First rule of all witchcraft is this:

There is absolutely no difference in ability or power in a beginner witch and a witch who has been a witch for 40 years.

None.

Nada.

As in absolutely no difference.

A witch will never know anymore than she does when she first begins because she never knew anything to start with and never will.

If a witch lived 1000 years, she would be every bit as retarded as the day she first began.

Witchcraft is nothing more or less than variations on the theme of putting crap in a jar, or taking crap out of a jar. That's all.

So, the beginner should feel confident because she knows that she is absolutely the best she will ever be and knows as much as she will ever know - absolutely nothing.