What DOES it take to be a Wiccan, anyway?

Question

The term "Wicca" encompasses a wide variety of practices and beliefs -- perhaps too wide for some folks' liking. Lately I've been in discussions with British Traditional Wiccans in particular about what, exactly, constitutes a Wiccan (or Neo-Wiccan as the case may be).

So... in your opinion, what minimum characteristics DOES it take to be called a Wiccan? Is it enough to adhere to the Wiccan Rede, acknowledge the sabbats, and honor the Goddess and the God? Or is there more to it? Or even less? And what do you think of the term Neo-Wiccan for those who are not of BTW lineage?

Thanks in advance to all who take the time to answer. :-)

Aviana, thank you for the offer, but I am an initiate myself and have been practicing Wicca for fourteen years and teaching for six. :-)

Answer 1

Prarie Crow,

You have garnered several good answers, but for my part, I think that the context of your question is much the same as asking, "What does it take to be a Baptist?", versus, "What does it take to be a Christian?". (Use any religion name you like, this is just for illustration).

To be a Wiccan means to adhere to a central set of tenets, and to follow the greater truths expressed within Paganism as a whole, whether that be "the old religion", BTW, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Greencraft, or one of the other recognized lines. This does not mean to exclude solitaries, and hedgewitches of varying eclecticism due to fractionalism ... but does exclude them if they are not following a traditional line.

To illustrate, I could hardly call myself a Baptist, if I also included worship elements from Catholic or Episcopalian missals. Nor should I include other eclectic Christian elements. Spirituality is natural, Faith is personal, but Religion is socially corporate. Here we are talking about adherance to religion. So it is too, with Wicca.

Other pagans should not get in an uproar. You can still call yourselves Witches ... if you desire. Or call yourself anything else you may wish to be termed. But unless you follow and practice tradition oriented Wicca (based on lines and covens), you are at best practicing a Wicca-like religion. But I also point the finger at myself. I have been coven trained and active in the craft for 27 years. I rose to Eldership in a line ... but today I practice a Wicca-like religion. One that is not quite as "fluffy bunny" as straight Wicca. In my rede, there is no reference to "Harm None", even though I attempt to follow that as a general rule. Those who practice "Harm None" are essentially practicing what I often term, "Wicca For Christians". But that is another long post (or rant, depending on your point of view).

I like the tenets set forth by the Greencraft Wicca folks. They sposor a lot of open circles (meaning all styles of craft worship are welcome - Wiccan, Druid, Asatru, Shamanistic, etc.) and are particularly supportive of pagans in the military. As a retired Air Force guy, that gets my vote. Check out their five points at http://www.sacredwell.org

Why do I have such a strong opinion, why am I not open to flexible definitions ... probably because I went to seminary to get a masters degree in theology. I wanted to become the first pagan chaplain for the armed forces. Unfortunately, my age advanced faster than the military did, so now a younger person than I will have that honor. Still, it pays to be clear in our definitions. A religion that tries to be all things to all practitioners, ends up being nothing to most. Religions should be founded upon principles endorsed, supported, and believed in by the group who describe themselves as such.

The practice of Sabbats, Esbats, Quarters, and Cross-Quarters are not unique to Wicca. Also, lots of people go to church, but their attendance rates do not necessarily indicate their level of individual spirituality, faith, or religious adherance.

Look within for your answers, not without. Find your own personal connection to the divine.

Answer 2

Honor the whole of Wiccan ethics, not just the Rede, follow the gods, recognize the effect of the seasons upon mankind and the validity of the agrarian calendar (not necessarily the eight Margaret Murray holidays,) be non-Christian, be fully human and aware of the full ramifications thereof.

I think the term Neo-Wicca is ridiculous. Twenty years ago, the very same traditions who now claim to want people to use the term Neo-Wicca claimed they alone were witches and "Wiccan" was a term of the poseurs. Now that the term Wiccan is popular, they want to lay claim to it.

Feh. They already threw this baby out with the bathwater, and have no say over it now that it's an adult.

They are Witches, not Wiccans, there is no precedent in Gardner et al for using Wiccan as anything but an adjective. I think the Wicce and Wicca, those of the Wica, need to stop calling themselves Wiccans....they are not.

Answer 3

The term Wicca has come to mean a variety of practices and beliefs. To me the first thing that it takes to be a Wiccan is Tradition. Why tradition? Because those who spent the time to come up with the practices that people have borrowed deserve the respect due for having done the hard part. So If a person is not willing to follow the tradition that brought about Wicca/Wica it's like someone claiming Bardship without spending the time learning to be a Bard. There is somethng that you get from following tradition that you will not get without having been covened, the bond. Those who are or have been covened know exactly what I mean. All BTW covens are connected, you have kin. So to me if you aren't willing to take the steps to know the Tradition, you will never truly know what it is to be Wiccan. Adhering to the Rede is Second, but it requires that you understand the whole Rede, not just the last Eight words of it., it's like saying you are Catholic and all you know how to say is "Amen". Not just an acknowledgement of the Sabbats and Esbats, making them a part of your life, living them. Revering the Lady and Honoring the Lord and knowing what that means as well, not just _____ is cool! Then there is Lore, every Wiccan is supposed to be a priest and should be able to do any ritual when called upon to do so, from birth to death and beyond. I personally don't like the term Neo-Wiccan, because either you is or you ain't. Wicca is a fairly new religion, too new to already have Neo-Wiccans. To me anyone not willing to do the work should call themselves a Pagan, Witch, Shaman, Medicine man/woman or Energy worker, all of those are good and honorable names. In my mind you have to study to be a Doctor, you have to study to be a Lawyer, you have to study to be an Dentist, you have to study to be a Bard and once you have studied you need to go before those who are what you wish to be and meet the qualifications, if Wicca is so important why would you want to take short cuts?

Answer 4

The best definition I've seen of Wicca is the one put out by the Wiccan Church of Canada, which is a list of common Wiccan qualities, with the note that not all Wiccans fit every point but that the less points one hits, the less clearly Wiccan one is and the more one should consider whether "Wicca" is a useful designation for their practices. (http://www.wcc.on.ca/faq/faq1.html#faq1.2)

I think the first points are more important than the later points in the list (the ones that describe ritual). That definitely includes the point on being an initiatory mystery religion....and I'm not initiated. While I don't think missing that point makes one non-Wiccan, its very central to the original concept of Wicca and I think minimally the non-initiates need to recognise how that makes them different from initiates. Too many non-initiates think Wicca is just something you read about in a book, that it has nothing to do with using that knowledge to seek understanding.

I would not mind having another term develop for us Eclectic Wiccans. However, it's got to be something that naturally develops, not a name that some BTWs call us. No one likes someone else making up a name for you. It's essentially name calling. Besides, being the new version (i.e. "neo") of a religion that's only 60 years old seems like a pretty silly line to draw. Religions evolve. It's natural. Sometimes new forms take new names, oftentimes they don't.

Answer 5

In my opinion?

1. A willingness to dedicate ones self to learning what Wicca was founded to be, what it really is, from a close to the source as possible. I'm talking about the kind of information that one cannot get from reading ne or two books or visiting a website.

2. The understanding of what a priest or priestess really is, and not cop out and decide that their own definition is good enough.

3. A willingness to learn more than just the outer-court stuff, to become an initiate, so that the inner workings can be learned.

I think the term Neo-Wiccan still gives too much to those who haven't earned it, since half the folks claiming the name don't really even know what Wicca is. Not every Catholic is a Priest, nor every Jew a Rabbi, some folks are just happy to be followers.

I would like the term Wiccan used for those for who it was intended, Pagan Witch Priests/Priestesses. What is so wrong about just calling ones self a follower of Wicca if they are not willing to take the steps to become initiated?

Answer 6

It takes someone who loves life, who can be honest, with an open mind.

Someone who can revere and help heal the earth, and hold it in high esteem.

Someone of high ethics, who knows the difference between right and wrong. A person who can speak the truth, live a clean and quiet life. Who can celebrate the esbats and sabbats, and who is not afraid of hard work, because becoming a wiccan takes a year and a day of study. It takes commitment and work.

I do not believe in the term neo wiccan. You are a Wiccan plain and simple. A follower of the Goddess.

There are many traditions, I am of the Wisteria Tradition, but there are many others. Celtic, Welsh, Gardnerian, Alexanderain, British Traditional, Pictish, Black Forest, Blue Star, North Wind, and yet many many more.

One thing we all have in common, is we follow the rede, celebrate the Sabbat and Esbats, and honor the Goddess and the God.

We revere life, the earth and the elements, and keep holy the old ways.

If you can do that, then you will fit in very well among us.

If you would like to know more, you have but to contact me. I am a third degree High Priestess, who has taught the ways for over four years now.

Blessings, light and love,
Aviana

Answer 7

You know I have often thought on this myself. To tell the truth I am not sure there is a "Black and White" answer.

One thing I am sure of is that Wicca and Paganism is very free and accepting for the most part. I would surly hate to see Wicca and Paganism fall into the same no win situation that Christians are in. Look what has happen to them! It seems that they are in a constant struggle of, how to baptize, how to worship, which interpretation of the Bible is correct. It is all just really sad!

I personally think that the Wiccan rede says it for me, it is poetic, simple, clear, to the point and mostly it is easy to fallow. Even if another interprets it's meaning a little different than I, it never seems to make a big difference.

I know the process I went through to be initiated and I feel blessed by it, isn't that all that really matters in the long run?

Suzanne L - said on R&S today, in response to an other question:
"When we self-righteously assume that everyone else is wrong and we are right, we close the door to connection with Spirit.

All paths lead to the center. " - Suzanne L


I find the words Very beautiful and Very True!

Blessings!

Answer 8

I'm not one of those hard-Gards who thinks you basically have to be a direct descendant of Gardner himself to be Wiccan, but I'm not the fluffy who says "Wicca is whatever you want it to be".

I mean there are some things that have to be there... acknowledgment of the Rede, the Law of Three, both male and female forces/deities equally represented (which is why I have a slight problem with Dianics), knowledge about the sabbats/seasons... but what else is there? I don't think you absolutely need to be in a coven, or that you need to have an altar or that sort of stuff. It's like trying to ask Christians what you absolutely have to have to be Christian... and then all the denominations will fight over that sort of stuff.

Good question, btw.

Answer 9

Well i have been practicing Wicca for 14 years.... In my opinion you have to Believe that;

There is equal powers (Male and Female).
That you live with your heart filled with love and understand the repercussions of the laws of threefold.
You respect nature in all it's beauty and gifts.
Respect, want to understand and BELIEVE in Magick.
Believe in Reincarnation.
Believe in Limbo/Summerlands.

These are the basic fundamentals in my belief and well from here on in it's all a giant learning curve. Remember that my Wiccan path started when i was 4, so it's just something that grows with understanding and you almost always feel like your just scratching the surface...in a really good way. ",

Answer 10

Deep there sister...

It does seem to be a touchy subject lately. I don't remember all the categorization of Wiccans 18 years ago when I started my journey. It has really ruined the spirit of the word for me. Honestly, I think that Dogma, and those who cling to it are the problem.
Is not Wicca a revival of the Ole Religion. That which was lost or destroyed was Reborn. Much of it is simply improvised to the best of our ability, because it is not known for sure how it was done years ago. But change and fluidity, being able to adapt to our times and issues today, is what keeps it fresh. When someone becomes judgmental and says that another person isn't Wiccan because of what that individual does or does not do, it stifles the spirit that we are claiming to be reviving!
Pagan, Wiccan, Heathen, Pantheist, Shamanist, Evolutionist, Satan Worshipper...I really don't bother too much on labels, but I'll answer to them proudly! ; )