Witchcraft meaning: a beginner's guide to modern witchcraft

Witchcraft is the practice of magic. Today, when most people say witchcraft, they mean modern witchcraft: a nature-based spiritual path built around the seasons, the moon and simple rituals. Wicca is one religion within it, with its own festivals and ethics. A witch is anyone who practises witchcraft, of any gender.

Ready to look around? Browse our witchcraft supplies for altar tools, spell kits, candles and journals, chosen for beginner witches and seasoned practitioners alike.

The word is old, and for centuries it carried fear. In the UK, the Witchcraft Act 1735 was not repealed until 1951. In the 1950s Gerald Gardner popularised Wicca in England, and modern witchcraft grew into the open, varied path it is today.

Here is how the main words fit together:

• Witchcraft is the practice: spells, rituals, divination and marking the seasons.
• Wicca is a religion that includes witchcraft, often honouring a goddess and a god.
• Paganism is the wider family of nature-based paths that both belong to.

So every Wiccan practises witchcraft, but not every witch is Wiccan. Many people call themselves eclectic witches, which simply means they draw on several traditions.

Two symbols turn up everywhere. A pentagram is a five-pointed star, and a pentacle is a disc or plate with a pentagram in a circle. Our Black Pentagram Wall Shelf, 40 cm (£18.99) is black MDF, 40 x 40 x 7 cm, with two hooks on the reverse for hanging. A besom is a witch's broom, and the Crescent Moon Mini Magick Broomstick (£4.49) is a 10.5 cm version made of natural grasses, with a silver tone crescent moon charm. It arrives in a black gift box, a good fit for an altar shelf.

There is no single rulebook, and that is part of the appeal. Most practice rests on a few shared building blocks.

The moon. Many witches plan rituals around the phases of the moon. In many traditions the new moon is linked with fresh starts and the full moon with celebration.

The Wheel of the Year. This is a cycle of eight seasonal festivals, called sabbats, that many witches and pagans follow:

• Samhain (31 October)
• Yule (winter solstice)
• Imbolc (1 February)
• Ostara
• Beltane
• Litha (summer solstice)
• Lammas
• Mabon

The Wheel of the Year Altar Cards with Stand (£9.49) give you eight illustrated paper cards, one for each sabbat, and a natural wooden stand, so you can display the current festival.

Spells. In modern witchcraft, a spell is a focused ritual. You set an intention and act it out with candles, herbs, words or symbols. Candle magic is a popular first step. The Moon Magic Spell Candle Kit (£6.49) holds 12 white unscented spell candles and a wooden holder, made for intention setting and moon ceremonies.

The altar. An altar is a small surface set aside for your tools and rituals. Our guide on how to set up an altar walks you through it.

The Book of Shadows. A Book of Shadows is a witch's journal of spells and rituals. The Book of Shadows Journal & Obsidian Crystal Pen (£9.49) has 200 lined pages, gold cover detailing and a ribbon marker.

Alone or together. A solitary witch practises alone. A coven is a group that meets to practise together. Both paths are equally valid.

Ethics. Many Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede, a short ethical guide: "An it harm none, do what ye will." In plain words: act freely, as long as you cause no harm.

Start small. You do not need a whole witch shop on day one. A strong beginner set is five things:

• A candle for simple candle magic.
• An altar cloth to mark out your ritual space.
• A notebook to use as your Book of Shadows.
• A wand, a tool many witches use to direct intention during ritual.
• A spell kit, a boxed set of ritual items with instructions, so you can learn by doing.

Altar cloth. The Esoteric Fringed Altar Cloth 50 x 50 cm (£4.49) is cotton with a fringed border and comes in six designs, including Moon & Sun Chart, Pentagon and Earth Mother. It fits a shelf, bedside table or windowsill, and it doubles as a tarot reading cloth.

Wand. Pick one that feels like yours. The Man of the Wood Resin Wand 24 cm (£9.49) is moulded with green leaves and twisting branches, made for natural witches who love Green Man mythology. It is not a toy, so keep it out of reach of young children.

Spell kit. The Happiness Love Spell Kit Herbal Magick (£14.99) includes a selenite wand, palo santo, dried sunflowers, an abalone shell and a guide book. It is put together for beginners learning spellcraft. The herbs and palo santo are for ritual use, not for eating.

How to choose your first tools:

• Buy what you will use this month, not everything at once.
• Choose designs you love, because you will see them every day.
• Check sizes against your space before you order.
• Build over time: add a goblet, offering plate or crystals as your practice grows.

There is no wrong place to begin. Many witches start with one candle and one notebook, and that is a real practice.

Good care keeps your tools looking their best and your practice safe.

Everyday care

• Dust wands, wall pieces and altar figures with a soft, dry cloth.
• Shake out altar cloths and fold them away when not in use.
• Store candles somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sun, so they keep their shape.
• Wipe offering plates and goblets after each ritual.

The Enamelled Offering Plate or Ritual Goblet (from £16.99) comes as one of two enamelled aluminium plates on three legs, 16 x 4 cm, or one of two metal goblets. The plates have smooth enamel that is easy to clean. Clean the iron Pentagon goblet gently by hand and avoid harsh abrasives. The copper-finish Tree of Life goblet becomes very hot if you burn incense in it, so fill it with sand and stand it on a heat-resistant surface.

Cleansing by tradition

In witchcraft, cleansing is a ritual that marks a tool as ready for sacred use. Common traditions include:

• leaving tools by a window under the full moon overnight;
• setting them beside a small dish of salt;
• passing them through incense smoke or the smoke of a white sage bundle.

Our guide to sage meaning covers white sage bundles in more depth.

Flame safety

• Use a heatproof mat or holder for every candle.
• Never leave a lit candle or incense unattended.
• Keep flames away from children, pets, curtains and draughts.
• Open a window for ventilation when burning incense or herbs.
• Follow the burn guidance on each pack.

Keep spare candles ready for the next ritual. The Black Spell Candles, Pack of 12 (£4.49) are unscented and vegan, with an approximate burn time of 90 minutes. They come in a windowed picture box that slips neatly into a dry drawer.

Once your basics are in place, a few pairings round out your altar.

Sage and incense. Many witches open a ritual with a cleansing ritual using a white sage bundle or incense. The Summer Solstice Litha Spell Kit (£18.99) includes a sunflower sage bundle, palo santo, a selenite wand, a natural abalone shell and an information card with Litha altar guidance. It is ready-made for marking the summer solstice. For everyday rituals, browse our incense range.

Crystals. Crystals sit on many altars, chosen for their colour and their traditional associations in folklore. Explore our crystals to find pieces you like.

Tarot and runes. Divination means reading cards, symbols or signs as a way to reflect on a question. Many witches add it to their practice. Start with tarot cards for beginners or runes meaning.

Cauldron. A cauldron is a classic altar pot, used in ritual to burn herbs or hold water. Read cauldron meaning before you choose one.

Gifts for a witchy friend

• A small, charming gift: the Crescent Moon Mini Magick Broomstick (£4.49) in its black gift box.
• For a friend who writes: the Book of Shadows Journal & Obsidian Crystal Pen (£9.49).
• Something special: the Magic Spell Candle Jar Gift Set (£28.49), six mini scented spell candle jars in glass, with scents from red rose to green tea and an approximate burn time of 15 hours.

For more spell candles, see our full candles collection.

Ready to begin? Shop our witchcraft supplies now and build your first altar today: spell kits, altar cloths, wands, journals and candles, all with tracked UK delivery by Royal Mail or courier and 14-day returns.