Is Wicca a bunch of Traditional Witchcraft put together as one thing?

Question

Like the older Witches were practicing Witchcraft but Gardner made all the things they did into an organized thing that worked out with the Gods and Goddesses?

I'm just curious...I'd like to know...is Wicca just a Witchcraft thing?
And yes...I see drawing down the moon and talking and praying to the gods and goddesses as Witchcraft as well so don't go there.

Answer 1

Yes... traditional witchcraft and ceremonial magic and pagan religious practices of the British Isles and parts of Europe, seen through a late-19th-early-20th-century view of what that was all about. Ffetcher's answer is a good one.

To make things more complicated, Gardner and many of those after him referred to both the religious and magical practices as "witchcraft" or "the Craft" rather than as "Wicca" or "Wica" (Gardner sometimes used the latter term.) Besides, in my opinion, in Wicca even more than in other religions the line between prayer and other ritual, and magic, can be blurry.

Answer 2

The smart money is on Gardner having added to and modified a system that was maybe put together in the 1930s, whose adherents believed was a recreation of something ancient. What he initially published is different from what he later practiced. What is beyond doubt is that he was instrumental in attracting a complementary group of people who helped him and who helped to make Wicca what it is today.

Lack of evidence being what it is, there is always the possibility that Gardner encountered rituals that had been handed down through the generations. I don't believe it to be so, but the jury will remain out until new evidence arrives that hard-and-fast proves it either way. I'm not holding my breath on this one.

Being Wiccan and being a witch are not the same thing. Wicca is most certainly a completely valid system of worship, which may or may not include witchcraft as part of what the group or individual does.

Drawing down the Moon (a term which in ancient times had a completely different meaning) is somewhat akin to the use of 'personifiers' in Zuni religion (try Google) and thus can be seen as 'witchcraft', 'magic' or 'prayer' depending on one's viewpoint or that of one's group.

ffetcher

Answer 3

Witchcraft does not = Wicca

Witchcraft does not = Wicca

Say it again and again. It just can't be overstated enough.

Witchcraft is the art of practicing magic of any sort, whether it's reciting charms and incantations, working with objects to bring about magical results, or whatever. It is not limited to any one religion or tradition.

Wicca is a religion created by Gardner. He was inspired a little bit by pre-Christian beliefs but a lot of it is also borrowed from other Western esoteric traditions such as the Golden Dawn and Kabbalism. Witchcraft may or may not be a part of it. Being Wiccan does not mean one has to be a Witch...I know plenty of Wiccans who aren't Witches.

Also praying and talking to the Gods is NOT Witchcraft. It's not magic. It's PRAYING. There is a difference.

Answer 4

Wicca is a revival/recreation of various pre-Christian forms of Western cultures' paganism, and thus there is a huge amount of overlap with what has been called witchcraft.

There are those that use the term "witchcraft" to describe practices that do not conform to Wicca, and there hypothetically could be Wiccans that do not see their path as witchcraft.

So they are overlapping spheres that are often used interchangeably, but not necessarily one and the same in all cases.

You write, " see drawing down the moon and talking and praying to the gods and goddesses as Witchcraft as well so don't go there." Praying to gods and goddesses is not in and of itself witchcraft; numerous polytheistic systems would no more consider themseves practicing witchcraft than Christians see themseves as satan-worshippers. I don't know what you mean by "Don't go there," but I would note that for reasons that escape me, you went there.

Hope that helps. Peace!

Answer 5

Wicca draws on a great deal of ancient beliefs. I don't think it's made up at all.
Wicca is a RELIGION. Not all Wiccans even practice magic and many have different definitions of what magic is. If you think praying is witch craft then every religion practices it. Not everyone "draws on the moon to pray". Many sit under a tree and mediate as prayer. Is that witch craft too?
I am not a witch, I am pagan. I am Asatru to be exact. I practice no magic what so ever out side of blessing my holy space, which one again EVERY religion does in one sense or another. It's a way of life. It's not all about "magic" and anyone who says it is, isn't a true practitioner.

Answer 6

Defining "Traditional Witchcraft" is a tricky question in and of itself. In avoiding that particular mess, I will leave it at this: magical folk practices in England do not appear to have been terribly influencial on Gardner. His material very clearly comes from ceremonial magic, particularly the rituals of the Golden Dawn. He was also influenced by writers such as Charles Leland and Robert Graves.

Answer 7

This will be interesting, I, too, am curious as to what the difference is, if any, between wicca and traditional witchcraft. I'll be checking back to see responses! Good question!

Answer 8

OK Wicca and witchcraft are two different things Wicca is more of a spirituality or religion if you want to say. And Witchcraft is a craft.

Answer 9

Wicca is a new standard of rules and beliefs that are taken primarily from ancient European traditions. Mainly Germanic, Norse and Celtic.

Wicca has beliefs that are reflective of all three religions with minor changes throughout.

Check this link for clarifications.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_stat1.htm

Answer 10

Yes. Wicca or Wiccan is the practice of witchcraft. Just as Christians practice Christianity.