Hello everybody, this is my first time on this forum. I have had an interest in witchcraft for a couple years, but I have not known where to start. I would like to learn the basics, but I live with my parents who would not be accepting of this. Any advice! Thank you guys! 
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Welcome! You came to the right place! Yes, itâs hard to be âin the broom closetâ.
Iâve only been truly a witch for a little over a year, so Iâm still a n00b too! 
is âin the broom closetâ like being in the closet but witchy? 
Yup! I recommend a password on your computer/phone however you access here.
Welocome and merry meet.
A core group of us recommend almost the same books to people, and I will be a bit lazy and let them do so 
But⌠i would suggest reading the ebook version of any books on an electronic device (Kindle, Ipad etc) as that way you wont be seen reading a physical copy of the book and can keep it hidden.
A device with a password is also safer as mentioned.
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Hello there! Iâd say the one thing you need is a little note book so you can write down any shifts in the air or within you. Even if itâs something small, itâs best to write it down so you know, or can better anticipate the energies for the next one. That and a few personal items on your altar can make the energies more unique to you.
ok thank you!
Welcome Olive!
I would recommend Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham as a starting book for you. I know for certain you can buy it as an eBook. There is another book we recommend most beginners here too - A Witchesâ Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar, but I donât think thatâs available in eBook form?
Be safe⌠Cheers. 
(I see you Red, LOL)
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Fabulous Friday Olive,
Wren beat me to it. She recommended 2 of the 3 I always list. So, I would also add, âBucklandâs Big Blueââ-The Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland. It is an easy read, with exercises âhomeworkâ, and explains a little about the different Wiccan âdenominationsâ. As for the âbroom closetââŚLike being gay, coming out of the closetâŚ.with witches, we call it âthe broom closetâ. Seems you will not be âfreeâ at home. Maybe Scottâs book will work best right now. Fairly small, very easy read, and it is geared toward a solitary practice. Which I am assuming you are doing, since you have to keep this hidden.
So, Welcome to the ClubâŚ.
So many different people here, different paths, expertise, areas of interest, and of course, different levels of experience. You will be able to find someone who resonates with you. Enjoy looking around. Lady Gene 
We have âCauldron Conversationsâ, just to âtalkâ no necessary subject. This will change each month so that the thread will not be too long.
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LOL we are the âbook squadâ that I believe Red was referring to. 
Yes some have to come out of the closet multiple times lol! The Bucklandâs book might be available as an eBook, and I think thatâs what Olive is going for.
I forget too that the Internet Archive - https://archive.org/ has a vast selection of spiritual and occult books too, and might have the Witchesâ Bible there, among other older booksâŚ
Cheers.
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Fanciful Friday Wren,
I remember something about book squad but didnât get itâŚâŚOkay.
You seem to be computer literate. I admit, Iâm old (61), have never been gadget friendly (Iâm tactile), so you would suggest e-books, where as I prefer the printed page.
You are probably correct that the site would have those books too.
Lady Gene
Oh I prefer printed books too! Itâs only when someone wants to be undercover that I recommend digital books. That site acts like a digital library, I would be surprised if they didnât have them.
Cheers.
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Indeed. I was replying just after 4 am with a cat sitting on my chest, so wasnât in a frame of mind to rattle off book suggestions
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I do have a collection of ebooks should anyone want to have a non public conversation about books.
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making me laugh, Red
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lol! Understood. Both perfectly valid reasons. You have been excused. 
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Yes, sharing ebooks online is problematic. My High Priestess is an author, and her work is
shared online for free. We should not do that here, but we donât need to Iâve vacuumed up
gigabytes (not joking) of occult PDFs on Facebook. I get everything, not knowing what I may
need in the future. Even LHP curse and hex stuff, I may need to know how to counter that.
i donât like the idea of disobeying anyone parents, but I donât believe in stunting a person spriitual growth. Libraries, New Age shops and even your local Barnes and Noble. I started in the 70s, so I would recommended looking for the old authors like Sybil Leek, Gerald Gardner and Raymond Buckland. My first book was The Magic Power of Witchcraft by Gavin Frost at the age of 13. I order it from a comic book, the witching hour. Newer authors to me like Scott Cunningham, Silver Ravenwolf. Some people scoff Teen Witch by Ravenwolf, but I loved it and read every single one of her books. If your parent have a problem with it, I know many that had an altar and used statues of Jesus and Mary as their Lord and Lady.. We lived in the country, so I had myself an altar at a creek that split and formed an island. My altar was on that island and there was a hollow stump. I kept my things in a wooden box in that stump. NeatâŚright. I am worried for young people today that are called into Witchcraft. I suggest you search your soul, got to the libarary, research different Gods and Goddesses that may interest you. You may want to base it on where your ancestors came from, see if they interest you. Most people in the world were not always Christians or Jewish, if you feel Christianity or Judaism is preventing you from finding your true path. My ancestors were American Indians, German, Dutch and Irish, so yeah, my ancestor were all up in paganism. I had just a little hatred for Church, because they made me get up in the morning and go to another school. However I did considering going into the ministry to be a Priest because I was desparate to have some form of the Goddess in my life⌠Mary. I still have statues of Jesus and Mary and still call them Lord and Lady at times, if I need to. Today America is WIDE open, when it comes to Witchcraft. Just be careful, you donât have to have a tattoo and a nose ring to be a Witch, even though they look cool. i am 63, had many friends that did, but it never interested me. I would LOVE to have a Dragon tattoo on my arm. Another path I took of D. J. Conway, Dancing with Dragons. Yes it is overwhelming on how much is out there today. I am kind of jealous of how much is out there, but on the other hand scared for young people or mature people who are new to witchcraft. Alway remember the Witches Rede, âAnd harm none, do as thy wiltâ and âEver mind the power of three, what you put out shall come back to thee.â From what I see at times on media, people have forgotten the universal law of cause and effect. Witches knew this law way before any scientist ever did. To thine on self be true. You can listen to any advice, like what I said, you just donât have to follow it. If you are young, you can always listen to your parents or faimly, but like I said, it is not wrong to not listen, if it does not HARM you, but remember, if they are paying your way, be patient and wait until you are sure about what you want.
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Great article! I also started in the 70âs with The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish
that I randomly picked off the High School library shelf.
I can agree with a lot of your thoughts, Whitecrow. Itâs hard to say ânever disobey your parentsâ though when said parents are abusive and restraining someone from fully exploring their own spirituality. As long as it doesnât harm others or the self, to be seen as a tool for personal growth, I donât see the problem - although I do think there could be a minimum age for entry. I started officially learning when I was around 10, but I was in a highly unique situation as I was surrounded by teachers that my family knew and trusted. I had no âbeginning bookâ really.
I have the same reaction too when I see how open and widespread the esoteric arts are now. Arguably, theyâre not even that esoteric or hidden anymore lol. On the one hand, I appreciate this development and greater acceptance - but on the other hand it also means exposure of a lot of bad advice out there from either people who donât understand the laws of kamma and dhamma, or from practicioners who have ill intent. New seekers need to practice common sense and discernment when they see these things on social media, etc.
Cheers. 
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