Pagans/Witches/Wiccans>> The word "witch"- Do you use it? Should it be reclaimed?

Question

The word witch has different connotations for different people. I find I use it more among my Pagan friends than non-Pagan. I think the word witch needs to be reclaimed and used without fear, but what do others think? What is the destiny of the word? Do you feel proud calling yourself a witch, or does it make you feel uneasy? I hope one day we can use this word like we use it amongst our Pagan friends and not feel ashamed, guilty, or nervous. What are your opinions?

Answer 1

I think it has a lot of negative attention attached to it. I would prefer to use witch but when I tell someone or talk about my religion i just use Wicca. I agree that it should be reclaimed and we should try to stop the negative attitude attached to the word. I am proud calling myself a witch.

Answer 2

I am a Witch, and I don't have a problem saying so, but I think we need a new word because the Wiccans have claimed it and now everyone assumes that everyone who is a Witch is also a Wiccan, and that everyone who is a Wiccan is also a Witch. For example, people say Witches worship a dual God/Goddess, not necessarily true, and that they follow the Wiccan Rede, not usually true. When I see things in the media about Witches, this is usually what is said. This drives me nuts! A Witch is someone who performs magic spells utilizing the force of emotion and personal energy. Period. Religion has nothing to do with it. There are Witches all over this world who have never heard of Wicca and there are many Witches of many different religions. Not all Wiccans practice magick either. The word also has negative connations, not just among Christians, but among Pagans as well. If you look at the old stories, Pagan stories, Witches are often seen in a negative light and among traditional cultures, in Africa and South America for instance, Witchcraft is also specifically designated as harmful magick. So, yea, a new word would be good.

Answer 3

I have no problem being called a witch - I personally am amused when someone uses it thinking that they're making fun of my beliefs. My response is generally, "Yes, I am. And your point is?"

I think there's a lot of emotional baggage around the word in the world in general, but also within the Pagan community. Mike Nichols did an essay on whether or not Wiccan and Witch could/should be used interchangeably based on etymology, or has the connotative use of the word overridden its original meaning?

Are all witches Wiccan? Are all Wiccans witches? The more I read, the less certain I am. And the less certain I am that it actually matters.


Panacea - please feel free to do some research and alleviate your own ignorance. The link you chose demonstrates that you have no idea what you're talking about in this context.

Answer 4

Well, it's a common word for today's Pagans... but there is nothing to "reclaim" from history on this word... even Pagans wrote about witches, and it was hardly ever in a good light. So, you can't really reclaim it from history, as history shows it in a poor light anyway. Even the celts wrote about witches in a bad way... they were those who cursed others.

Now, as a Pagan myself, I don't have a problem with the way the word "witch" is used today among others of my kind. It merely let's others know where they stand in their own religion. I think people today need to understand that such things can definitely have a good meaning... we don't see "witches" running around hexing people, killing cattle (no actual reports... a lot of rumors) or any of these things. So, I guess we first have to leave the imagination out of it before we can actually set up any type of common ground concerning this word, as well as others.

I used to use the word witch when describing myself till I started looking into historical references for such... As I said, even Pagans... Egyptian Pharoahs no less, have written about how terrible witches are. But, besides the bad light it has shining on it, even from Pagan cultures... I don't work witchcraft anymore, so there is no reason for me to use the word at all.

Answer 5

It all really depends.

When I'm around people who understand who I am, I am proud to call myself a Witch. But for those who don't understand, I just call myself Pagan. Though, I only refer to myself as a Witch when I'm depicting the fact that I perform spells. I don't like to use the word "Wicca" and "Witch" interchangeably.

However, the word "witch" should be said without fear because of the stigma behind it.

Answer 6

I'm a witch and proud of it. Sometimes I say Wiccan or Pagan if I think people have a hard time understanding but am Witch to anyone who knows me at all, no matter what their beliefs.

Answer 7

The word witch is only a word,,a name twisted by early Christian's to make the peaceful pagan religion seem more "evil"

Don't focus on society's view of your spirituality, explore your inner self and find peace there.

Christians live with blinders on,,they have been taught from birth to hate and fear anything outside their tiny view. Don't hate them pity their sad existence and lack of sight.

Blessed be.

Answer 8

I don't feel uneasy about using it with our friends. My daughter is studying Wicca too and she doesn't mind being called a witch. As far as the first answer here, real Wiccans don't cast spells against people. They cause harm to no one nor anything. I think you are the confused and misled one.

Answer 9

My Mother was a non-Wiccan Witch and I am an Occultist. The word has no negative connotations to me.

:)

Answer 10

I agree, i practiced magik for awhile although i found it not to by to my exact beliefs but i do believe in real magik not stage magic.

although most males consider themselves warlocks or wizards not witches. i honestly feel its not diffrent then calling your self cathlic or jewish. there should be no shame is say ... hey "i'm a witch/warlock"

if you follow to where wicca comes from it is HIGHLY christian based. so why christians are the first to flip out about it is beyond me. I didn't quite practice wicca as you can tell from how i spell magik ... if you don't know the diffrence you can't consider yourself a true wiccan/pagan/witch/warlock.

puncturer