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			WITCHCRAFT VS. WICCA

		This is only my humble attempt to briefly answer some common questions I am frequently asked. Just to let you know, my site covers wicca because it seems to be such a fast moving belief and it is everywhere on the interent. I won`t make any mention of the terms, ' fluffy bunnies' and the ' dark goths' that are already floating around the internet. We, as pagans have a difficult enough time trying to make people understand us for what we are and believe, I don`t think any good can come from bashing each other because we consider some ' young goths' or 'fluffy bunnies' or 'evil' for posting certain kinds of spells on their websites. There are millions of websites out there, and each one is as unique as the person who creates a website. Each website is always changing and evolving like the person who creates that website. Each one of us goes through different stages of inner learning and growing with some of us being more 'advanced' then others. By this term , I simply mean having gone through levels of learning and experience what others have not acquired yet. It does not mean some are better than others. For just as you think you learned and mastered a concept or experience there will be another and you will meet others who have experienced and 'know' more than you. I remain thankful for the sight I have and what I have learned and experience, for it is what you learn from experience that builds your character. It is those very worst times in our life and worst experiences that we encounter that we have learned the most. Sometimes it is those very people who quietly walk into our lives and suddenly leave that gives us the most in life. Sometimes, it is the smallest thing in life that is the most important. Usually what you are seeking for is right there already within you or in front of you. And, the cycles, everything repeats itself eventually, everything goes back to the beginning and to the most basic and most natural. And, for the answer to life, sometimes it is not the answer that is important, it is the quest for that grail. It is the search, the quest that each of our souls yearns for that is important, not the answers. What is witchcraft? Witchcraft is the name given to a system of beliefs and practices ancient people practiced. The practice has it`s origins in Eastern European people and culture, for example, the Persians and the Egyptians. These beliefs and practices gradually spread to other people in Europe, for example the Celts. The name 'witchcraft" was given to these ancient mostly European practices and beliefs by the Christian Church. Now these set of beliefs and practices are generally called Traditional Witchcraft and is an attempt to follow and reconstruct an ancient tradition and belief system. "Witchcraft" was a set of beliefs and traditions by these ancient people and was their religion. One who practices witchcraft, but does not belong or was taught by a hereditary line can call themselves Eclectic Witches. These type of witches use the traditional witchcraft concept of the ancient people and incorporate modern views and beliefs into their set system of beliefs which are always changing to match modern changing society views and beliefs. Witchcraft and Wicca are two separate religions, but do have similarities. Wicca is a very modern religion. It borrows from witchcraft and many other beliefs. For example, Witchcraft does not follow a rede for guidelines. Witches of Witchcraft believe intent is what is important and being responsible for your actions. Witchcraft does not have the belief of reincarnation, but instead a belief that the souls once dead goes to the summerlands and is transformed and goes through a process before it returns into another human body or animal form. What is a witch? Witch is a very old word meaning 'magician' . It comes from the same word that Wicca does: the Anglo-Saxon 'wicce' which comes from the older germanic word 'vitga'. 'Wicce' was a term applied to the practitioners of the Saxon nature-religion they brought with them to England. The Anglo-Saxon 'wic' comes from a different Germanic root, and it is applied to trees or branches that are extremely pliable. This may be why we have the wicker and witch hazel tree and why people so often think witch comes from a word that means to bend or shape. Witches can be of many beliefs beside witchcraft or wicca. One cannot be born a witch, although many have the inner qualities that make it 'right' for them to study to be a witch. For those who are a real witch, you know what I mean about this predisposition and for those who aren`t a real witch you may not understand fully this concept of 'predisposition' of being a witch. The closest thing I can say about this is that, being a witch and doing all witchy things is the most natural thing in the world for us and most were probably doing this before we knew what witches really do. To fully be a witch one has to undergo a learning process and initiation. This learning process and initiation may include a ritual within a coven, but the learning process and initiation I am really focusing about is the inner learnings and initiations, when a real witch crosses the border of calling herself a witch and really being a witch. When you cross this line you will know what I mean. To learn is to be a seeker and apprentice yourself and when you are initiated you will earn the title of witch. What do you call a male witch? A witch, not a warlock . A warlock is an old term meaning a Scottish traitor. What Does Pagan Mean? The word Pagan comes from an old Latin word meaning a country dweller. The word Pagan was applied to people who lived so far away and removed from the city. Later after the 4 AD, the term Pagan came to be applied to people who were not only removed from the city, but who did not practice one of the major religions at the time, such as Christianity, Judaism, Moslem. This tended to include the Buddhists and Hindus and the other religions to be included in the term Pagan.

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