The Witches pyramid, also called “The Four laws of the Magus,” is very ancient. They work great value to Witches and I suggest making special note of them. The Four Laws are matched to the Elements and give good advice for any Witch.
To Know (Air)
To know means to study and learn everything you can about magick and the way it can be used. As a Witch, you must know what you are doing when it comes to magick. I know it sounds logical, but you will be amazed at the number of beginners who take their studies in this area for granted. Practicing magick is not something to be taken lightly. It is a big responsibility for all Witches. Many times spells backfire because the Witch did not do his or her homework. These lessons will guide you in the right direction of a beginner/First Degree-Priest/Priestess, but you still must also read as many books as you can get your hands on, do research at a library or internet, ask other Witches opinions and continue to do this for the rest of your life!
To Dare (Water)
As a Witch you must dare to practice what you have learned. You must be willing to stand up and use all that knowledge you have gained to perform rites and spells. If you are waiting to gain all the knowledge to practice magick, then you will die old without having practiced magick. By the time you have finished these lessons, you know all you need to know to start magick.
To Will (Fire)
Once you have decided to practice magick, you must be strong enough to will the manifestation (to make the spell come true). The fear of failure or of a spell backfiring is always there, creeping into the apprentice’s mind, not being strong enough to carry on a spell. "What if nothing happens?" If you have read Wicca 101 books, they allow readers to practice simple magick. Build your confidence by doing simple magickal works first. Try candle magick and gem magick. These are the easiest to perform and excellent for beginners. Start performing magick for yourself. As you gain more confidence in your own magickal abilities, you can move on to perform more complex spells adding your own flair to them, as well as performing magickal works for others.
However, remember, Witches are humans too. Therefore, we are bound to commit mistakes sometimes, even though we do our best to avoid them. This is normal; so do not torture yourself if one of your spells goes wary. A wise Witch will record it all in his/her Book Of Shadows. Then he/she will sit down to read it carefully looking for any flaws in it. The same thing applies for rites. Who says rites have to be big and flamboyant? Do you really think the Goddess will look down upon you if your rite is small and simple? Not the Goddess I know! I do not always have the time or find myself in the right place to perform a full ritual, so I keep them simple.
To Keep Silent (Earth)
Witches must keep quiet about the work they are doing or what they are doing it for. Every time Witches talk about their magickal work, part of the energy is given away. Also, the Witch may be telling someone who, for whatever reason, does not want the Witch to succeed. That person, knowing what is being done, can counteract the results. This is not a usual occurrence, but it can and does happen. In silence there is knowledge. You're the master of your thoughts, but a slave of what you say.
