(My apologies if you now have “Do Re Mi” stuck in your head for the rest of the day!)

A side conversation at a recent staff meeting has turned into an idea that I really love. As the relative newcomer to the team, I have nowhere near the knowledge and experience of my colleagues. And while everyone is generous in sharing information and answering questions, there’s no doubt that sometimes I feel a little self-conscious when I don’t get the references or have to Google something the group is talking about. Sometimes I don’t even know what I ought to be asking. My daughter is in much the same boat; as someone who’s just starting to explore her own power, she’s self-conscious about asking questions, worries she’ll make foolish or dangerous mistakes, and sometimes questions whether she ought to be active in online groups or if she’ll seem like some kind of interloper. I think of it as the starter pack for imposter’s syndrome.

I think everyone has experienced moments in which they feel that maybe they don’t belong in a particular group or setting. One of the things that appeals to me most about magic is that there is a place for all – there are so many aspects of practice to explore, and many, many ways to get it right. So wondering “do I belong here?” feels like a self-imposed limitation and frankly, there are already too many limitations on us. Time to ditch the baggage.

Out of this conversation came the idea of kits for beginners, both those that are just starting out and those who want to explore another aspect of their practice. Some will be focused on a specific aspect of magic to explore and others will have a theme. All the kits will have key pieces to get you started, such as candles, stones, and herbs, so you can explore and build your practice without being overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there.