Witch’s Pyramid – To Know

Faith

Latin = Nescere

Element = Air

Direction= East

Mental Aspect

“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” --Socrates

The element of Air is the element of intellect and the mind. It is the beginning of the manifestation cycle.

Your mind is the most powerful magical tool! It also represents how the mind is used in Witchcraft. It is used for learning, visualization, memorization, expanding of one’s consciousness, strengthening your psychic abilities.

When we are seeking to work Magick we must know what we are doing and why we are doing it. We must have a foundation of Magical and Occult knowledge.

This foundational point of the pyramid also represents that we as witches must continually be dedicated to learning and the pursuit of knowledge. It is the path of the eternal student. Knowing that we can never learn everything there is to know within one lifetime. We should embrace curiosity and go out into the world with a curious mind. There is something to learn in every situation and interaction. There is no failure if you learn something from it.

It teaches us that we cannot just pull a spell out of a book or off the internet and use it with any modicum of success without knowing and understanding the principles at work. You must know what you are doing. How it should be done. Why you are doing it. The correspondences being used or that should be used. More importantly you must know yourself, your motivations, your intent.

Suppose you wanted to do a spell. Gather all the information. Are you going to use candle magic? What color candles will you use? Why? How many candles? What oils will be best for dressing your candles? Will you be inscribing your candles? With what and how? Why? Will you be using herbs or crystals? What herbs or crystals and why? Will you be using any other tools? What deities, entities, or spirits will you be invoking? Why? Do you know how to work the spell? Do you know the best time to do the working? Have you performed any divination to look at possible outcomes? Do you know how to adjust for any obstacles that showed up in your divination. Do you know how to raise the energy and release it, directing it towards your goal?

More importantly you must know that you have the power and skills to be successful. We each have something to contribute.

Knowing ourselves is just as important as knowing the “Craft”. Understanding yourself leads to understanding the Universe. It is part of what I like to call the “Horton Hears a Who” tenet. “As above, So below.” Doing the inner work of meditation, self-contemplation, shadow work, etc. to better know and understand yourself will help you understand others and in turn the universe. Witch Know Thyself! This means looking at your true desires, and exploring all aspects of your personality, even the ones we do not necessarily like. And with that being completely honest with yourself about all of it.

Besides you cannot change and heal it if you are not honest with where you are NOW!

In knowing you must always seek THE TRUTH. Being willing to change your perception as you gain more insight and knowledge. In everything strive to do the best with what you know; and as you know better, do better.