As Halloween approaches, witchcraft seems like a vibe that gets more and more appealing. And why not? It’s the perfect amount of spooky and vibey. What you may not know, however, is that witchcraft is a real practice that empowers many to this day. The magic is a little more mundane than what movies may lead you to think. Instead, it’s an everyday practice that you can appreciate and engage in with respect this spooky season.

The Wiccan Rede

Many, but not all, witches practice the decentralized Pagan tradition of Wicca. The tradition is based on a connection to the Earth and the worship of a divine feminine energy, or The Goddess. The Wiccan Rede is where modern witches get most of their traditions and ideology:

 An ye harm none, do what ye will.

The Wiccan Rede

This is important in whatever you do if you’re delving into witchcraft, and really anything. There’s no one right or wrong way to practice, but if you’re harming someone else or operating with hate in your heart, it won’t be good. The physics concept that no energy created can be destroyed also applies here: if you put evil energy out in the world, you’ll get it back threefold.

The Law of Attraction and Manifestation

To manifest what you want in life has been a TikTok buzzword for some time now, it is a legitimate cornerstone of “real-life” magic—and it all ties back to that last idea. Same as with evil energy, if you want good things, you have to put pure and focused energy into the world.

Striving to radiate a feeling of radiance is good across the board, then you can focus the vibes with a technique such as meditation or journaling. Many people have turned to witchcraft to take control over their lives and selves, often after experiencing some trauma. These are good ways to help that process regardless, and anything magical is a happy bonus.

Put Those Spells Down

The recommendation of many witches is to not cast spells if you don’t know what you’re doing. They can be complicated, and even dangerous if you mess them up. If you really want to, there is lots of research to be done from a variety of different sources.

As with anything, the most important thing to remember is your intentions. Love spells are a big thing in pop culture, but there’s no reason you should be trying to cast one. Even if it works as planned, would making someone feel romantic or sexual feelings for you not be a major violation of consent? Any spells threatening one’s safety or autonomy is a serious violation and disrespect of what witchcraft stands for.

Witchy Activities to Dabble In

Burning candles may seem trivial, but some believe them to be a small portal beyond the veil. If lit with the right intentions, an open flame can suggest greater forces at hand and a more enlightened mindset, as well as potential contact with non-corporeal realms. Just be sure to suffocate your flame instead of blowing it out, so as to properly close that door.

Tarot cards are many people’s first introduction to witchcraft, due to their easy use and aesthetic nature. It brings many a lot of comfort to get a glimpse into their future, as vague as it may be. There are countless resources explaining the different ways of reading, as well as the different meanings of the cards.

Herbs and other aromatherapies are some of the easiest and most effective ways to incorporate witchy ideals into the everyday. You can burn your herbs, drink them in a tea, or put them in your skincare routine. Of course, do your research before doing any kind of herbal treatment. It may be culturally sacred, bad for you, or even toxic for your pets. There is always caution to be exercised, but work with herbs is a great point of entry for many baby witches.

The best part of harnessing your inner witch isn’t power outside of yourself, it’s finding confidence and security within your own strength. It does live within you, and you don’t need to wave a wand to make it happen. These strategies have provided this for many, but you are the strong, bad witch of your dreams already.