Yer a wizard, Harry

About a month ago, Witch Mama announced a "Witchcraft 101" class she would be teaching November 19th and it got me thinking. It got me thinking about my own journey within the Craft and how much I've learned in the short time I've been practicing. I've only been practicing since mid-June, so I'm by no means an expert, but I would say I'm well-versed on getting into the swing of things. And it can be confusing. There are so many books and so many different practices, it's hard to figure out what to do and when, especially if you're a solitary practitioner. So I tried to think about the best advice I got starting out and I've boiled it down to these three things:

1. Build yourself an altar

You don't have to physically build yourself an altar (unless that's what you want to do, then by all means go ahead). You just need to create a sacred safe place where you can meditate, pray, practice spells, or whatever. And it can be really simple. An altar should at least consist of the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. If you don't have money to buy anything, don't worry about it. I personally think there is no shame in winging it. Maybe all you have is a nice scented candle, a cup of water, a drawing of a bird or feather, and some loose dirt or a rock from outside. Or even some loose change. So much of witchcraft is intention, so if you have minimal supplies, you can make up for it with maximum intention. Having this small space gets you out of your head and connects you with elements. It's also said to be representative of your self-compassion. So taking care of this little sacred space and adding special objects to it is some always needed self-care. It also feeds into my next bit of advice.

1. Meditate

Meditate at your altar. Go outside and simply get out of your head and connect with the elements. One of the first and most powerful things I did when I first got started was to take a quick little solo hike. Nothing huge or hard (I was by myself, so safety first), but I was alone in the woods, with no sounds from other humans anywhere near. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other and I paid attention to my surroundings. I focused in on the sounds of the forest. I was able to get my mind quiet and appreciate the natural wonders around me. It helped me tap into something greater than myself and it lead to my first experience with a deity. Meditating and getting out of your head is essential to the craft. Witchcraft is a spiritual practice and even though you can read a lot about it in books, you will learn as much from getting quiet and tapping in with universal consciousness. And the only way to tap into that spiritual side is to practice different ways of doing so, until something really resonates with you. 

1. Read!

There are so many different types of practices and deities and ways to do things, you could literally spend days reading this stuff and not be any the wiser. For beginners looking for direction, I suggest one or both of these books:

"Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner" by Scott Cunningham

And/or

"To Ride A Silver Broomstick" by Silver RavenWolf

Both these books go over the basics of witchcraft and they have really good recommended reading lists. A word of caution: these books are not infallible nor do they claim to be. Witchcraft is not an organized religion, so everyone has their own way of practicing. That means as you are reading, if you read something you don't agree with, that's absolutely fine. This is your spiritual practice and you have to do what feels right to you. These books are simply notes and guidelines to aid you in your own journey.

From there, I leave you to figure things out on your own. Doing these three things will lead you to the people or things meant to guide you further down your path. And if you ever have any questions, you are more than welcome to seek us out at the shop, because that's why we're here.

I Put A Spell On You

A grimoire is a book of spells. Plain and simple. However, this community grimoire offers a lot more than that. It gives you the chance to tap in to the communal energy of the people who have come before you, whether it was someone adding their own spell or copying down a spell to take home with them. And in a very physical and real sense, you literally have a witch at your fingertips who can help answer any questions. You aren't just reading from a book at home or googling it on your phone. You are in a witchcraft store studying a spell. You literally have everything you need right in front of you.

Our grimoire sits on a podium in the middle of the shop, with a fountain pen and ink well right next to it, waiting for me to add my contribution to it…. And it's a little intimidating. So permanent and so powerful. Spells from seasoned witches (more seasoned than I am, for sure) and something that others would see. I definitely didn't want to be the one to mess it up. However, Witch Mama insisted that I needed to add a spell, so I began the process of finding my spell. I browsed quickly through a couple of the books in the shop, but nothing was hitting it for me. I kept feeling my eyes glaze over, or my attention would start to pull and I take that as a sign from my intuition to move on. Then I found it. It was in a book we sell in the shop called, "Moon Phases" by Diane Ahlquist. 

Writing that spell down was fun…at first. Then I found myself looking for ways to shorten each sentence, somehow, just to make it a little shorter, so I wouldn't have to write so Goddamn much. Then I even tried to concentrate and write a little faster. I thought about switching to cursive instead of print. I thought about suggesting to Witch Mama that we allow printed computer pages to be in here. You know, like, type it up, print it out and then glue it on a page in the book. It would be cute! Kind of all mismatched!

But I knew that wouldn't fly. I had to resign myself to the fact that this would take time, because sometimes….that's what is needed. I mean, isn't that a huge lesson I have learned in the past year? Now matter how quickly you get all the ingredients together, you can't shorten the process of time. If the cake has to bake for 45 minutes, it has to bake for 45 minutes. Just leave it be! Only thing you can do in the mean time is try to learn from the experience and make the waiting productive. So instead of focusing on all the different ways I could make writing quicker, I focused on the task at hand. I copied the spell neatly and efficiently. I focused on each letter and each word and let my mind go blank. Then I started to see myself doing the spell and reciting the words I was writing over and over again. Then I had another small realization; This, right here, was the power of a community grimoire. In this very moment, I was pouring my concentration and power into this book and into the spell I was writing in it. So I wasn't just helping myself memorize and learn a spell. I was also giving back to the grimoire by putting my energy and effort into it. And that’s what every other witch writing in this grimoire would do too.  Along with every witch that would come by and copy a spell out of this grimoire and into their own.

Where The Magically Minded Meet and Shop

I don't think there could be a more fitting tagline for our little witch shop on Edgewood. We are still relatively new to the area, but we have definitely made an impression, because this isn't just a shop. It's a meeting space, a classroom, and a safe place in an increasingly unsafe world. Unabashedly feminist and incredibly supportive of local artisans and women in business, you know any dollars spent here are going to support women and artists in the community. In our first year, we have already been included in Creative Loafing's "Best of Atlanta 2017".

ATL Craft is the manifestation of Haley Murphy (better known as WITCH MAMA) and Grant Henry of Sister Louisa's Church Murch. This is where the magically minded cannot only find supplies, but they can come in and ask questions and share their troubles without risk of being judged.  One of the first times I visited here, I literally came in, exchanged hellos and said, "I don't know why I'm here, but I felt like I needed to come." And Witch Mama accepted that without batting an eye. She even told me that I was not the first person to tell her that. Whether you're a seasoned witch, an energy worker, or just someone who thinks they're a little different and don't know why, this shop has a positive healing energy that is felt by all. It is a non-judgmental space and it lets people open up in ways they might not normally otherwise.

In the shop you can find your basic altar and ritual supplies, such as sage, palo santo, incense, cauldrons, feathers, and even locally made wands. There are also locally sourced crystals that can be worked with for their healing energy, or if you just want some really pretty rocks. Of course we also have your not-so-basic supplies. There are tinctures to help with menstruation pains, stress, and more, and there are also conjure powders that help attract money and banish negative spirits. For those looking for information, there is a selection of books to help get you started on your path. If you need some guidance from the universe, you can set up an appointment with one of our tarot readers.

In addition, our most important resource is Witch Mama herself. She tirelessly works to set up classes for the community in different areas of expertise, so the community can be constantly learning. As her apprentice, I have seen her personally advise people on anything from reigning in one's psychic abilities, to banishing a negative entity, to simply setting up a first altar. She greets you with a smile, a listening ear, and a genuine desire to help you learn and find what you're seeking.

If you have been thinking about stopping by and visiting (even though you have no idea what you would even buy here) please do. We're all about the "woo-woo" in this shop and if your intuition is telling you to do something, we say go for it.