What is the difference between wiccans and witches?

Question

Are they the same? I mean they use spells and etc...

it seems like they're the same...but i know there's a difference.....

i just don't know what

Answer 1

Witches are usually wiccans but not always. You could be a practioner of magick from another religion.

Wiccans may not view themselves as witches, that is, they worship nature and do rituals, but do not do spells or claim to have any powers over nature.

Answer 2

Pagan covers all theory structures that are no longer Christian, Jewish or Islam. it is an umbrella call. Wicca is a faith as is Witchcraft. yet you do no longer could desire to be Wiccan to be a Witch. even even with the shown fact that generally speaking in case you're Wiccan you're a Witch. even even with the shown fact that some could argue that. Up till the Nineteen 1880s there substitute into no separation between being Wiccan and being a Witch. even even with the shown fact that there are different varieties of Witchcraft that are no longer Wiccan. And different Pagan Religions that don't call themselves Witches, which includes Heathens and greater.. you are going to be able to desire to study it.... sturdy success

Answer 3

Wicca is a religion. Some Wiccan's think that it is very, very old, but in fact Wicca is very modern, but holds some basis in the pre-Christian pagan faiths. A Wiccan will follow what is called 'The Wiccan Rede':

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"

Witches do not have to be Wiccan, and there are many paths that one could call themselves a witch under. For example, one might be shamanistic, druidic, hedgewitch or all manner of other paths. You even get Satanic Witches, who follow the principles of Anton LaVey but believe in Pantheism. There are witches who don't follow any real religion at all!

If you're Wiccan, you're a witch, but you don't have to be Wiccan to BE a witch!

Answer 4

Wicca is a religion created by Gardener in or around the 1950's. It was created to help repeal the witch laws in England. It was made stop the persecution of witches.
witch is a term to describe anyone who is earth based in there beliefs. Now a witch may not have a religion but a Wiccan does. A Wiccan may or may not use spells. Most celebrate the 8 main Sabbaths.

Answer 5

Wicca is a branch of Neo-Paganism - a group of newer religions (that's the neo- part) based on Paganism. It was popularised by Gerald Gardner in 1954 - basically a modern version of far older practices. There are different branches again of Wicca - Gardnerian Wicca, Dianic Wicca, et cetera. There's also Eclectic Wicca, which still uses Wiccan practices but not a particular branch like Gardnerian or Dianic.

Witches use basically the same things, but Wicca is a part of witchcraft and not the other way around. Basically, Wiccans are always witches, but not all witches are Wiccans. Wicca is a little more structured, I think. On a similar note, Wiccans and witches are Neo-Pagans, but not all neo-pagans are Wiccans or witches - Neo-Paganism covers things like Neo-Druidism and Asatru (a reconstruction of old Norse religions).

Hope that helps!

Answer 6

Wicca is a religion and witchcraft isn't. There are Wiccan witches, non-Wiccan witches, and Wiccans who are not witches. Witchcraft is a practice that is not particular to any one religion and can be incorporated into any. A Wiccan adheres to the Wiccan rede, the Threefold law and the 13 Principles and does not necessarily practice magic.

Answer 7

The crafts are not Wiccan and can be traced back to the Beginnings of Humankind. Witchcraft is a name given those that worked in the crafts in the 15th and 16th centuries by inquisitors and Christian clergy. Those of the crafts have seldom said they worked at Witchcraft. Neo-Pagans that learn and study the Crafts and Magic have now created Witchcraft into an honorable title. Those that work in the crafts and Magick, and, call themselves Witches can also join the religion of Wicca that was conceived in the late 40s and early 50s if they so wish. There are also those that practice neither crafts or Magick beyond that practiced by all religions.

Answer 8

A Wiccan is one who follows the Wiccan religion. A witch is someone who practices magic. You can be a Wiccan and not do magic. That would make you simply Wiccan. You can be a Wiccan and practice magic, which would make you a Wiccan and a witch as well.

You can also be a witch and practice magic, but not follow the Wiccan religion. That would make you just a witch.

BB,

Teacherwitch

Answer 9

Wicca and witchcraft are at times confused, or seen as being synonymous. Though the two terms may have connections between them, they are two different things. Wicca is a religion. Magick is a concept involving the use of personal energy and focused intent. Witchcraft is a practice in the use of magick that can be used by someone of any religion or someone with no religion at all. Though many Wiccans also practice witchcraft, which they see as working with divine energy to accomplish a goal or bring about change, not all witches are Wiccan and not all Wiccans practice witchcraft. The majority of Wiccans will not use witchcraft to curse or bring harm upon anyone else.

Wicca is a complex and spiritual religion with Masonic, Hermetic, and classical religious roots created in the 1930's by a British civil servant named Gerald Gardner, combining various ancient concepts and a syncretic view of the divine that is quite different than really any religion before or after it.

http://www.geraldgardner.com/essays.php

Though Wicca is a newer religion, only about 70 years old, it is not less real and no less spiritual than any other religion. This partly comes from the Wiccan view of the divine.
Wiccans revere the immanent in nature symbolized in the form of a Goddess and a God who are seen as equal to each other. The view is syncretic, Wiccans see all goddesses as aspects of the "Goddess" and all gods as aspects of the "God."

The God and Goddess are seen as manifestations of divine energy that symbolize the cycles of nature, life and death, and rebirth. Wiccans do not see the God and Goddess as being separate from them or the rest of the world; therefore they have no need for a concept of salvation, since God and Goddess are at all times within and present to everyone. It is this openness and personal connection to the divine that has brought many people to embrace the Wiccan religion, which has continued to grow in followers in the United States, England, and many other countries.

Wiccans celebrate the cycles of nature and the seasons of the year in eight solar festivals which are commonly referred to as sabbats. Four of these festivals fall on the solstices and equinoxes; the other four fall approximately midway between the solstices and equinoxes, commonly known as the cross-quarter days. Wiccans also often revere the lunar cycles in ritual occasions often referred to as esbats, which are held at the full moon and/or the new moon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wheel_of_th...

Within the Wiccan religion, each person is responsible for their spirituality and developing a personal relationship with God and Goddess. Some Wiccans practice in groups called covens, which are initiatory groups that requires a period of study before entering and are usually run by a form of Wiccan Clergy; while others choose solitary practice or in small non-traditional, loosely affiliated groups. Wiccan clergy are people who help other Wiccans along this path and are not a mediator between them and the divine.

Though this is not always the case, Wiccans do not usually have churches. They create sacred space in the form of a circle or sphere when needed, which functions as a temple for ritual practices. There are several permanent temples in the United States and England, but it is not a requirement for Wiccan practice to attend such a temple.

Blessed Be,
Lord AmonRaHa

Answer 10

Excellent question and a point of contention for some.

Historically, witches have existed since the earliest times of human history. Witchcraft was always tied directly to the land, area, region, etc. where a particular witch lived. Since early humanity was dependant upon the earth for livelyhood, food, clothing, etc, watching the seasons and moon phases was vital for successful crops. These were later tied to animal husbandry and virtually every aspect of life.

People in particular, and witches specifically, began noticing relationships between times of the year, phases of the moon, and other aspects of their lives. Since seasons and their characteristics vary from region to region on the planet (temperature, climate, types of plants and animals which thrive, etc), the "form" of witchcraft varied as well. For example, a witch in Africa might use a particular herb common to their region, which does not grow at all in another region.

The practices of the witches was also tied to the local religious, cultural, and superstitious beliefs of the area. Witchcraft is a meathod of manipulating and using natural energy and even spirits to accomplish a goal or a set of goals.

Wicca, however, was created by Geral Gardner in the 1950's, with colaboration for Alistaire Crowly (who designed the rituals after those found in the Masonic Lodge) in order to give uniformity to paganism. He devolped a basic structure and added the Wiccan Rede as moral guidance, but left it generic enough that individuals could plug-in their desired pantheon.

Now, many Wiccans do utilize witchcraft, but Wicca is a religion, where as witchcraft is a practice. Not all Wiccans are witches, they are only involved in the religious aspect of Wicca. Not all witches are Wiccan. I am a witch, but not a Wiccan. In fact there are people from every religion on the planet, who utilize some form of witchcraft.

This is why I am very disapproving of Lewellyn Publications. Until recently, all of their works equated witchcraft with Wicca. Anyone wanting to practice witchraft, and only had access to their books, would be forced into becoming Wiccan. (They have made minor changes, but even their works about traditional witchcraft have been "Wiccanized".)

In summary, Wicca is a religion, or a "form" for religious beliefs and witchcraft is a practice based upon the utilization of natural energy.