What
is Witchcraft/Wicca?
Wicca was the first (or at least one of the first) of the
neopagan religions. As a result, it is the best known, and
tends to overshadow its younger, smaller siblings. This does
not mean that Wicca is more valid than other neopagan religions
-- just larger and louder.
Wicca,
however, is only one of the things called Witchcraft (or sometimes,
the Craft, a term also applied to Masonry). There are a whole
range of styles of folk-magic around the world which are called
witchcraft in English. If the word Witch is capitalized, it
indicates that it is being used to refer to a member of a
pagan religion, not just to a practitioner of folk-magic.
There are also Witches who practice religions called Witchcraft
which are not Wicca. These religions tend to be more folk-pagan
than Wicca, drawing on the heritage of a specific culture
or region.
Wicca
itself is a new religion, drawing strongly on the practices
of Ceremonial Magic. While there are claims that Wicca goes
back into the mists of pre-history, honest examination of
the practices and history of the Wicca will make it clear
that Wicca is new. (Actually, the word "Wicca" itself
is recently coined, at least in its present usage. The OE
"wicca" was pronounced "witch-ah" and
meant male magician. The new word "Wicca" is pronounced
"wick-uh", capitalized as a religion, and means
a religion, not a person.) However, Wicca has developed in
many directions and should not be seen as a unified whole,
even though it is fairly new.
Rituals and beliefs vary widely among Witches. Unlike most
of the neopagan religions, Wicca is an initiatory religion,
that is, people who choose to practice Wicca believe that
the commitment to this path set changes in motion in their
lives. Many Traditions (sects) of Wicca formalize this with
a ritual (or series of rituals) of initiation.
Others, especially Solitary Witches, trust that the Gods will
do the initiating of the Witch.
Why do you use the word Witch? / Wiccan?
Witch is a very old word meaning "magic-maker",
from a root which meant "bending" and "shaping".
For many of us, the word Witch is a powerful reclaiming of
that inherent human power to make changes around us. For others,
including some of the people within Wicca, that word is not
their word. Some people within Wicca take the adjective "Wiccan"
and use it as a noun.
(Some
people question the authenticity of the etymology that says
"witch" means "to bend or shape." They
believe that the word is simply from the Old English for "wise
one" and has no relation to the root mentioned above
- which gives us the modern word "wicker," for instance.
However, this definition is a good way to think of how a modern
Witch might see
him/herself.)
| Authors
Details: Witchcraft / Wicca - Alt.Pagan FAQ Questions |
More
information on Witchcraft / Wicca
(Wicca
& Witchcraft Article)
(What
is witchcraft/Wicca?)
(Traditional
Witchcraft & Wicca) |
