2.  The word means "beginner," of course, but it also has another meaning, "novice," which suggests a certain naiveté, even a person who has unwittingly "bitten off more than he can chew;" and both Neophyte and Novice are applied to a recent religious convert or a new resident to a religious community who has not yet fully committed to the community by taking religious vows usually involving chastity, devotion, isolation from the outside world, etc.

Personally, I think it is an inappropriate word to apply in a magickal situation as it also suggests that the interest is emotional rather than intelligent. Magick, first of all, does require intelligence. Emotion is recognized as the engine of energy that can be directed into a magickal operation, but not as the basis for the understanding an application of magickal principles.