan books in various places: (Hey, I found Pagan books in English as well as a full occult shop in Paris where almost everyone is Catholic, Muslim, or atheist. It's not impossible!) The most common section is the "New Age" shelf where you'll find Pagan books alongside books on Astrology, Tarot (and often a few Tarot kits), the occasional Buddhist book, and other miscellaneous information. You may also find books in the "Religion" section (which is predominately Christian, Jewish, and Islam-oriented, but I found my copy of Drawing Down the Moon in the Religion section of my college bookstore), the "Self-Help" section (books on meditation, for example, can be found here), "Social Culture" (since we are often considered a sub-culture in America), "Classics" (lots of books on mythology and ancient cultures), or "Philosophy" (don't ask…I've just seen it!). There's also always the option of buying books on-line, and this site has a short recommended reading list.

Now Mistakes #1 and 2 are often what I call "The Lazy Way Out." They're often coupled with statements like, "I don't have time" (though this one can be valid on occasion and I acknowledge that - but if you don't have time to learn, how can you have time to practice?), "I don't have money" (use the Internet for a start, while you figure out where your money is going), "My parents won't approve" (chances are, they won't approve of you corresponding with us either…all it takes is a quick glance at the internet history to see where you've net surfed), and "I can't find…" (after the previous paragraphs, ask yourself if you've really looked). The Lazy Way Out is also usually ended with "Can you tell me all about…?" "Can you teach me…?" and worst of all, "Can you give me…?" Frankly, people with experience have gotten that experience by doing the research or creation process on their own…not by being given everything.

This is not to say that if you have ever used these phrases, you're lazy. There are ALWAYS exceptions. But one thing I've discovered is that if you really want something, you MUST be willing to do the work on our own. That's not just saying you're willing to do some of the work, or even most of the work. You must be willing to think of the worst-case scenario (which is usually research in this case) and face it. People are MUCH more willing to help you out and find sources for you if they see that kind of motivation. (It's like owning a puppy-yeah, they're fun to play with, but you also have to feed it, walk it, house train it, and clean up after it. You can't be willing to just feed it and play with it and expect others to do the dirty work.) In all honesty, doing the research isn't that bad at all! It just takes some time!

Mistake #3 comes along after you find some information: "I have this ritual/spell I want to do, but I don't have the tools." Props are not necessary. They're nice, but they're crutches. If you do feel you need a tool, try finding a substitute or making it yourself. My first altar pentacle, for example, was a paper plate that I drew a pentagram on and cut the rim off so it was flat. It worked just fine! If you still feel you need tools, I'll be happy to find something or make something for you and charge an exorbitant price for it. In other words, if you want to throw money at someone, I'm willing to take it (starving college student syndrome), but only with the understanding that it's of your own free will. (Okay, these last two sentences were said half in jest/sarcasm and half in seriousness. I do make wands, decorate chalices, sew cloaks, etc. If you REALLY want something, e-mail me and we'll talk. I don't do blades, though, especially considering the possible illegalities.)

Mistake #4 is in the realm of actual practicing and goes along with #3: "Can you show me how to do a glamour spell?" I do like the movie The Craft and I'm a loyal Buffy fan. But remember, what they do there is Hollywood effects created by companies like ILM (Industrial Light and Magic). No, you cannot fly, change your hair or eye color, make pencils float, etc. through the spells they show on tv. You can fly (in an airplane), change your hair color (try a temporary color if you want to change it back), change your eye color (see your optometrist for color contacts), and make a pencil float (well, astronauts can), but not in the same way they show in movies, and certainly not by reciting a recipe spell you found on-line and jotted down on a napkin.

Speaking of The Craft as an example, Mistake #5 is the phrase: "I can't practice because I'm not in a coven and we don't have a full circle with all the elements." You do NOT need a full circle with four elements and a partridge in a pear tree to practice magick. (There is also no god "Manon.") Remember: Shakespeare had three witches in Macbeth, Merlin worked solitary, and Jesus had 12 disciples. I've been in fairly balanced circles for ritual before, circles as balanced as a drunken gyroscope, and nothing has worked better for me than a spontaneous solitary ritual created by a true need.

Mistake #6 is in regards to spontaneity: The common phrase is "Do you have any spells I can try?" The practitioner should create the spells only for a genuine need. That way they carry your personal energy and not the energy of another person. The phrase that goes with this one is usually, "But I don't know how to write a spell!" This is why I emphasize instincts. Having a scripted ritual or spell doesn't often give you the opening to go by your instincts. (This is what I often call "recipe spells.") You really have to WANT to do the spell in order for it to work...not just take it for a test spin. When you are really in a mental state to work magick, you go by your instincts, and it's like your entire body and mind is on automatic pilot. There's no other way to really describe it-you'll know the state when you achieve it. If you don't achieve it, even in cases of extreme need, that's not to say the magick didn't work. But the point is, there is not really a case in which we can give a spell "just to try it out." I can almost guarantee you it won't work the way you want it to.

Mistake #7 is also about spells and goes for people who are interested in Wicca and other Pagan religions: Spells are an INCREDIBLY MINOR part of this religion. If you want to be Wiccan only because you want to do spells, you might as well choose another religion and ask how to pray. A religion is a way of life, not a game. Experienced people find it very insulting when new people are only in it for spells, and we may act very cold if we sense that is the case.

Mistake #8 also deals with insults, but to other religions. It is not your Goddess-given right to bash other religions because you don't agree with them. Saying that you can insult Christianity because they do it to us or because "in the past the Church burned witches by the thousands" is hypocrisy. Justifying behavior through use of the Burning Times is disrespectful, too. If we're supposedly "better than them," we must act it. Yes, there are those Christians who talk the talk and don't walk the walk, but they're supposed to forgive others. Let's try to do the same and hold ourselves to those same standards we set for them.

The issue of switching from one religion to another is Mistake #9. "How do I convert?" or "When can I convert?" are loaded questions that only the person can answer him/herself. I don't really think that we come to Wicca or Pagan religions through conversion. If it feels right, you'll find yourself in a natural evolution as you continue to read and learn more. You may change your mode of thinking or a few of your practices to fit, but usually it's just a matter of changing the title of your religion. "To convert," on the other hand, has a sense of suddenly terminating all beliefs and practices of one religion and just as suddenly picking up the beliefs and practices of another before fully understanding what it involves. Just because you are presently a member of one religion doesn't mean you must convert to Wicca or Paganism before you can learn about it. Learn what you can, and if it doesn't feel right, don't make the switch in the title! If it does feel right, you'll know when you're ready!

Now, Mistake #10 is for those who have learned some information and do call themselves by the title of Wiccan or Pagan. It is in regards to giving out the information you have learned: People who are still asking others for spells are not in a position to be putting up a website with their Books of Shadows to share their spells with the world. This action is putting you in a position of authority that you are not yet ready for. It's one thing to give suggestions or offer help, but that requires serious disclaimers. There are several sites out there that have no content but a bunch of spells (often taken from other sites with no credit given) and stories about:

"My friend asked me to do a Tarot reading, and I said she would break up with her boyfriend in two days, and she did. Now we're studying witchcraft together even though I'm a natural witch, and these are spells we've found. We haven't tried them all, but the sites we got them from said they've worked. We've only been studying for two months, but we've learned a lot and we're trying to form a cyber coven. E-mail us if you want to join…."

Finally, Mistake #11 is for those "newbies" that do actually have a clue: Even after having read five books, a few websites, and held ritual for one Sabbat and two Esbats, chances are you do not have the qualifications to teach others. This goes the same for earning the title "High Priest/ess" or a 3rd Degree. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with these ranks, not glamour. Ask yourself why you want to hold such a rank or title-even if your reason is "I want to help others," it's a noble cause but unrealistic. Go for the titles when you have the time, dedication, responsibility, and experience to back them up. (Even after five long years and this web site, I do not have enough of these qualities myself, so please don't think I'm trying to look down my nose at people!) If you are not absolutely sure about every topic you want to teach, and don't have a bibliography of sources to back up your position, you should not be in that position of authority. Remember, you would not only be responsible for the education of the people you want to teach, but any misinformation you may give them is your responsibility as well. Make sure you have plenty of sources to back up your position, because people WILL call you on them.

If you see yourself described in any of these mistakes, don't worry. I'm not pointing out that "You're WRONG and don't deserve to call yourself a Pagan!" I based these mistakes off of myself and my own actions from the past. This was written to help people identify themselves and grow from the "newbie" stage quicker than simply continuing as they were. The plus side is that if you're honest with yourself, identify these traits, and make a genuine attempt to avoid them, change them, or grow from them, you'll earn yourself more respect from experienced Pagans and they'll be far more willing to help you continue that growth.