How to Become a Witch

Aunt M.

If you decided five minutes ago that you want to learn how to become a witch and don't know where to begin, you’re in the right place. Hi, I’m Aunt M., a practicing witch with 30+ years of real-life experience. I created this podcast to help beginner witches cut through the misinformation, confusion, and gatekeeping that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. My goal is to help you get a grounded, magical start in the craft. Welcome to the coven: https://linktr.ee/howtobecomeawitch?utm_source=linktree_profile_sharesid=59531f32-7579-4604-abc2-11a6a1cf2b8f

  1. 6d ago

    Beans

    What makes herbal research and privacy essential for modern witches, and how can practitioners use herbs safely in spellwork? I couldn't wait to sit down with guest Beans the Witch, a TikTok creator, tarot reader, and herbal enthusiast who shares her mid-journey perspective on witchcraft. Beans discusses her path starting with shadow work and ancestor veneration, as well as her current exploration of Hoodoo fundamentals. Our conversation highlights why Hoodoo remains a protected, closed practice rooted in ancestral resilience, why research is vital before using herbs, magic or physically and why candle fire safety is essential. Additionally, Beans shares her unique tarot technique of cleansing decks through movement and much more. Why is deep research so important when working with herbs in witchcraft?Research helps you connect with an herb's historical meaning, magical associations, and physical safety guidelines. Understanding an herb's history, such as how cloves were once used as currency or how jasmine represented royalty, gives your spellwork deeper power. Furthermore, research prevents dangerous physical accidents, such as ingesting toxic plants (like mugwort without proper preparation) or applying skin-irritating herbs (like cinnamon) directly to baths or skin. How can I safely use herbs with candles without causing fire hazards?Avoid piling dried herbs directly onto candle wax or around the wick, as this creates oversized, uncontrollable flames that can shatter glass plates or cause accidental fires. Instead, place dried herbs in a circle around the outside of the candle base or burn them separately to ensure fire safety and allow for cleaner candle wax or flame divination. Why shouldn't I post photos of my primary altar, my bed, or my pet's eyes online?In traditional and folk practices, displaying your bed, working altar, or pets' eyes exposes your personal space to energetic drain, unwanted surveillance, or malicious magical targeting from bad actors. Keeping your main working space private protects your home base, while using a temporary or secondary altar for public videos keeps your core practice safe. Join Our Community!Looking to learn more herbal properties, get a grounded tarot reading, or connect with fellow practitioners? Follow Beans the Witch on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube at @beansthewitch, or check out her podcast Spill of the Beans! You can also email me at howtobecomeawitchpodcast@gmail.com and leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app to stay connected. Let's connect!

  2. Oct 1

    Creepy-Crawly Magic: An October Guide for New Witches

    How can beginner witches use insect magic, grounding spells, and October witchcraft to deepen their magical practice? October is literally crawling with magic. In this episode, I explore one of the most overlooked tools in beginner witchcraft: insects. Ants, bees, cicadas, moths, scarab beetles, cockroaches, fireflies, dragonflies, and all those creepy-crawly creatures we tend to ignore can carry powerful symbolism into your spellwork. And no, you do not need to hurt anything. In fact, please don't. We’re exploring how insects can help new witches tap into grounding magic, protection, transformation, resilience, communication, ancestral work, shadow work, and even a little fame magic. October is also the perfect time to grab those fake spiders, beetles, and creepy Halloween decorations and turn them into inexpensive magical tools. You'll learn how to work with the energy of different insects, incorporate insect symbolism into your altar or magical space, pair insects with the elements, and create grounding anchors for deeper spiritual practices. Before you start wandering toward the veil, we want to make sure you know how to find your way back home. You don't need everything on this list. Use what you already have or what naturally finds its way to you. Fake spiders, beetles, bees, moths, or other Halloween insects Insect jewelry, artwork, photographs, or printed images Found stones or crystals Candles Salt or Epsom salt for grounding A ribbon or cord An insect symbol that represents the energy you want to invoke Naturally found insect remains, if that is part of your practice; never kill an insect for spellwork What is insect magic in witchcraft?Insect magic uses the symbolism, behaviors, and energetic associations of insects in spellwork. For example, ants can represent discipline and community, bees can symbolize sweetness and authority, cicadas can represent finding your voice, and cockroaches can symbolize survival and resilience. How can beginner witches use insects without harming them?You don't need a real insect at all. Use fake Halloween insects, jewelry, drawings, photographs, decorations, or other symbols. You can also respectfully use something you find naturally, such as an abandoned spiderweb or an insect that has already died. Why is grounding important for beginner witches?Grounding can help you feel connected to the present moment before and after spiritual practices. In this episode, we explore insect symbolism as one creative grounding tool, particularly when experimenting with practices such as lucid dreaming, astral projection, or spirit communication. Ready to get a little creepy with your craft? Like and follow How to Become a Witch so you don't miss the next episode, and leave a review if we have become part of your witchy journey; it helps more new witches find the podcast. And if you want even more magic, join the community for just $2.99 a month for subscriber content and more ways to deepen your practice. Now go play with some bugs.

  3. Sep 24

    Santa Muerte: A Conversation with Tio Brujo

    Who is Santa Muerte, and how can new practitioners respectfully navigate devotion to this Mexican folk saint without disrespecting traditions or causing spiritual imbalance? Join me in warmly welcoming guest Tio Brujo, a Mexican-American, Native American practitioner who has practiced brujería for 25 years and honored Santa Muerte for a decade. Tio Brujo shares his personal story of connecting with Santa Muerte as a source of protection and higher power during his recovery from addiction. Our conversation explores the history of Santa Muerte as an embodiment of balance, blending Aztec roots with rogue Folk Catholicism. Together, we break down the critical differences between casual veneration and lifelong devotion, explain how to offer petitions and keep promises, discuss the role of elders in folk practices, and detail how to uphold cultural respect when working with aspects of death. Is Santa Muerte an open practice, and do I need to be Mexican to work with her?Yes, Santa Muerte is an open practice that does not require bloodline restrictions or formal initiation. However, because she represents the Mexican version and cultural understanding of death, practitioners should approach her with extreme respect, learn her traditional history, and honor her traditions rather than trying to alter her practice. What is the difference between venerating Santa Muerte and being a devotee?Venerating Santa Muerte is like getting to know a friend; it involves building a relationship slowly through offerings, light petitions, and requests without making heavy commitments. Devotion is a deep, binding lifelong commitment (like family) where you follow daily prayers, pray her specific rosary, maintain her altar, and honor all promises made to her. How do offerings, petitions, and balance work on a Santa Muerte altar?Offerings are physical acts or items given to say thank you (such as fresh water, food, liquor, coffee, flowers, or moving/cleaning her altar). Petitions are written requests placed under specific symbols on her statue (like placing a petition under her globe for wisdom or under her scythe to sever something). Devotees must maintain balance by keeping promises and staying patient, trusting that Santa Muerte handles grievances in her own time. Join Our Community!Want to learn more about folk practices, reconnect with your spiritual roots, or ask questions for upcoming episodes? Connect with Tio Brujo on TikTok and Instagram at @TioBruj0. You can also email the show at howtobecomeawitchpodcast@gmail.com, find us on TikTok, and leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform to join our magical community! Let's connect!

  4. Sep 18

    Should You Use AI in Witchcraft?

    Can you safely use artificial intelligence in your personal magic practice without risking dangerous misinformation or cultural disrespect? In this episode of How to Become a Witch, the host explores the controversial intersection of artificial intelligence and modern witchcraft. While AI tools can hallucinate false information, such as dangerous herb mix-ups or inappropriate pulls from closed cultural practices, they can still serve as useful tools when treated with discernment. The host shares practical ways to integrate AI ethically, such as uploading personal voice notes into tools like NotebookLM to organize a digital grimoire, analyze spellcraft patterns, and draft study guides. Ultimately, AI should act as an organizational assistant rather than a source of truth, reminding practitioners that true intuitive magic and community learning cannot be replaced by an algorithm. Why shouldn't I use ChatGPT to generate spells or magical advice?AI models frequently hallucinate incorrect information, harvest unverified posts from forums, and lack cultural context. Asking AI for spellwork can mistakenly pull from closed practices or suggest unsafe herb uses, ignoring necessary spiritual exchange, consent, and safety standards. How can I safely use AI tools to enhance my witchy practice?Use AI as an organizational tool, not a spiritual authority. You can record your own thoughts, channeled ideas, or ritual results via voice notes and upload them to platforms like NotebookLM to build a searchable digital grimoire, recognize spellwork patterns, or generate personal study audio. Can using AI affect my reputation or spiritual development?Relying on AI for writing or spellcraft can hurt your credibility because machine-generated content lacks authentic human voice and insight. Over-relying on AI can also disconnect you from your internal intuition, preventing you from developing true discernment and direct experience. Join Our Community!Have questions about organizing your grimoire or navigating modern witchcraft tools? Connect on TikTok and Instagram, or email your questions directly to howtobecomeawitchpodcast@gmail.com! Don't forget to leave a rating and follow the podcast to join the growing community of magical practitioners.

  5. Sep 11

    3 Listener Questions

    How do you handle difficult people using magic without incurring spiritual debt, and what are the essential boundaries every beginner witch should know? In this listener QA episode of How to Become a Witch, I break down crucial guidelines for beginner witches navigating modern witchcraft. The discussion clarifies the key distinctions between open and closed practices, explains why smoke cleansing differs from traditional Native American smudging, and shows how to safely practice herbal magic using cedar, mugwort, lavender, and cloves. The host addresses how to ethically deal with high-conflict or vulnerable individuals through constructive binding rituals—binding people to good health, peace of mind, or support rather than punching down. Finally, the host explains why non-Wiccan practitioners or those living in warm climates like Miami might choose not to observe the traditional Wheel of the Year. What is the difference between smoke cleansing and smudging?Smudging is a sacred, closed practice belonging to Native American traditions. Smoke cleansing is an open practice that anyone can perform using non-restricted herb bundles (like mugwort, cedar, or lavender), room sprays, or essential oil diffusers to clear energy safely. How can I protect myself from someone who is bothering me without taking on bad karma or spiritual debt?Instead of hexing or "punching down" on vulnerable or struggling individuals, bind them to positive outcomes like good health, peace of mind, or external support. Carve their full name and birthday into a candle, state your intention while wearing protective gloves, burn the candle, and leave a respectful offering to your guides or ancestors. Do all witches need to follow the Wheel of the Year and its Sabbats?No. Following the Wheel of the Year is common in Wicca, but witchcraft is a personal path. Practitioners who do not identify as Wiccan or who live in regions without distinct seasonal changes often choose not to observe every Sabbat. Join the Community!Want your questions answered on a future episode or looking to dive deeper into revenge series spells and practitioner tips? Connect on TikTok, email your listener questions to howtobecomeawitchpodcast@gmail.com, and leave a rating or follow on your favorite podcast platform to join the magical community!

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About

If you decided five minutes ago that you want to learn how to become a witch and don't know where to begin, you’re in the right place. Hi, I’m Aunt M., a practicing witch with 30+ years of real-life experience. I created this podcast to help beginner witches cut through the misinformation, confusion, and gatekeeping that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. My goal is to help you get a grounded, magical start in the craft. Welcome to the coven: https://linktr.ee/howtobecomeawitch?utm_source=linktree_profile_sharesid=59531f32-7579-4604-abc2-11a6a1cf2b8f

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