I know a lot of baby witches come with this idea that witchcraft is dark and deadly because that’s what generations have been fed by culture for generations now. And I’m not just talking about a one-off idea like running into an energy vampire or someone actively trying to work against you for whatever unrelated reason.
But what actual dangers are there from modern-day witchcraft?
The main one I can think of is that there are (in my experience anyway) things out there that are trying to get attention (for whatever reason), and the more you are of them, the more aware they are of you.
And even then, I don’t know if I’d really call this a danger because (as far as I am aware) we have endless tools of protection even like drawing a simple circle of protection and there aren’t any real stories of wiches coming to harm in the modern day. Not that I’ve seen anyway, hopefully I’m not wrong on that.
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A long, long time ago.
I did have a spirit who kept pestering me in the astral. I was very new, and it seemed to know it, and I don’t quite know what it wanted… maybe it was just curious, but it did seem to follow me for a time.
It wasn’t long before I learned some of the basics of protection magick, and that’s all it took.
I asked it nicely to go away. That didn’t work, so I gave it a warning. That didn’t work either, so I locked it in a circle and flashed a quick pentacle.
It begged me to take it down and I said it would be the last time I ever saw it. Certainly was.
There are very, very few situations where I think I would be worried about someone spiritually getting into witchcraft. Most of the dangers are mundane physical ones.
I know this isn’t exciting but, it is something to be careful if you’re actually a practicing witch.
Dressed candles look great with all the herbs and crystals on them, but I’ve learned the hard way that pretty doesn’t always mean safe to burn. Herbs can spark or pop, and oils are really flammable. Crystals can crack from the heat too, so do your research on what you’re putting near a flame before you light it.
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Most of the “dangers” are spread by people who don’t really know what they’re talking about or have some vested interest in scaring people.
If you have somehow found your way here and you’re worried about getting into your practice, don’t be.
Come at this from a place of peace and love. Connect with nature, the world around you and the universe. There is nothing dangerous about that.
As far as “boring but important” physical risks, watch out for essential oils!
I learned this one the hard way. I slathered some lavender oil on my wrists before a ritual and ended up with chemical burns. Apparently, a lot of EOs need to be diluted with a carrier oil, and some are straight-up toxic around pets and babies. Has anyone else had bad experiences with oils? I feel like this doesn’t get talked about enough in beginner resources.
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Oh, and there’s the mundane legal stuff. Modern cemeteries have security cameras and anti-vandalism systems these days. Try explaining to a security guard that the spirits gave you permission to take that graveyard dirt. There are trespassing laws and property defacement rules. Taking natural items from protected areas is its own legal mess depending on where you live. These are real consequences regardless of your spiritual practice.
Fire + sleeves = disaster waiting to happen.
Keep an extinguisher within arm’s reach of your altar at all times.
Energetic hygiene after big workings. You can genuinely make yourself sick by skipping the grounding step, especially after divination or any kind of spirit contact. A lot of newer practitioners don’t realize that until they’ve already crashed out and are wondering why everything feels off.
There’s an old saying I keep close: ‘The well that pours without filling soon runs to mud.’
Cleansing yourself matters as much as cleansing your tools. Maybe more. Most of the folks I see getting into trouble have spent ages smoke-cleansing their cards or their athame (which is great, don’t get me wrong) while completely forgetting to do the same for themselves…
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I think there probably is something to be said for the “risk” of attracting the attention of something from the lower vibrational realms but I don’t know if I’d consider it a danger.
One thing I’d add is to be careful with deity work. There’s a tendency to assume every entity that answers a call is who they say they are. Take time to verify through multiple signs before committing to offerings or oaths. A patient approach has worked better for me than jumping in too quick.
Everyone talks about spiritual protection, but leaving candles burning unattended is probably the most common danger in modern practice. Fire hazards are real even if curses aren’t.
Just wanted to expand on that fourth point about entities becoming aware of you.
The more you practice, the more you show up on their radar. It’s like turning on a light in a dark room. Everything nearby notices. I’ve found this to be true in my own practice, especially when I started doing more active work rather than just passive study.
That awareness probably goes both ways, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing and I do agree I don’t know if I would call it a danger.
Weirdly, I had a very similar situation to @GrannyWeatherwax, and it ended much the same way. Never really felt afraid or worried about it. Even the simple basics are enough.
The actual time you would be in danger is if you are actively doing something you shouldn’t be and you’re doing it without any kind of protection. It’d be a bit like sitting on top of your car and driving it like Mr Bean down a motorway. Backwards.
TikTok witchcraft was the most dangerous thing I ran into as a baby witch. The second I stepped away from that app, everything got safer.
Do. Not. Do. Things. You. See. On. TikTok.
