Pagans what comes to mind when you think of Wicca?

Question

I am interested to know what people associate with Wicca. I personally view Wicca as spiritually empowering, although I am not Wiccan I have studied much about it.

Andymcj78 (atheist); wicca is actually the old English word for wizard; a male practitioner of magic. However it is not related to Wicca today.

Andymcj78 (atheist); I have not seen the definition you give, wicca in olden times referred to wizards.

Rev RG Green; the website you gave a link for is very inaccurate. Not all Wiccans are wizards or witches and neither do they sacrifice babies or any of the evil that you mention.

Wicce was the old word for witch and wicca the male equivalent; wizard. These were old English terms first used about 900 A.D. Check dictionary.com;
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/witch

Moiraes Fate; "wys" is the old English for wise, the root of the word wizard. Wicca does not mean wise. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wizard. Many people do not know that wicca before being used as the name of a religion/spirituality was a magical word.

brokendaystar; you don't speak for all pagans, I for one do not worship archetypes. I disagree with impersonalism, The Gods are not just symbols. They are real entities.

Just to be clear, I am not Wiccan, also wicca is an old English word for wizard not magic as it is the male equivalent for wicce however I am not claiming that Wicca (in it's modern usage) has automatic links to magic which is not true. Also, I was told that Gerald Gardner spelt it Wica and that the second c was added later.

Answer 1

I think that there is much misinformation within Wicca, especially regarding magic and do not like the impersonalist element of Wicca. There are many different traditions of Wicca and am not surprised as it seems to lack doctrine or clear principles. "An it harm none, do what thou will" is all well and good however seems wishy washy and is open to interpretation. Wicca does not go hand in hand with magic however there are many misinformers claiming that all Wiccans are magical, which is fallacy.

However having said all that, Wicca does have a preserving view of the Earth which is important and believes in self empowerment. I am not for the feminist aspect as women are not higher than men we are all equal. Also Heathen Daughter has many valid points especially regarding the so called "Burning Times" which I simply call magical persecution, however few actual wizards and witches were killed. However, wicca is an old English word meaning wizard or magician, despite it being used in modern times as the name of a religion few people today are aware of the origins or etymology of the word. Wicca meaning wizard has no bearing on the religion itself as wicca is no longer used to refer to male practitioners of magic, we now have the word wizard. So the idea that Wicca is magic is false.

Also one thing that gripes me is the misinformation that a prayer is like a spell which is not true. A prayer is asking for what you yourself cannot achieve by asking God(s) for help, guidance etc. In order for them to intervene in your life. A spell is a using your own power to bring about change through the chanting of words with magic potency. I myself come from a magical family and have over forty years of experience and am saddened that there are so many misinformed people out there that are willing to accept these lies.

Answer 2

Charmed.

Teenagers.

Feminists.

These are the 1st 3 things when I hear the word Wicca, I know Wicca has far to offer: I know the reed, the phases of the Godess, the general afterlife/reincarnation belief. But I read a lot of comments from a lot of 'wiccans' that make me think of the 3 things above.
Edit: I will just copy and past a link to Reigans answer.

Edit 2: In what language did Wicca refer to Wizards? Not likely English I know an amount of old English and not that phrase being associated with Magic.

Answer 3

I'm going to be completely, truly honest.

At one point, I associated Wicca with teenage goth chicks on a "shock value" kick, old hippies in driving moccasins, and middle aged heavy women wearing too much purple.

And you know what? That was wrong on my part. I don't like when Christians or other groups stereotype me, so why should I do so to them?

Wicca is still not for me, but I've met some really awesome people - of all shapes, and ages - who defy those stereotypes up and down :)

So I learned my lesson.

All religious people who are open minded to others are cool in my book :)

Answer 4

Personally? Fluffy bunnies. Sorry guys!
That being said I know some truely bad *** Wiccans. I don't know why they dont come to mind when I think Wicca, but they don't. It's people who cry about the 9 million (FALSE) the burning times (Salem was hangings), love spells with pink ribbons and purples candles (That woman is a menace to the pagan movement) claim Wicca is thousand of years old (Nope only about 75. It borrows from older paths) or claims it means magic, wizard, or whatever other random Celtic or OE word they think it is.
I love the "true" Wiccans I know who are nothing like the commercially wrapped bs that TRYS to pass itself off as any form of pagansim.

Labgrrl: LOL I'm sorry. Seriously, you guys have it bad. I don't envy you

Answer 5

Abby, no actually Wicca is a word that means "Wise". It has nothing at all to do with wizards or magic. Somehow along the way you got your meanings twisted.

And I find Wicca to be good. I think it has the potential to save the earth with its attitudes. Unfortunately the religion is also overcome with fluffy bunnies who are simply trying to freak people out or feel like they are doing creepy things for the thrill. However, the fluffy bunny syndrome will die down slowly. Its a new religion and that kind of behavior will change eventually.

Answer 6

Dear Emily, "Light of eye and gentle of contact talk ye little concentrate a lot" Its facet of a poem you can run throughout as you study Wicca and it had a strong influence on me (I associated it underneath). I needed to gain knowledge of find out how to quiet the fears of my brain, the fears of being unsuitable, the sensation of loneliness and uncertainty so as to open myself up and concentrate to the arena round me, the Divinity round me and the Divinity inside me. Study, study, gain knowledge of, query, maintain an open brain, meditate, appear on the international round you. You would possibly uncover that the Pagan course isn't for you and you may also uncover that's the dwelling you've been browsing for. This goes to sound very Glenda-ish however you do have all of the vigour you want. You could also be feeling misplaced proper now however understand that: You are your fine advisor Your fine instrument is your instinct Your fine compass is your middle. You will understand what's proper and what's unsuitable for you. As you stroll alongside your distinct religious course you are going to meet many many lecturers . Some will educate with kindness and love and a few lecturers would possibly not. Some courses will come convenient and a few shall be painful to gain knowledge of. You may have moments of readability adopted through situations of complete confusion! You would possibly uncover your self doing entire ninety's one hundred eighty's and 360's as you navigate via the darkish and into the sunshine of your possess individual Truth. But you are going to uncover it. A fellow tourist, Saifyre Wolfe

Answer 7

I try not to think of ANY teenagers representing ANY faith, since they are all bound to do it poorly.

I think that Wicca is a very valid spiritual path, although too formalized, ritualized and decorated for my taste (I'm a Taoist pagan, and very practical and pragmatic in my methods). It's all very pretty, but I can't help but think the structure is not strictly necessary. However, there are many who enjoy that sort of thing, so if it speaks to them, more power to them. In fact I have some very good adult friends who are Wiccan and very level-headed.

Answer 8

Hi Abby, Sorry you got hassled for the word Wicca. It would have been better to ignore it ten reply to it. Don’t let it discourage you from asking questions.
I was doing a search on pagan can found your question. I’m Wiccan and words like religious tolerance, harmony with nature and balance between the God and Goddess come to mind.
If you have any questions please feel free to email me.

Answer 9

People sometimes say that Wicca isn't "real." Of course, this is very probably true, but neither is Christianity - both are fictions, but Pagans hold the advantage that we actually know our gods are symbols, archetypes, rather than personal entities who'll for no very good reason, send you to hell unless you kiss his behind.
If you want to understand Wicca's real heart, rather than the well-meaning but entirely useless nonsense you'll find on the web, I'd reccomend reading about Carl Jung's thoughts on symbols.
If I can make it clearer at all, a friend of mine once told me that magicks are "unreal keys for real doors that were never locked in the first place."
Anyway, I ramble. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

i often think of the fluffy bunny teenagers who watch too much tv liked charmed and are trying to rebel or be different.

most wiccans over the age of 18 are completely different than those teens and represent their faith well

so, i guess what comes to mind depends on the age of the wiccans we're talking about

edit: just for perspective, i consder myself a non wiccan eclectic witch, but with a wiccan flair

edit: lol@ impeyan!