Wicca is a nature and earth religion, and a branch of Paganism. Wiccans tend to revere the Earth as sacred, often as a Mother Goddess, or as Her incarnation, and the same with the moon. They usually see deity, sometimes from One source or Life force, as manifesting through many deities, or also, deity names and images, and other things. Often pantheism, that all is part of the divine, since all comes from divine energy in that belief, is often a held belief. Animism is usually held as well, that all things have a soul, or some form of soul substance. The New Age is a movement toward somewhat Eastern philosophy, and toward some type of enlightenment, and can include many practices. Metaphysics is the area of philosophy dealing with the study of ultimate truth and the nature of the universe. Witchcraft is often the same as Wicca, an Earth religion, or it can simply be the practice of Magick. Magick (the occult type is spelled with a "k") is attempting to change things, mostly through spiritual means, though, with the aid of the mundane (or quote/unquote non-magickal), in conformity with will. Wiccans usually hold the tenet, the Wiccan Rede, or "'An ye harm none, do what ye will." Many believe in the Law of Three, or that what you send out, returns back to you, threefold. Some hold that it returns once, or an equal return, as well. Wiccans usually see the Divine in duality, as manifested through the Mother Goddess of the Earth, moon, and waters, and the Father God of the sun, sky, and forests; they are also called the Lady and the Lord. Sometimes the moon goddess is the Triple Goddess, or one goddess as three: Maiden, Mother, and Crone (Old Woman), seen in the Waxing, Full, and Waning, phases of the Moon, respectively. Some Pagan trinities have long included the Mother (often a Virgin Mother, though, Who also has been said to have sex), Father, and Son, such as, in ancient Egypt, with Isis, Osiris, and their son, Horus, called the Divine and Conquering Child, and the Sun-god, reborn. In the ancient Egyptian culture, the gods could indwell one another, where the power of one would manifest through the personality of another, while being a distinct, unique deity, then, still. If something is written as, like, sun-god, or is hyphenated, it usually means that it is both the god of the object, and the object, such as, the sun, it's self, and the object is the god, or is part of the god's being. Also, some Wiccans, like Dianic Wiccans, only have the Goddess as their deity, and no male god. Wicca is a religion or spirituality that sees male and female as equal, and also, that sex is natural, and not to be treated as something "bad". Also, their are dark gods and goddesses, but that is not evil; it is the death that must be to have room for new life, and the decay that fertilizes new plants, and the destruction in nature, like a forest fire, that allows new trees to spring up from the pine cones, afterwards, and also, in the animal kingdom, and in the food chain, and in all ecosystems, and so on, etc. Nature is beneficial and giving, and can be destructive, at the same time, but Nature still knows enough, so to speak, to keep It's own balance, if allowed to do so; and we can learn a lot from It. Though, Nature is usually seen as Her, the Goddess, in Wicca.

Energy cannot be created or destroyed -- it can only change form. Therefore, all that is, always was, and always will remain -- in some form. The constant is change. Emerging, returning, progression, endless, timeless.

Anyway, forms of Paganism can be different from Wicca. Their are many different traditions (like denominations, one might say), or one can make their own tradition or trad. In Wicca, one can choose to practice solitary, or alone, or with a group, grove, or coven, or with friends, etc., and the same with Witchcraft.

Wiccans tend to celebrate the eight Sabbats (most Pagans, as well), which are the equinoxes and solstices, spring and autumn, and winter and summer, called the Quarters of the Year (the Wiccan Year is called the Wheel of the Year, and most things symbolize birth, growth, death, and rebirth, in paganism), and four dates in between the quarters, which are the cross-quarters, or Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh. One might have many gods, which, you can choose which deities you honor (though, covens have their particular deities, like a church has its own particular saint, for example), which is called pantheism. There can be the One Spirit, or The One, which may be channeled, in order to better relate to It, into the two archetypal deities -- the Goddess and the God -- of Whom, all deities that have been praised or worked with on this planet are resident within those twin forms of the divine; hence, many goddesses can be seen as one, divine Goddess, and many gods, as one God. You can work with polytheism, or having many gods, which individual names, images, and personalities, such as, Isis, Aradia, Diana, Luna, for goddesses (among thousands), and Osiris, Cernunnos, Pan, Dionysus, and so on (among thousands of gods), and you may have your own names for the Goddess and Her consort, the God; or, you can work with the Goddess and God without invoking or calling upon them through names. It is said, the Goddess changes all She touches, and all She touches changes. All is seen as sacred, since all is a manifestation of the Divine. The Gods are within us, or our spirits, as well, and we are a part of Them, and are within Them. Physical things, therefore, like trees, or the sun, or moon, etc., can be seen as incarnations of the Gods, or the Divine. There are also gods of some item, like the goddess of the moon, who is seen the moon rays, and who works lunar magick, and protects her particular symbol or item, or what have you. In Wicca, the Goddess chose the moon as Her symbol, and the God, the sun, as His symbol. In Paganism, in general, you could say something like, "I washed in the goddess Tefnut [the goddess of rain, purifications, and moisture] and she made me pure," when you just bathed, for instance, and hence, the physical is viewed as a part of the divine, then. And so, you don't need total faith to just "believe in" the gods, when you can see part of them, all around.

Wiccans usually believe in the Summerlands, or a form of Heaven, and of the Underworld (which can have good and bad sections of it, depending upon the tradition), and in the Spirit-world, and in reincarnation -- that the soul incarnations in many physical bodies (has many lifetimes as the cycle of continuing, immortal, soul life) to learn its lessons, and help others. They often believe in spirit guides, or more advanced souls that have cycled out, mostly, and now help other souls still on Earth. Angels are quite often believed in, too, as can be, fairies, dragons, the phoenix, unicorns, elves, and other mythical creatures. Pagans have pantheons of deities at times, which are groups of deities, and can often borrow from any particular culture. You usually keep what you like from information or practice, and discard the rest, or what doesn't really fit in, for you. Most, one could say, come to specialize in something, from ancient Greek mythology, to Tarot cards, to whatever. Divination is basically fortune-telling, or trying to find out the past, present, or future, through the use of some tool, like cards, astrology, dowsing, etc., with the aid of the spiritual. Wiccans often believe in Karma, or basically the concept that what you have left to learn, will come to you, yet, and that you can decide your own path and make your destiny. One should always try never to interfere with freewill. Say someone you thought was disgusting was able to cast a love spell on you and make you have sex with them, and then, it wore off, so, get it? It would really be rape. And those things tend to end with stalking, and so forth.

Note: you can believe in reincarnation, and Not believe in evolution, or only believe in soul evolution, and/or be a creationist, or believe in it all, I guess... or none. A few pagans don't believe in a after-life, or just see anything supernatural as metaphorical, or part of the mind, or one's "inner planes" of their mind or psyche, which is a valid choice for some individuals.

Anyway, the God can also be seen the Horned God of animals, symbolized, or taking the form of a deer stag, or so forth. Like, the Goddess could be seen in Her aspect as the star goddess, and onward. There are Overall Deities, as mentioned, for instance, THE Goddess and THE God, and certain ones (with names) can also be "overall deities," meaning they've been seen as the deity of nearly everything, such as, for example, the goddess Isis. Wiccans also celebrate the full moons, and often, the new moons, as well, and Pagans can celebrate all kinds of other festivals and holidays, too. So, Wiccans tend to be/or should be commited to life-long spiritual growth, and to care-taking and healing the planet, and to giving to all, and to personal responsibility. As such, they usually do white magick, or non-harmful, and do not practice black magick, or the stuff that causes harm. Harm to none, of course, is the tenet. Witches, Wiccans, etc., do not believe in Satan or the Devil, though, a few occultists might see him as just another deity, or deity image, but that represents rebellion, and anarchy, and so forth, and still, would not be evil, in particular. Wiccans don't usually believe in ultimate evil, or demons (despite the total nonsense you've probably seen on TV!), but they do know some things are harmful, and try to avoid doing those. Lucifer, meaning "light-bearer," from Latin, was an Italian god of the sun, and of the light, and the mate of the goddess Diana, in some traditions, and was a name for many things, until some people decided to use it as a name for something they made up to be corrupt. As such, there's no evil in Lucifer, and that name can be used as another aspect for the God, and should be taken back from the false propoganda, as such.

Pagans also have sun goddess as well as sun gods, and moon gods as well as moon goddesses, and earth gods, not only goddesses (like the Earth goddess, Gaia), and so forth. Though, as mentioned, Wiccans tend to see moon as feminine, and sun as masculine, and earth as feminine, et cetera. You need to be very careful to only imagine and visualize positive deities, and positive rites and rituals. The thing is, some people, who were usually depressed and angry before, may start fantasizing evil spirits attending their rites, and eventually they believe it, and then, they get really scared, of their own thoughts, and believe the "demons" are real, and they blame Wicca for their own ignorant choices. They play a mind-trick on themselves, in other words. If someone hears words, or sees images in their mind, good or bad, it could be from the divine, but here's a cure: if you're afraid of evil spirits, imagine them turning into pastel-colored, fluffy little bunnies (unless you have rabbit-phobia) and telling you to "love everyone" and then, hopping away. You will see it was all in your head. That stuff is your own thoughts. That's why, be real careful what you imagine and visualize. That why some people go insane, and, they get a real high out of their negative mood swings, and no one does what they don't want to do. People are never bothered by "demons" who don't believe in them. -- Yeah, that's right, think about it! :-) So, don't blame your religion, if it's generally positive to most people who try it. Evil people exist in any mainstream religion, as well as anything else! And too, good people sometimes do evil things. We need more forgiveness in the world, also. Also, the occult (from occularus, or eye) deals with things, mysteries, rather, that are hidden. Wicca deals with mysteries. Other religions have their mysteries, etc. Wiccans will even work with saints and so forth. All paths say something about the Divine! Most have some form of Holy Spirit, or One Spirit, and a Creator. Many have legends about floods. Most have the dying and resurrecting god, going back to ancient Egypt, symbolizing the death and new growth (in the spring) of plant like, like with the legends of the god, Osiris. Nearly all believe in souls and an after-life, and they teach, "be nice and be kind." Unity in humanity already exists in nearly all things -- we just need to see it! :-) Blessed Be! -- that is, (as well as being a greeting, and a closing, and yep, a blessing), let all good things and beings be blessed! To learn is to change (or to remember, or to embrace Spirit, Who is Love) -- the Path is in practicing balance -- or in the middle way. Also, Wiccans, New Agers, and others, usually practicing some form of light or energy meditation; and should use DAILY, positive affirmations (which is the way to overcome mostly anything bad, and re-train yourself out of bad habits). The best way to win a battle is never to start one. That is, teach the good, instead of reminding people of the bad. Plus, anyone who says there's only one, right way, and that they have it (and you'll never do anything without it, or without them, and yeah, they're usually more subtle than just saying that, but...), is on a power-trip, and using a mind-game, or mind-f_ck, whether or not they know it; unless you talk about kindness and positive thought -- that's about as close as you get to there being one way, in my experience. And I know, people love to label things. Some say if you can't serve, you'll never know the way, and that could be true.

Humankind progresses over thousands of year, albeit, slowly, and we are slowly rising to enlightenment, as the rising sun. There are so many organizations, to even name them, and individuals, that are waking up and remembering towards Spirit, that you can really see things moving, now; and you can also find one to support, if you desire, or find some like-minded friends, usually, if you're inclined to do so. :-) And, P.S., use common sense! (often falsely so-called "common") ::grin::