First of all, you will need to set up an altar. Place it somewhere you can have privacy while practicing. If you need to, the altar can be a temperary one (one you can take down and put up as needed). To begin with, your altar will need the following items to be placed on it.
1 black candle
You will add more items to this altar as you go along through your training. Set up your altar as you see fit.
This is the basics. What every witch should know. Once you have learned this, you are on your way to becoming a Priest/Priestess.
Part 1: Know yourself. Once or twice a day, stop to think why you've done a certian thing the way you did. For example, the routine you take to get ready for work/school. Realize that it is part of who you are and is what makes you unique and an individual. Each day, pick something new about yourself to ponder on. Soon you will understand who you are and why you are the way you are.
Part 2: Know your craft. Even those who are well advanced in Witchcraft don't know all there is to know about i. There are basics, however, that all witches need to know as they are first starting out.
(A) Know what your tools are used for. Each of your tools have a purpose. The broom is used for sweeping out astral build up in the ritual space. It purifies. The cauldron is used for cooking and brew making. It symbolizes the Goddess. The Book of Shadows (BOS) is your workbook. It contains invocations, ritual patterns, spells, runes, rules governing magic and so on. The bell and drum are used for raising energy. The bolline (white handled knife) is used, instead of your Athame to cut herbs and to inscribe symbols into candles during magic rituals and spellcraft. The next four tools hold the most importance. Athame: this is the black handled ritual knife. It is usually double edged. It is used to direct raised energies during rites and spells. It represents the East and Air. Wand: this is used for invocation to direct energy, or even to stir brew in the cauldron. It represents the South and Fire. Challace or Cup: this is used to hold the ritual beverage. It represents the West and Water. Pentacle: this is used as a protective device. It represents the North and Earth.
(B) Know where witchcraft stems from. Witchcraft translates roughly to "the craft of the wise." It dates back before the time of Jesus and pretty much to the begining of mankind. It is Pagan religion, revolving around the cycles of the earth and moon. Different traditions of witchcraft honor different dieties. The reason why I chose eclectic witchcraft is because I have my own person view of the deities. Which deities you wish to honor is your own choice, be it Isis as the Moon Goddess and Horus as the Sun God, or Akasha (the energy that exists in all things, holding both a female and male aspect), the choice is yours. Witches use spellcraft and magic (the shaping and directing of energies) to obtain certial goals (such as healing).
(C) Know the 9 basic components of ritual. They are:
Purification of self
Purification of sacred space
Creating sacred space
Invocation (calling the deities)
Ritual observance (Sabbats and Esbats/Full moon)
Energy raising (during magic)
Earthing raised energy
Thanking the deities
Breaking the circle
