Beginner Witchery: Magic Starts with the Elements

A few years ago, a dear friend told me she wanted to start meditating. “Excellent!” I said, genuinely thrilled, knowing how a few quiet minutes can feel like someone pressed the reset button on your soul.

“Yeah,” she said. “I just need to get a meditation pillow and then I’ll start.”

Record scratch.

Meditation doesn’t require a special pillow, artisanal incense, or a subscription to anyone’s $14.99-a-month app. It starts with intention and about thirty seconds of breathing.

Witchcraft is the same damn thing. You don’t need an altar that looks like you cleared out the inventory at a witchy-woo-woo store. You don’t need to run up your credit card. Honestly, you don’t need anything except yourself.

Tools are seasoning. Lovely? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely not. Chicken still cooks without paprika.

But if you want a down-and-dirty starter kit for spellcasting, read on.

Magic Isn’t in the Stuff - it’s in You

You don’t need a cauldron the size of a small child or a crystal collection worth a down payment. Witchcraft starts with what you have, who you are, and the elements right at your fingertips.

Think of it as building a tiny ecosystem of power - Earth, Air, Fire, Water - and something for Spirit (your intuition, your cards, or just a pen that actually works). And while there are all kinds of magic in this world, just like there are many types of witches, I most closely align with the craft of working with the elements, the natural world. When I am intentionally working with a spell, or casting, if you will, I bring in all of the elements. Giving honor to all of Nature as my companion. What are the elements? Glad you asked.

Earth (North)

The grounding force. Think: stones, crystals, seeds, dirt from your garden, acorns you pocketed on a walk. And yes - salt counts. A single pebble you rescued from the sidewalk counts. Earth is not a snob.

Air (East)

The element of ideas, clarity, and breath. Feathers found on your hikes, a tiny bell, incense, herbs that smell divine, and even a paper fan. Open a window and boom - Air is present.

Fire (South)

Transformation, passion, heat. A candle - birthday, pillar, tea light, whatever you’ve got. Flowers work too (yep, sun-grown energy = Fire). Even a match you strike with intention is enough.

Water (West)

Feeling, intuition, flow. Tea. Coffee. A small bowl of water. Tap water in a glass is perfectly valid witchcraft. This one doesn’t need to be fancy. Hydration magic = witch approved.

Spirit (Center - that's you)

This is the part that’s already yours. An oracle card. A tarot card. A sticky note with a word scribbled on it. Your breath. Your heartbeat. This is where the magic plugs into you.

Start cheap. Start small. Start now.

You do not need to spend money to be a witch. Mother Earth has already stocked the shelves. A feather, a stone, a candle, a cup of water. Done. Add more as you grow, as you explore, as you figure out what feels like home. OK. Home shopping list complete.

“Now what?” you ask.

Now… you sit with it.

This isn’t a 12-step program, a 21-day challenge, or some rigid spiritual grind. It’s literally about taking your tools, holding them, and getting to know the essence of each element.

That’s it. That’s the work.

Start there.

What does each object feel like in your hands? What weight does it carry? Does its texture spark anything? Does its scent tug an emotion to the surface or knock loose a memory you didn’t know was waiting?

This is relationship-building, not performance.

Check in with your tools every day. Give yourself a few unhurried minutes. Let it be simple. Let it be quiet. Let it be yours.

If a rock feels dead in your palm? Swap it out. If you suddenly want a black candle instead of a white one? Follow the pull.

Remember:

Witchcraft isn’t about having the perfect tools. It’s about noticing when your soul says, yes, this is mine.  OK. I hear you! You want a Tiny Ritual just to kick this off. Try This:

Hold one Earth item. Take one breath for Air.

Light one match for Fire.

Sip one drink for Water.

Say one word that feels like Spirit moving through you.

Done. You just practiced witchcraft. Coming Soon: Color magic - how to choose candle colors, spell colors, and why your intuition is always right.