We're a spirit work path - so why no spirits until now? Because it's important to start tuning into the land first and foremost. It's very easy to become an armchair Pagan with a stack of books, because you haven't decided on your Courts yet. Yet you develop your Court by looking at the world around you. If it seems "right" to you that a spirit dwells under a bridge or embodies a forest or guards a cemetery, so it likely is - and you can't discover these spirits except by walking.
We are a secret and mystery tradition - how can this be true if all our teachings and words are online? Not so. The core of our work cannot be taught. I can show you how to ritual or talk to you about a Power, but that's just set dressing - when you start encountering and listening to them, the real work begins. To experience the mystery and wonder these things must be felt.
As a rule of thumb, look for local spirits over more famous ones. Why? Because they're likely to be keener to help, slightly less mysterious. We read of witches as communing with spirits of the dead, familiar spirits, and fey folk, and as the last followers of the old faith. There are forgotten kings laying in their barrows; there are lost spirits of the drowned; there are fey folk who have guarded groves for many years. Your local elder tree is going to be far keener to be Your Familiar Spirit, doing your bidding in exchange for clearing the litter away, than the Witch of Winter or the God of the Green will. Greater Powers will very well see YOU as THEIR familiar spirit, there to get tasks done.
Most witches will develop a full Court over time. Our Court is made up of spirits we work closely with, and spirits who we are aware of - whether we work with them or not, whether we have a positive relationship or not. The personal Court is, in a sense, the pantheon of beings you acknowledge exist. Rather like your Facebook friends list: a mix of acquaintances, loved ones, old friends, new, and strangers who got your number somehow. Like your friendslist, you will spend different amounts of attention and time on each, and have different kinds of relationships.
There are no shortcuts to this; but it is also not very difficult to do. There are no special steps. When you walk, you will begin to get a sense for what is there. When you read, if a description excites you or seems beautiful, then they are likely in your Court. Start paying them attention, and listening for their voice. Don't worry if your Court makes no "sense". Mine includes:
In general, we are not "chosen" by the Powers. We are witches. No god claims us. We approach Powers that we would like to work with, as if we were attending a job interview or a first date, and state our case. Hopefully, some will be receptive. You will probably find there are some Powers you are strongly drawn to, and some you cannot perceive at all. One thing which drove me out of Wicca was a total inability to be aware of the Goddess - so no Powers are exactly "mandatory" to our path.
Reading and walking. We read myths and legeds to seek for hidden knowledge. These aren't stories, but manuals of etiquette. From them, you will learn how to be a grateful (or ungrateful) guest; how to win at riddles; how to give and receive gifts; and so forth. For fairy tales are filled with these practical guides to behavior - and often tell of the consequences of behaving incorrectly. It is not the goal to learn the stories by heart, but to pick up on these codes of behavior. From Gawain and the Green Knight and from the tale of Pwyll, we learn it is wrong to sleep with another man's wife under any circumstances, but that keeping faith with your friend will be rewarded. From Rumplestiltskin (and others, I'm sure), we learn the importance of guarding one's true name. And so forth. When we read about a particular Power, we can attempt to take on their qualities through mumming, or meditate on their image for more insight.
By walking, we mean interacting directly with the world. The best time to encounter the Unseelie Court is at twilight, leading into night. So go out for a walk at twilight.
Don't feel discouraged if you cannot "hear" the voice of the Divine, most people don't. A lot of the time, you're going to be on your own with your imagination - and that's OK. The "real" experiences come with time, and can't really be predicted or forced, and are never consistent. Focus on things which make you feel closer to them - meditating on their imagery, doing crafts, doing acts of service or taking up appropriate hobbies. These acts of focus and reflection are their manifestation in our lives. Allow their presence to percolate into your life, and be prepared to encounter them in strange ways. Remember, when you go to meet the spirit of the wood, you are unlikely to find a man garbed in green striding out towards you: you're going to find the wood. Sit with the trees. The wood is a wood. The wood spirit expresses itself by being a wood. It expresses itself in the birdsong, the movement of the branches, the odd crawling creatures you see when you watch the treetrunks closely, and so on. Sit with it. You are in the presence of a mighty power.
Your first step is to read our three pages on the Powers from the home page, to learn the basic ideas and concepts.
Take your weekly walk notes and your original written work. Are there any Powers you wish to work with? Are there any places you'd strongly like to connect to? Are there any figures in myth or legend you've always felt a tug towards?
Pick one. If you're not sure if one is the "right" one, by all means do a divination or meditation, but it's better to close your eyes and point your wand at a list than procastinate. If you think something is cool, you need no stronger nudge than that. Start doing acts of ritual and magic and craft.
We are going to write a summary "profile", which you will use to start devising rites and ritual.
If you feel most drawn to a named Power, read one book of myths, fairy tales, etc. Read it twice over. First time, just enjoy it. On your re-read, start looking for imagery, ideas, powers, values, places and items. These will form the core of your practice. If you don't get a zing off the book, try a different Court.
Choose whichever book you like. There are myths for children, modern adaptations, and original texts. Preferably don't choose a book written for Pagans at this stage. Some Powers are known only by name. For these, use the tips listed under Unnamed Powers. For example, we know the Celts had a bear goddess named Artio. That's all we know. Rites will focus heavily on the life cycles and diets of bears until the initiate has made closer contact with her.
If you are feeling called by your local spirits, you need to think laterally. If your power is associated with a place, read up on its history. If it is a natural phenomenon, read up on the science and lore associated with bodies of water, or trees or creatures of that type.
Whichever you choose, we're now going to do some creative writing to make up a Profile. If you're good at meditation, divination or dreamwork, you can use these too. If not - just make things up as if for a story. Follow your instinct and creativity. Perhaps, in time, you'll gain insights and direction from that Power to develop your profile. But this is just a first draft to practice with. Feel free to add songs, movies, or drawings; making a side-tumblr or pinterest board can be a nice thing to do, but don't end up spending too much sacred time online.
You will use this profile when beginning to contact the Powers in ritual. It is especially invaluable for un-named Powers, or figures with little to no surviving information. Your profile will help you answer questions like:
Here's a sample profile I wrote to give you the idea, of how to use scraps of story to form a list of correspondences:
Sherwood forest; forests generally; "the wild"; oak trees; a hidden glen or cave that is safe from the outside world; sites of revolution or resistance
the hunting horn; the bow (made of yew wood); arrows; especially the Golden Arrow; bags of gold coins; the wooden staff; a bowl of blood; oak leaves; flower crowns and other decorative or useful items made from woodland materials
Robin is the leader of the Merry Men:
Friar Tuck, Little John, Maid Marian, Alan A Dale, Much the Millar's Son, Will Scarlet ("Scathelock" in some traditions?)
He is opposed by the Sherrif of Nottingham and bad king John. He is killed by the Abbess.
traditionally a figure at May Day celebrations. I also see him at midsummer when the oak is strongest.
Robin, the Nobleman
Robin, the Outlaw
Robin in Disguise
Robin, Leader of the Merry Men, King of the Greenwood
Robin, Lover of Marian and the May King
Robin, Victor at the Contest, Master Archer
Robin, Protector of the Poor
Robin on his Deathbed
Robbing the rich to give to the poor - socialism. Anarchism. Breaking rules for a higher cause. Being outside society. Working in groups. Having a laugh, playfulness. Duty to the true king. Being super respectful of women.
Contests of skill
Feasting
Dressing up in costumes to hide your intent
Hunting
Probably donations to charity, or time given to support friends - and strangers.
Because of forest associations, taking care of local forests probably.
I associate Robin Hood with Midsummer, because it is the height of the oak tree's power;
I really love the Disney film, and the 1970s adaptation with the Clannad soundtrack. I could use these songs as devotionals.
Write down literally anything that comes to mind at this stage.