For the beginning practitioner of the art of Witchcraft there is the temptation to just grab a book of spells and start chanting out what they desire. Because of Hollywood movies and pop fiction these newcomers are often led astray by not having realized there is a lot of knowledge about the intricacies of the Craft to learn before one will be properly prepared for spell work. This also often leads them into unnecessary danger to both their bodies and their minds.

For ritual or ceremonial spell work it would first require studying about the underlying principles of magic. They will be required to learn how to make or acquire the tools of the craft and how they are used. They must also learn how to protect themselves before they announce themselves to the etheric realm. Even the working of a simple charm can be enough to draw the attention of the etheric and elemental forces that operate the flow of magical power. Not all of these forces are particularly friendly towards humans so it is necessary that the first spell a wise practitioner of the Craft performs is to raise the protective magic circle around themselves.

Amongst the general population of our modern age is the notion that Witchcraft is some evil power that deals with mysterious and supernatural forces. There is the uninformed belief that occult workings are irrational and irrelevant to our times. This is a misconception. Witchcraft and magic are steeped in a very natural force that has become much diminished in this age. It is based upon the cycles of the seasons as they relate to an agrarian society.

Before the coming of the Industrial Revolution and its drive towards mechanization of every possible facet of our lives, the majority of people on this planet were directly involved in the growth and production of food. For every king in his city who had his meals produced for him were thousands of peasants who were living in the country with the cycles of the land, practicing the natural science of the earth.

For those who have chosen the magical, psychical life there is really no going back. Once exposed to the subtle flow of the etheric energies that interact with the material plain you will be attuned to and attunable by others who access this area of life's reality. Since the duality of the cosmos requires the existence of opposing forces, sooner or later you will encounter someone who takes the opposite approach from yours and will attempt to overcome your spirit force. One of the easiest places an enemy can launch a psychic attack is within your dreams.

When awake and conscious a person's personal psychic defenses can be relied on to comprehend and interpret such magical attacks and deal with them accordingly. Whether it is through the vehicle of a charm or talisman, incantation or other mental focus, the target of such an assault can perceive and deal with it. However, during sleep one does not always have full cognition and control over the elements of ones dreams.

An interesting and often highly important part of your overall lifestyle in the Craft is learning the art of divination. Seeking influences that are yet to come can aid you in directing your energies towards a more positive future and can warn of hidden dangers that may be set to ambush you. While there are many systems available for divining the future, Tarot Cards have proven to be both highly effective and aesthetically pleasing. The first step after making the decision to add this occult tool to your arsenal of Craft items is to find which of the many decks available will speak most personally to you.

Since their release in 1910, the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, created by Arthur Edward Waite with its inspired illustrations by the artist Pamela Colman Smith, has become the standard by which most other modern tarot decks are based. The illustrations are vibrant and easily recognizable. Coupled with the text by A.E. Waite, who first studied the occult as a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn, the explained meanings of the cards cover a vast array of the realities of life. While it is designed in a more general fashion to cover major influences, it is still an excellent learning deck for the beginner.

As anyone who has ever delved into the mysteries of the Tarot for the purpose of divination knows, the Cabbalistic influenced deck so popular with its universally significant imagery and symbolism works well on general influences and large-scale events. For the adept there is a tool of divination that can be constructed to give a more detailed account of one's future forecast and indications on a more personal level.

The creation of a custom deck of divination cards is not a task to be lightly undertaken. It will require some time and meditation just to work out what people and influences in your life will need to be included. For cards representing specific people, you will need to decide the symbolism to include with them that reflects what aspect of your life they influence. A card representing an important teacher, for example, may require blending not only them personally as a source of knowledge but to represent an influence of learning in general. For a creative individual, adding a card representing your specific Muse may help indicate where your artistic nature influences your life.

There are many charms, spells and enchantments that require the use of a talisman in their working. Unlike amulets, which are naturally occurring objects, a talisman must be created in order to imbue the tool with its proper power and focus.

The simplest talismans are those that only need to be a symbol or word inscribed on a piece of paper. Depending upon the work you are attempting, they may quickly grow more complex and difficult to construct. Some require expensive and exotic metals and gems and etching into their surfaces to complete as per instructions.

Regardless of the specific path you choose to travel in your magical life, there are a few basic concepts that must be reinforced and meshed together to make your workings strong. Early instructors have called these four principles "The Witches Pyramid". This powerful Tower of Magical Ability consists of three sides labeled, Imagination, Will, and Faith. At the center, holding it all together is the essential element of Secrecy.

For anyone who seeks to learn the ways of manipulating the forces of reality and bending them to their desires, a vivid Imagination is of paramount necessity. It is through your imagination that you will be able to visualize and see just what you are seeking and the ways by which it will materialize. Without a strong and creative imagination you will have difficulty focusing your energies. Unfocused desires will leave too wide an interpretation for the manifest results of your work. You must create within your mind exactly what it is you want or you may end up with something that, while somewhat fitting the definition of your request, will not be what you actually wanted.