Is the Wicca religion really witchcraft?

Question

See, around a month ago I started expirementing with the Wicca religion. What I have read, they are all about peace and no harm to anybody.
But alot of people have said they are associated with witches and spells. It is true there are Wiccan spells, but they are only to help.

I wa sjust wondering if anybody was a Wiccan and can tell me anything about it, or if anyone has ideas or comments.
Thanks!

I have been stuggling with God and such for a while, and at one point I was an athiest.

Oneness with the universe sounds awesome and peaceful. How could it be witchcraft when they are promoting goodness and no harm?

Answer 1

Witchcraft/Witch is a slang term that can mean many things depending upon the user of the term. The term(s) originally developed as a mispronunciation of the old word "Wicce" which meant wise person, usually referring to a herbalist, midwife, or healer (not a cackling green skinned female with large warted nose). Wicca is a very specific religion. You are correct in your research finding that Wicca is about peace and one absolute rule is to harm none. No one who causes harm is a true Wiccan any more than someone who causes harm in the name of Jesus is a true Christian. To answer your question, if you define Witchcraft as a religion of peace and harming none, then Wicca would qualify. If you define Witchcraft as evil people flying on brooms and boiling up small animals, Wicca would not at all qualify.

Answer 2

As a Wiccan I can tell you that not all Wiccan's practice witchcraft. Some follow the religion, but do not do rituals. Kind of like not all Catholics are priests and do Sunday mass. Which in it's most basic form IS a ritual, isn't it?

Also, witchcraft as it really is, is nothing like others would want you to believe. You can't put "spells" on someone to harm them, you can't make potions to fly like Harry Potter. Witchcraft as it is practiced by Wiccans is all about ritual and promoting positive changes in one's life. Rather than just kneeling and praying, doing magick is a participant action. Kind of like if everyone at mass was participating with the priest.

And yes, Wicca is all about peace and no harm to anyone. As you probably already know part of the Wiccan Rede is "Harm None". This goes for others as well as the earth.

Wicca is close to Native American Shamanism and borrows much from Buddhism in it's approach to self improvement and enlightenment.

Wicca is a religion of personal transformation and self-respect, not a religion of guilt and self-doubt.

That is the big split between Wicca and Christianity. Wicca is personally empowering. Christianity revolves around guilt of sin and thus promoting self-doubt through which only the Church can save you.

Christianity doesn't like the idea of self-empowerment much.

Good luck on your studies of Wicca.

Blessed Be

Answer 3

A religion, and not witchcraft. There was once a time in which it was acceptable to refer to Wiccans as witches, and say that Wicca and the craft were the same thing, however the religion as a whole (save a few hardcore traditionalists) has evolved, and it is no longer appropriate to say that Wicca is the Craft, or that all Wiccans practice witchcraft.

Answer 4

Witchcraft is a tool. Wicca is a religion. A lot of people think Wicca means Witchcraft but it doesn't. There are many Wiccans who do not use magic/spells/etc. Just as there are Pagans who have no part in Wicca but do use witchcraft. Those who say All Wiccans are Witches obviously have no knowledge of the religion to begin with.

I was Wiccan back in the 80's till the late 90's. There is a lot of "Fluffy" stuff you're going to have to wade thru in order to get to the truth of the religion. But it's the same with all religions. I suggest that when you start to study, be honest. Don't just take one writers word for something just because they claim to have been in it for years or they claim all of their knowledge was handed down from their great great great grandmother. Everyone get's knowledge from their ancestors in one way or another, so this is not some spectacular claim.

Answer 5

Do Wiccans do spellwork? Yes. Not all Wiccans, but most do.

Is spellwork all there is to Wicca? No. Not hardly. Wicca is about a spiritual connection to the Divine, honoring God and Goddess as the masculine and feminine energies of the world.

Do only Wiccans cast spells? No. Many other beliefs and religions and philosophies work with magic. And not all of them are guided by the Wiccan Rede that says "An it harm none, do as ye will."

Are Wiccans "witches"? Some call themselves that, yes. That the word has a negative connotation to people who don't know any better isn't the Wiccan's fault.

How do you "experiment" with the Wiccan religion? Do you "experiment" with Christianity? Do you "experiment" with Islam or Judaism? Wicca is a religion, with a set of beliefs and guidelines. If you're turning to Wicca because "I get to cast cool spells", in my opinion you're turning to Wicca for the wrong reason, and in fact you're missing the entire point of Wicca.

Answer 6

Modern Wicca, from my understanding, can be traced to Gerald Garnder, a British civil servant, who wrote a series of books on religion in the 40's. Wicca contains celctic deities, symbols, seasonal days of celbration and components of ceremonial magic and practices of the Masonic Order.

As for witchcraft, doing spells that try to dominate manipulate or control another person are against the Wiccan Rede, so I would assume that Wiccan really is not witch craft... but for more see my link below.. it is a great resource on all religions!

Answer 7

Some followers of Wicca call themselves "witches". It is an anceint word that simply means "wise one" that was taken and given "bad rep" by the ignorant (and not so ignorant) Christians of the dark ages. Witchcraft is the use of The Craft (i.e. spells) by a "witch" It has nothing to do with evil or "the devil" (which, btw, true witches/wiccans don't even believe in). A spell is simply a different way of making your intentions known to the Universe, it has been called "Active Praying". There is a great book called "Witchcraft Today" by Scott Cunningham I highly suggest you read.

Answer 8

Yes we call our selves Witches but we do not call our religion, Witchcraft. there is a difference. Most people of Wicca faith call themselves Wiccans, I do. Also we are not evil and have a code that we live and follow by, Kind of like the bible but not in book form. That code is the Wiccan rede.

Here is a site that is good
http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm.

a good book to explain Wicca is
When someone you know is Wiccan

Answer 9

Many Wiccans call themselves witches. Not all of them do. Witchcraft is a blanket term, it can cover many different religions, including Shamanism. I am Wiccan. I also consider myself a witch but I never cast spells. All people who didn't convert to Christianity in Europe were labeled witches. Since I believe Wicca is a European religion that is older than Christianity, I think the term fits. Don't use it if it makes you uneasy. Use the label that is most comfortable to you.

Answer 10

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"