Merry Meet To All,
Wiccan or Witch? Are they the same? After much pondering i decided
to touch on these as a clarification to the Masses.
You can be both a Wiccan and a Witch, these two words are not the
same. One of the biggest misconceptions among people is the
improper usage of the terms "Wiccan" and "Witch". Too many people
use the terms interchangably, presuming that they both mean the
same thing. They do not. You can be a Witch but need not necessary
be a Wiccan.
What is Wiccan? Wicca is a religion, and someone who follows that
religion is called a Wiccan. Sometimes it can be difficult to
accurately define Wicca, and not all Wiccans will define themselves
the same way. Observing the 8 Wiccan Sabbats, honoring the Gods
and/or Goddesses, creating sacred space for rituals, to name a few.
Many traditional Wiccans also feel that belonging to a coven is
also a requirement and that those who practice their religion as a
solitary, should not refer to themselves as Wiccan. Personally, I'm
still not sure on that point. Typical Wiccans also practice magick,
and therefore are also witches. You cannot be a "natural Wiccan"
any more than you could be a "natural Christian".
What is a Witch? The practice of witchcraft is not associated with
any religion, therefore you can be a witch and yet also be a member
of any number of religions (or none). Using the natural energies
within yourself, along with the energies of herbs, stones or other
elements to make changes around you is considered witchcraft.
Though the skills and gifts that are part of witchcraft can be
inherited from parents or grandparents, you aren't automatically a
witch just because your grandmother may have been one. The use of
magick takes practice, experience and learning. On a side note, a
male witch is called a witch, not a warlock. Casting a spell or two
don't make you a Witch either, at most you are a Dabbler.
What is a Pagan? While I'm explaining terminology, I thought I
would throw in "Pagan" as well. Paganism refers to a variety of
non-Christian/Jewish/ Islamic religions that are usually
polytheistic and are often nature-based. Wicca is only one Pagan
religion, but there are others such as Santeria, Asatru, or
Shamanism. Many people do not necessarily identify with a specific
religion, and just use the broad term "Pagan" to define their
spiritual path. Pagan religions are distinct and separate from each
other, and it should not be assumed that they are just different
names for the same faith.
Blessed Be,
Oceanos
