Wiccans, Do you prefer to call yourself/be called a wiccan or a witch?

Question

I think that we should reclaim the word "witch" despite all of that happened in history.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Wiccan.
We're not "reclaiming" the word Witch, we're *claiming* it. Almost everyone called a witch in the past was a Christian. I. for one, don't have anything to do with Christianity, and I have no business claiming kinship with Christians.

More info:
On Morons, and not using the word Witch:
http://www.cuew.org/archives/003366.html

Answer 2

I am a Witch, not Wiccan. I do not follow the Wiccan religion. Wicca and Witch are two different things. Wicca incorporates Witchcraft into it. Therefore I prefer to be called a Witch (that is if anyone asks. If not, then I say nothing)

Answer 3

not all wiccans are witches and not all witches are wiccans. you have to remember that. Me and my Wiccan Friends prefer being called Wiccans, because the word Witch has been so damn dramatized by Hollywood that when you say the word Witch people think flying on broomsticks and turning you into toads. which were not. so until people can get back to hearing Witch and thinking Wiccan instead of Hollywood then i and my friends prefer being called Wiccans.~*~Blessed Be~*~

Answer 4

I am a witch...I have been for over 30 years. Although I have adopted some Wiccan philosophies (harm ye none...etc), I am a natural solitary eclectic witch. I love the fact that you are 'reclaiming' the word witch. Blessed be and peace! ♥

Answer 5

I prefer the term Wiccan.

Remember that even when most Wiccans practice Magick, not all witches are Wiccans.

But I consider that to be a matter of personal prefference.

Answer 6

I'm not a Wiccan or a Witch as I don't intentionally make spells.

I am a Mystic and Soothsayer though.

Personally I think Wiccan is supposedly connected with being a white witch. If you were just to call yourself witch one wouldn't know what you are practising.

I think a more descriptive name is helpful.

Answer 7

To prevent stereotyping and bad reputations, I call myself Wiccan/Pagan. Technically, I am an Eclectic Solitary Pagan Witch. I take some practices of Wicca and Pagan.

Answer 8

i think the terms have different meaning. i am a pagan, most strongly influenced by the ideologies of wicca, but i do not practice witchcraft. if solely influenced by this, i would call myself wiccan, as 'witch' implies witchcraft in my opinion.

"Witchcraft is, litterally, the 'craft of the witch'. Which is the skill of being able to work magick; especially magick utilizing personal power in conjunction with the energies within stones, herbs, colours, and other natural objects. While this may have spiritual overtones, witchcraft, by this definition is not a religion"
"Wicca is a contemporary Pagan religion with spiritual roots in Shamanism and the earliest expressions of reverence of nature. "
"Not all witches are Wiccan, and not all Wiccans are witches, as witchcraft by itself is not a religion, and not all Wiccans practice magick. "

Answer 9

I have no preference as to "Witch" one i would like to be called, as i am proud of the two names. So Wiccan Witch is acceptable, or Witch, or Wiccan, either/or, i know my path and who i am, what i do and that is what matters most. :)
Blessings

Answer 10

I refer to myself as a "Witch", but when asked my religious affiliation (as was recently asked when I went into the hospital for a surgical procedure) I replied "Wiccan".

If only people knew that the original definition of "Witch" meant "Wise One" and "Craft" was something that was practiced (such as the craft that a Lawyers practices is law, the craft that a Doctor practices is medicine, etc.), so when put together "Witchcraft" actually means, by correct definition - Wise One Who Practices A Craft, which actually is anyone who works.

Have a lovely rest of the day. Bright Blessings.