Witches and Wiccans, can you be a Witch but not a Wiccan? Can you be a Wiccan but not a Witch?

Question

I'm new at this, and am studying the craft, but I was just told that you can be a Witch but not Wiccan? Please unravel this for me. Thanks and bright blessings!

And Christians, you don't need to tell my to stop pursuing this or I'm going to hell. I already know you think so. Bright blessings to you too!

Answer 1

As a practitioner of Brititsh Traditional and Shamanic Witchcraft I can tell you that Wicca and Witchcraft are NOT the same. Nor is Witchcraft just the "magickal part of Wicca". Witchcraft is a path and religion very different from Wicca, although Wiccans have muddied the waters by using the term "Witch" as interchangable. Those of us that practice Pre-Gardnerian true Traditional Witchcraft are honestly tired of the Wiccans co-opting the term. I respect Wiccans and think they have a lovely religion with some wonderful magickal elements, however it is most definitely NOT Witchcraft. I have a better site than these two, but of course cannot find it at the moment. I'll post it when I do.

http://www.brigids-haven.com/bos/beginner/wvsw.html
http://www.shadowdrake.com/HSDwitchFAQ.html

Ah, here it is:

http://www.geocities.com/echo879/

I don't often disagree with Prairie Crow, but on this matter she is incorrect. Witchcraft is different than Wicca. I have been practicing for 23 years and am a published author on the occult and Witchcraft, as well as holding a PhD in Comparitive Religions. At best Wicca could be labled as 'Neo-Pagan Witchcraft'.

Answer 2

Medusa said, basically, what I was going to say. There are non-Gardnerian traditions of Witchcraft, which are definitely religions, but definitely not Wicca. Read _The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill_, by Robin Artisson. Also, not everyone who practices witchcraft does so as a religion. (That would be witchcraft with a small "w," if I'm talking about the religion I capitalize it) In that sense, witchcraft would be folk magic. So, not all witches are Wiccans.

But are all Wiccans witches? Well, they used to be, but not anymore. Different people are drawn to this for different reasons. Some want to learn to cast spells, and some want to find a religion that is connected to Nature and a Divine Feminine, or at least a Pagan paradigm. If they don't find what they are looking for, they may move on to some other Neopagan tradition, or another Occult tradition. I have observed that Wicca is moving away from the Occult and towards the New Age. Partly, this is because Wiccans want their religion to be accepted into mainstream society (I myself, am content with being tolerated.) So, I feel that Wicca has evolved to be more acceptable. Magic is de-emphasized, the Threefold Law is over-emphasized, and the Wiccan Rede is cut in half -- instead of "An it harm none, do what thou Wilt," it has simply become, "Harm none!" A simple statement of Moral Responsibility rather than the beautiful statement of Freedom that Garnder intended when he stole it from Crowley. Even the Horned God is forgotten about in some Wiccan traditions -- and he's half the pantheon! So, are all Wiccans also witches? No, sadly many of them forgot about that part. The word Wicca means Witch -- that's where the word came from.

Wicca is a beautiful path in its own right, and Wiccans are nice people. I was Wiccan for many years. I don't mean to criticize too harshly, but I come from the position of a disillusioned ex-Wiccan. For me, it lacked the very things that drew me to it, and I moved on to other Neopagan and Occult paths. I don't call myself a witch because I don't do that much folk magic -- mine is more High Ceremonial Magick because that's the style that pushes my buttons. One must find what works for them.

Answer 3

A witch is someone who practices witchcraft just like a carpenter practices carpentry as a craft or an embroiderer practices embroidery.

A Wiccan is a believer in the religion Wicca, just as Christians believe in Christianity or a Muslim believes in Islam.

Although traditionally Witches are viewed as believing in Wicca, not all do. Witches can believe and practice and of the worlds religion (I included Atheisms in that). Also a Wiccan may choose to practice witchcraft but not necessarily.

Neither Witch nor Wiccan is gender specific.

Answer 4

This is a question that has been asked many times. I am a Witch who is not Wiccan. I do not follow many of the tennents of that faith, but I do work magick. So yes you can be a witch and not wiccan. However you can't be a wiccan without being a witch, which is what confuses people. Witchcraft is incorporated into Wicca and is used.

SCREBEL: A male witch is called a witch, ask the many male witches that are out there. I know a quite a few.

Answer 5

Wicca is a religion based on nature. There are many traditions or branches an individual can follow that have different beliefs and ways of worshipping and performing Rituals. I also know that there are Wiccans who don't practice The Craft though in my opinion I didn't feel as though I had truly embraced Wicca until I did start practicing magick.

A Witch is one who performs magick (The Craft) and until recently I believed really wasn't a religion on its own. I've since visited one of the sites that Medusa posted and can understand that Traditional Witches view witchcraft as a religion and I can accept that.

I also am aware that there are many people other than Wiccans who call themselves witches. I truly hope that they are not just calling themselves a witch without performing magick.

Answer 6

You can definitely be a Witch without being a Wiccan. however most wiccans would consider themselves witches.

Its up to you. Me I am a witch but not totally wiccan. I have a Jewish christian background that means a great deal to me.

A witch is anyone who practices magick/ the craft.
A wiccan is someone who follows the tenants of wicca: worship of the god and goddess etc.

Welcome to the hand basket set!
Brightest blessings!

Answer 7

I am a witch but not wiccan.And yes you can be wiccan and not a witch.A witch practises the craft.A wiccan is a believer in there religion

Answer 8

You don't have to be Wiccan to be a witch. Wicca and paganism have several traditions. Wicca come from the Latin word meaning "wise". Most wiccans and pagans are witches,healers,shamans,etc.
Scott Cunningham has many great books for the solitary practitioner with very usefull information. Lots of research on-line is help-full as well.
There are many traditions to chose from, Dianic Wicca, gardenarian witchcraft, Norse, Celtic, druidism,etc.
Look in metaphysical shops to see what tradition your drawn to the most. I have even found books in the library and bookstores like Barnes and Noble.
Don't let people who fear what they don't understand discourage you on your spiritual path. Blessings on your journey!
May the Lord and Lady give you the spiritual guidance you seek!
Blessed be!

Answer 9

Prairiecrow is right. I cast a few spells on some occasions but I consider myself a pagan, not specifically a Wiccan. And I know some Wiccans who never toyed with witchcraft.

So you can be a witch but not a wiccan or wiccan but not a witch or a wiccan witch.

Pagan religions have a lot of flexibility ;-) it goes with the harmony and variety of life.

Answer 10

Well, I don't think I'm a witch and I definantly do not believe in Wicca but I can tell you that a Male witch is a Worelock. I do believe that all things on earth were created by The All Mighty Creator and I'm into New Age and Spirituality.