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A Rose By Any Other Name


On the controversial definitions of the words Wiccan, Witchcraft, Witch, and Pagan.



The Wiccan


The Wiccan is a person who practices the religion Wicca. This is an easy one to define - You're either Wiccan or you're not.


Wicca is a Pagan religion, fairly new, but adapted by the ways of old. A defining factor of this religion is the Wiccan Rede, in which rules are listed such as the most important An it harm none, do what ye will.


A Wiccan may choose not to practice magic, but instead focus solely on the honoring aspect of the religion.


I don't personally believe that every Wiccan is a Witch: I believe that many witches become Wiccan and many Wiccans become witches.


Every Wiccan is Pagan. This must be so due to the fact that the very religion of Wicca is Pagan.


It would be like saying a Catholic is not a Christian.



Of Witchcraft


Witchcraft, although used often to describe Wicca, is actually the practice of magic. One need not be a Witch, a Wiccan, or a Pagan to practice Witchcraft, though in the past those who practiced baneful magic were often confused with those who practiced magic for good. This has lead to the common superstition that Witches are evil - which is not true.


My definition for those who practice evil Witchcraft is Sorcerer or Sorceress, for the term Witchcraft should not be applied in such a way. Rather, those known to practice the left handed path should be seen as practitioners of sorcery.



The Witch


The witch is, in my opinion, the most difficult to define, as most of the controversy lies in this term.


Some say that a Witch is one who practices Witchcraft; some say that a Witch is one who practices Wicca; some believe that a Witch is defined by who she is and nothing else... I don't know if there will ever be a universal agreement on what the term applies to, so for now, we must take satisfaction in what the word means to each of us personally.


As for myself, my belief has always been this: a Witch is Witch not by religion or stature, but by something deep inside that is hard to explain. A deep reverence for nature and her spirits, a need to help those around you, a deep sense of spirituality and love, etc.


A terrible definition, I know, but the best I could think of at this time.


Being a Witch, to me, is something you are born with or have evolved into: you cannot become a Witch, you must either be one or grow into one.

That is why the taking on of a Pagan religion allows for the growth of new Witches - as they practice the ways and tune into nature, it becomes a part of them and they evolve from that.

Similarly, the practicing of good magic can have the same affect because of the very nature of it. The direction of natural and inner energy to achieve a goal must surely impact the practitioner, giving a deeper sense of the spirit of nature and a reverence of such.


There is also the term Hereditary Witch to take into account. As far as I know, the hereditary witch is one who has a relative such as a grandparent or aunt who is also a Witch.


Some say that you are not a Hereditary Witch unless you know or knew the relative personally and have learned from them. This sounds more correct to me because if one has a close relative it is easy to develop their ways due to heredity, respect, and what's learned from them.


Remember, not every person who has a relative who is/was a Witch is a Witch themselves. With this in mind, the Hereditary Witch may well just be a coincidence, especially when one never knew the relative at all.



The Pagan


The Pagan is another easily defined term.


To be a Pagan means to practice or have nature based beliefs. Pagans honor nature, the earth and her spirits/energies. This is the most simple definition of Pagan.


You can be Pagan and not be Wiccan, for there are many other religions that fall into the category of Paganism.

You can be Pagan and not practice Witchcraft, though many do.

I do believe that you can be Pagan and not be a Witch, but in my experience that's drawing a fine line. I think that one who is a Witch will be compelled to Paganism for obvious reasons, though due to guilt, family obligations, or fear, many Witches might wear the guise of Christianity still unsatisfied with their religion and all its unanswered questions.


Think of the people in other countries where freedom of religion is forbidden. How many Witches are hiding amongst them?


As has been said many times, not all Wiccans are Witches, not all Witches are Pagan, not all Pagans practice Witchcraft, not all people who practice Witchcraft are Wiccan, and not all Witches practices Witchcraft.


In Conclusion, it seems to be most important, in all these definitions and name tags, that you remain true to yourself and what you wish to be defined as.


But be warned: it is not very wise to call yourself something under false pretenses or for the honor it seems to get you.




-Marylin.



Related Links:

The Ism's Explained - http://www.witchrealm.net/isms.html
Demystifying Paganism - http://video.google.com/videoplay...


Names are not always what they seem. The common Welsh name Bzjxxllwcp is pronounced Jackson.

- Mark Twain


Better to see the face than to hear the name.

- Unknown


Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.

- English Proverb


Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth's marvels, beneath the dust of habit.

- Salman Rushdie


What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

-William Shakespeare

4 Comments:

My mother was a practicing witch. We grew up surrounded by the stuff.
We were taught that "born again" Christians were only here to sway us from the truth and that Jesus only came to eartch to prove that there is life after death.
I always had questions regarding her covern and its teachings. I knew there was a God and i knew there was a satan [and where all his covens were in the area] but i didn't feel deep down that Mums way was right.
Cutting a long story short, in my 20s i became one of those born again Christians Mum dispised so much. She didn't talk to me for 8 months!
But i don't like being ignored so she couldn't resist my charm for long.
She eventualy became a Christian too, much to my delight!
I renounced all that witchy stuff, and i haven't looked back since!
I still find it very intersting that witches find it important to know why satan is the way he is, what he believes, and what he teaches. Satan is an idiot, so who cares?
I found your blog just now, and even though i disagree with everything you represent, it's a nice blog, and i love that picture on the title!

See ya :o)

By Blogger TitanThirteen, at December 15, 2006  

Was I not clear enough in my definitions? hmmm...

By Blogger Marylin Houle, at December 15, 2006  

I am 18 years old. No one in my family is a witch, but I am. My father might have been, but he was almost killed in a car accident and lost a lot of his memory, though he remembers doing tarrow. I completely agree with what you say about evolving and being born with these understanding and tendencies. When I was 6 years old I created a word, “butamose”, this word translates into don't deal or interfere with me because the consequences that will come to you from those who love me and my dead ancestors will be decimal (not those words exactly but those ideas). I had unknowingly used the Laws of names (to give something a name gives it power) this word I have used for protection ever since then. To your remarks about other witches being out there, I believe there are so very many, because like me they are born every day with our higher out of the box way of thinking. This way of think develops to become stronger and may eventually lead to a powerful understanding of the craft and a new evolution of witchcraft. For I keep in touch with another girl my age and we continue to be connected with our thoughts and dreams. I must say that I truly admired your thoughts and I hope that perhaps one day we will we shall perhaps be connected even for a moment, my thoughts will be with you this full moon.
-Margarita Rose

By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 14, 2007  

My family came from Ireland and Scotland. It's funny, most of the "family history" is in the form of folklorish tales with characters like witches and curses and creatures, spirits, great amounts of superstition and such. We were actually raised to superficially be Christians and know enough about it to claim Christianity. I attribute that to self preservation against persecution. But, deeper down, the spiritual upbringing was very much different. Anyway, we were also raised to know that we were different, we weren't the same and that we possessed some natural gifts that others did not possess and would not understand (Quite true, a church told me I was possessed by a demon for having insight into the future.. haha). We were taught to recognize these gifts and were told that we were born with them.. it wasn't something we learned, it was just something we acknowledged we already knew and already did. We were told that we descend from a nice long line of witches.. as evidenced by my mom, aunt, grandmother, etc. It is my opinion that one does not have to know that they descend from witches to feel out of place, unusual, apart from the rest.. in fact, if they are not taught why and how.. I think it would be even more freaky for them. Atleast I know why I am how I am and I know others in my family who are the same way. I guess another way to say it is.. we were not "taught" how to be a witch.. we were told after we had exhibitted certain behaviors or traits.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 15, 2008  

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