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I could go with that.

Lets kick it up a notch.

Neo-Paganism type of reconstructionism of ancient polytheistic faiths. "Paganism" is an acceptable term for the practice of these reconstructionist/revivalist. Wicca is a specific magickal system created by a dude named Gardner. Witchcraft is creation and/or usage of all the archetypes, triggers, prose, role-playing, and props that go along with putting an individual's will out into the universe.

ouch. eek

I think that we put too much stress on the idea "I'm Wiccan" or "I'm Pagan".

Wicca, a magickal system created by Gerald Gardner (not limited to though), is technically considered witchcraft. Wicca is not the only thing considered Witchcraft. Voodoo is witchcraft. Shamanism is considered witchcraft. Santeria is considered witchcraft.

Is the label "Wiccan" really all that important for those that aren't BTW?

In BTW, they use the word Wiccan, but really, they think of themselves as priests and priestesses, clergy (for lack of a better term - but i got yelled at for using it before because it has roman-catholic roots, not 'pagan') even. They think of the rest of us milling about in the world as pagans, not Wiccans. (this is a generalization)

But really.... why so much focus on a word? on a label?

can't we just be ourselves?

wicca is just a type of witchcraft. *shrug* that's the short of it.

I completely agree.

Well said,
All I can say is BE PROUD of what you are.
We're all entitled to our beliefs and now is the time to open up and be proud, we are becoming more and more recognised. Slowly (very slowly) but surely.

King James had the Bible changed to suit his own ends.

Yeah, you'll have to accredit that to Starhawk, I believe, with that whole "Take Back the Night" campaign. Personally, I don't care either way. I'm a spiritual being that likes to use magick. *shrug* And now my daughter's becoming more and more interested in it. (which reminds me...i've got to start looking into an appropriate rite of passage for her...) For the sake of convience, we use 'wiccan' or 'witch', but frankly, I'd actually use the second before I'd use the first. I only use the first to be as PC as *I* can possibly be. twisted



There is a lot of meaning for that specific hebrew word, but 'witch' isn't one of them. It loosely means deceitful and a curse-giver, but I can think of a LOT of people who fall under those categories who aren't 'witches'. rolleyes

ummm...

to the first part I'll say sort of, to the second part I'm going to say not really (though I see where you were going with it - others may not though)...


Wicca is a specific pagan religion that is based on the use of witchcraft and bits and pieces of other things (like ceremonial magic, older religions, etc...) All Wiccans are technically Witches (even if they choose not to do spell work), but not all Witches are Wiccan. Both Wiccans and Witches (generally speaking) are all Pagan, but not all Pagans are Witches or Wiccan.

You can be pagan and you can be a witch and still not be Wiccan. There are certain core beliefs that technically must be present for it to be Wicca (at least traditionally). Neo-Wicca (eclectic) is somewhat different.

No... Because I'm a witch and a Pagan. But I'm definitely not a Wiccan. Many Pagans who are witches are not Wiccan.

No need to apologize...your comment gave us all a good jumping off point for adding in more accurate info. So tis good!!! biggrin