New to magic, need help please

[Scrispy]

Hello everyone, I'm looking for some help. All my life I've heard about magic and it's uses, but I'm still curious. To start things off, I live in a small town which is very Christian based, about 95% of all residents attend the many churches around here. All of my family are Christians, given my one Buddhist grandma that has taught me so much in my spiritual journey. Being in a Christian community, everything is absolutely biased against anything that isn't Christian, so talking about my beliefs is very hard, even my best friend puts me down and tries to disprove me when I try to talk about how I see things. My mother is also very superstitious and finds anything to do with spirituality considered demonic (I blame television.) I've learnt about white magic and black magic, and know the differences. But media always slanders anything of that sort so every time I see a pentagram, I instantly think of bad things. But there's something that draws me to white magic and how it works, like something from beyond is magnetically pulling me towards the practices of white magic. Outside of my small town is a small shop dedicated to all things spiritual and magical, and is where I've gotten all my teachings. The shop owner is literally my mentor, and always suggests the perfect books. He has plenty of books about magic along with many crystals and talismans. I plan on asking him for a book about magic, but being 17 I still live with my mother and if I'm found with a book of that sort I'll be forced to get rid of it, but I'm moving out soon so I'll pursue it immediately. But I would like to learn a few things before I dive in.
1. Is there a way to overcome the fear of ridicule from the Christian community and the weirdness felt from seeing a pentagram?
2. Do all spells always work? Do they take intense practice like astral projection and other practices?
3.Are voodoo dolls considered black magic? I've been interested because there's this girl at my school that I've been in love with for years and we were almost together at one point but my best friend liked her too and sabotaged the entire thing, but at times she does show some interest in me and I was hoping in increasing the chances of her being attracted again.
4.Can you attract negative entities during spells or rituals? I'm very empathic to the spiritual world and can sense energies and entities very well. I just don't want to attempt something and it affect my whole family. I have a little brother that I see as my son and I don't want anything to harm him.
Im sorry for the extremely large post but I always have a lot on my mind and many questions about absolutely everything. Any and all answers are very much appreciated!

[ThaomasOfGrey]

My experience is that you will have a lot of trouble convincing a devout Christian that anything paranormal (magic, Claire-senses, astral projection, premonitions, telepathy) is not the work of the Satan. I struggle with my elder brother on this matter.

Fundamentally the book (bible) says psychic = witchcraft = Satan. For some people you will be unable to penetrate any issue that goes against what is written in the book because it is viewed as unassailable and beyond rational arguments. Those people are stuck in a belief trap, but if someone is willing to entertain new ideas and has an open mind you can try these rational arguments.

1) Only for good use - some people believe that our reality is intelligent in the sense that it can predict if psychic information is likely to result in net growth or recession for those involved. If the outcome is negative, the information is simply blocked. The powers simply aren't available for Satanic purpose. I haven't seen any evidence to the contrary - yet mediums and so forth that deliver valuable information do it with pure intent.

2) Satan is a metaphor - The word just means to be alone. You will find that almost every satanic act is about selfishness and destruction one way or another, whereas the path of god is that of unity and creation. I really don't think it is useful to imagine that there is a boogie man waiting to get you if you step out of line - that is a fear tactic used to control people - what matters is not picking the satanic path.

3) We don't really know what god wants - No one here can pretend they can even begin to start to touch the mentality of god. If you think you know, you are wrong. Don't be obsessed with the book because it will only ever be a crude translation. Many of the aspects of god described in the bible don't make sense for even a highly loving human, such as jealousy and revenge, let alone an angel or god.

[funfire]

1. You shouldn't worry about what christians think, it's all about what you think and no one else. Whatever you feel towards a pentagram is what you relate to it.

2. I don't have much experience in magic. unless you count AP and remote veiwing.

3. I dont have any experience with voodoo dolls but I do think depending on your intent with the voodoo doll you can do something, either way it's not black magic nor nothing else. hehe I don't have much experience with trying to get a girlfriend but you can non pysicaly suggest idea's but they don't control the person they only bring up the thought.

4. you attract whatever you feel like you attract. nothing will affect your family unless you think it does.

Too some everything up with your own intent and non physical experience you have control of almost everything if you believe.

[Lumaza]

 A great book for you, at your age, would be "Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard" and "Companion of the Apprentice Wizard" by Oberon Zell. He teaches you how to respect Magick in all it's shapes and forms. Not only Magick, but all of the elements and the Universe itself. 
 https://www.amazon.com/Grimoire-Apprentice-Wizard-Oberon-Zell-Ravenheart/dp/1564147118

 Oberon has a school of wizardry named the "Grey School of Wizardry" that you may want to look into as well.
 http://oberonzell.com/

 Magick is basically built around "focused will and intent". The same goes with "Prayer" and the same is with our practice here of Astral Projection and any other thing in life you wish to achieve. The rituals used are to help you can hone/lock on that focused will and intent into what you are attempting to manifest.

 When you wish for money or some other thing. It doesn't just magically appear. By making that conscious intent, you are creating that new reality in your life. You may come across a new job opening or could also win some money in a lottery or something like that. But it's you that has to be "proactive" to get it to manifest. Even with the lottery. If you didn't buy the ticket, you wouldn't have won.
 But, and this is a big but, you must always make sure to follow any wish or ritual with the words, "with harm to none, so mote it be so it is done". That way, nobody gets hurt by or during the manifestation of your wish or desire.

 Now there is free will. So in the case of this girl you like. She has free will also. You can't force someone to like you. But by thinking of her, on some level she will get the message. Where it goes from there is up to her. Like I said, she has free will too.

 Magick is neutral. The "black and white" comes from the intent of the practitioner. A so called practitioner of "white" magick can use what is considered black magick to actually achieve a positive outcome too.  

[Scrispy]

Thank you for all the information. And thank you, Lumaza, for the great book recommendation, I'm buying it as soon as I can