Understanding the Religion of Wicca and Practice of Witchcraft

Is Wicca the same as Witchcraft?
Wicca is often associated with witchcraft and the practice of magic, but they are not the same thing. Not all practitioners of Wicca are witches, and not all witches are practitioners of Wicca. Wicca is simply a religious belief, where people commune with nature and natural energy that they believe emanates around all living things. Wicca does not necessarily involve the practice of magic or the manipulation of energy forces.

How do People Practice Wicca?
People may be initiated into Wicca through ritual practices and demonstrations of their belief in nature, and gods and goddesses. These people may join a Wicca coven or group, where the religion can be celebrated as part of a social unit. They may consider themselves a family of nature lovers, and may partake in goddess worship.

Some people practice solitary Wicca, where they self-dedicate themselves to the tradition. They may practice their own version of goddess worship or enjoyment of nature and energy. Solitary Wicca practitioners might simply have a sacred space in their garden where they tend to nature, or they may have a preferred location perhaps in a wooded area or near running water, where they can commune with energy spirits.

So what is Wicca exactly?
Wicca is based on a belief in and worship of the goddess figure. The goddess is believed to be an omnipresent spirit who represents birth, life, death, and regeneration in nature. As part of this goddess worship, Wicca and witchcraft are similar in that both sometimes involve the practice of white magic or nature magic. Witchcraft does not necessarily require a belief in gods and goddesses, and is not a specific spiritual path, whereas Wicca is.

Witchcraft may also incorporate the practice of black magic, whereas Wicca most certainly does not condone such action. Wiccans believe in karma, natural energy, and that people reap what they sow. Therefore they must only share love and understanding with all living things, and always be thankful for the gifts they receive from the goddess and from nature.

History of Wicca
Gerald Gardner believed that Wicca descended from the ancient pre-Christian religion of the British Isles. This was the worship of a primeval goddess of fertility, and a horned god. Gardner termed this ‘the craft of the wise’ which of course became known as Wicca.

The witchcraft persecutions of the Middle Ages are believed to be Christianity’s attempt to stamp out the old nature religion of Britain. Wicca covens did survive in isolated areas however, though not necessarily under the same name.

Wicca in the 20th Century and Beyond
Wicca grew largely during the 1960s, which saw an expansion of Gardnerian covens. During the 1980s, Wicca expanded hugely, and covens spread throughout America, and were established in Australia, Canada, and several other countries. Raymond and Rosemary Buckland, initiated by Gerald Gardner, introduced Wicca to America when they moved to the country.

More recently Wicca has diversified as people have blended aspects of the religion to represent their own belief systems. Wicca has been mixed with traditions of Kabbalah, paganism, and of course, witchcraft. Alongside Gardnerian Wicca, several others have developed. These include Alexandrian Wicca, Celtic Wicca, Dianic or Feminist Wicca, Eclectic Wicca, and Faery Wicca, to name but a few. Ultimately Wicca is a peaceful, spiritual religion.

Sources:
Theresa Cheung, The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World, Harper Element Publishing, 2006

Copyright Catherine Green – republished with permission

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