The modern practitioners claim their practices are concerning benevolent magic, rejecting any connection with its malevolent counterpart. Witchcraft and Satanism are frequently confused because of its former portrait in the works and literature, play sand films. However, there is no connection between the two. Modern witches do not claim any kind of alliance with the devil.
Wicca is described as a neo-pagan movement. Some regard their organisation as having a continuous link with an early organised pagan movement, driven underground by the advent of Christianity. Some rituals of Wicca are reminiscent of pagan beliefs and rituals, but Wicca is essentially a modern movement.
Modern witchcraft owes its existence largely to Gerald Gardner and his writings on folklore, ancient pagan rites and ceremonial magic. Gardner set up his own coven after the repeal of the witchcraft act in 1951. Interest in the modern witchcraft grew stronger through out the 1960s to 1970s and spread to America where it generated much activity.
There are various traditions in modern Wicca, the first known as the Gardnerian Tradition followed by Alexander Sanders founding his own Alexandrian Tradition although it heavily relied on Gardners rituals. Various traditions in the modern movement are ever evolving and ever changing.
