Is being a Wiccan and being a Witch the same thing?

Question

I have always thought it was true. Now im seeing more and more people saying that isnt true. Im confused, please help me understand.

Answer 1

You can be both a Wiccan and a witch, these two words are not the same
One of the biggest sore points among Wiccans 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.
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".
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.

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.

If you still have questions, perhaps read some more info at; http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/whatiswicca/f/

Good question, this came up in our household (several teen/pre-teen daughters) recently too.

Answer 2

Gardner initially meant them to be the identical ingredient. yet he prepare a complicated, ritualized equipment in line with Pagan religions that did not unavoidably attraction to all people practising the diverse varieties of magical arts that fall under the class of Witchcraft. Gardner in simple terms did not communicate for all Witches, who weren't all Pagan, who weren't all inspired by making use of ceremonial magic, who did not have faith issues like the rede have been meant to be standard regulation for Witches. even however many authors of the eighty's and ninety's used the words interchangably, they by no ability even have been. not all Witches have been Wiccan. Then of course, interior the final 10 years or so, greater and greater, you notice people cropping up that don't prepare Witchcraft in any respect, yet are very interested in the non secular aspects of Wicca. this could be a clean breed of Wiccan: the non-Witch Wiccan. i think of the least confusing thank you to distinguish between them is that this: Witchcraft is a prepare, that would or might not be blended with a faith (like Wicca). Wicca is a faith, that would or might not be blended with the prepare of Witchcraft. they are able to pass hand in hand, or be on a similar time unique.

Answer 3

Yes and no, my Dear One. Being a Witch is different from being Wiccan although the semantics are the same. I consider myself Pagan and a hedgewitch. I choose not to be part of a coven because of the politics (which can become outrageous under bad circumstances and even in good ones...sigh) when we get right down to the root word wicca it means wise one. Most women kept herbal and spiritual knowledge and passed it along to their daughters. One can be a witch and simply cook food. There's nothing really special about it. It's just what you and who you choose to be. Blessings on you, my child.

Answer 4

Witch and Wiccan are two different terms. A person can be both, neither or one or the other. Wicca is a religion and Wiccan refers to practitioners of that faith. Witch is a practitioner of witchcraft and the definition of witchcraft varies on the region of the world you live in. Not all wiccans do witchcraft and not all who practice witchcraft follow Wicca.

Answer 5

No, it's not.

A Witch practices magick independently of religion. That's why there can be Christian Witches. (I am including a site for "Hedge Witches"--that's a term for Witches who practice independently. Many but not all of those are Pagan.)

Wicca is a religion. Many Wiccans, but not all, are Witches; many modern self-identified Witches, but not all, are Wiccan.

Finally, all Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. Pagan means worshipping more than one God and finding spirituality in nature.

I myself started out Wiccan and am more interested in folk magick and the really old ways now; that's a fairly common path.

Answer 6

Nope. Wicca is an initiatory religion, a faith with a particular set of rules, pantheon, and heirarchy. Withcraft is just that, a craft, a set of skills you develop through study and practice. Many Wiccans are NOT witches..and most witches I know are NOT Wiccan.

Answer 7

Wicca was invented in the 60's by Gerald Gardner. So to answer your question, NO. Witches have exsited long before Mr. Gardner created his religion. "The Burning Times" and even then innocent women were burnnrd at the stake whether they were Witches or not. Also to clear things up, There are plenty of Witches who do not practice Wicca and are very successful in what they do.

Answer 8

Being wiccan means you pratice wicca. Being a witch means you practice witchcraft or magic. Not all wiccans practice magic therfore they would not be called witch. Not all witches are wiccan.

I do not practice wicca but I do practice witchcraft. My sister does practice wicca but does not practice spells. She celebrates the holidays and such but does no spells.

For me they are two different things. However there are many that practice both. They would be called wiccan and witch. I happen to not be one of them.

Answer 9

you can be a wiccan without being a witch - being a witch is optional

Answer 10

well a wicin is a form of a witch but it is a white witch they can not perform black magic and they can not really cast spells as well as black witches but their powers are still very important so yes they are witches but they are basically what you call a white witch and that is a good type of witch to be i myslef can pratice both black and white magic but i am more towards the white magic side it is not as evil and it is not the type to kill people